Join the Scotiabank StartRight® Program designed for Newcomers‡ and get up to $2,200* in value in the first year.
Once you arrive in Canada, you have a decision to make: should I get a “survival job” to earn money or look for a job in my profession? A survival job is not the best first job you can get. But, since they are easy to obtain, survival jobs can be a helpful way of earning money to pay the bills. However, once you get a survival job, do not give up on your job search. The choice you make will greatly affect how you live in Canada for the next few years. This article will help you decide which path to choose when you arrive in Canada.
We spoke to Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services) with BCCA. When it comes to survival jobs, Linda Ryan shares her advice:
“My advice is to fasten your proverbial seat belt, hunker down and budget to be out of work for up to six months. Then before you opt for that survival job (a job that pays the bills but doesn’t relate to your career dreams and/or existing education, qualifications and industry experience) take a deep breath and consider all your options and the associated positive and negative consequences of each. Only when you have given yourself the gift of considering all impacts of a decision, should you take action.
Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA
A survival job can pay the bills. But, it doesn’t relate to your career dreams or professional background. Often, it’s a low-paying job that requires little to no skills. These jobs are easy to obtain and earn just enough to pay the bills. Generally, survival jobs earn you under $20 per hour.
Survival jobs usually have long, tiring shifts with only one or two days off each week. These jobs also offer very few benefits from the employer such as medical or dental benefits. It’s good to ask the employer if they do provide any benefits.
Some examples of survival jobs include:
Since a survival job requires little skill, it doesn’t have to be related to your profession. The employer will provide training for the skills you may need for a survival job.
Getting a survival job is not always the best option after you arrive in Canada. Survival jobs can leave you little time and energy to continue your job search. At the same time, survival jobs often give you a feeling of self-satisfaction or ease. This is because they don’t require much thinking and the tasks are generally easy. When both of these factors are combined, newcomers often give up on their job search after a few years of doing survival jobs. The longer you keep a survival job, the harder it will become for you to find a job in your profession.
Another disadvantage of survival jobs in the long term is experience. It may not sound logical, but a long-term survival job can hurt your Canadian experience. Earning money with a survival job for a short time is good for building Canadian experience. However, employers may be hesitant to hire you if you have only had a survival job for the past few years. Any experience you might have had in your profession will count as older work experience and they may not consider it.
“As a skilled newcomer to Canada often the biggest shock to your career trajectory is realizing that it takes time to secure work in your field of expertise.”
Linda Ryan, Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA
Then, of course, there is the matter of income. Survival jobs earn you an annual income of around $30,000 to $50,000. Depending on where you live in Canada, this income probably won’t be enough to save for a down payment and buy a house.
In Toronto or Vancouver, this salary will barely pay the rent. Overall, a survival job allows you to earn income to help you get by until you find a job in your field. It is not meant as a permanent job, and you should not think it’s your permanent job.
Many survival jobs are in the service sector such as restaurants or tourist attractions. As Ryan explained, based on the experience of her clients: “survival jobs pay lower and create a negative cycle of ‘no time and no energy’. This is because you work longer hours to earn enough money. Or, you can’t take time off to attend interviews for your dream job. As a result, you have little energy to go home after a shift and invest in your career, pastimes, or family. This negative cycle leaves newcomers asking “why did I come to Canada?”
Another client of Ryan’s stated, “survival jobs can be more of a hindrance than a help for your career because they cannibalize the energy you have for networking, job hunting, professional development, and interviewing.”
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide, pre-arrival service can help you get started!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARSince they are easier to obtain than regular jobs, survival jobs are usually the first job newcomers get in Canada. Canada is an expensive country that is hard to live in for a long time without earning stable money. A survival job will earn you enough money to get by and maybe acquire some savings if you spend carefully.
Looking at the disadvantages of survival jobs, it is obvious that they may hurt your chances of getting a job in your profession. However, survival jobs are important in some situations.
When you arrive in Canada it’s wise to have up to six months of savings while you conduct your job search. If you don’t have enough savings to last a few months, it will be hard to continue your job search without earning additional money. In this scenario, get a survival job as soon as you arrive in Canada to earn money.
