Join the Scotiabank StartRight® Program designed for Newcomers‡ and get up to $2,200* in value in the first year.
Searching for a new job is tough for anyone. And for newcomers, the job search can be that much more challenging. The journey can be an emotional roller-coaster and the ‘free time’ on your hands can seem endless.
Linda Ryan is the Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA. When it comes to job searching Ryan provides smart advice about how to survive the ‘free time’ trap when jobless. As Ryan states “free time isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re between jobs or a newly landed immigrant.”
BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, is a government funded, Canada-wide, career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan and here’s what she had to offer.
A job search can take time, especially when you’re waiting to hear back from potential employers. Recognizing that we all covet free time, it starts to feel like a cavernous canyon when you’re sitting at home twiddling your thumbs and watching your hard-earned money drain from your bank account. Ryan discusses three smart coping tips:
Ryan: I remind clients of three things they can do to manage the ‘free time’ trap. And, one of the first things I tell my clients is to Be Aware. Specifically, be aware that you’re in uncharted territory. Be aware that it’s stress-inducing. And, be aware of making the “I’ll accept any job” or “survival job” decision to manage your short-term job stress.
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
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Ryan: This second thing I remind clients to do is to Take Responsibility. Specifically, take responsibility for how you’re feeling and do small things to counter difficult emotions. Whether it’s using a “What if?” mantra to shift your perspective, or even a “WTF” mantra to laugh at your current situation.
For example, by using a “What if?” approach, you take control of self-defeating thoughts that can prevail with free time on your hands. Ask yourself, what if the worst that could happen takes place? Then answer:
Allow yourself to acknowledge what you’re feeling. This empowers you to move or stay stuck. Whatever the decision, you will make it consciously, so there’s no place to hide!
Ryan: Move to Action is very important. If free time is your enemy, then create an ally by adding structure to your day. For example, create a fake Monday to Friday work week and devote an hour each day in the morning to:
Then assign the rest of your day to exercise and enjoy your surroundings.
And finally, above all else, I remind clients to Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway! Life is too short to accept ‘average’, ‘ok’, or ‘fine’.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Moving to Canada with young children? Then you’ll want to read this overview of schooling in Canada to help your children adapt to school smoothly. Canada has one of the best school systems in the world to help your children grow and prosper. This is important for newcomers who often want to provide their children with more opportunities and access to education in Canada. Learn more about schooling in Canada including the systems, education levels, and process to register your children in school.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Nelson Mandela
The Best Countries for Education global survey shows that Canada ranks #4. The survey measured the following three country attributes:
1 United States
2 United Kingdom
3 Germany
4 Canada
5 France.
As the report identifies “Today’s young people will, in the coming years, be governing the world. Their thoughts and actions will be shaped by what they know and experience, making education, in many ways, one of the best predictors of a nation’s future success.”
Each province and territory in Canada develops its curriculum and policy. And, because of this, both may be slightly different across the country. Still, schooling in Canada has many common elements such as the school systems, levels of education, and enrollment process.
In Canada, there are three school systems:
2. Private schools
3. Homeschooling.
You can choose which school system your child will attend. To learn more about the provincial school systems, follow the links in the Provincial and Territorial Ministries of Education section below.
The government funds public schools in Canada, and most children attend public schools. So you don’t have to pay for your child to attend public school. However, you pay for school supplies and extracurricular activities such as field trips.
District school boards manage how public schools operate and are responsible for activities such as hiring teachers and opening new schools.
Over 95% of Canadians choose public school education for their children.
CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS – INTERNATIONAL
If you send your children to a private school, you pay tuition and other fees. The government usually does not fund private schools, so these schools can be costly to attend. However, private schools may provide a focus that public schools don’t provide and that you are willing to pay for. For example, private schools in Canada may focus on a specific area such as:
Homeschooling is acceptable in every province in Canada. If you want to teach your children at home, you will have to meet certain legal requirements. Each province has requirements, so you have to research laws to ensure you meet the regulations.
Searching for your first home in Canada? Join this exclusive session for key insights on housing market conditions, affordable options, and renting without credit history. Tailored for newcomers settling in the next six months, register now for valuable tips and a free guide!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARFour levels within the school system follow this structure:
Pre-school programs are like daycare programs for children aged two to four. You don’t have to send your children to preschool. However, preschool can help your child build language skills if they don’t speak English or French (Canada’s official languages). As well, preschool can help young children develop social and emotional skills to help them adjust to schooling in Canada. Most preschools in Canada are private, so you will have to pay a cost.
