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Working as a dentist in Canada is a good career choice and a profession that will face labour shortages in the coming years. Dentist salaries can be lucrative, but you must undergo extensive training to earn an attractive dentist salary. Dentist job requirements in Canada typically require one to four years of pre-dentistry university studies and a university degree from a recognized dental program. Also, you must obtain a license from a provincial or territorial regulatory body to practice in Canada. To continue your successful dentistry career in Canada, you must research the profession to understand the job requirements. Get the information you need to navigate job requirements for dentists with international experience.
It’s vital to research the dentistry profession in Canada before you arrive. Your thorough research will help you to understand what you require to continue to work as a dentist in Canada. Dentists belong to a regulated profession in Canada. And, it can take a great deal of time, money, and effort to obtain a license to d to practice dentistry in Canada. However, when you know the licensing process, you can prepare in advance.
Each province and territory has its own regulatory body to grant a license to practice dentistry within its jurisdiction. These regulatory bodies recognize the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) certificate.
These are some steps you can take before you move to Canada:
Dentistry is a regulated profession in Canada, so you must be a licensed member of a provincial or territorial regulatory body to practice or use the title of dentist or dental surgeon. With this license, you can work in private practice, hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, or universities. It’s also important to understand how dentistry is practiced in Canada and to become familiar with the legislation that governs dentistry in the province where you’ll settle.
Understanding the demand for dentists in Canada can help you determine what the job prospects will be like. To find out more about job prospects, wages, jobs, requirements, and skills, you can visit the Canada job bank. With this information, you can research the national, provincial, and regional job forecasts for dentists.
According to current data for the period of 2022-2031, employment growth for dentists is above the average for all occupations. There are expected to be about 13,500 new opportunities. This is due to industry expansion as well as many existing dentists retiring in the coming years. However, there is a shortage of dentists to fill these roles, creating an opportunity for internationally trained dentists.
If you have international qualifications, it’s important to know what you require to work in Canada and understand the Canadian labour market. The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is a great place to start your research. Here, you’ll find general information about the job profile, example dentistry titles, duties, and job requirements. Using the 5-digit NOC code 31110 for Dentists you can use this information to help with your job search.
To practice as a dentist, you need to have a license in Canada regardless of your education or experience in another country. So, it’s important to contact the provincial or territorial regulatory body (links provided below) that governs the dental profession in Canada before you arrive in Canada. They can tell you what documents you will require as well as the cost of assessment fees. The licensing process can be lengthy and expensive. So you need to prepare for this reality and ensure that you afford both the time and cost. Take your time to learn about the licensing process and what the dental regulatory body will expect of you.
All regulatory bodies recognize the certificate of the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB). However, to write the exam, you must be a graduate from an accredited program in Canada or the USA – and with some conditions, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland.
If you have graduated from a dental program outside of the mentioned countries, you will be considered an internationally educated dentist and have to take a two-year qualifying program to sit for the exam. In addition to the application and document verification processes, the NDEB assessment process includes three assessments:
You need to successfully complete all three steps before you can write the NDEB exams. Once you pass these exams you may apply to the dental regulator in your province to get licensed.
If you’re immigrating to Quebec, you have three years to meet the mandatory requirement for French language proficiency. If you wish to work in a dental specialty, you will need additional training.
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If you plan to enroll in a university program to upgrade your skills, contact the school that you plan to attend to learn what credential assessment agency you should use. You can use these credential assessment services for more information:
World Education Services (WES) – Ontario
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) – Alberta
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) – British Columbia
To find other credential evaluation, assessment and qualification recognition services click here.
In addition to accreditation, upgrading your skills through a bridging program or other courses and workshops is an important part of your journey to becoming a dentist in Canada. As a dentist, you must continually update your knowledge and skills on new dental procedures and practices. You can benefit from ongoing learning and professional growth offered through continuing education courses and seminars.
You may have strong technical skills, but often that is not enough to get a job or maintain it afterward. As a dentist, you must have skills that include:
You may need more training or skills upgrading, especially your soft skills.
If you would like to be a self-employed dentist, you may require advanced business skills as well as financial resources to establish and maintain the dental practice.
Dentistry requires advanced language abilities in reading, writing, and speaking. Having strong skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages – English or French – is extremely important for your future in Canada. Whether you choose to focus on learning or improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages most people speak in the area where you intend to live. Read more about the importance of communication skills.
You may be eligible for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find other free or affordable English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) classes through school boards or settlement agencies.
There are even language courses to teach you professional terminology, such as job-specific language training and if you are located in Ontario, Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT). You may already speak one of Canada’s two official languages at a high level, and learning the other one is a good option for better job opportunities.
Bridging programs are a good way to transition from your international experience and training to the Canadian workplace. Many colleges, universities, and immigrant-serving agencies offer bridging programs or workshops. You may be eligible for one. Learn more about bridging programs to find one that’s suitable for you:
This centre provides internationally educated health professionals with the necessary tools to become successfully licensed in their Health Care Profession in Alberta/Canada. Participants will be assigned a dentist Career Coach who will guide them through the licensing and employment process.
University of British Columbia
International Dental Degree Completion Program
This program is offered to graduates of international dental programs that are not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. This two-year program will lead to the awarding of the Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree.
University of Manitoba
International Dentist Degree Program
This program is offered to graduates of international dental programs not accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada.
University of Toronto
International Dentist Advanced Placement Program
This program is for graduates of non-accredited dental programs that have not been recognized by The Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada. It prepares them to take the NDEB examinations. After successful completion of this 5-month program, students are fully integrated into the third year of U of T’s four-year Doctor of Dental Surgery Program (DDS), leading to the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Western University
ITD – Internationally Trained Dentists Program
Held over two academic years beginning in May/June, the Program leads to a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS). Upon successful completion of the ITD Program and the NDEB Written and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, candidates will be eligible for licensure/registration as a dentist in all Canadian provinces (a French proficiency exam is required for licensure in Quebec).
If you plan to continue your education, there are 10 dental schools in Canada. Each one has specific programs and specializations. You can research different schools to determine which one is best for you based on your career goals:
The following associations can provide more information about licensing, certification, professional development, education, and networking opportunities.
Canadian Dental Association (CDA)
National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB)
Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada (CDAC)
Royal College of Dentists of Canada (RCDC)
Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD)
Alberta
Alberta Dental Association and College (ADAC)
British Columbia
College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia (CDSBC)
Manitoba
Manitoba Dental Association (MDA)
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Dental Society (NBDS)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador Dental Association (NLDA)
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Provincial Dental Board of Nova Scotia (PDBNS)
Nunavut
Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services, Government of Nunavut
Ontario
Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO)
Quebec
Ordre des dentistes du Québec (ODQ)
Saskatchewan
College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CDSS)
Yukon
Professional Licensing, Department of Community Services, Government of Yukon
Professional immigrant networks (PINS): These volunteer associations or networks are created by and for immigrant professionals and seek to create a forum to contribute to and enrich their respective communities. They also provide opportunities for their members to find meaningful employment and achieve their professional goals.
PINS offers activities that include networking events, mentoring, information sessions, professional development opportunities, and connections to job opportunities.
For example, in Nova Scotia there is isans: Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia: isans helps newcomer professionals to integrate economically and socially in the province of Nova Scotia.
Dentist salaries can span a wide range depending on your experience and level of specialization. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, dentist salaries can range from approximately $30,000 to about $350,000 annually. The province with the highest average dentist salary is Alberta ($127, 890). The province with the lowest average dentist salary is British Columbia ($104,055).
Here are the most recent dentist salary (November 2022) numbers in Canada. At this time, data is not available for all provinces and territories.
| Province | Low ($/year) | Median ($/year) | High ($/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 31,688 | 127,890 | 344,374 |
| British Columbia | 35,592 | 104,055 | 214,633 |
| Nova Scotia | 30,870 | 115,050 | 166,709 |
| Ontario | 32,274 | 114,966 | 248,306 |
| Quebec | 29,862 | 121,027 | 243,253 |
There is an increasing demand for dentists in Canada because of population growth, an aging population, and technological advancement in diagnosis and treatment. Though the demand for dentists is throughout Canada, you may want to consider the fast-growing provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and rural areas throughout the country. Large cities such as Toronto, are also a good option. A dentist’s salary will vary based on your location and the job prospects.
Also, it is important to consider the availability of bridging or other educational qualifying programs in dentistry when researching and choosing your destination city. Visit Choosing a City to discover cities across Canada and learn about the local employment market, the housing market, newcomer support, and more.
Dentists in Canada work in private practices or may be employed in hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, or universities. Some are employed by local, provincial, and federal health authorities or choose to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.
If you want to explore possible dental career opportunities outside the dental practice, you may consider working as a dental educator, researcher, administrator, or sales representative. These options also offer competitive dental salaries. You can also visit Canada’s Best Diversity Employers website. This special designation recognizes Canada’s best employers for diversity and inclusion.
The Canadian job market is competitive, so you must prepare and understand the steps to gain employment. You must register to practice as a dentist in the province or territory where you intend to work and look for jobs in that region. Take your time to research job requirements in the region and develop a plan to find work.
There are many ways to search for a job in dentistry for example:
For more information on job search techniques, click here.
Finding a job in Canada may be different than in your home country. Most settlement agencies and other immigrant-serving organizations offer help to find job vacancies, update your resume, write cover letters, prepare for interviews and understand what Canadian employers are looking for.
Click here to find immigrant services in your area.
Networking is a critical activity that involves building relationships with other professionals to expand your connections. When done effectively, you can find job leads, gain advice and information about the dental profession, and expand your network. Networking can also help you discover unadvertised jobs in what is known as the “hidden” job market. Making connections with other dentists and others in your field can help you discover jobs.
Good places to meet new people and network with others include conferences, associations, and schools.