If you have enough savings to last a few months, you should look for a job in your profession without any distractions. If you still cannot find a preferred job after that time, and your savings are running out, it’s time to find a survival job. As the name suggests, survival jobs are there just so you can pay the bills, nothing more.
The answer to that question varies depending on your situation. Not everyone is in the same financial situation when they arrive in Canada. Whether or not you should get a survival job depends on your savings and the job outlook for your profession. If possible, try to find a job related to your field. This way, when you apply for jobs in your profession, you will already have some Canadian experience.
If you do have savings, plan how long you can live on your savings. In that time, do everything to search for your preferred job. This can include:
If you still can’t find a good job at the end of this time, it’s time for a survival job to earn money.
It’s vital to research how your profession works in Canada before you arrive. Many newcomers come to Canada thinking they will find a job in their profession easily. This isn’t always the case. Getting a job in Canada is easy if you conduct your job search the right way. This is why it is vital to research your profession before you arrive and start networking with people in your profession.
Most people will probably look for the highest-paying survival job they can find. This may not be the best approach. It is always best to find a survival job related to your profession. If you have a specific organization or company you want to work for, try to get a job there. For example, if you’re a teacher, you could try to get a job as a lunch supervisor or an assistant teacher. That way, when you apply for a teaching job, you will already have some Canadian experience that can help you land the job.
If you cannot find a job directly related to your profession, you can look for survival jobs that share some of the same skills with your profession. A good example would be teachers who could tutor part-time or even full-time to show future employers you can teach to Canadian standards. When you use this approach to search for survival jobs, your chances of landing a good job are greater.
Finding a survival job in Canada is easy if you know where to look. These are resources and techniques for finding a survival job in Canada:
Networking is the number one way of getting any job in Canada. Simply put, networking is building relationships that will help you with your career. Effective networking happens by building two-way relationships. You show value and prove you have the required skills and experience to do the job.
Your network can include your friends, relatives, and people you meet during your job search. Just showing your resumé to the HR department of the organization will not be enough. Words are more effective and convincing than any cover letter or resumé. Tell people about your skills and capabilities. When people hear about a job opening, make sure they remember you. They may recommend you for the job if you leave a good impression.
Another great way to find jobs is through employment agencies. Companies hire these agencies to find capable and experienced workers. It’s a good idea to look up some of the best employment agencies in your area and approach them. According to the Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services, employment agencies hire over two million workers yearly!
Online job boards are the most common way to find jobs. Websites such as Indeed and LinkedIn are great online job boards. LinkedIn can also be used for networking. Employers use online job boards to advertise available jobs. If you see a job that interests you, you can apply directly to the employer through the job board.
In summary, a survival job is not the best first job you can get. However, since they are easy to obtain, survival jobs can be helpful to earn money to pay the bills. But, once you get a survival job, do not give up on your job search. Ryan offers this final advice:
“As a newcomer looking for your first role in Canada, remember that the sooner you make it look like you have ‘Canadian experience’ (i.e. through career-relevant credentials, memberships of local professional associations, building your network, taking more junior roles that will lead to your dream job), the sooner you’ll be considered equal to Canadian educated and experienced job candidates. This will allow you to get your foot in the career door faster! And once you’re in, your career will build momentum to be back on track!
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
A LinkedIn profile is essential for professionals who want to build their brand, expand their network, and find employment. For newcomers, these LinkedIn tips and advice will help you to create a professional profile and:
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips on how newcomers can use LinkedIn effectively and propel their job search.
Your LinkedIn profile represents your personal brand. Therefore, a professional profile is the best way to project your desired image.
Prepare for Canada: What are the important elements that newcomers should include in the About section on LinkedIn?
Linda Ryan: This section of your profile is a combination of your career biography and your value pitch to potential employers and contacts. It should be concise so that it doesn’t go below the line and force the reader to click the ‘More…’ button. It will take time to get this right, so write, proof and rewrite it several times.