Each school has a catchment area, (an area that defines which school your child will attend). Usually, children attend a school closest to their home and within the school’s catchment area.
Most children attend kindergarten at age five. You can register your child at the school closest to your home. Children must attend kindergarten in most provinces. Kindergarten is free.
Children attend elementary school (also known as primary school) in September, the year they turn five. But, if you arrive after September, you must enroll your child as soon as you arrive. For example, if you arrive in October, you must register your child in October. You can contact the School Board (see links below for provincial ministries of education).
Children attend elementary school from grades one to eight. Some school districts may have a middle school for grades six to eight. But, that depends on the structure of the school district.
Generally, school curricula cover these subjects:
After children complete elementary school, they attend high school from grades nine to twelve. The high school system prepares students to attend either:
The government does not fund post-secondary schooling in Canada. Many parents save for years for their children’s post-secondary education. Investing in a Registered Education Savings Plan is a common way for parents to save for higher education in Canada.
In high school, students can meet with Guidance Counsellors who can help them achieve better grades, handle personal or social issues, and make career choices.
Settlement agencies can help you register your children in school. You’ll need these documents to register your child in a school in Canada:
You have to enroll your children in school as soon as you arrive in Canada. The school year starts in September and ends in June. However, your children can attend school if you arrived in Canada after the school year started.
Canada guarantees an education to all children, including those with disabilities. Depending on the child’s needs, children with disabilities will attend either regular classrooms and receive additional help, or special classes or schools.
Newcomer students may have to complete a math and English language skills assessment. The assessment will identify:
The results will help teachers understand what your child already knows. If you have questions about your child’s placement level, speak to their teacher. It’s helpful if you can provide your child’s previous report card or other school information for the assessment.
Children who don’t have strong language skills that match their grade level can access programs to help them learn English. ESL classes are often regularly scheduled courses, or in place of English, taught to those who already speak the language.
For more information, check out the Ministry of Education for the province where you plan to settle.
Alberta
Ministry of Education
British Columbia
Ministry of Education
Manitoba
Ministry of Education
New Brunswick
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Education
Northwest Territories
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Nova Scotia
Department of Education
Nunavut
Department of Education
Ontario
Ministry of Education
Prince Edward Island
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Quebec
Éducation, Loisir et Sport Québec
Saskatchewan
Ministry of Education
If you’re a newcomer thinking about buying a new car in Canada, the auto market offers a wide range of vehicles to meet different financial situations, lifestyles, and driving habits. If you’re in Canada from a country with a smaller auto market and fewer choices, this can be daunting as you begin your search. Buying a new car is often the second most expensive purchase after buying a home. So it’s worth it to do some research to determine what kind of vehicle will suit your needs.
But before you buy a new car, it’s a good idea to consider if you even need a new car. Most large cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton have extensive public transit systems. Public transit allows you to move about cost-effectively and conveniently. Or you can even consider buying a used car. However, if you still want to buy a new car here are some important things to do and think about.
Talk to people who own the make and model of the car that you are interested in buying. That way you can get first-hand knowledge about their experience. Their insights about reliability, repair costs, and gas mileage can be helpful information that can save you money. Also, don’t be invested in brand loyalty too heavily as the quality gap between domestic and import brands has narrowed in recent years.
You can also research Canadian automotive websites that are full of reviews and road tests for all types of vehicles. Specific factors to research include:
Be sure to evaluate how the car you want to buy compares to the competition’s price.
Before buying a new car it’s worth knowing how you can get the best price for your new vehicle. Here it’s important to the difference between the suggested retail price (SRP) and the dealer invoice price.
The MRSP is also commonly known as the list price or “window sticker” price. This is the price point that new car dealers work from. In many cases, you can negotiate a lower cost. However, if the car is in high demand, it may sell for more.
This is the actual price the dealer pays the manufacturer for the vehicle. And there is usually some variance. The price margin is important as it tells the new car buyer how much profit the car dealer can make on the sale of the car and help you negotiate a lower price.
Car dealers commonly offer special promotions, factory/dealer rebates, and other incentives to increase car sales. Find out when manufacturers and dealers offer these programs before buying a car as you could make big savings.
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There are different Canadian automotive websites that show what manufacturers and dealers are offering incentives and for what models. Also, some good times to look for and buy a new car include:
Car dealers will offer other incentives to new car buyers such as no interest payments, low financing rates, attractive leasing rates, and cash rebates.