LinkedIn is another important professional tool for networking. It is great to connect with former colleagues and employers, search by company or jobs, and get introductions and recommendations. You can also connect with people in the dental field and join related professional groups.
While the job outlook is good for dentists, landing that next opportunity, requires effort and outreach. Informational interviewing is an effective way to practice your communication abilities, research skills, and networking talents to work for your own benefit.
An informational interview is a brief, 20–30-minute meeting you schedule with a person currently working in dentistry in Canada. The purpose of the interview is to learn more about the profession in Canada and gain insights.
Your goal should not be to get a job but rather to learn more about dentistry in Canada and industry trends and issues. An informational interview with a contact from your network can be an excellent source of dentist career information because, in addition to basic information about the dental field, you’ll also gain from hearing directly about your contact’s first-hand experience and impressions.
To identify possible people to meet with, use your existing network to identify people to speak to. Create 15-20 open-ended questions that will yield useful information about dentistry in Canada.
All dentists have degrees, but where they separate themselves is in their experience, expertise, and special training. You can stand out and create an effective resume by highlighting your special skills and experience. Consider these tips when preparing your resume:
Practice is key before you attend an interview and it can make the difference between a job offer or a job decline. To prepare for an interview for a role in dentistry, here are some questions that an interviewer may ask you:
Avoid asking questions about dentist’s salary and benefits until the time is right or the subject is brought up by the interviewer. It’s helpful if you have a portfolio of your work. Obviously, respect the anonymity and privacy of your patients, but you can impress a prospective employer when you can show the quality of your work (before and after photos, case histories, etc.).
Regardless of the type of dental practice you work for, make sure that you convey value to your next boss. How much did you produce? Yes, you are highly trained, qualified, and skilled, but at the end of the day, this is about operating a profitable small business. A dental practice wants to know that you are going to contribute as least as much and hopefully more to your next practice than you have to your current employer.
For newcomers, carefully managing your finances is vital especially if you have not yet landed your ideal job. Settlement agencies suggest it can take up to six months to land a job that matches your skills and experiences. In the meantime, carefully managing your budget can reduce stress and financial pressure. Managing your finances will also help you build your Canadian credit history and influence your credit score.
Here, we’ll explore how to create a budget for some of your main expenses in Canada.
So where to start, which is essential to achieving future loans! You need to establish your Canadian credit history because it will be important for many reasons including buying your first home.
An important guiding principle is not how much you earn, but how much you spend. Many Canadians carry too much debt, trying to “keep up with the neighbours”, in other words, buying everything from cars to electronics, even if they can’t afford it. Overspending can catch you in a trap that you want to avoid.
To manage your personal finances, start by preparing a budget with basic expenses like rent and utilities in mind. The cost of living in Canadian cities can vary. Large cities like Toronto and Vancouver are sought-after because they offer the most job opportunities, however, they are also more expensive.
Here are some of the basic expenses to consider when creating your budget:
Housing costs will be the largest monthly expense. Newcomers often rent an apartment when they first arrive in Canada and prices vary depending on the city. Typically, prices for a one-bedroom apartment can range from $700 to $2,500 per month depending on the city.
Before you rent an apartment, visit the building to ensure it’s the right place for you. Determine if it meets your needs and is close to shops, work, and public transit.
Rentals for Newcomers site is a practical and easy-to-navigate site that can help you find housing that meets your unique needs! You can even determine the average costs of rentals in cities across Canada. This is helpful since rental prices change often. You’ll also find helpful articles to help you with your housing search.
Ready to take control of your financial journey in Canada? Join our expert-led online webinar! Learn essential banking tips to build a strong financial foundation. Hear from David Frattini, Managing Partner at Prepare for Canada, and Neil Dhanani, Financial Advisor at Scotiabank, as they guide you through everything you need to know.
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARYou will need to budget for the cost of utilities such as electricity (hydro), heating, telephone, cable, and internet. Some apartments include heating and hydro costs in the rent. If you have to pay for electricity, you can ask the landlord what you expect to pay every month. But, your bill will also depend on usage and time of day.
For utilities like internet, cable, and telephone, the best option is to shop for bundles (combined service plans) from different telecom providers in your area. A bundle can cost anywhere between $100 – $150 per month. Or, check out streaming services that are less expensive than cable television.
Cell phone plans range from $15 per month to more than $150, depending on the number of free minutes and text messages and the data usage limits. Voicemail activation usually costs extra. You can start with a basic plan and upgrade according to your needs.
While not a bill per se, the cost of doing laundry will be similar from one month to the next. Apartment buildings come with laundry rooms with coin or card-operated washing machines. A washing cycle costs between $2.25 and $3.50 depending on the length, and a dryer cycle is similar.
Even if you are renting, it’s a good idea to purchase renter’s insurance to protect you against damage and theft. The insurance can cost up to a few hundred dollars a year.
Depending on your province, you may also have to pay health insurance premiums, which vary by province and according to the size of your family. You will also need to factor in the premiums for any private health insurance you may buy.
Public transit is probably the most affordable means of travel. All cities offer affordable travel options such as buses, trains, subways, light-rail trains, and streetcars. A monthly transit pass can cost anywhere between $70 to more than $150 depending on the city and the number of travel routes. In large cities, such as Toronto, the public transit system covers the Greater Toronto Area, and you can easily transfer from one mode of transit to another.
To use public transit, you can purchase individual tickets starting at $3.50, but you can use a transfer at the start of your destination to transfer to different transit modes. In other words, you only have to pay once at the start of your destination. You can also buy transit passes that allow unlimited transit use for a period. Some cities offer an electric fare payment system that allows you to load money onto a card to make travelling easier and at a discounted fare.
You can find specific fare information about public transit in your city by visiting the website of your city government, or the public transit system.
The cost of your food bill will depend largely on your diet, personal standards, and where you live. The stores and supermarkets in popular posh areas are more expensive and will offer more high-quality gourmet and organic products, while cheaper areas will have more low-cost options. Food can set you back anywhere from $100 per week for a single person to several hundred. Cooking at home and planning your meals will balance cost and nutrition.
Personal care items and other supplies can start at $2 at dollar stores, but you may have to compromise on quality. Supermarkets have store brands that are usually cheaper than name brands and, in many cases, of comparable quality.
Again, your personal preferences will determine your clothing budget. You should bring quality items that will last you because clothes shopping is best kept until you find employment. You can pay anywhere from a few dollars for clothing at a cheap retailer or a thrift (second-hand) store to hundreds and even thousands at high-end designer stores.
Movie tickets can cost $10 to $15 depending on the movie and the time of day. Most theatre tickets usually start at $20, and concerts of popular performers can cost well over $100. You can take advantage of local libraries to borrow DVDs and look for community theatres with free performances or performances by donation. It’s important to budget for entertainment, but this may be a personal finance area that you can cut back on if necessary.
Big cities offer great variety and cultural cuisine, so you may want to treat yourself and your family to occasional restaurant outings. The costs can be anywhere from $10 per person at fast-food restaurants, to more than $50 per person at an average restaurant. People usually tip between 15 – 20% of the bill when eating at a restaurant.
Staying fit and healthy should always be a priority. Some rental buildings come with gyms and the price may be very low or included in the rent. If you plan to join a gym, always read the fine print. The monthly cost is usually $60 to $100, but most gyms charge introductory fees and substantial cancellation fees.
Personal care costs also cover the range from basic to luxury. Expect to pay at least $25 for a simple haircut (plus tip) and anywhere from $50 to $70 for a manicure.
If you’ve recently arrived in Canada, managing your personal finances carefully will help you reduce financial stress until you find your first job. And, the strong personal finance habits you follow during your first year in Canada will help you to achieve many of your long-term financial goals.
What is mentoring? In the context of your career, a mentoring relationship can be an important tool to help you develop new skills, become more confident, and achieve important career goals. In simple terms, it’s a process where someone shares their skills and knowledge (the mentor) to guide another (the “mentee”). For newcomers, finding a mentor from your profession or trade can provide many benefits, for example, a mentor can help you to:
With help from a mentor, you’ll become familiar with work-related culture, questions, and issues that may be quite different in your home country. And, while you could likely complete these activities on your own, a mentor can help you to quickly get started. And with a quick start, you can:
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Mentoring can be an effective and rewarding relationship when both the mentor and mentee understand their roles. To achieve an effective outcome, here are some of the roles and qualities of mentors and mentees.
A good mentor is someone who is excited to help you achieve professional success in Canada. They’ll maintain a positive outlook about your existing skills, knowledge, talent, and experience and appreciate what you have to offer.
A good mentor is someone who has experience and knowledge that they want to share with you. A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert. Rather they should be able to help you access resources to find the answers to your important questions. In fact, you’ll likely be able to share your knowledge with a mentor as well.
You have many strengths, skills, and knowledge that you bring to your profession in Canada. A good mentor will encourage you and believe in your ability to continue and excel in your career in Canada.
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Providing feedback is an important skill for a mentor. And, providing feedback in a genuine, empathic, and constructive manner can help you to learn, grow, and develop your skills. A good mentor will provide feedback that is specific, honest, and clear. A good mentor will provide feedback to help you with your job search or provide career guidance if you have already landed a job in Canada.
Often, newcomers are frustrated when it takes longer than expected to find a job in their professional field or trade. If you belong to a regulated profession, it can take time to complete the licensing requirements, and it can also be expensive. A good mentor will understand your frustration while encouraging you to keep moving forward despite the obstacles. A good mentor will recognize your career challenges and empower you to achieve your goals.
A good mentor will listen to you carefully. You may have concerns and issues about your job search and career development in Canada. However, you also have your own ideas about how to overcome obstacles. A good mentor will listen to your concerns so you can jointly create options.
While a great mentor can provide benefits and guidance it’s also important to understand what a mentor will not do. For example, a mentor will not:
Their primary role is to share their experience and provide guidance.