Once you’ve got it right, you can add to it and reuse your pitch on your resume, in networking conversations, interviews etc. The key things you should describe are:
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
Adding a high-quality headshot to your LinkedIn profile will make you more visible to employers who are searching for people with your skills and experience. According to LinkedIn, members with profile pictures receive up to 21 times more profile views than those without a picture.
You need to keep the headline of your LinkedIn profile shorter than 120 characters. It’s even better if it’s shorter. Include relevant keywords used in your profession. This will allow potential employers to find your page with ease.
You also need to make sure that your summary is short, concise, and interesting. A hiring manager will read hundreds of resumes and you need to make sure that you stand out.
Listing your past experience is important for your LinkedIn profile. However, be mindful that some of your past experiences may not relate to the career you want to pursue in Canada.
List your previous jobs that are relevant to your current career aspirations. Focus on the workplaces, experiences, and credentials that directly relate to the types of jobs you want to pursue.
It’s also essential to update your current position. For example, did you receive a promotion, win an award, publish an article, or complete an innovative project? If so, it makes sense to update your profile to reflect your achievements.
Showcase your professional career, growth, and accomplishments in the Summary and Experience sections of your profile.
Prepare for Canada: What should newcomers be aware of when sharing information about their experience?
Linda Ryan: Newcomers often apply for a range of roles and seniority to test the job market. It’s an understandable tactic and a valuable learning exercise but don’t spread yourself too thin. Be careful about the range of roles you apply for. Your LinkedIn profile and more specifically your Experience section should support the roles that you apply for.
“Less is more” when it comes to submitting job applications and I’d say the same for the level of detail you list in your Experience section. This will work better than providing too much information. Include three to five bullet points that sell your:
Certifications are eye-catching. So add notable certificates, skills, or abilities that you possess. Many training programs or skills will have badges that you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
Update this section regularly or whenever you learn a new skill. These skills could be terms that the LinkedIn algorithm will pick up and help recruiters to search for and find you. You should also delete skills that are no longer relevant to your career interests or are outdated.
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Architect Video’]
Working in Canada |A Guide to Land Your Dream Job!
3 Ways to Gain Canadian Work Experience
Build Your Professional Network Before You Arrive in Canada
Networking Interview Questions to Help Your Career
Architect Jobs, Salaries, and Careers in Canada | What Newcomers Must Know
How I Used LinkedIn to Help Find Work in Canada
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
Updating your location is vital when building your LinkedIn network.
Prepare for Canada: What advice do you have for prospective newcomers who have not yet landed in Canada? What location do you suggest they provide on their LinkedIn profile?
Linda Ryan: Yes, we are living in an era of increased remote work possibilities but still having your home country listed as your LinkedIn location, will hinder rather than help you. Recruiters and employers, even professionals in your industry, will want to connect with ‘local’ peers, so the more local you seem, the more relevant you are (or at least, the more you have in common on a very basic level).
You can get around this by ensuring you list Canadian Permanent Resident or another relevant legal status on your profile (in the Name/Title section) and/or by changing your location to the city/province you’re moving to. Feel free to say “Relocating to X” if you feel that’s more of an accurate reflection of your geographic status.
Your LinkedIn profile comes to life when other professionals endorse your skills and recommend you. It’s also very persuasive when your network speaks for you.
But carefully select who you ask to endorse you. For example, you should only ask people who know your work well to recommend you. Otherwise, you risk putting people in your network in an awkward position. As well, if they don’t know you well, they won’t be able to give a strong recommendation that reflects your experience. The same applies to you when others ask you to provide recommendations, as it puts your judgment to the test.
Prepare for Canada: How valuable are LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations for newcomers?
Linda Ryan: Having peer-to-peer recommendations on your profile and professionals who endorse your skills, is super important for your LinkedIn profile. For newcomers, going through the process of securing these recommendations and endorsements is also the first test of your home-country professional relationships. It’s a valuable indication of who you can count on for references when you’re successfully shortlisted for that first job in Canada!
My best advice is to give freely and hopefully, you’ll receive in return. Seek out and provide recommendations and endorsements for past colleagues (be authentic) and in return, you will receive a percentage back.