Before you buy a car, it’s important to take a test drive. The car dealership will allow you to take a half-hour test ride on urban and highway roads so you can get an idea of how the vehicle drives and feels. If a spouse will drive the car, ensure they come along for the ride to use the controls, explore the features and evaluate the vehicle. . You can also bring the family to test out the back seat room!
Another helpful way to take a test drive is to rent the make and model you’re considering buying. That way, you can drive the car for a longer period of time to experience the car and its benefits. Or, you may discover that the vehicle doesn’t meet your needs. Either way, a test drive is an important first step to take before buying a car.
When buying a car, you have two types of financial agreements to consider: buy or lease a vehicle.
Whether you choose to lease or buy a car, you’ll have a monthly, weekly, or bi-weekly car payment for a few years, unless you pay cash. Typically, most car-buyers put down a deposit on a car and get a loan from a bank to buy it. In which case, you’ll also have to pay interest on the loan.
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The other option is to lease a car. When you lease, you don’t own the car. You are essentially renting it for a specific period. At the end of the lease term, you will have the option to return the vehicle, trade it in for a newer model, or buy it out.
With a lease, instead of borrowing the full purchase price of the car, you are only borrowing the amount the car will depreciate over the term of the lease. For example with a three-year lease, and taking into account regular wear and tear (known as the “residual value”), then you only have to finance the difference between the purchase price and the residual value. This is the basic reason lease payments are lower than loan payments.
Both leasing or buying a car has pros and cons. When you buy a car, you own the car at the end of the payment period – you own the car fully and it has some residual value and equity. The cons are that payments are more expensive than leasing and once the vehicle is out of its warranty period you are responsible for maintenance and repair costs.
When you lease a car, you have lower car payments and better cash flow. And since car leases are generally between two and three years, the vehicle you buy is almost always going to be covered by warranties. Once the lease is up, you can either walk away or upgrade to a newer model. However, unless you negotiate to buy the car at the end of its lease you will never really own the vehicle and will not build equity.
Deciding to lease or buy a car in Canada can be a difficult decision. Basically, you have to decide what option makes sense given your financial situation, individual, or family lifestyle. Here are some things to know about leasing:
Carefully evaluating your driving habits and your car needs will help you to make the decision the lease or buy a car.
You have a few ways you can pay for your vehicle when you buy a car in Canada:
Cash: You pay the full amount upfront to the dealership or private seller.
Financing from the car dealer: Financing and payment options are readily available from auto dealers through their financing company. However, you may face challenges getting approval if you don’t have an established credit history.
Bank loans or line of credit: You can apply for financial aid through your bank or credit union. Most banks have programs in place to help newcomers get a car loan with little or no credit.
Do the math to figure out which option makes the most financial sense.
If the test drive goes well and you’re ready to buy a car, ensure you use all the information you researched to work out a fair price. The price should take into account any factory and dealer rebates, discounts, and incentives. It is a good idea to have this information in a report to use as a negotiating tool when dealing with a salesperson. This can be the most difficult stage of buying a car since car dealers want to get the suggested retail price. So, at a minimum, you should know what price the dealer paid the factory for the car and what rebates are available to them.
Your solid research can help you to negotiate the best price and save you hundreds or thousands of dollars on the new car price. The art of the deal is to allow the dealer to make some profit, but not all at your expense.
During the buying stage, the cost of the car can go much higher when the salesperson tries to sell dealer-installed extras such as:
In most cases, these are high-margin profit items for the dealer that reduce any cost-savings you negotiate. These are added profits that only come out of your wallet. And most of these extras aren’t necessary. If there are options that you want to purchase, it will drive up the price of your car. So, try to negotiate the price on the options as well. Or, you can also add options at a later date from other places outside of the dealership at a reduced price.
Remember as the buyer with money to spend you have the upper hand. Dealerships don’t want to lose a sale and will try their best to win and keep your future business. So keep these tips in mind when negotiating price:
There are certain steps you will need to take and documents you will need before you can drive off the lot with your new car. Don’t expect to arrive and buy a car on the first day you are in the country. It will take a little bit of time to get things in order first. If you have recently arrived in Canada, here’s some additional information to know and things you need before buying a car.
Depending on your country of origin, you may be able to exchange your driver’s licence for one in your new province. If you can’t transfer your licence, you may be able to get some driving experience credit. Bring your current driver’s licence to a local licencing office to start the process of getting a Canadian driver’s licence.