To ensure a successful mentoring relationship, a great mentee:
With a clear goal in mind, your mentor will be able to help you reach your career goal.
To reach meaningful outcomes, it’s important to be open and honest with your mentor. So it’s helpful to share your professional goals, issues, and concerns. When you can openly discuss issues and obstacles, together you can create options and a solid plan of action to jump those career hurdles.
Mentors are usually volunteering for a professional association or community-based group. So it’s important to respect their time and effort. For example, it’s helpful when mentees:
A mentor’s role is to provide you with professional guidance. So it’s best to focus on professional and career-related topics. Also, it’s important to respect their time. For example, you may want to set how and when you can contact your mentor to avoid any misunderstandings.
As well, it’s helpful to set the length of your mentoring relationship. Mentoring relationships can be anywhere from 4 – 12 months depending on the organization.
While a mentor must be able to skillfully provide feedback. it’s equally important that the mentee is open and receptive to feedback. When delivered in a constructive manner, feedback is a gift that can help you to grow both personally and professionally.
There are key elements that contribute to a successful relationship. Here are some factors to consider to ensure success:
A successful partnership is based on a great match between the mentor and the mentee. When you connect easily and have a genuine interest in each other, you’ll work together well. The partnership can be formal or informal.
Realistic expectations and goals will guide the mentoring partnership in the right direction. A mentor is not there to tell the mentee what to do, but rather to help them along. Mentorship involves more than just devoting a set time period, it requires buy-in and commitment from both sides.
A strong partnership will flow both ways. Mentees should expect to contribute to the relationship in a meaningful way. In other words, don’t just expect professional advice without giving back. For example, you can share a book title or article that you think your mentor may be interested in. Sharing and exchanging ideas can show that you appreciate their effort and that you are interested in their growth as well. You’ll also have the added advantage of cultivating a great relationship!
Defining the goals of the mentorship relationship is the key to a successful partnership. Each partner should be accountable for success. Setting goals early in the process can help you achieve concrete outcomes together. A goal can be as simple as: “I’d like to become more confident in job interviews.”
Or, a goal can be to develop a specific skill that would help you to achieve a career goal.
In Canada, there are many services such as the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC) that provide job search help and mentoring programs. For more service providers, check this Government of Canada site.
As well, many professional associations provide mentoring programs specific to your career field.
To learn more about associations related to your profession in Canada, check out our Career Pathways articles for more than 20 occupations in Canada. For each occupation, you’ll discover associations and immigrant networks that can help you to find a mentor in Canada.
A successful mentoring relationship can make a big difference in your career life in Canada. And with a strong commitment, you’ll develop and build essential skills, become more confident, and achieve career success. In time. your success may even encourage you to become a mentor to help future newcomers thrive!
Self-awareness is the key to unlocking a world of job opportunities and leading you to personal and professional excellence. With an increased understanding of your strengths, areas to improve, and values, you can make well-informed career decisions, navigate challenges, and enhance your self-confidence. Self-awareness can also boost your job search and career success. With self-awareness, you’ll have the confidence you need to influence and persuade employers that you’re the right fit for the job. Also, when you have a clear understanding of your personality, it can help you to define what type of work you find most satisfying.
Self-awareness can also provide you with a clear sense of:
This information is essential to showcase your capabilities and strengths on your resume and in job interviews. As well, when you know your strengths, you can use this information to your advantage to prepare for your job search.
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The best way to approach a job interview in Canada is to know as much as you can about yourself and your work style.
When you complete the free Drake P3 personality assessment, you’ll receive a profile report that measures five fundamental behavioral dimensions:
With an understanding of these building blocks of your personality, you’ll identify what contributes to your job fit and career success.
Job fit is a measure of what your likes and dislikes in a job and work environment. For example, if you think about a job you held in the past where you were extremely satisfied, you likely had a good job fit. That means that there was a high match between your job likes and the degree to which those elements were present in the job.
With self-awareness, you can identify your preferences, and you can search for jobs that provide those elements. For example, you may prefer jobs that provide a high degree of flexibility and freedom versus jobs that are highly structured. And when there is a great fit, you’ll achieve greater career satisfaction and success!
Job fit is also important to employers. Employers know that when the job fit is high, you will stay with their company and contribute to its success. It’s a win-win situation for you and the employer!
You may have the right skills, knowledge, education, and experience that the job requires, but lack job fit. With the absence of a job fit, employers will be concerned that you will not enjoy the job and you will leave. This can be costly for employers, so that’s why they focus on evaluating job candidates in four key areas:
2. Competencies
3. Experience, and
4. Job fit (personal attributes and motivators).
When you truly understand your personality and key strengths, you set yourself up for personal and career success. You may have completed a personality assessment in the past. If you have, it’s helpful to pull out your report and review it. Again, this is helpful information to have when you are:
If you have not completed a personality assessment, you can complete the Drake P3 Assessment® right now!
Your results from the Drake P3 Assessment® will allow you to know and understand your personality and how you approach your work and colleagues. This is an important first step to achieving career success in Canada.
The assessment process is simple, and you can complete it online in less than 15 minutes.
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There are many benefits to having a better understanding of your strengths, and here’s how it can help with your job search efforts:
Some jobs naturally appeal to each of us. And when you truly know yourself, you’ll understand what makes some jobs more attractive than other jobs to you. For example, if you are introverted, you may be more attracted to roles that require less personal interaction. On the other hand, if you identify as extroverted, you’ll likely excel in a job role that requires more interaction with customers, vendors, and other employees.
When you know yourself and your attributes, it can help you to identify roles that will allow you to achieve success. However, you’ll still need to evaluate the role and the company to determine if both are right for you. Each role and company will be unique.
When you know your strengths, you’ll show confidence when responding to questions that speak to job fit. Job fit refers to how well-suited someone is for the position. This is an important aspect that recruiters evaluate because it can reduce costly turnover if someone isn’t suitable for the job. To assess fit, an interviewer may ask: Describe a job you most enjoyed and what you liked about the job.
With self-awareness and a clear understanding of your strengths, you can share elements of the job that aligned with your strengths. For example, someone applying for a sales and marketing role can convey how their strong communication and leadership attributes allowed them to build trusting relationships with clients that led to achieving sales targets. And if these attributes are key components of the job, an interviewer will have greater confidence in their ability and fit for the role.
With self-awareness of your strengths and motivators, you can focus on your strengths to accelerate your career development. Self-awareness is less about fixing flaws, rather it’s about knowing and playing to your strengths. However, if you have a weakness in an area that is critical to the job role, this will likely lead to job dissatisfaction and lower performance. Again, understanding your strengths will allow you to do your best work with confidence and authenticity.
When you complete a personality assessment, you’ll understand your dominant personality strengths and be able to harness them to achieve job search and career success in Canada. It’s an essential first step to unleashing a world of opportunity in both your professional and personal growth and development.
For more information, tools, and resources related to finding a job in Canada visit our resource page today!
Small businesses are a vital part of Canada’s economy. In fact, small businesses (with less than 100 employees) make up close to 98% of employer businesses in Canada. And, for many newcomers starting a small business in Canada can be a rewarding experience. However, it’s essential to understand what’s required to ensure your success. Check out these eight steps to know and do if you’re interested in starting a business! From understanding your market to small business financing, you’ll discover helpful information and resources to move you in the right direction.
A small business usually starts with a simple idea. Maybe you have a new product idea or invention. Or maybe you want to distribute products from your homeland to the Canadian market (or vice-versa). You may want to purchase an existing running business or franchise. Or maybe you have a specialty service to market as a self-employed person or a small boutique firm (i.e. web designer).
But, before you venture further, you need to better understand the market or need for your product or services, particularly in the Canadian context. Ask yourself if there is a need in your community. What is your target market? Is there a demand for the product or service? While there are many reasons why small businesses fail in Canada, a common reason is a failure to conduct market research.
You have to do plenty of market research (see Industry Canada, a great resource for this), plus look at your local market and competitors. For example, if you’re planning to open a sushi restaurant in a specific city or neighbourhood, find out who your competitors will be, including sushi and other restaurants.
Starting a small business is one thing, but how will you structure it? There are many things to consider related to how you form your business and its legal structure. There are pros and cons with different types of legal entities, which include:
You must also decide on and register a business name. You will require proof of registration to open a bank account, for example, for the company.
Once you have a clear understanding of the market, and feel your business meets a need, the second step is to write a business plan. A business plan is an essential document for launching a small business in Canada. Do you understand Canadian business plan standards? Find help in writing a plan with a professional consultant or these online resources:
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Most small businesses take time to start earning a profit. Do you have financing in place to not only start your business but keep it afloat?
Financing is one of the biggest challenges for start-up businesses, particularly if you are a newcomer with a limited amount of credit history in Canada. Various options for financing your business include:
Do you know how to effectively market your business in today’s social media-savvy climate? Do you have a social media strategy?
For many small businesses, especially for mom & pop stores, small restaurants, and boutiques, profit margins can be pretty tight. Your next goal is to grow your business by increasing your efficiencies and maximizing your profits.
Increasing your sales is critical to growing your profit. The first part of increasing your sales is having a product or service that meets a consumer’s need at an appropriate price point. The second part is to create a sales and marketing strategy to get the word out!
Are the costs of running your business too high? Look at ways of cutting your overhead. Assess your suppliers and look for competitive pricing.
Labour, of course, is one of the biggest expenses you’ll have, so it’s important to hire well and retain quality staff by creating a positive workplace environment that keeps your employees in your corner.
A socially responsible business is all about combining economic and financial goals with social, environmental, and/or humanitarian goals. It’s about companies who know that “doing good” is good for business.