Also, be prepared to draft a factual recommendation and approach a past manager or colleague to see if they’d be happy to post it on your LinkedIn profile. It makes things easier if you’ve proactively scripted a recommendation they can edit and use.
From a recruiter’s perspective, the Recommendations and Endorsements section of LinkedIn profiles are great indications of the truth in a candidate’s resume. These elements take time to gather, so the sooner you invest energy in getting them done pre-arrival, the better!
By default, LinkedIn will give you a URL that can be a little clunky. However, you can edit this to make it cleaner. For example, you can use your full name if it has not already been taken by someone else. To edit your URL:
If your full name has already been used, consider a variation including your middle initial. You can add your personal profile URL to your resume and online job applications. This step is important because it allows you to add this link to your resume and online job applications.
LinkedIn provides value by allowing you to network and build authentic relationships with peers in the location or industry that you want to enter or are in.
Linda Ryan
Prepare for Canada: What are some specific actions that newcomers can take to build LinkedIn relationships?
Linda Ryan: Some simple actions for building relationships on LinkedIn include:
And remember, never get involved in political debates, opinion snowballs, or contentious conversations. LinkedIn is a professional forum, not a personal soapbox!
When you add someone new to your network, make sure that you send a message explaining the reason you would like to connect with them. If you don’t already know them, and you only send the default connection, they will likely ignore your request.
Your message does not need to be long or detailed. But when you add a personal touch it ensures that the person that you are contacting will see value in the connection.
Prepare for Canada: What advice do you have for newcomers about how to connect with others on LinkedIn?
Linda Ryan: LinkedIn is a professional social networking forum. Yes, you can leverage it when job hunting but it’s primary purpose is sharing, learning and connecting. So when using it to connect with peers in your industry, try these simple tricks:
Hi <insert first name or contact>, I am moving to the area and would value some local industry insights. Any thoughts?
Hi <insert first name of contact>, it looks like we share similar project experience. Look forward to connecting. Thanks!
I’m looking to identify key challenges that local industry is facing right now and how I could turn them into opportunities. Any thoughts on the top two-three challenges?
Hi <insert first name of contact>, I’m a<n> <insert your profession title> moving to <insert city that contact is in>. Would you have 5 minutes to share some local industry insights? Thanks.
I’m impressed by your career trajectory. Would you be willing to share two or three tips on what you did or didn’t do that’s helped you most? I’d value your advice.
I’d consider you a local industry expert! What’s your best advice on the top two or three opportunities/challenges unique to the industry?
Prepare for Canada: What final advice would you give to newcomers about using LinkedIn most effectively?
Linda Ryan: Try not to achieve perfection initially with your LinkedIn profile. But please follow the tips above before you start connecting and applying for jobs. Like your career, your profile will evolve over time. Be prepared to revisit it as you network, build connections, move locations, acquire courses, secure credentials and join professional organizations.
An effective LinkedIn profile is essential to create your professional brand while you conduct your job search. These tips will also help to propel your job search and build your network in Canada.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
There’s no magic wand available to achieve your goals and create the life you know you want to live. However, there is a powerful process you can follow to turn your vision into reality.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
Linda Ryan works closely with newcomers who are eager to continue their careers in Canada. In conversation with her, she discusses common obstacles people face when creating a vision for their business, career, or life. So whether you’re moving to Canada and starting a new career, or navigating any change, here are Ryan’s three tips to help you achieve your goals in life, create your reality, and act on your dreams.
The brain is a funny thing. It’s a data processor and as such, likes nothing more than having something to focus on. As the old saying goes; “garbage in = garbage out”! So be honest with yourself about how you’re feeling right now. If the answer is ‘negative’, why not make a conscious choice to think positively about your future?
Although you may not know exactly what the future looks like, choose to create a positive mindset around it and choose to put positive action towards it. Like all habit-forming, your new behaviour will take multiple tries (and fails) to become your new norm. But you know what? I think you’re worth it. Do you?