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You cannot get car insurance without first getting your Canadian driver’s licence. Once this is in place, you can compare car insurance quotes and find coverage for your vehicle. If you are buying a car from an auto dealership, they can help you get your insurance documents in order. Using an insurance broker is also a good option. Brokers can help you explore your insurance options and find affordable premiums.
To finalize the purchase of your vehicle, you will need to register your car with the provincial government where you reside. Check out this post for links to Provincial Ministries of Transportation. You will need your drivers’ licence, insurance, and bill of sale to complete this process. Again, if you are buying from a dealership, they will take care of the registration process for you.
These tips and information are important things to consider if you are thinking of buying a car in Canada. A new car is a large investment and these tips can help you to make a wise financial decision.
For more information about your financial first steps in Canada, visit our banking in Canada resource page. Get the essential information you need to manage your finances in Canada!
To achieve professional success it’s vital to develop a career plan. But, where do you start? If you don’t know where or how to start to develop your plan, then continue reading and get helpful tips.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to developing a career plan, Linda Ryan shares the top five things you can do to achieve success! Prepare for Canada spoke to her to get her valuable insights about how to develop a career plan. Ironically, none of her tips even mention resume, job hunting, or LinkedIn. Those elements, Ryan stated, are all about attitude and approach. In contrast, the tips she offers provide the building blocks of any successful life transition. And, that includes helping newcomers develop a career plan to achieve success even before arriving in Canada.
We asked Linda Ryan for her advice on why it’s essential to develop a career plan and where to begin. She discussed five key tips that she has come to believe are the building blocks of any successful transition.
1: Get focused
2: Get real
3: Get knowledgeable
4: Get prepared
5: Get on with it.
Linda Ryan: My first tip is to get focused. “Adopting the ‘‘I’ll take any job’ mindset is one of the most unhelpful approaches to career transition, especially in a new country.” Accepting any job, or what’s also known as a survival job, serves to pay the bills while you search for a job that aligns with your:
However, accepting “any job” is not a sustainable career development strategy. And, taking any job will leave you feeling unfulfilled, unproductive, and unhappy.
A better approach is to focus on what you would love to do in one, five, or 15 years from now.
To help you get focused, you can look at your interests, aspirations, existing education, and experience.
Linda Ryan
The next step is to look at the:
It’s helpful to focus on up to three possible role types that you would like to pursue. This will help you decide what specific activities you must act upon to develop a plan and achieve career success.
Linda Ryan: It’s important to be realistic about the job prospects in Canada. So it’s a good idea to access high-level labour market information for the city, province and profession where you plan to settle. Job Bank is Canada’s national employment service that’s available as a website and mobile app.
It helps you develop a career plan and find work by providing an overview of your profession in Canada. This career planning tool is invaluable and provides information about:
Linda Ryan: It’s helpful to know if your profession is regulated or unregulated in Canada. When you confirm this, you’ll know what you require to work in Canada and what it actually means for your goals. With this knowledge, you can adjust your career-planning activities accordingly.
Linda Ryan: One vital activity is to understand the difference between education evaluation and credential evaluation. There are clear differences between each activity that can help you prepare for career success.
If you plan to arrive in Canada soon, you can start these activities before you arrive. Because doing so is smart and strategic! To learn more, check out this post.
Also, get comfortable with planning. In fact, you should have a Plan A and a Plan B (maybe even a Plan C) for your career. And expect to change these plans as your circumstances and experiences change.
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Linda Ryan: Only you are accountable for developing a career plan, no one else. However, it’s healthy to ask for help and seek guidance from experts. You can even access free newcomer services to help you achieve your career goals faster. It’s also helpful to build connections with peers in your local industry.
But, it’s up to you to take consistent and constructive action to build the career that you want. So, get into action, adjust your plans, and keep on doing.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
There are many things you need to think about when moving to Canada. One often overlooked are the types of clothing you’ll need for Canada and the different seasons. Many new immigrants often gloss over the fact that Canada has a unique climate, unlike any other country. It can snow in the spring or you can be wearing shorts in December. Canadian weather can be truly unpredictable. If you are not prepared, you could find yourself with a suitcase full of clothing that has you ill-prepared for the weather outside. And while Canada may be known for its cold winters, when you know the type of clothing to wear, winter can be a very enjoyable season, filled with fun outdoor activities.