Here are some examples of how small businesses can be socially responsible:
Hiring and retaining staff can be one of the most costly, frustrating parts of owning a small business. But hiring your first employee or adding new members to the team can help to transform your business. When recruiting and hiring new employees in Canada, a key priority will be to hire the right person with the right skills and experience for the job.
From accounting to paying taxes, a successful business is organized and maintains its records. Keeping track of your finances with proper accounting and bookkeeping is critical for successful small businesses.
Proper bookkeeping can help you keep track of expenses and cash flow, and measure your bottom line.
Not all owners have the skill, expertise, or time to manage all these financial details on their own, however. Hiring a financial professional – be it as an employee or a freelance consultant can ease this burden for many owners. And while you may worry about the expense of such services, a professional can actually save you money by showing you how to better manage your money, save on taxes, and more.
There are different types of professionals you can hire such as:
If you’re starting your business out on a small scale, you can at least rely on popular software like Quickbooks to help you manage your finances.
The Canadian economy is driven by the small business sector. Even though many small businesses have just one owner and a handful of employees, there are many taxes and regulations the business must still contend with.
There are basic tax requirements such as Goods and Services Tax (GST) and/or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST or provincial sales tax) that you must comply with.
Then there are numerous permits, licences, and regulations related to your employees such as minimum wage, maximum work shifts, vacation pay, and more.
If you’re new to the country, it is worth the investment to have a qualified tax professional and/or lawyer in your corner to help you navigate the rules and regulations when starting a small business.
Using the right technology, from back-end software to a great web presence, will help you succeed in your business.
No business today can operate without the proper technology, so it’s important to invest in this aspect of your business, to keep both the back end (i.e. accounting software, servers) and front end (i.e. cash registers) working smoothly.
In addition to your basic computer hardware and software needs, here are several additional technologies to consider:
Do you have the professional and leadership skills to keep your business running? It’s a question few business owners ask themselves. Finding a mentor can help. Learn more about mentoring in Canada.
With small business as a key driver of the economy in Canada, newcomers often find starting a small business is a rewarding opportunity. With support and a strong understanding of these eight steps you can be well on your way to achieving your small business dream.
For information, tools, free webinars, and more visit our Finding a Job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!
Lawyer careers are held in high esteem in Canada. Those who hold lawyer jobs put in years of education, articling, and work to get into the profession. It’s a career that can take you in many directions and lawyer salaries are higher than average in Canada. If you’re an internationally trained lawyer interested in continuing your law career in Canada it’s vital to research the profession in Canada and understand job requirements. Continue reading to learn more about the law profession in Canada, job requirements, law salaries, job search techniques, and much more!
Lawyers in Canada require two to three years of undergraduate studies, a bachelor’s degree from a recognized law school, successful completion of the bar exam, and must complete an articling period. In addition, every lawyer in Canada and notary in Quebec is required by law to be a member of a law society and to be governed by its rules and the provincial laws that regulate entry into the legal profession.
You can immigrate to Canada and become a lawyer, but you have to complete a series of steps to get accredited before you can practice law. The National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) which is part of the Federation of Law Societies in Canada (FLSC), assesses the qualifications of all internationally-trained legal graduates, whether they are Canadian citizens who have obtained their legal education abroad or newcomers to Canada with an overseas legal education. You can start the assessment process before moving to Canada. The NCA will not process your application until they get all your documents and the required fees.
If you have international qualifications, it’s helpful to know how your qualifications will be assessed. It’s also important to research the Canadian labour market to identify if there is a demand for the type of law that you want to practice. Ensuring that a demand exists will go a long way to continuing your law career in Canada.
There are steps that you can take before you immigrate to improve your chances of practicing law in Canada:
If you want to continue your law career in Canada, it’s essential to research what’s required. You may need to upgrade your skills and prepare for licensing exams.
Lawyers and notaries belong to a regulated profession in Canada. This means that you must be licensed by the provincial or territorial law society where you settle. It can take both significant time and money to prepare to work as a lawyer in Canada and you need to plan for that reality.
The FLSC is the national body that coordinates the provincial and territorial law societies that exist in the country.
The English-speaking provinces of Canada follow the English common law traditions, while in the French-speaking province of Quebec, the legal tradition is based on civil law.
To practice law in the province of Quebec, a bachelor’s degree in civil law from a recognized law school and a master’s degree in notarial law are required along with licensing by the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
The labour market conditions (supply and demand) for lawyer careers in Canada are balanced. It’s expected that 39,200 lawyer jobs will become available from 2022-2031 and there will be enough job seekers to fill these roles, including new immigrants. The Government of Canada’s Job Bank is a valuable resource with key facts and figures about working as a lawyer in Canada. You’ll also find information about wages (national, provincial, and regional averages) job prospects, and a summary of labour market conditions.
To begin your research, you can refer to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 41101 for Lawyers and Quebec notaries. Here you’ll get a profile and overview of the main duties, employment requirements, and other job titles that employers may advertise for. This is helpful to know when you begin your job search in Canada.
Whether you are an internationally trained lawyer immigrating to Canada, a Canadian citizen who has obtained a legal education abroad, or even a prospective immigrant, the NCA will assess your qualifications. You can apply while still in your home country – your citizenship, nationality, and residency are not factors in the assessment process.
Submit your application to the NCA with the right documents and payment.
The NCA assesses each application on an individual basis, taking into account legal education and professional experience, and determines what further education is required.
The NCA will tell you what you must do to qualify for law society bar admission (known as “assignments”). Applicants from a common-law jurisdiction may be asked to take several NCA exams or equivalent courses at a Canadian law school. Applicants from a non-common law jurisdiction, who have had minimal or no exposure to common law, are usually required to obtain a Canadian LLB/JD degree.
The NCA will send you a letter to describe the legal education you need to complete your assignments. These assignments ensure that your knowledge of Canadian law is similar to someone who got their degree from a Canadian common law program.
When you meet the requirements successfully, the NCA will issue you a Certificate of Qualification.
With your NCA Certificate of Qualification in hand, you can apply for student-at-law status with the Law Society of your province (see section: Law Societies and Associations below).
To apply for an NCA assessment, you will have to submit some or all of the following:
As well, the institutions referred to below must send the following documents directly to the NCA:
While language competency is not a requirement, NCA exams require a high language competency both in reading and writing. As well, to practice law in Canada you need to have high competence in listening, reading, speaking, and writing communication skills.
Once the NCA receives all your documents, it can take up to three months to process your application. The NCA will mail their assessment to you.
If you plan to enroll in a college or university program to upgrade your skills before pursuing a lawyer career, you may have to get an educational evaluation. However, before you spend any money, contact the school to find out if they have a preferred credential assessment agency that you should use. This step can save you money.
World Education Services (WES) – Ontario
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) – Alberta
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) – British Columbia
To find more organizations and agencies providing credential evaluation, assessment and qualification recognition services click here.
In addition to accreditation, upgrading your skills through a bridging program or other courses and workshops is an important part of your journey to becoming a lawyer in Canada. You must have strong communication, legal research and writing, and technical skills. Canadian legal employers also expect you to be resilient, flexible, assertive, and innovative.
You may have strong technical skills, but often that is not enough to get a job or maintain it afterward. You may need more training or skills upgrading, especially your soft skills. Any additional skills you add will help your chance of success in your lawyer career.
Having strong skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages – English or French – is extremely important for your future in Canada. Whether you choose to focus on learning or improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages most people speak in the area where you live.
You may be eligible for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find other free or affordable English as a Second Language or French as Second Language classes through local school boards or settlement agencies.
There are even language courses to teach you professional terminologies, such as job-specific language training and if residing in Ontario, Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT). If you are in Toronto, the Toronto District Board of School offers a fourteen-week Enhanced Language Training program focusing on Customer Service & Administration for immigrant women.
And, if you already speak one of Canada’s two official languages at a high level, learning the other one is a good option, as it may offer you better lawyer career opportunities.
Bridging programs are a helpful way to transition from your international experience and training to the Canadian workplace. You can find more information about bridging programs for lawyer careers in Ontario and Alberta:
This course is designed for foreign-qualified lawyers planning to write the NCA exams. It offers instruction in: Foundations of Canadian Law; Constitutional Law; Administrative Law; and, Canadian Criminal Law.
Centre for Skilled and Internationally Trained Professionals
A no-cost program that helps internationally educated professionals (IEPs) understand and navigate the licensure and credential process in Canada. Bredin staff will support IEPs through the process and assist them with finding employment that is related to their education.
Calgary Region Immigrant Emploment Council (CRIEC)
CRIEC helps internationally trained lawyers to navigate the accreditation process including mentoring, workshops and observerships in legal workplaces and more.
There are 23 law schools in Canada: seven in the Western Region, eight in Ontario, five in Quebec, and three in the Atlantic Region.
All these schools offer a professional degree in one or both of Canada’s two systems of law (Common Law; Civil Law). They also offer a variety of programs: the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and traditional Bachelor of Laws (LLB); professional degrees leading to the practice of law, graduate studies in law, and various joint programs. Some offer their programs in English only, others in French only, while others offer partially or fully bilingual programs.
In Ontario, several law schools offer programs to help internationally trained lawyers with the accreditation process:
Global Professional LLM (GPLLM)
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Program – admits some foreign-trained lawyers to the program.
In B.C., the University of British Columbia offers the Master of Laws (Common Law) Program LL.M (CL). This year-long, l program provides foundational training in common law and in Canadian law for foreign-trained or non-common law trained lawyers.