I work with many clients who know they’re not living their dream and I find that nine times out of ten their biggest obstacle is they are afraid to admit it. Unfortunately, in choosing to deny the existence of your fear (which by the way is a natural survival reaction designed to keep you safe), you are actively choosing to remain stuck. And if you choose to hold yourself back-guess what? You ain’t ever gonna get there! So whatever your goal in life, dream big, and take the necessary steps to get there.
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
How to Reach Long-Term Career Goals by Not Applying for Jobs
How to Career Change to Canada’s Construction Industry
Career Counselling Helps Newcomers Build Success
Working in Canada | A 5-Step Approach
This is often the question that evokes the strongest reactions in my clients. I’ve seen everything from disbelief, disdain and even disengagement. Great! That’s the reaction I want to see in a client because if that’s what they feel about being asked the question, imagine what they feel about the focus of the question-their vision, their ideal life, and their ability to create it! So we get to working on their ‘best life’ by posing the question again, not as a judgement but as a challenge.
I challenge you to think, act and be like a child when pondering your best life. Visualize your perfect life by allowing yourself the luxury of describing your perfect day. Write it, sketch it, better still, collect pictures from magazines and stick ’em to a sheet.
Having fun creating your story, fuels your desire to make it a reality. Clients who truly allow themselves to go there, elevate their thinking and energy to a child-like level where anything is possible. And guess what? When you allow yourself to even remotely believe anything is possible, you create a new set of emotions, actions and norms that will actually get you there.
So what are you waiting for?
Go have fun with your dreams and goals in life. If you don’t, no one else will!
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
When immigrating to Canada, newcomers often consider a career change. Especially when uprooting yourself from everything you know and love and arriving in a land with new people, cultures and possibilities. While reinventing your life, why not also reinvent your career? Marine-based industries can be a career change to consider in Canada.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to job searching in Canada, Ryan works closely with newcomers who are eager to continue their careers in Canada. Ryan also provides ideas on alternative careers and companies that are hiring across Canada. In this article, we asked her about interesting roles that newcomers could consider in the marine industry.
I could dedicate an entire article to the pros and cons of a complete career change. I’ve successfully done it myself and regularly help clients take small steps to morph themselves into something else.
Linda Ryan
Ryan discussed three organizations for those with a love of water. So if you want a career in a marine-based industry, explore these exciting options.
The CCG welcomes all and is actively recruiting. Formed in 1962, the CCG operates the federal government’s civilian fleet and provides maritime services to Canadians. For example, the coast guard provides:
The CCG is responsible for the longest coastline of any country. It also ensures the safety of international commercial ships and Canadian citizens who navigate our lakes and oceans.
This marine-based industry operates over 100 vessels and 20+ helicopters, along with a variety of smaller craft. And, there’s a myriad of cool jobs available. Everything from on-call lighthouse keepers, search and rescue technicians, deckhands, engineering operatives, and base operations personnel. So, if you have a love of the water, are English or French proficient and have an aptitude for technical, mechanical, IT, electronics and electrical stuff; this could be an adventure for you. Oh, by the way, the Coast Guard also has its own college. And, the CCG will pay for your entire education and offer you a job afterwards! Learn about the Canadian Coast Guard College.
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
Job Searching in Canada | 5 Things to Know & Do
Career Counselling Helps Newcomers Achieve Success
Newcomers Need Two Career Plans
Working in Canada | A Guide to Land Your Dream Job
You don’t actually get to swim with the fish! But, you could be a fisheries technician, trainee deckhand, farm or feed manager. “Leading the Blue Revolution” and the future of seafood is Mowi. This global company works with the ocean to produce seafood. Mowi’s Canadian operation has salmon farms off the British Columbia coast. And, it employs 600 staff to help produce 45,000 tonnes of sustainable farm-raised Atlantic salmon each year to ship around the world.
This may be something to consider if you have some fisheries or water experience (pleasure or commercial) and want to protect the environment. Because if you do, you could work on any of the hundreds of off-shore farms around Vancouver Island. Learn more about jobs in this marine-based industry here.
Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC) offers roles as:
It is the only Transport Canada marine response organization on Canada’s West Coast.