Canada is truly a nation of four seasons. So you’ll need to dress for different seasons. The weather can vary greatly based on where you live in the country. It can also change significantly from one day to the next. You can experience humidity and temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer and temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius with the wind chill in the winter.
So, you really need to have the right types of clothing to keep yourself comfortable throughout the year in Canada. But we have you covered with the list below.
Depending on your country of origin, you may have some of these clothing items already. All basic clothing items are standard, no matter where you live. But pay particular attention to the winter clothing items. If you are without these, you’ll want to get them as soon as possible. Because no matter where you live in Canada, you are going to need good, comfortable, and warm clothing. If you’re spending time doing anything in the snow, such as skiing, snowmobiling, skating, or even just building a snowman, you’ll need something beyond your average city-appropriate outerwear.
All clothing on the list below is readily available for purchase in stores across the country. You can also find these items online or used at local thrift stores. Here is a list of clothing you will need for each season:
This is the start of patio season. Spring is a signal that winter is over, and the warmer weather is on the horizon. It can be an unpredictable season. The cold could linger, and you could find it to be unseasonably cool. Or it could be exceptionally warm. It’s a good idea to have some summer and fall items handy to be prepared for the unpredictable nature of this season:
Arriving with an action plan for your first weeks in Canada can save you time and money. The quicker you settle into your new environment the faster you’ll feel at home! In this webinar, Your First Weeks in Canada, we discuss the important things to do to manage your first weeks efficiently.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARCanadian summers can be hot and humid. It can be just as warm as about anywhere else in the world. Expect a mix of sunshine and some rainy days. There will be lots of opportunities to enjoy parks, the lake and local beaches. It’s the time of the year when people celebrate Canada Day, go on vacation, head to cottages, and enjoy the outdoors to the fullest. Here are some types of clothing items to have:
Once fall comes around, you’ll notice the leaves starting to change colour on the trees and the weather starting to cool. It is pumpkin spice latte season. It’s time to break out your sweaters and celebrate Thanksgiving. Here is the clothing you will need for fall:
We’re sure you’ve heard about Canadian winters. We are known for them. Fortunately, what most people don’t realize is that winter is only one season out of the year. But it is true, the frigid temperatures, snow and ice, and bone-chilling winds are very real. You’ll want to wear multiple layers, especially if you head outside to go tobogganing, skiing, or for a good brisk walk. Here are some examples of the type of clothing you’ll need for a Canadian winter:
You can always get up-to-date information about the weather in Canada here.
If you have most of these types of clothing for Canada, you’ll be comfortable year-round no matter what city you call home. As you can see from the above list, you will need a little bit of everything to ensure you are prepared for Canadian weather. It’s common for new immigrants to come to Canada without all the right types of clothing. But don’t worry, you will have no trouble getting the clothing you need once you arrive.
Being new to Canada, one of the first things you will want to do when you arrive in the country is begin your job search. It can take some time before you get a call for an interview. But you can use this time to learn how to prepare for a job interview in Canada. Plus, this time will allow you to become familiar with how job interviews work in Canada and how they differ from your home country.
Getting a job interview is exciting. It’s an opportunity for you to get your life rolling in Canada. But before you think too far ahead, you need to prepare for a successful interview that leads to a job offer.
A job interview does not guarantee you will get the job. But it’s an important opportunity to show how your skills and experience make you a great candidate for the role. The interview process for Canadian companies is not always the same. However, you can expect many of the following practices. And some interviews may even combine some of these practices:
When you know what to expect and understand the process this will help you to prepare for your interview and focus your time and effort.
The key to your interview success is having a clear understanding of what the job requires. This will help you to focus on how to prepare. For example, it’s vital to:
Read the job description carefully and highlight the skills and experience that you have
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Interviewers will ask you different questions about your skills and experience. But what they want to know is why you are the best fit and what you can offer. To prepare for an interview ask yourself:
You will get out of the experience what you put into it. So, if you invest time and effort to prepare for an interview, you will have a much greater chance of it leading to a job offer.
Many settlement agencies offer job search services to help newcomers prepare for a successful job interview!
Here are some important details to handle the day before the interview:
Taking care of these things will help you have a clear mind on the day of the interview. And this will help to put your best effort forward. Preparing for a job interview will give you the confidence you need to succeed. So put in the time and effort and give yourself the best chance to get the job you desire in Canada!
