How to Apply And Get a Job Offer in Canada As a Foreigner

On this page, we are going to share with you the simple steps on how to apply and get a job offer in Canada as a foreigner. Although Canada has great job opportunities for everyone including citizens, permanent residents, temporary residents, and immigrants, getting a job in Canada is quite difficult especially if you reside outside the country.

There are certain jobs a foreigner cannot be hired for. Except, there are no citizens or permanent residents available for that position.

How to Apply And Get a Job Offer in Canada As a Foreigner

An employer who intends to employ a foreigner who is neither a Canadian citizen nor a permanent resident must first obtain LMIA (Labor Market Impact Assessment) which is permission from the Ministry of Employment and Social Development Canada.

This permission, allows the employer to hire a foreigner for a job if only there are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents around to take the job.

Knowing the right people is good for you, as a matter of fact, it could help you a lot in your quest to get a good job in Canada. But, knowing the right persons won’t help in a situation where there are unemployed citizens or permanent residents lining up for the same job.

For instance, if you have a friend in Canada who knows a friend who is an employer and is looking for a Receptionist or a Secretary, you will not be hired for that position if there are unemployed Receptionists or Secretaries in that area no matter your qualifications.

What can I do to get a job in Canada?

The best thing you can do as a foreigner is to contact a recruiting agency especially the ones with what you are looking for. Many of the recruitment agencies have been paid by the employers so beware of those that would ask you to pay for their services.

Another option for you is to immigrate to Canada via an Express Entry System. This way, you have to take the first step to settle in Canada permanently as a skilled worker. The Express Entry is simply a way you could immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker or a trades-person with a measurable amount of experience.

With the Express Entry System, you don’t need to have a job to apply you only need some skills. This means you will have to register with Canada’s job bank in order to get the connection to an employer.

Some young persons who have no experience whatsoever could apply for the international experience class which gives an opportunity to people between the age of 18 to 35 from foreign countries the prospect to travel to Canada and work there.

You could also try the education system, which is an easier but very expensive way. If you can afford the Canadian education it could be the best shot you have to get a job, permanent resident card, etc. in Canada.

On completing your course or program at a Canadian University or college, the school will put you in an internship program or a Co-Op program. This will give you a platform to gain the necessary work experience you need in the Canadian workforce.

If you perform very well as an intern, the company might decide to retain you after one or two years of working with them and if you decide, you could apply for a permanent residency.

Getting the Job Offer

There are a number of ways of getting a job offer from a Canadian employer while you are overseas.

Networking

Frankly, the easiest way of getting a job offer from a Canadian employer is by networking: do you have relatives or friends in Canada? Does anyone you know well have relatives or friends in Canada? Can you make use of your fellow countrymen in Canada to get your foot in the door? Knowing the right people is unfortunately the easiest way of securing that job offer.

Whether or not that job offer is any good depends on whether or not your future employer can get a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA, formerly LMO). An LMIA is permission from Canada’s Ministry of Employment and Social Development Canada to hire a foreign worker for a job for which no Canadian citizen or permanent resident can be found. And that’s where knowing the right people will not help. LMIAs are issued based on the needs of the Canadian economy. So if your friend knows a guy who needs a new admin assistant, but there are tons of unemployed admin assistants in that area of Canada, you are likely out of luck.

Agencies

One of the best bets is to contact multiple recruiting agencies, particularly if you can find one or more focused on your profession. Employers are increasingly relying on external hiring companies, or “headhunters”, to find talent. Usually these headhunters are paid by the employer so avoid companies that ask you to pay them for their services.

There are many agencies that are oriented towards foreign workers but there are many more that are not. Here is a list from 2008 of all the agencies in Canada. Immigroup does not endorse any particular hiring agencies or headhunters.

Get a Work Permit

There are certain people who can work in Canada without having a work permit. They include buyers, sellers, business visitors, trainers, trainees, military staff, volunteers, performing artists such as musicians, government officials, university students, media personnel (news crew), coaches, public speakers, athletes, convention staff, academic examiner, clergy, witnesses, judges, referees, accident investigators, medical students, civil aviation staff, emergency services providers, staff of foreign transportation firms, and intracompany transfers under NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement), the Canada-Chile FTA (Free Trade Agreement), or the GAT (General Agreement on Trade and Services).

Useful Tips to Get a Job In Canada

  • Before you enter Canada, try to make inquiries for the best location for you. Look for a location that suits your profession, for instance, an Engineer in an oil and gas company would likely get more opportunities in Calgary.
  • Try to speak and write good English Language and try to be confident.
  • Try to make good friends while you are there and build a good relationship with them, they might be your connection to success.
  • Attend seminars and lectures and get enlightened about Canada’s way of life in order to fit in.
  •  Every country has little slang, try to learn Canadian slang and small talk.

Do make sure you adhere to the above tips on how to apply and get a job offer in Canada as a foreigner whenever you want to apply for a Canadian job online or offline