WCMRC is industry-funded with more than 2,300 members that include oil-handling facilities, barging companies, freighters, ferries, cruise ships, and others. If you like being outdoors, on the water and can get basic commercial marine/boating short courses under your belt, a world of opportunities awaits you. Learn about jobs here.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Newcomers know from experience the challenges that you will face when you arrive and begin job searching in Canada. But, based on their journeys, you can gain from their wisdom. Here are five things that newcomers wish they knew or did differently related to their job search efforts.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to job searching in Canada, Ryan works closely with newcomers who are eager to continue their careers in Canada. Ryan shares what some of the most common issues are that they face and how to overcome them.
Ryan states that the best way to spend your time is to research your industry and the roles within it. When job searching in Canada, it’s vital to know the industry trends and challenges. When you invest time to research the industry, it helps you to plan job search activities and shape your career in Canada. For example, in addition to identifying trends, it’s also helpful to know:
When you know this information it will help you to focus your career-building activities and get the best out of your efforts.
The thing to know here is that “networking is as important as job hunting” says Ryan. She adds that blindly sending out resumes when you first arrive in Canada is not all that effective. Newcomers are often surprised at how important networking is, especially when building an early career in Canada.
Ryan suggests helpful tips such as joining newsfeeds or discussion groups on LinkedIn and:
Ryan advises against sending connection requests on LinkedIn for the purpose of ‘asking for a job’. Because as she explains Canadians like to get to know you, your track record and even a little of your life story. It’s the same in the business world, and when people know you, they get to know what you know!
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide, pre-arrival service can help you get started!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARAnother thing that Ryan hears is how newcomers wished they had expanded their communities beyond their friends and family when they arrived. So what exactly does this look like? Well, Ryan shares that newcomers often wished they had spent time getting more ‘Canadian experience’ through:
These are all important ways to help your job search in Canada.
They also wished that they took more time to look for the right work that they truly wanted as opposed to taking work that paid ‘survival’ money. If they had, they would have invested better in their long-term success.
Newcomers often tell Ryan that they should have invested more time using free or low-cost online English as a Second Language (ESL) training and tools. “I couldn’t agree more!” says Ryan. Before you arrive in Canada, it’s important to improve your English language skills. Doing so will dramatically increase your confidence and how you authentically connect with communities and professionals. When you’re confident, it will lead to greater success when job searching in Canada.
Job searching is stressful. Added to that stress, as a newcomer, you’re busy when you first land in Canada. Searching for work, finding accommodation, navigating transit, setting up basics, and adapting to life in Canada are all time-consuming. Ryan’s advice is to plan your time like a pro. She says, “your best approach is to think of this time in your life as strategic project management. For example, assign an hour each day to job search and research, an hour to logistics and getting settled, and an hour connecting with settlement, professional associations, and employment support services. After that, get out, explore your community and meet people. After all, you came to Canada for a new life. It’s important to make sure it’s as balanced as possible!”
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Searching for a job and having enough money to live on are likely the biggest pain points for newcomers when they arrive in Canada. And even with years of experience in your field, you may face challenges when interviewing, including dealing with job search rejection. However, it’s important to know how to stay positive, learn from your interview experience, and move forward with confidence.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to how to deal with job search rejection, Ryan provides four simple, proven steps to deal with the self-doubt that can follow. As a successful career coach for newcomers to Canada, Ryan has helped many along the path to success. Ryan states, “We’ve all been there and done that…the dreaded job search. A joyous journey to rejection, silence, and self-doubt. Until the time when your job application, contacts, or chance meeting shines bright like a diamond and you’re in.”
Once a newcomer herself, Ryan has had first-hand experience with the challenges and realities of a Canadian job search. She knows that job search rejection can create difficult feelings. So here are four steps that she followed and recommends to others to stay positive and achieve success.
“I encourage clients to shoot for the stars, dream big and give themselves the luxury of feeling successful.” Specifically, Ryan advises clients to ask these vital questions: “What does success look like, feel like and sound like?” You can read more about visualizing success in Newcomers Need Two Career Plans.