One of the first things new immigrants want to establish when they move to Canada is somewhere they can call home. Your ability to buy a home and qualify for a mortgage is tied together if you do not have the funds to purchase a property outright.
You will need to meet certain financial criteria as set out by Canadian banks and financial institutions. This may seem intimidating and even challenging, largely because of misconceptions.
There is a belief that newcomers cannot get a mortgage from a Canadian bank, they won’t qualify if they don’t have a strong credit history or they won’t qualify until they have a couple of years of employment history in Canada. These are not true.
There are many immigrants who qualify for mortgages every day. In fact, did you know that 18% of mortgage consumers are newcomers to Canada?
Financing is available to both permanent and non-permanent residents. However, qualifying for a mortgage will depend on your status. Here is an overview of mortgage requirements:
As a permanent resident, you will have access to a variety of mortgages and programs. You could qualify for a standard mortgage if you have a good credit rating. This means one of the applicants must have a credit score of 680 or higher. You will also require at least a 5% down payment.
If you do not have a good credit score, you can still qualify for a mortgage through a newcomer to Canada program. You will still require a minimum 5% down payment.
If you are paying less than 20% of the cost of the purchase price, you will have to get mortgage loan insurance.
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As a non-permanent resident, you have specific requirements to qualify for a mortgage. For example, you must:
With a good credit rating, you could qualify for a standard mortgage. If you do not have established credit in Canada, you may have to get a letter of reference from your financial institution from your country of origin. You will need to qualify under a new to Canada program.
You will not qualify for a mortgage if you are not a permanent resident, have poor credit, and do not have at least a 10% down payment.
When applying for a mortgage, a lender will review your income. This can be from many sources as long as the income is plausible, such as income from full or part-time employment, self-employment, rental properties, support or alimony payments, or pensions.
The lender will require a letter from your full or part-time employer to confirm income, especially if you have had the job for less than two years. You should have copies of your last two year’s tax returns and be up-to-date with any outstanding taxes.
The lender will also look at your debts, including your proposed house payment, as well as monthly payments for loans, credit cards, car leases or child support. It is important that you include all debts you have on your mortgage application as they can impact your ability to borrow.
Evidence of regular income is another critical factor lenders consider. They are more inclined to favor applicants who have worked at one job continuously for several years or have remained in the same field. However, you can still qualify for a mortgage if you’ve changed jobs recently as long as your new employer can prove your income with a Letter of Employment to confirm your:
They may also ask for recent pay stubs to confirm your rate of pay.
If you’re self-employed or have worked at a job for less than two years, lenders may ask for additional information, such as federal income tax statements, to verify your income.
To qualify for a mortgage, a good credit rating is essential. In addition to reviewing your debt and income, a lender will also pull your credit report. The report details your payment history and how you’ve handled your past obligations. You can get a copy of your credit report before you apply for a mortgage to veryify its accuracy or correct any errors before you apply for a mortgage. However, each credit “pull” will negatively impact your credit score for a short period of time, so avoid pulling your credit too often.
Qualifying for a mortgage ensures that you meet certain criteria set out by lenders. Here are the main steps you will need to take to qualify:
You will have to put money down on any mortgage. The more you save, the better position you will be in to qualify for a mortgage.
As soon as you arrive in Canada, its important to start building your credit history. A strong score will not only help you qualify for a mortgage, but it will also help you get a better rate. You can do this by paying your bills in full each month, use and pay off your credit cards, and maintain a consistent source of employment income.
Lenders want to see proof of a stable financial situation. To do this, you can get a letter of reference from your financial institution, an employment letter from your employers, and show copies of recent pay stubs.
There are plenty of mortgage options. You can choose from traditional banks, to credit unions, and private lenders. You can also enlist the services of a mortgage broker to help you qualify. Brokers work for you, and they will shop around and compare options for you. They can be a big help to find the right mortgage for your specific needs.
A pre-approved mortgage indicates how how much mortgage you can afford and guarantees a mortgage rate (usually for 90 – 120 days) while you look for a home.
A pre-approved mortgage can give you more credibility to sellers and real estate agents, And in bidding wars, common in hot housing markets, it can give you an advantage against competing home buyers. However, be sure to consider these tips:
Understand the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval. For example, pre-qualification is less formal and confirms that you meet general lending guidelines. And sometimes you can obtain a pre-qualification over the phone or through an online assessment.
On the other hand, a pre-approval is a detailed process and takes more time to complete. You need to complete a mortgage application and provide documents to verify things such as your income, debt, employment, and credit history.