Learn more about Canadian law school programs and admission criteria:
Lakehead University – Faculty of Law
University of Ottawa – Common Law
Université d’Ottawa Faculté de droit – Section de droit civil
Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Western University – Western Law
Toronto Metropolitan University – Lincoln Alexander School of Law
University of Windsor – Windsor Law
University of Toronto – Faculty of Law
University of Alberta – Faculty of Law
Peter A. Allard School of Law – University of British Columbia
Faculty of Law – University of Calgary
University of Manitoba – Robson Hall Faculty of Law
University of Saskatchewan – College of Law
Thompson River University – Faculty of Law
University of Victoria – Faculty of Law
Université de Laval – Baccalauréat en Droit
McGill University – Faculty of Law
Université de Montréal – Faculté de Droit
Université du Québec – Faculté de Science Politique et de Droit
Faculté de droit – Université de Sherbrooke
Dalhousie University – Schulich School of Law
Université de Moncton – Faculté de Droit
University of New Brunswick – Faculty of Law
The following associations provide information about licensure and certification and offer professional development, education and networking opportunities.
Federation of Law Societies of Canada
National Committee on Accreditation
Alberta
British Columbia
Law Society of British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Law Society of the Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Law Society of Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Chambre des notaires du Québec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
Law Society of Yukon
Professional immigrant networks are volunteer-run member-based associations or networks created by and for immigrant professionals that seek to:
These groups organize networking events, mentoring, information sessions, and professional development opportunities that can be beneficial for your job search. Here are some networks you can consult:
Canadian Association of Black Lawyers
South Asian Bar Association of BC
Arab Canadian Lawyers Association
Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers (Ontario Chapter)
Canadian Hispanic Bar Association
South Asian Bar Association of Toronto
Lawyers in Canada are paid well. Lawyer salaries are much higher than average compared to other professions. According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, lawyer salaries can range from $27,446 to $423,922 annually. The lowest median lawyer salary is $79,485 in New Brunswick. The highest median lawyer salary is in Alberta at $140,808.
Lawyer salaries in Canada depend on where you live. Your lawyer salary can vary depending on the province where you practice. So, consider lawyer salaries and earning potential when choosing a location. Here are the most recent Lawyer salary numbers in Canada:
| Province | Low ($/year) | Median ($/year) | High ($/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 37,347 | 116,940 | 294,346 |
| Alberta | 46,078 | 140,808 | 423,922 |
| British Columbia | 37,400 | 115,621 | 242,117 |
| Manitoba | 45,823 | 109,179 | 198,651 |
| New Brunswick | 31,555 | 79,485 | 140,372 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 55,248 | 131,203 | 279,002 |
| Northwest Territories | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Nova Scotia | 35,224 | 104,920 | 167,952 |
| Nunavut | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Ontario | 44,491 | 131,654 | 357,035 |
| Prince Edward Island | 30,537 | 89,419 | 144,905 |
| Quebec | 29,862 | 89,666 | 208,176 |
| Saskatchewan | 27,446 | 119,587 | 190,371 |
| Yukon | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Demand for lawyers is linked to population growth and the volume of business activity, such as real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy, and can therefore be cyclical. Demand for legal services involving real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, for instance, tends to decline during a recession, while those involving bankruptcy activities increase. One growing area of demand in today’s complicated business environment is corporate regulatory compliance – helping companies keep up with government and other regulatory rules.
Because job prospects can vary, it’s best to research national, provincial, and regional job prospects for the legal profession in Canada before you arrive. You can find labour market information and job prospects for lawyers at the Canada Job Bank site.
You can research different cities in Canada to learn which ones would best match the personal, professional, and cultural needs of you and your family. Other important factors to consider when choosing a city in Canada, are the costs for housing (both rental housing and home buying) and other costs such as insurance and other recurring monthly expenses.
While wages for lawyers in Canada are lucrative, living in larger cities such as Toronto and Vancouver can be quite expensive. So when you research possible cities to settle in Canada, you may discover secondary cities such as Edmonton, Alberta where housing costs are more affordable. This means you can probably rent or buy a larger house at a lower cost.
The federal, provincial, and municipal governments employ lawyers. So do prosecutor’s offices, educational institutions, and private businesses, particularly businesses providing scientific or technical services. In addition, lawyers can join partnerships or law firms, or open their own private practices.
Some of the biggest law firms in Canada are:
You can also visit Canada’s Best Diversity Employers website to check for law firms. This special designation recognizes Canada’s best employers for diversity, inclusion, and equity. On the list, you’ll find many law firms, and large organizations that would have a legal function.
The Canadian job market can be competitive, so you need to understand the job search process and prepare for job interviews. And because you must register as a lawyer in the province where you plan to live, you need to search for jobs in that province.
Take your time to research job requirements in different regions throughout the province and develop a plan to find work.
There are many job-finding techniques to help you search for a job in the legal profession, for example, you can:
Finding a job in Canada may be different than in your home country and you may need help to find job vacancies, update your resume, write cover letters and prepare for interviews. Settlement agencies can also help you to understand what Canadian employers look for.
Click the link to find immigrant services in your area.
Networking is all about meeting people, building relationships, and sharing information. It’s also a vital activity that will help you to expand your professional network in Canada. By connecting with others, you can learn more about what it’s like to practice law in Canada, get advice or information about a specific law firm, and even discover job leads. Often, many job vacancies are not advertised. This is known as the “hidden job market”. Making connections through networking is a good way to learn about available jobs.
Good places to network include conferences, law associations, and schools. LinkedIn can also be helpful for online networking. With LinkedIn, you can connect with former colleagues and employers, look for jobs, and search for employers. You can also get introductions to people in the legal field and join related professional groups.
An informational interview is a brief (20–30-minute) meeting you schedule with a lawyer to learn more about the field in Canada. Your goal should not be to obtain a job or to ask the individual for a job. This allows you to learn about the profession and meet others working in the law profession with no pressure on either you or the other individual.
An informational interview with a contact from your network can be an excellent source of career information. You also benefit from hearing their first-hand experiences and personal impressions of practicing law in Canada.
Besides your name and contact information, your resume should begin with a brief profile of your legal experience. Be sure to highlight any bar admissions you have at the top of your resume. The legal experience section of your legal resume should be separate from your work history section. Writing your resume in this way will highlight your experience and help potential find information about your achievements and transferable skills.
After your work history and education sections, list any associations you are a member of as well as work you’ve done within the legal community. When writing your resume, use the active voice to make it easy to read.
Interviewing for a law position can be competitive. So, be well-prepared to be a successful interview candidate. It’s helpful to prepare and practice responses to some of these common interview questions:
Research the law firm or organization. Find out what the firm does, the types of law it specializes in, and what it does not do. Some do corporate law, some do litigation. Some are big, some are small. Not to mention how their organizational culture may vary. So, try to find out what you can about the firm, and tailor your interview responses. Present yourself in a favourable light but be careful not to embellish your accomplishments.
With a balanced outlook for lawyer jobs in Canada, it’s wise to carefully research job prospects to ensure that you can continue your career in Canada. Labour market conditions vary by province and city, so carefully examine where the outlook is good.
Sales and marketing careers are a popular choice in Canada. It’s an ever-evolving field that offers new opportunities and career paths for newcomers. Plus, with experience, you can expect a strong sales and marketing salary. Sales and marketing job requirements usually include a university degree or college diploma in business administration or a related field. You also require specialization in sales or marketing and experience as a sales, marketing, or public relations representative.
Sales and marketing is a non-regulated profession, so you don’t need a license for this occupation. Learn more about job requirements, job search and interview techniques, professional associations, and more to help you continue your sales and marketing career. Prepare yourself with this helpful overview!
Sales and marketing jobs can mean many things. There is a range of sales and marketing careers you could pursue. So, it’s important to have an idea of the path you want to take. To help you achieve professional success, it’s important to gain a general understanding of the Canadian labour market before you arrive. Here are some steps that you can take before you arrive:
Sales and marketing is a non-regulated profession, so you don’t need a license to work. Depending on your sales and marketing career path there are certain credentials, certifications, skills, and experience employees will expect you to possess. To help you find a job faster when you arrive in Canada, it’s vital to understand sales and marketing job requirements.
Job prospects for sales and marketing positions vary in Canada. That’s why it’s vital to research provincial and local job prospects and labour markets. With this information, you can identify where your skills and experience are most in demand across Canada. And, when you identify the best job markets, you can begin to research cities.
To start your research, it’s helpful to read the National Occupational Classification (NOC) descriptor for the profession. The NOC provides a standard definition of jobs in Canada and is used by various groups, including job seekers. The NOC can help you understand whether or not your skills and experience match the job requirements in Canada.
The NOC code for a marketing specialist is NOC 11202. This role can include different titles such as:
The NOC code for sales analyst jobs is NOC 41402. This includes job titles such as:
Other similar sales and marketing career paths include:
Requirements to work in a sales or marketing role will vary based on the job title, duties, company, and other factors. The Canadian Marketing Association has a rich resource library to find several publications, industry reports, newsletters. It’s important to stay current about what’s happening in the industry. You can also find more information about sales and marketing careers. Below we explain the steps you will need to take to work in sales and marketing in Canada.
Credential recognition is a process to verify and assess a person’s skills, competencies, and credentials in a fair and consistent manner. While sales and marketing are non-regulated professions in Canada, some employers do ask for your credentials evaluation. Mostly though, employers will assess your knowledge and experience and contact your professional references. So, before you spend money on a credentials evaluation, check with the companies you apply to find out if they require it.
Several agencies assess international credentials to help newcomers to Canada access the education and employment they need. If you are planning to enroll in a college or university program to upgrade your skills, you may require an educational assessment. However, be sure to contact the school that you plan to attend to determine what credential assessment agency to use. Some schools may have a preferred agency.
Make sure to highlight your international education and skills. In doing so, you may be able to get advanced standing, transfer some of your credits, and gain benefits from prior learning assessment options. If you’re able to use international credentials and experience to gain credit or course exemptions, you can complete your Canadian education program more quickly. This can save you time and money when you are able to build on the existing education that you already have.
Here are a few credential service providers you can use:
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) – Alberta
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) – British Columbia
To find more academic evaluation services, click here.
