Trusted source of Canadian immigration news and guidelines

How to find Canadian jobs for immigrants

Table of Contents show

There are many resources to find Canadian jobs for immigrants. Unlike some foreign countries, you do not need a job offer to immigrate to Canada. There are programs available for you that allow you to apply for permanent residency in Canada without securing employment beforehand. For example you can apply for permanent residence if you are considered a Skilled Worker. See CANADA FOREIGN SKILLED WORKER IMMIGRATION PROGRAM (CFSW) and CANADA FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES CLASS (FSTC).

Look for jobs in Canada

You may pre-qualify for a Canada immigration program.

Learn about job search skills, how to get a job,workplace standards and Canadian workplace culture.

To work in Canada, you’ll need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Apply for a SIN as soon as you come to Canada.

Get important information about working in Canada

You have many resources you can use to get help with your job search in Canada, including:

immigrant-serving organizations, who offer:
- résumé writing workshops
- job search training sessions
- other services to help you find work
Job Bank, which offers free occupational and career information about working in Canada, such as:
- jobs
- wages
- main duties
- employment trends
- educational requirements
Service Canada, which has important information about searching and applying for jobs
your province’s or territory’s website for newcomers

Search and apply for jobs

Before you begin to search for jobs it is a good idea to know where in Canada you desire or prefer to reside. Location is relevant to the types of jobs and their availability.

canada immigrants employment by province

Search for jobs

At the end of this page we provide you with job search tools suitable for Canadian newcomers looking for jobs.

There are many ways to look for jobs, such as:

research companies where you want to work by:
- check their website for jobs they post
- contact employers directly to ask if they are hiring
go to job fairs in your city or town, where you can meet employers and discuss jobs
browse job search websites and newspapers classified sections to see who is hiring
- Job Bank has up to 2,000 new jobs posted every day
- jobs.gc.ca has job postings for federal public service
use an employment agency that searches for jobs for you
- call or visit a Service Canada Centre near you for lists of government employment services and training help
ask family and friends if they know about open jobs
- many jobs aren’t advertised
- you’ll only learn about some jobs by speaking to people

Other resources:

Job Bank’s employment for newcomers to Canada
Canada’s top 100 employers
the Welcome to Canada guide
Canada Immigration Jobs (with Salaries)
Job search help for Immigrants and newcomers to Canada
Service Canada’s specialty job search resources

Apply for jobs

Once you find a job you’re interested in, you’ll usually need to apply by sending your:

cover letter, which is a short description of what makes you right for the job
résumé, which is:
- also known as a “curriculum vitae” or a C.V.
- a list of your qualifications and work experience

The resources listed in the section Get important information about working in Canadacan help you:

find information on writing a résumé and cover letter
prepare for an interview

After you apply

Based on your résumé and cover letter, the employer will decide whether to invite you for a job interview. A job interview:

gives the employer a chance to:
- meet you
- ask questions to see if you’re right for the job
helps you to:
- learn more about the job
- decide if you want to work for that organization

It’s common for people to send many résumés and cover letters to different places before being invited for a job interview.

You will get a formal job offer if the employer wants to hire you.

Network

It is easier to find a job if you have a set network of contacts. Networking can help you search for jobs in Canada’s hidden job market. It’s also a good way to tell many people that you’re looking for work.

Work as a volunteer to build your resume

Volunteering means you perform a service willingly and without pay. Working as a volunteer can help you:

get Canadian work experience
practice your English or French
build your network of contacts
meet Canadians and make friends
find someone who will be a reference for you
show potential employers that you’re willing to work hard

community-and-volunteer-fair-for-newcomers

To find out how volunteering in Canada can help you find a job:

search the Internet for “volunteer” and the name of the city
contact an immigrant-serving organization
visit the Volunteer Canada website

Look for bridging programs related to your job

Bridging programs help internationally trained professionals and tradespeople who want to work in their field in Canada. They can help you get a licence or certification and integrate into the Canadian workplace.

Bridging programs offer different services, which include:

courses
education and skills assessments
practical or workplace experience
exam prep for licences or certificates
language training for professions or trades
action and learning plans to help you identify training you may need

Generally, language and job search services are free. However, there may be a fee for some programs. Usually, classroom training or work experience is part of the program.

To find out about programs in your area, contact:

the professional association or regulatory body for your profession
a local immigrant-serving organization

Consider alternative jobs

Knowing more about jobs related to your profession can give you more options for working in Canada.

Consider working in an alternative job. This way you can continue to learn about your profession or industry in Canada while you get your licence to work in a regulated occupation or trade.

Apply to the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program

canada federal internship for newcomers program

The Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program provides eligible permanent residents and new Canadians with valuable temporary Canadian work experience and training.

Eligibility for Federal Internship

To apply for the FIN Program you must have a post-secondary degree, except for some administrative positions where it’s only an asset.

You must register as soon as possible with a FIN Program partner immigrant-serving organization (ISO). You must get a full screening by April 5, 2019.

