I’m new to Canada. How do I crack the job market?

Special to The Globe and Mail

(Cinders McLeod /Cinders McLeod)

THE QUESTION:
I am an immigrant to Canada, with a sociology degree and two diplomas. I try not to let my co-workers know about my qualifications but they have devised plans in the guise of job promotions where they ask for my résumé and when they observe my qualifications they become more hostile and the posting is either withdrawn or someone else gets the position.
I am a hard worker and think nothing of starting from the bottom. However, it has come to the stage whereby I can no longer put up with this type of behaviour toward me. I have been told I am too confident and happy and that I should be taught a lesson. As a result, I’ve decided to leave Canada. It’s a shame, as I really like this country and I thought it would be great to be an immigrant. I have spoken to agencies who even offered to visit my employers. Do you have any advice for me?
THE FIRST ANSWER:
Greg Conner
Vice-president, human resources, League Financial Partners, Victoria
I can only imagine the challenges faced by you and other immigrant workers as they integrate into the Canadian work force. Workplaces are demanding and highly competitive for the average Canadian, let alone for its valued newcomers.
While educational background and credentials play a role, Canadian employers focus on a number of other key factors when selecting the best candidate for a job. Some of the most common include competencies, personality and behavioural traits, adaptability, and overall organizational fit. This approach can be unfamiliar to people who have previously been awarded jobs based on education or technical ability alone.
A number of wonderful organizations focus on offering support and assistance to immigrants seeking work in Canada, and I encourage you to reach out to them if you haven’t already. I also encourage you to familiarize yourself with as many Canadian employers as possible and learn what they look for in selecting a candidate. Perhaps most important, seek feedback from your current or prospective employers about why you haven’t been successful in obtaining a position. Most employers are happy to provide post-competition feedback, much of which can be helpful in preparing for your next interview.
Do not give up on Canada; we truly are a living mosaic made stronger by having immigrants who bring their cultural diversity for all Canadians to learn from, just as they learn from other Canadians.
THE SECOND ANSWER:
Zuleika Sgro
Human resources partner and talent manager, Questrade.com, Toronto
The work force is filled with difficult situations and to build your career you have to overcome adversities that you face. I advise you to truly ask yourself what you want, what you expect, and how you will get there.
The best advice I have received in my career is that you can and do create your own destiny – not others. By your description of your experience you may be focusing only on the negatives. Surely, there must be positive aspects to your experience in Canada.
I encourage you to research all the possibilities and opportunities in Canada before you move on. There is an employer out there for everyone – it just takes time. There are ample resources in Canada for newcomers. You are still the one who needs to get the job, but they will support you with resources to help get you there.
In terms of your qualifications and how you present them on your résumé, it is important for employers to see your most relevant experience to the role you are applying for. Be sure to focus on relevancy rather than disguising your qualifications. Be upfront with all the qualifications you have, but ensure they are relevant to the position. If you are overqualified, or under-qualified, the relevancy of your experience and skills will determine if it’s the right fit for you.

I'm new to Canada. How do I crack the job market?

I’m new to Canada. How do I crack the job market? - The Globe and Mail

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Ottawa wants younger immigrants

280,000 applications returned as Canada rejigs its entry rules 

• By Mahmood Saberi, Senior Reporter
• Published: 12:47 October 2, 2012
• 

Dubai: New immigration rules will make it tougher for older immigrants to get into Canada next year as Ottawa is looking for younger professionals with high language proficiency skills, consultants said.

The new rules, which will come into force in January next year, will benefit those in the age group of 18 to 35 years of age as the tougher points system is put in place.

In the new point system the 18 to 35 age group can score 12 points. “If you are 36 years old you will lose one point for each year, and so on,’ said Sohail Saleem, general manager at Premiers, a Dubai-based immigration firm.

“Earlier, if you are 49 years of age you could get 10 points, now if you are 47 years, you will get zero points,” he said.

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Many of the applicants from this region are usually in their late 30s or mid-40s.

The other change is that your educational qualifications will have to be evaluated by a competent authority back in Canada, immigration consultants said. “That will take about between 30 to 45 days,” said Saleem.

The good news for emigrants is that Ottawa is opening up more categories in the special occupation list, said Jalil Parker, immigration consultant with Vision Consultancy Services in Dubai. \
Earlier the job category was limited to 29, but now it will include many more occupations including managerial jobs and in trade and services.

Under the new rules, you will get 15 points if you have six years of work experience. This has been dropped from the earlier 21 points if you had four years of work experience, said Saleem. 

The language skills are also being given high importance and applicants have to undergo the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). More points will be given to applicants with high proficiency in the first language (English). The test is held at the British Council.

Consultants hinted that while the large number of applicants from here are professionals, language proficiency is not at par and some may require training before they pass this test. Others said this may be limit the number of applicants from China and Asia.

The largest number of emigrants to Canada are from China, India, Philippines and Pakistan. No figures are available as to how many immigrants go from the Middle East every year, but consultants said a “considerable” number are processed every year.

Nurses are one the leading professionals needed in Canada as the population grows older and needs more healthcare workers.

Under the new rules the application processing time is expected to be speeded up and could take between eight to 12 months.

Earlier, the backlog of applications reached 900,000 and it took anything between three to four years if your applied from the UAE,” said Saleem.

It would take anything from six to eight years if the application was sent from India or China, he said.

He said the sad part is that Canada has “ruthlessly” rejected the applications of 280,000 applicants who had applied before 2008. “This was done to speed up the application process,” he said.
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