Canadian employers put a high emphasis on soft skills. These are your personal attributes that enhance your interactions, job performance, and career prospects. Unlike your hard skills, you can apply your soft skills broadly.
Soft skills, such as communication and leadership are important for sales and marketing professionals. That’s why it’s important to identify your strengths or areas that may need improving. If your hard skills will get you an interview, most probably it is your soft skills that will get you the job and contribute to high performance.
Though not a must, upgrading your education and skills can be an important part of your successful sales and marketing career in Canada.
You may have strong sales and marketing skills, but often that is not enough to get a job or maintain it. You may need more training or skills upgrading, especially related to language skills.
Strong communication skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages, English or French, are important for your future in Canada. Whether you choose to focus on learning or improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages most people speak in the area where you live.
You may be eligible for the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find free or affordable English as a Second Language or French as a Second Language classes through school boards or settlement agencies.
There are even language courses to teach you professional terminology, such as job-specific language training and in Ontario, Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT). And if you already speak one of Canada’s two official languages at a high level, learning the other one is a good option to gain better job opportunities.
Bridging programs are a helpful way to transition from your international experience and training to the Canadian workplace. While there aren’t many bridging programs specifically related to sales and marketing, you can find continuing education courses that you can enroll in.
Here are a couple of examples of programs that you could use:
ACCES Employment
Sales and Marketing Connections
The program helps internationally trained sales and marketing professionals find employment in their fields in Ontario. The program includes business communications coaching, occupation-specific language training and sector-specific employment services.
York University
Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs)
The program helps IEPs transition into a position that matches their education, credentials, and experience. IEPs receive an individual, customized action plan tailored to their goals and career path.
You may want to continue your education to advance your sales and marketing career in Canada. Most colleges and universities in Canada offer sales and marketing courses as part of business programs. You can check out business programs at some of Canada’s many colleges and universities including:
The following associations provide information about licensure and certification and offer professional development, education, and networking opportunities.
Canadian Marketing Association (CMA)
The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) is the only marketing association in Canada that embraces Canada’s major business sectors and all marketing disciplines, channels, and technologies. Its programs help shape the future of marketing in Canada by building talented marketers and exceptional business leaders and by demonstrating marketing’s strategic role as a key driver of business success.
Canadian Internet Marketing Association (CIMA)
The Canadian Internet Marketing Association (CIMA) was formed by a group of Internet marketing professionals in Montreal and was officially launched in 2011. CIMA covers several web marketing avenues, including the following areas of note: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Sponsored Search, Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Email Marketing, and others.
Professional immigrant networks are member-based associations or networks created by and for immigrant professionals to:
Activities of networks include networking events, mentoring, information sessions, professional development opportunities such as workshops, speaker events, and training and connections to employment opportunities.
isans: Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia: helps newcomer professionals with their full economic and social integration in the province of Nova Scotia.
If you are settling in the Greater Toronto Area, you can also contact CAMP Networking. This is a professional immigrant association for new and established immigrants with a background in communications, advertising, or marketing. This group meets regularly to share knowledge and experience. Being part of a similar group can give you valuable leads and connect you to successful members and employers.
CAMP (Communications, Advertising and Marketing Professionals) organizes monthly meetings and events where members build on the intellectual and social capital that can help them get ahead in Canada. CAMP provides a forum for members to network, explore career leads, share experiences, get tips from industry leaders, volunteer their skills and time and make a difference in a cause they support.
The average sales and marketing salary can depend on many things. Your job title, industry, experience, credentials, and location all matter. Sales and marketing salaries can be anywhere from $15 per hour to over $70 per hour. The province with the lowest starting sales and marketing salary is Prince Edward Island at $15 per hour. The highest is Ontario at $72.12 per hour. The median sales and marketing salary typically is in the range of $30-$40 per hour in Canada.
Here are the most recent (2022) sales and marketing salary figures by province. You can also explore salary figures by local region within the province where data is available.
| Province | Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 18.00 | 30.50 | 52.88 |
| Alberta | 20.00 | 35.58 | 57.69 |
| British Columbia | 18.27 | 27.47 | 48.08 |
| Manitoba | 16.00 | 26.67 | 47.38 |
| New Brunswick | 16.00 | 28.85 | 49.74 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 16.50 | 25.33 | 49.74 |
| Northwest Territories | 22.87 | 43.64 | 61.52 |
| Nova Scotia | 15.49 | 25.76 | 43.27 |
| Nunavut | 30.77 | 46.35 | 63.70 |
| Ontario | 17.00 | 31.32 | 54.40 |
| Prince Edward Island | 15.00 | 25.00 | 40.00 |
| Quebec | 20.00 | 30.00 | 50.48 |
| Saskatchewan | 20.19 | 32.93 | 48.08 |
| Yukon | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Province | Low ($/year) | Median ($/year) | High ($/year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 22.00 | 40.38 | 65.89 |
| Alberta | 26.44 | 46.62 | 72.12 |
| British Columbia | 24.04 | 40.38 | 67.30 |
| Manitoba | 17.00 | 36.06 | 54.09 |
| New Brunswick | 23.08 | 34.36 | 43.59 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 25.19 | 37.84 | 51.20 |
| Northwest Territories | 30.62 | 43.70 | 58.22 |
| Nova Scotia | 32.47 | 46.15 | 64.10 |
| Nunavut | 28.66 | 44.10 | 60.68 |
| Ontario | 21.54 | 39.42 | 72.12 |
| Prince Edward Island | 33.33 | 42.05 | 50.87 |
| Quebec | 25.00 | 34.62 | 60.10 |
| Saskatchewan | 26.00 | 37.50 | 57.21 |
| Yukon | N/A | N/A | N/A |
You can find sales and marketing jobs in provinces and cities across Canada. However, you may want to broaden your search to small- and medium-sized cities. Cities that are located within a reasonable commute of larger cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary may offer more affordable housing and a more relaxed lifestyle. It really depends on what’s important to you and your family when choosing a city. For example, cities such as Hamilton, or Markham are within an hour’s driving distance of Toronto and may offer more affordable housing options and less competition when searching for jobs.
The largest employers for sales and marketing professionals are the telecom companies, such as Rogers, TELUS, and Bell. Banks such as Scotiabank, HSBC, RBC, CIBC, and TD, which all have their own marketing departments are other employers to check out. As a result of the changing media landscape, sales and marketing roles are less traditional and are more digital and data-driven. Remember, the type of employer you work for will have an impact on your career path and sales and marketing salary potential.
You can also visit Canada’s Best Diversity Employers. This special designation recognizes Canada’s best employers for diversity and inclusion.
The Canadian job market is competitive and finding a job in Canada may be different than in your home country. There are many ways to search for jobs in the sales and marketing sectors. These tips can help you to gain a competitive advantage:
Many settlement agencies offer free services to help you with your Canadian job search. These services can help you find jobs, update your resume, write a Canadian-style resume and cover letter, and prepare for interviews. Many of these services offer both pre-and post-arrival services, so you can get started even before you arrive in Canada. Find immigrant services in your area.
Networking is an important activity that can help you discover job leads, gain information, and meet others to expand your connections. In Canada, many job vacancies are not advertised, and can be found in the “hidden job market”. Your connections can help you discover these roles. Jobs in the hidden job market can often be easier to obtain because there are fewer applicants and less competition.
Good places to network include conferences, associations, and educational events to meet people, build relationships, and share information.
LinkedIn is another important professional tool for networking. It is great to connect with former colleagues and employers, gather information about companies, search for jobs, and get introductions to other professionals in your field. You can also mingle with people in the sales and marketing sector and join some related professional groups such as CAMP Networking and Multicultural Marketing Society of Canada.
An informational interview is a brief meeting no longer than 30 minutes. Ideally, you schedule the meeting with someone who currently works in sales and marketing so that you can learn more about the profession in Canada.
Your goal should be to learn more about the environment, a position, or an industry. Avoid trying to get a job during an informational interview. By conducting an informational interview with a contact from your network you gain solid information about career options, industries, or companies. Your contacts can also share their first-hand experience and impressions that can help you make vital career decisions.
Your sales resume must show your talent for making new contacts, closing orders, and generating referral business through effective account management.
If you are a Sales Executive, for example, your resume should include both account management and new business development. Show how you exceeded goals, as well as established, conveyed, and implemented vision. Use your resume to demonstrate your experience launching new products and creating name recognition in a highly competitive marketplace.
Here are example phrases to consider:
Your marketing resume should show that you are a focused individual that is known for excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Highlight your ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and establish competitive strategies to achieve success. For example, if you work in sports marketing, your resume should show that you can surpass competitors, aggressively increase market share, and drive profit margins to higher levels.
Here are some examples of phrases to consider:
Sales interviews are not interviews, but rather sales calls. Therefore, the first rule of interviewing for sales jobs is that you “don’t go to interview. You “go to sell” yourself.
The best way to prepare for a sales job interview is to practice responses to possible questions that an interviewer may ask you. Here are some questions that you could expect to answer:
As sales is a specific career field, the above sample questions represent only a small portion of possible questions you may face. Research the company’s products, target market, and sales strategy so that you can come up with more questions and practice answering them.
Naturally, marketing job interviews have a lot of marketing-specific questions. When you are called for a job interview, you are going to be tested for your marketing spirit, in addition to your knowledge, your vision, and your ability to make decisions in the field.
Here are some common questions that you can expect during a marketing job interview:
These are only a sample of possible marketing job interview questions. There are thousands of other possible questions based on the type of company, its products and services, and its marketing budget. Use the information that you gathered during your research about the company to prepare questions that you would like to learn more about. Ensure that your questions go beyond basic information anyone could find on the company’s website. This will show your genuine interest and knowledge of the company.
With a positive outlook for sales and marketing jobs in Canada, now is the time to check out your options. This ever-evolving field offers new opportunities and career paths for newcomers.