When you apply you must:

have been a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen for 10 years or less counting from:
- the day you became a permanent resident
- to the day you apply
live or work in:
- Ottawa/Gatineau (or within a 125 kilometre radius)
- Halifax (or within a 100 kilometre radius)
- St. John’s, NL (or within a 150 kilometre radius)
- Toronto (or within a 125 kilometre radius)
- Victoria (or within a 75 kilometre radius)

More locations may be added in future.

If you’re a graduate of the World University Service of Canada’s (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, you can apply from anywhere in Canada.

If you’ve lived in Canada longer than 10 years

If you’re a Canadian citizen who has lived in Canada for longer than 10 years, you can:

apply online for other federal public service jobs on GC Jobs
participate in other specialized recruitment programs, such as the Post-Secondary Recruitment Program

Language skills requirements

FIN Program candidates must prove that they have the necessary language skills in English or French.

You may show diplomas, transcripts, or certificates from a recognized, post-secondary institution to prove your English or French language skills. Your institution may be in Canada or abroad, and your document must:

show that you successfully graduated or completed a program in English or in French
be in English or French, otherwise you should:
- include a translation of the original document
- submit a letter from the institution that proves the instruction language was English or French

If you’ve only taken some courses in English or French, we can’t accept them as proof of language.

If you decide to take a language course and show proof of skills through tests, you must have one of the following:

Canadian Language Benchmarks of 7 or more in each competency
- in either English or French
Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program: CELPIP-G 7
International English Language Testing System: IELTS 6
Test d’évaluation de Français (TEF Canada):
- 310-348 in speaking and writing (expression orale et écrite)
- 249-279 in listening (compréhension de l’oral)
- 207-232 in reading (compréhension de l’écrit)
Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada):
- 10-11 in speaking and writing (expression orale et écrite)
- 458-502 in listening (compréhension de l’oral)
- 453-498 in reading (compréhension de l’écrit)

Only scores obtained on or after May 2, 2017, in these tests will be considered

Past participants

If you were placed as an intern in one program year, you can reapply if you:

still meet the core eligibility criteria
have active and up-to-date files with an ISO
inform your ISO of your intent to apply before the registration deadline

You can’t reapply if you’ve completed internships in two different program years.

Find out if you’re eligible.

Look for a mentor

Many Canadian professionals and business people give free advice and coaching to newcomers settling in Canada. You can find someone to mentor you through organizations like:

Start your own business

If you’re thinking of starting your own business in Canada, you’ll need a detailed business plan.

To learn more about starting a business in Canada, contact:

Find out about business immigration programs.

Workplace standards in Canada

In Canada, federal and provincial laws protect workers and employers by setting:

hours of work
minimum wage levels
health and safety standards
parental leave and annual paid vacations

Human rights laws protect employees from being treated unfairly because of their:

age
race
gender
religion
disability
sexual orientation

For more information:

Your rights as an employee

You should learn about provincial and federal labour laws before you begin work in Canada.

You have the right to join a labour union in Canada. You often have to join a union whether you choose it or not. Union fees will be taken from your salary.

You may ask for advice or help if you feel that your employer or union has treated you unfairly. Contact an officer of the ministry in charge of labour in the province or territory where you work.

You can also visit a Service Canada Centre to talk to a federal government labour affairs officer.

Federal and provincial contacts responsible for labour are:

Employment Insurance and other financial support

Employment Insurance

If you’re unemployed, you may be able to get Employment Insurance (EI). EI gives you short-term financial help while you look for work or upgrade your skills.

You may also get EI benefits if you’re:

sick, injured or in quarantine for health reasons
pregnant or caring for a newborn or adopted child
caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a high risk of death

If you work in Canada, you must pay into EI so that you can use it in a time of need. Your employer will usually take the EI payments from your paycheque.

If you’re self-employed, you can choose to take part in the EI program. To benefit from EI, you must apply and meet certain criteria.

Financial support for families

The Canada child benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help them with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age. The CCB might include the child disability benefit and any related prov i ncial and territorial programs.

Other financial support programs

The government has other financial support programs for people in need. In most cases, you must meet certain criteria to use these programs. Use the Benefits Finder to find out more.

Child care

If you’re working and have young children, you may need to arrange child care. In Canada, most families don’t leave children under the age of 12 at home alone.

Child care is a major family expense in Canada and you must consider all your options to keep the cost of child care affordable for you and your family.

There are different options for child care:

nursery schools
drop-in day-care centres
licensed day-care centres
home-based day-care services

To learn about the options near you, speak to someone at an immigrant-serving organization.

Pension programs

There are pension programs that you may be able to use now or in the future:

The Canada Pension Plan (CPP), which is:
- a program for workers and their families
- a provider of basic financial protection if you lose income because of:
  - retirement
  - disability
  - death
- paid into by anyone who works in Canada
- replaced by the Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) in the province of Quebec
The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment that most people aged 65 or older can get
The Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) is a monthly benefit paid to eligible seniors living in Canada who:
- receive OAS
- have little or no other income

International benefits

Due to Canada’s international social security agreements, people who’ve lived or worked in another country may be able to get:

Find Canadian Jobs for Immigrants