This step relates to your job search goals. Once you have established your lofty goals, it’s time to set realistic, measurable, and time-sensitive objectives. “Breaking lofty goals into teeny, weeny baby steps and actions towards those goals makes your job search less daunting.”
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
Develop a Career Plan to Achieve Success in Canada!
Career Counselling Helps Newcomers Build Success
Newcomers Need Two Career Plans
Working in Canada | A Guide to Land Your Dream Job!
Ryan reminds clients to avoid taking job search rejection personally. She says, “We are infinite beings in finite bodies. And even if we were always told that we were special, when it comes to the job search, we are one of many.” And as a result, our efforts are constrained by factors we can’t control or even influence. Ryan states “there are many factors that determine who will get selected for an interview. For example, these factors include the:
As for the people who are reviewing the resumes, think about what may be influencing their decision-making. For example, Ryan says, “Are they having a good day or bad day? Are they energized or exhausted? Are they happy with their company or looking to jump ship themselves? There are many reasons why it may not go your way, so why give those things your attention and energy!” Stay positive and don’t let disappointment derail your job search efforts.
“Written by Don Miguel Ruiz (1997, Amber-Allen Publishing), the book reminds us of four things we all should have been taught when we were seven years old!” Ryan says.
First Agreement: Be Impeccable with Your Word
“When you are impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions, but you do not judge or blame yourself (or others!)”
Second Agreement: Don’t Take Anything Personally
“Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally because the issue can be about the other person (or process), not you.”
Third Agreement: Don’t Make Assumptions
“We have the tendency to make assumptions about everything. The problem with making assumptions is that we believe they are the truth…We assume, we misunderstand, we take it personally, and we end up creating a whole big drama that works against us.”
Fourth Agreement: Always Do Your Best
“Under any circumstance, always do your best, no more and no less. But keep in mind that your best is never going to be the same from one moment to the next.”
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Searching for a new job is tough for anyone. And for newcomers, the job search can be that much more challenging. The journey can be an emotional roller-coaster and the ‘free time’ on your hands can seem endless.
Linda Ryan is the Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA. When it comes to job searching Ryan provides smart advice about how to survive the ‘free time’ trap when jobless. As Ryan states “free time isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when you’re between jobs or a newly landed immigrant.”
BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, is a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialise in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan and here’s what she had to offer.
A job search can take time, especially when you’re waiting to hear back from potential employers. Recognizing that we all covet free time, it starts to feel like a cavernous canyon when you’re sitting at home twiddling your thumbs and watching your hard-earned money drain from your bank account. Ryan discusses three smart coping tips:
Ryan: I remind clients of three things they can do to manage the ‘free time’ trap. And, one of the first things I tell my clients is to Be Aware. Specifically, be aware that you’re in uncharted territory. Be aware that it’s stress-inducing. And, be aware of making the “I’ll accept any job” or “survival job” decision to manage your short-term job stress.
I encourage my clients to emulate Mel Gibson’s character William Wallace (13th-century warrior) in the movie Braveheart. He bellowed “HOLD” to his fellow warriors who were too eager to enter the battlefield willing to accept death over the unknown.
I remind clients that the temporary discomfort of the unknown will pass if they hold to their beliefs and their nerve!
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
Career Counselling Helps Newcomers Build Success
Education Evaluation and Credential Recognition | What Newcomers Must Know
Newcomers Need Two Career Plans
Working in Canada | A Guide to Land Your Dream Job
Ryan: This second thing I remind clients to do is to Take Responsibility. Specifically, take responsibility for how you’re feeling and do small things to counter difficult emotions. Whether it’s using a “What if?” mantra to shift your perspective, or even a “WTF” mantra to laugh at your current situation.
For example, by using a “What if?” approach, you take control of self-defeating thoughts that can prevail with free time on your hands. Ask yourself, what if the worst that could happen takes place? Then answer:
Allow yourself to acknowledge what you’re feeling. This empowers you to decide to move or stay stuck. Whatever the decision, you will make it consciously, so there’s no place to hide!