A Canadian-style resume is necessary to propel your job search and help you to find the right job faster. As well, employers look for specific items that you may need to add to your existing resume format in Canada. And, in some cases, you may need to delete information. Revising and updating your resume format with these tips will get employers in Canada to notice you.
1. Choose the right format for your resume in Canada
2. Read the job description carefully
3. Tailor your resume to the job description
4. Use keywords in your resume
5. Include the right information on your Canadian-style resume
6. Omit irrelevant information
7. Use strong and concise language
8. Proofread your resume for spelling and grammar errors.
The format for a resume in Canada may look much different than the resume you have used in your home country. So it’s important to know what information to include or omit on a Canadian-style resume. This is important because your resume is often the first impression you make with a potential employer.
As well, recruiters may easily receive over 100 resumes for one position. And when they view that many resumes, they quickly scan them for essential information.
There are three resume formats that job seekers commonly use:
Chronological resume: this format highlights your work history and timeline.
Functional resume: this format highlights your work experience and previous job activities.
Combination resume: this combination format shows your experience and timeline as you would see in a chronological format and emphasizes your skills as you would see in a functional format.
You can decide the best resume format based on your work history and what you want to highlight.
The job description will provide you with a clear picture of the:
You can even use a pen or highlighter to mark what requirements match your work experience and achievements. This will give you a good sense of how closely your experience matches the job requirements.
When you see a job that interests you and that matches your skill set, take the time to tailor your resume to the job description. The time you invest in tailoring your resume will pay off. And when you tailor your resume you clearly show potential employers how you are a perfect fit for the job. This will increase your visibility to employers.
However, when you submit the same resume to every employer you reduce your chances of meeting specific job requirements the employer is seeking.
Whatever your job focus, you must clearly state the qualities you bring to that job to sell yourself to a prospective employer. For example, you can add a strong career objective/profile at the top of the first page, followed by a breakdown of your skills/talents with concrete examples. Then list your job experience and educational credentials on page two.
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to collect, sort, and store resumes. This automated software can also compare your resume to keywords in the job description. If there is a good match your resume will appear in search results.
You will have a better chance of appearing in search results if your resume contains keywords in the job description. Identify the keywords and use them to tailor your resume based on your skill set.
Ideally, your resume format should not exceed two pages. This requires you to be concise and only include the relevant information you want to highlight. So avoid listing every job responsibility and only include the skills and responsibilities that best match the job description. Also, rather than listing your responsibilities, showcase what you accomplished. For example:
Instead of:
Use:
Again, it’s important to remember that recruiters will quickly glance at your resume. So make it easy for them to identify that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience to achieve success in the job you’re applying for.
Avoid adding unnecessary information on a Canadian-style resume. This includes the word Resume at the top of your document. Recruiters know they are reading your resume and it takes up valuable space. It’s also unnecessary to add your photo.
Other information to omit on a resume in Canada:
Your ultimate goal is to showcase your experience, skills, and qualifications. Most importantly, you want to avoid including information that can be used to discriminate based on age, nationality, marital status, or other factors. This information can also contribute to employer bias in the selection process.
For newcomers entering the Canadian job market, it’s helpful to know that employers cannot ask interview questions that could be viewed as discriminating. For example, interview questions about your marital status, nationality, religion, and other factors defined by the Canadian Human Rights Act are illegal.
Many settlement agencies in Canada can help you adapt your resume to meet Canadian requirements when you arrive.
It’s important to use strong action verbs that will grab attention. Choose strong verbs that showcase your capabilities. And remember to use the past tense to describe your previous experience.
Consider these strong action verbs:
Acquired | Advised | Analyzed | Assembled
Briefed
Centralized | Consulted | Collaborated | Composed
Defined
Enhanced | Evaluated | Exceeded | Expanded
Facilitated | Forecasted
Informed | Influenced
Mobilized
Negotiated
Overhauled
Redesigned | Resolved
Secured | Streamlined | Stimulated | Surpassed
Transformed
Verified
To write the perfect Canadian-style resume, check and double-check for spelling and grammar mistakes. It’s also helpful to ask someone to proofread your resume. A good proofreader can identify unclear sentences, spelling, grammar errors, or repetition.
While using the spell-checker on your computer is helpful, it’s not always perfect. For example, it may not spot the difference between words such as there, their, and they’re.
When you follow these eight tips to format your Canadian resume, you’ll be on your way to resuming your career in Canada.
When you have completed your resume, review this short checklist before you submit it to the employer:
Also, remember to write a one-page cover letter to accompany your resume in Canada. The cover letter demonstrates your knowledge of the company and how well you’ll fit in and add value to the company. Many hiring managers may not even read your resume if your cover letter doesn’t capture their attention.
Unlock your dream job in Canada now! Fast-track your job search with our smart resume tips and examples. Download our FREE Canadian-style resume template to craft a standout resume tailored to the Canadian job market, save time by skipping the research and guesswork, and easily customize and update your resume. Don’t wait—download your guide today and take the first step towards your new career in Canada!
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For newcomers, learning to drive a car can be an important first step. If you have never had a driver’s license before, we’ll explore learning to drive and how to get your driver’s license in Canada.
A driver’s license will help you do many practical activities such as:
Learning to drive can also allow you to do personal activities like going on exciting road trips, discovering charming small towns, and enjoying scenic drives.
A driving license can also be used as an official piece of Canadian identification. Just one more benefit of having a driving license.
Obtaining your driving license is also helpful if you plan to live in a suburb where communities are more spread out. That distance can make it challenging to get around quickly and efficiently without a car.
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You may already have your driving license from your home country. If you currently have a driver’s license you may be able to take advantage of the foreign license exchange agreement or get credits for your foreign driving experience. This will allow you to obtain your Canadian driver’s license more quickly.
Getting your driver’s license in Canada may vary depending on the province where you reside. However, all provinces will require you to pass driving tests:
When you successfully pass the driving theory exam and the vision test, you will get your G1 driving license. With a G1 driving license, you are only allowed to drive when there is a fully licensed driver in the car with a minimum of four years of driving experience. As well, there are other restrictions that you have to follow.
To graduate from your G1 to a G2 driving license, you will have to pass a road test. The road test will test your basic driving skills. You can take this driving test after you have been a G1 driver for 12 months.
To get your full G license, you must pass a test that covers advanced driving skills such as parallel parking and driving on a highway. You can take this driving test:
But if your G2 driving license expires, you’ll have to do all of the tests over again. So it’s important to complete your G license driving test before your G2 expires.
When you pass your G driving test, you will successfully get your full G license! With this license, you can drive any car, van, or small truck.
If you do not have a driver’s license from your home country and have never driven before, you may want to learn to drive in Canada. A beneficial way to learn to drive is to take driving lessons before you get your license.
When you take driving lessons you can gain several benefits. For example, you can:
2. Develop good driving habits and skills: You’ll get the practice you need to drive with confidence and the skill to pass your driving test in Canada.
3. Learn with professional driving instructors: With an experienced and professional driving instructor, you’ll learn the proper driving techniques as well as the common mistakes you need to avoid. Activities like speeding or following too closely can amount to expensive tickets, collisions, and serious injury to yourself or others.
4. Get your driving license faster: When you complete your driving lessons and receive your certificate, you can take your driving test eight months after you complete your written test. Without a driving certificate from a qualified driving school, drivers must wait 12 months before they can take the G2 driving test. Learn more about Canada’s graduated licensing system.
5. Reduce your insurance rates: With a certificate from a driving school, you may be rewarded for your time and effort with lower car insurance rates. However, the driving school that you attend must be approved by the provincial Ministry of Transportation. Click here for approved driving schools in Ontario.
2. While the process to get your driver’s license may vary slightly across Canada, all provinces use a graduated licensing system. This system allows you to progress from a G1 license to a G2 license, and finally to a full G license.
3. To learn to drive in Canada with confidence and skill, you can consider taking driving lessons from a government-approved driving school. Driving lessons provide you with many benefits, including lower car insurance rates in Canada which will save you money.
For more information about living, working, and banking in Canada, check out our upcoming free webinars!
Administrative assistance jobs are a popular choice among newcomers to Canada. Most companies have administrative assistants to help run the business. Since administrative assistant careers can take many paths, it’s a great opportunity for immigrants with a variety of skill sets. Plus, administrative assistant salaries can increase to higher levels once you gain experience.
The job requirements for administrative assistants usually require completion of secondary school and a one- or two-year college program. In addition to completing a program for administrative assistants (or another related program) previous clerical experience is also helpful. This role is a non-regulated profession in Canada, so you do not need a license. Learn about job requirements, job search strategies, interview techniques, and more!
Preparing before you move to Canada, can speed up your job search. These are some steps you can take before you move to Canada to help you work in an administrative assistant career and even find a job faster when you arrive.
To help you prepare for your job search, it’s helpful to understand the nature of the job and the specific skills that Canadian employers seek. This will involve some basic research. Administrative assistant careers are unique because jobs are diverse. Your role will be shaped by the industry and company. Some positions may be more advanced than others even though they share the same job title. This will also be reflected in the administrative assistant salary for the job.
Job prospects for administrative assistants vary across Canada. So it’s best to explore provincial job prospects to assess where there the outlook is good.
The labour market conditions over the next 10 years are expected to be balanced for administrative assistant careers. There are expected to be 68, 200 job openings from 2022-2031, many of which will be filled by newcomers, according to the Government of Canada.
You can even explore future job prospects in local regions when you click on the provincial job prospects links.
This detailed information is provided by the Government of Canada Job Bank site and it is a great location to research job prospects, wages, skill requirements, and even search for administrative assistant jobs.
As part of your research, you can view the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. The NOC provides a standard definition of jobs in Canada. This five-digit code is used by various groups, including job seekers such as you.