A lender will review your application before they pre-approve you.
Don’t let your guard down after you get pre-approved for a mortgage. Missing or skipping credit card payments, increasing debt, or changing jobs could void your pre-approval.
If rates remain low and you’re still searching for a home, you can reset your pre-approval every 45-75 days. Doing so will not only extend your rate hold but will safeguard you against any mortgage rate hikes before you close. Although, some lenders may restrict rate resets.
Shop around and choose pre-approval terms that offer you the most benefits. For example, opt for the longest rate hold (120 days), and other mortgage features such as the ability to make prepayments, fair penalties, and refinancing options.
Qualifying for a mortgage can be an intimidating process, but it does not have to be this way. There are countless ways for newcomers to get approved for a mortgage. It happens every day. You just need to know the steps and understand the financial criteria you need to meet to qualify. Start working toward qualifying from the day you move to Canada, and you will be a homeowner sooner than you think.
For more information about your financial first steps in Canada, visit our banking in Canada resource page. Get the essential information you need to manage your finances in Canada!
Career counselling can help you navigate what you require to build your career in Canada. In fact, it can help you to build your success faster when you access pre-arrival career services. For newcomers, finding a job that best suits your skills, background, and experience can reduce your job search stress.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips about how pre-arrival career counselling can help you build success.
Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan, who arrived in Canada as a newcomer in 2010. As she explained, settlement services were not as available as they are today. Further, she stated that pre-arrival services didn’t exist, or she was unaware of them. As a result, she struggled to find a job.
In response to the need to help newcomers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada fund free pre-arrival career counselling, employment information, and resources. These services give newcomers knowledge and power to build effective job search strategies even before setting foot on Canadian soil.
Linda Ryan: I had a solid education, a great career in my home country, and a management track record to be proud of. And when I came to Canada, I had to jump many hurdles including:
Although Canada had confirmed that it “wanted me”, arriving in Canada as a skilled immigrant still felt like it wasn’t enough. I had to learn from many mistakes about how to:
Easily, I could have saved myself 100 hours of self-doubt and self-defeating job-hunting activities. If I were pre-armed with career counselling services, I could have asked specific questions to someone in the know. By investing 10 hours before I arrived in Canada, I could have achieved success faster. Without this knowledge, it was a challenge to enter the job market.
Linda Ryan: It’s a unique, pre-arrival Canada-wide service that helps high-skilled newcomers explore and build construction careers in Canada. Whether you’re an engineer, architect, project manager, estimator, technician or tradesperson looking to continue your career in Canada. Or, if you are a business, IT, HR, marketing, procurement or finance professional exploring how to move into a high-demand industry, BCCA-IN can help.
The program has evolved and extends services to clients or partners of clients, whether or not construction is their primary industry focus. The wisdom is that if you support spouses/partners pre-arrival, you also increase the success rate for settlement, integration, and employment.
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
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Linda Ryan: Counselling services help newcomers to find career success faster. As well, these services provide a return on investment for the economy and the community that newcomers settle in.
Linda Ryan: We offer a range of services that include:
Our services focus on the best and most practical career, credentials, and connection activities. As a result, these services help newcomers to find employment faster.
Our team has multi-industry experience that can benefit newcomers. We’re also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada. So we get it!
Linda Ryan: Ten years on, I’m so passionate about helping others build their careers. So not only do I provide career counselling, but I dedicate my time to ensure newcomers avoid the mistakes I made!
Linda Ryan: If I could depart three pearls of wisdom about how to achieve success in Canada, I’d say:
2. Access free employment and settlement services
3. Do it before you land in Canada.
There is a world of opportunity in Canada! But you’ve got to know where to look and how to access it.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Transferable job skills can open the door to a variety of career opportunities in Canada. People with a diverse skillset can take steps toward different job titles, industries and career paths. And transferable job skills are a vital asset for newcomers,
Moving to a new country often means a shift in your career. As a result, you may take on work in different fields when you first arrive. This could be because you need to acquire new certifications or pass licensing tests to work in your area of expertise in Canada. This can take some time. As a result, you may need to work in an unrelated job to supplement your income until you can resume your career in Canada.
Here we will define transferable skills, how to identify your skills and provide the most in-demand skills in Canada.
Transferable skills are abilities and attributes that you can use in a variety of situations and for different types of work. Most of these skills that you have developed over time through:
Transferable skills include hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills refer to your technical ability. Soft skills include skills such as communication, leadership, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills. While your hard skills are important, it’s your soft skills that help you stand out among other job applicants and succeed in your role. You can learn more about skills and behaviours that Canadians value from this Conference Board of Canada resource.
Everyone has transferable skills. What are yours? Consider your experience and identify the skills you used from your:
Use the list you come up with to search for jobs that call out these skills in the job description. This will help you determine if you are a good match for the role. Once you have a list, add these transferable skills to your Canadian style-resume and LinkedIn profile. This will help employers to search for those skills and find you!
Canadian employers value transferable skills. But it’s helpful if you can clearly explain how your transferable skills relate to the role you apply for. This is an advantage if you apply for a job that doesn’t directly relate to your professional background, but you have the skill set that would allow you to succeed.
Here are the most in-demand transferable job skills right now:
If you’re searching for a job, be sure to emphasize the transferable skills that employers are seeking. Highlight these skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile so employers can see your value.
Transferable job skills are important, especially if you plan to apply for other job titles and industries. Everyone has transferable skills, and taking the time to identify and develop them can open the door to new career opportunities in Canada.
There are many exciting careers in the construction industry right across Canada. And available jobs will continue to increase with many current workers retiring in the years to come. So if you’re looking to make a career change, there are great possibilities, even if don’t have a construction background.
Linda Ryan is the Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services) with BCCA. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips on how to successfully make your career change to the Canadian construction industry. BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, is a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). The BCCA-IN team helps newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
Prepare for Canada: Can you tell us more about the shortage of workers in the construction industry? What types of professions are needed?
Linda Ryan:
With an 80,000 shortfall predicted in workforce numbers over the next decade due to retirements and modest industry growth, it’s fair to say Canada’s construction industry is actively hiring. Like any industry, construction needs tradespeople and specialist professionals such as engineers, architects, estimators, etc. As well, the industry requires strategic professionals for functions such as:
Prepare for Canada: The employee shortfall is great news for job seekers with a construction background. But, what advice do you have for newcomers who want to make a career change? In other words, how can newcomers actually transition their non-construction skills and experience?
Ryan offered these tips to make a career change to the construction industry.
Transitioning your career to a new industry is possible as long as you have a clear plan and are prepared to take lots of small, progressive steps to get there. Accepting that your career transition is a journey, not a destination, is key. It will prepare you for the action and accountability you must assume to make a successful career change.
Answer this question: What’s my goal in moving into the construction industry?
In other words, what will it give you that you don’t currently have? The more honest you are about what and why the more focused you can be about the kind of roles and companies that will suit you. Answering this question will help you confirm what you’re prepared to do to get started because you will have to take a step back in the short term to build your reputation in a new industry.
This is where people make a big mistake. Recruiters will ‘pigeonhole’ you when they read your resume and only consider you for roles that match your experience and industries. So, your old resume won’t cut it. You can overcome this barrier by investing time to look back on your life, hobbies, family influences, volunteer endeavours, and professional experience. Then rewrite a resume and cover letter that shows:
i. An exposure to and interest in construction
II. Key skills and past role achievements that will transfer well into your new target industry.
Start job hunting for roles you’re a realistic fit for in the construction industry. This may mean considering more junior roles. Although you may have transferable skills, employers know that you will have to learn the industry to add 100% of your value, and that takes time. So, know your value but be humble about where you will start your career.
Spend less time applying for jobs and more time tailoring your resume for specific ‘obvious fit’ roles.
Business in Canada relies on a strong network, and even more so in the construction industry. If you’re not prepared to invest time to network and connect with peers online and offline, then you’re not really committed to a career transition.
LinkedIn is a helpful tool to build a professional network and connect with peers. However, don’t connect to ask for a job. Instead, connect because you share a common:
Sometimes it’s as simple as sending a blank connection request on LinkedIn, other times, it’s about asking to connect because you’d value some ‘local industry insights’. Try different approaches. You’ve nothing to lose.
There are many construction associations across Canada. Most are formed as corporate, member-based, not-for-profit organizations. Their mission is to advocate for local construction stakeholders. The associations offer networking events, short in-person and online (inexpensive) courses and are great sources of local industry insights. To find your local Canadian Construction Association, start here: CCA Membership.
These are great tips for anyone looking to make a career change and enter the Canadian construction industry. And BCCA-IN can provide the support and guidance you need.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.