The NOC for administrative assistants is NOC 13110. You can use this information to learn about the nature of the job duties and get job titles and employment requirements. While the job title for NOC 13110 is Administrative Assistant, when searching for jobs in Canada, you will find other titles for the same role. You can use these other titles when you search for jobs in Canada and expand your search efforts.
If you have specialized experience, you may also want to refer to these NOCs:
Administrative assistant careers are non-regulated in Canada which means you do not need a license to work in this field. But, most jobs will require you to have certain credentials and education to qualify for the positions. Requirements will vary based on the employer and the job title. Below are steps to take to work as an administrative assistant in Canada:
Credential recognition is a process to verify and assess your skills, competencies, and credentials in a fair and consistent manner. While administrative assistants belong to a non-regulated profession in Canada, some employers may ask for an educational assessment. Mostly though, employers will assess your skills, knowledge, and experience and contact your professional references. So, before you spend money to get your credentials evaluated, find out if the company that you are applying to requires an assessment.
Administrative assistants can become a member of the Association of Administrative Professionals. The association helps its members with skill development and growth to enhance job opportunities and contributions to both the workplace and the community.
Related Post: How Do Education Evaluation and Credential Recognition Differ? (Infographic)
You may also require an educational assessment if you plan to enroll in a college or university program to upgrade your skills or continue your education in Canada. However, before you pay for an assessment, contact the school that you plan to attend to find out what they require and the credential assessment service that you should use. Some schools may have a preferred service provider.
When you get an educational assessment be sure to highlight your international education and skills. You may be able to receive advanced standing, transfer some of your credits, and benefit from prior learning assessment options. If you can gain credit or course exemptions, you can avoid repeating the education you already have, or you may shorten the amount of time required to complete courses. It’s important to build on your existing knowledge and skills and explore your options carefully before you decide that you need to return to school.
Several agencies assess international education credentials to help newcomers to Canada access the education and employment they need including:
To find more credential evaluation, assessment and qualification recognition services click here.
Canadian employers place a high value on soft skills, such as personal attributes that enhance your interactions, job performance, and career prospects. Unlike your hard skills, you can apply your soft skills broadly.
Soft skills, such as communication, coordination, and sociability, are even more important for administrative assistants. That’s why identifying areas in your soft skills that need improvement is crucial. If your hard skills will get you an interview, most probably it is your soft skills that will get you the job and enable you to succeed.
Though not a must, upgrading your education and skills through a bridging program or other courses and workshops may be an important part of your journey to becoming a successful administrative assistant in Canada.
Administrative assistants require strong communication skills, document management, note-taking, presentation, proofreading, report compilation and writing, organizational ability, time management, and software expertise. Having strong communication skills in one or both of Canada’s official languages, English or French, is also important for your career success.
Whether you choose to focus on learning or improving English or French will depend on which of the two languages most people speak in the area where you intend to live.
You may be eligible for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find other free or affordable English as a Second Language or French as Second Language classes through local school boards or settlement agencies.
There are even language courses to teach you professional terminologies, such as job-specific language training and Occupation Specific Language Training (OSLT) in Ontario. If you are in Toronto, the Toronto District Board of School offers a fourteen-week Enhanced Language Training program focusing on Customer Service & Administration for immigrant women.
And, if you already speak one of Canada’s two official languages at a high level, learning the other one is a good option, as it may offer you better job opportunities.
More than 60 schools offer administration courses and programs in Canada. There are several education streams you can choose from:
Courses are offered by most community colleges. Some programs are available online. Some schools to consider are:
Read more about the benefits of higher education for newcomers.
The main administrative assistant association in Canada is the Association of Administrative Professionals. This association has branches in Ontario, Alberta, and Atlantic Canada.
Professional Immigrant Networks (PINS) are organized associations or networks created by and for immigrant professionals that seek to:
PINS can provide networking events, mentoring, information sessions, professional development, and connections to job opportunities.
isans: Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia: helps newcomer professionals with their full economic and social integration in the province of Nova Scotia.
Professional Immigrant Networks (TRIEC)
For information, tools, free webinars, and more visit our Finding a Job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to achieve your career goals in Canada!
According to the Government of Canada Job Bank, administrative assistant salaries can range from $14.50 to $43 per hour depending on where you live in Canada. Some of the common factors affecting administrative assistant salaries include your job title, industry, experience, education, and location. The median hourly administrative assistant salary is $24.
Here are the most recent administrative assistant salary numbers in Canada:
| Province | Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 18.27 | 26.10 | 34.64 |
| British Columbia | 17.00 | 24.85 | 36.00 |
| Manitoba | 14.63 | 22.12 | 30.84 |
| New Brunswick | 15.00 | 22.00 | 29.76 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 16.48 | 24.04 | 30.00 |
| Northwest Territories | 20.00 | 26.00 | 35.12 |
| Nova Scotia | 14.50 | 22.00 | 29.55 |
| Nunavut | 27.00 | 30.00 | 43.00 |
| Ontario | 17.00 | 24.54 | 35.90 |
| Prince Edward Island | 16.00 | 24.00 | 29.40 |
| Quebec | 16.67 | 23.00 | 31.79 |
| Saskatchewan | 16.35 | 23.32 | 32.00 |
| Yukon | 19.00 | 28.80 | 34.03 |
Most provinces and Canadian cities offer employment opportunities in the administrative sector. However, when looking for jobs, broaden your geographic area to include smaller cities and towns close to the city where you plan to live. For example, you may want to consider cities that are within close proximity to larger cities. For example, the city of Hamilton is less than a one-hour drive to Toronto and can offer a more affordable cost of living.
Research cities in Canada and determine where there is a demand for your profession and where you would like to settle.
Pursuing an administrative assistant career begins with education, and experience, and then selecting a province to work in. Once you decide where to live, you’ll want to identify the best employers in the area. Below is valuable information to help you pursue an administrative assistant career in Canada:
Administrative assistants can work in any province and for a variety of organizations. It’s common to find jobs in government, the private sector, small businesses, and industries such as health care, education, and many others.
You can visit Canada’s Best Diversity Employers website to check for immigrant-friendly corporations and organizations that you might be interested in. This special designation recognizes Canada’s best employers for their commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Canadian job market can be competitive, so you need to prepare and understand the job search process. You must look for jobs in the region where you will settle. Therefore, take your time to research job requirements in that region and develop a plan to find a job. There are many ways that you can search for jobs. These helpful tips are important actions that you can take to propel your job search:
Finding administrative assistant jobs in Canada may be different than in your home country and you may need help to find jobs, update your resume, write a cover letter, and prepare for interviews.
Most settlement agencies offer free job search services before and after you arrive in Canada.
Click the link to find immigrant services in your area.
Networking is an essential relationship-building activity that can help you discover job leads, gain information about a company or industry, and meet others who can help you to expand your network. As many job vacancies are not advertised, you must make connections with others in your field. The “hidden job market” accounts for roughly 70- 80% of available jobs in Canada. Tapping into the “hidden job market” through networking can greatly help your job search efforts.
Good places to network are industry conferences and functions where people meet, build relationships and share information.
LinkedIn is another helpful networking tool that’s great for connecting with former colleagues and employers, searching for jobs, and getting introductions and recommendations. You can also join some related professional groups.
An informational interview with a contact from your network can be a great source of career information. The purpose of this brief 20 – 30-minute meeting is to speak with someone who currently works in the position or industry that you would like to learn more about.
An informational interview can help you to gather valuable and professional insights. And, you gain benefits by speaking with someone who can share their thoughts and first-hand experience. You should not try to get a job during an informational interview but rather research and learn more about a position, company, or industry.
When you write your resume it’s important to tailor it for the specific job that you are applying for. When you can show how your skills and experience match the job requirements, it will be much easier for employers and human resource recruiters to discover your resume. Here are some essential tips to write a winning administrative assistance resume:
Using a generic resume for all administrative jobs is not effective. It’s more effective to carefully review the job description and emphasize how your skills match the job requirements. Use bullet points to describe your related responsibilities and successful outcomes.
Employers want to know immediately which technical skills you possess. To do this, you can include a line that says, “Experienced with” and then list all applicable software programs and skills that you possess.
It’s important to showcase the skills that employers are searching for. One way to do that is to review administrative assistant job postings. Identify the skills that employers value and require.
You can use your network to find the names of current administrative assistants. You may want to view their LinkedIn profile or other presence they may have on professional websites to learn about their skills and previous experience. This way you can compare your skills with those of current employees.
As a newcomer, you bring your international experience to the table. This is especially valuable when you apply to companies that have global operations. So be sure to highlight your international experience.
When interviewing for an administrative assistant job in Canada, be sure to ask specifically what the job entails. Admin jobs range from answering phones, scheduling appointments, and setting up virtual meeting rooms to charting budgets, purchasing merchandise, and troubleshooting software problems. Your pay as an administrative assistant can vary depending on your role and duties, the industry, and even the city where you are employed.
Communication is your primary role as an administrative assistant. Be it on the phone, in person, or through e-mail, you must be well-mannered and articulate. Be sure to present yourself professionally before, during, and after the interview.
While some companies have receptionists, others rely on administrative assistants to answer phones and greet clients. Because the company’s administrative assistant may be the first point of contact, it’s crucial to dress professionally to show respect to the company and its clients.
Talk about your spreadsheet, data management, and electronic filing system expertise. Or, if you are interviewing with an advertising company, talk about how your social media skills can help with the company’s online presence. If you are interviewing for a school administrative job, discuss the role of email communication with parents, posting online grades and notices, and electronic bill payment.
Here are some sample questions that a human resources manager or hiring manager may ask you during an interview:
Remember that a job interview is a two-way street. Research the company before the interview and prepare questions. You can ask your questions at the end of the interview.
With a positive outlook for administrative assistant jobs in Canada, now is the time to check out your options.