Ryan: Move to Action is very important. If free time is your enemy, then create an ally by adding structure to your day. For example, create a fake Monday to Friday work week and devote an hour each day in the morning to:
Then assign the rest of your day to get out and to exercise and enjoy your surroundings.
Everything that makes you smile and relax “in the flow” is rocket fuel for your energy and your long-term decision-making muscles.
Linda Ryan
And finally, above all else, I remind clients to Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway! Life is too short to accept ‘average’, ‘ok’, or ‘fine’.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
To achieve professional success it’s vital to develop a career plan. But, where do you start? If you don’t know where or how to start to develop your plan, then continue reading and get helpful tips.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to developing a career plan, Linda Ryan shares the top five things you can do to achieve success! Prepare for Canada spoke to her to get her valuable insights about how to develop a career plan. Ironically, none of her tips even mention resume, job hunting, or LinkedIn. Those elements, Ryan stated, are all about attitude and approach. In contrast, the tips she offers provide the building blocks of any successful life transition. And, that includes helping newcomers develop a career plan to achieve success even before arriving in Canada.
We asked Linda Ryan for her advice on why it’s essential to develop a career plan and where to begin. She discussed five key tips that she has come to believe are the building blocks of any successful transition.
1: Get focused
2: Get real
3: Get knowledgeable
4: Get prepared
5: Get on with it.
Linda Ryan: My first tip is to get focused. “Adopting the ‘‘I’ll take any job’ mindset is one of the most unhelpful approaches to career transition, especially in a new country.” Accepting any job, or what’s also known as a survival job, serves to pay the bills while you search for a job that aligns with your:
However, accepting “any job” is not a sustainable career development strategy. And, taking any job will leave you feeling unfulfilled, unproductive, and unhappy.
A better approach is to focus on what you would love to do in one, five, or 15 years from now.
To help you get focused, you can look at your interests, aspirations, existing education, and experience.
Linda Ryan
The next step is to look at the:
It’s helpful to focus on up to three possible role types that you would like to pursue. This will help you decide what specific activities you must act upon to develop a plan and achieve career success.
Linda Ryan: It’s important to be realistic about the job prospects in Canada. So it’s a good idea to access high-level labour market information for the city, province and profession where you plan to settle. Job Bank is Canada’s national employment service that’s available as a website and mobile app.
It helps you develop a career plan and find work by providing an overview of your profession in Canada. This career planning tool is invaluable and provides information about:
Linda Ryan: It’s helpful to know if your profession is regulated or unregulated in Canada. When you confirm this, you’ll know what you require to work in Canada and what it actually means for your goals. With this knowledge, you can adjust your career-planning activities accordingly.
Linda Ryan: One vital activity is to understand the difference between education evaluation and credential evaluation. There are clear differences between each activity that can help you prepare for career success.
If you plan to arrive in Canada soon, you can start these activities before you arrive. Because doing so is smart and strategic! To learn more, check out this post.
Also, get comfortable with planning. In fact, you should have a Plan A and a Plan B (maybe even a Plan C) for your career. And expect to change these plans as your circumstances and experiences change.
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
Why Newcomers Need Two Career Plans
Education Evaluation and Credential Recognition | What Newcomers Must Know
Career Counselling Helps Newcomers Build Success
Working in Canada | A Guide to Land Your Dream Job!
Linda Ryan: Only you are accountable for developing a career plan, no one else. However, it’s healthy to ask for help and seek guidance from experts. You can even access free newcomer services to help you achieve your career goals faster. It’s also helpful to build connections with peers in your local industry.
But, it’s up to you to take consistent and constructive action to build the career that you want. So, get into action, adjust your plans, and keep on doing.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Career counselling can help you navigate what you require to build your career in Canada. In fact, it can help you to build your success faster when you access pre-arrival career services. For newcomers, finding a job that best suits your skills, background, and experience can reduce your job search stress.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips about how pre-arrival career counselling can help you build success.
Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan, who arrived in Canada as a newcomer in 2010. As she explained, settlement services were not as available as they are today. Further, she stated that pre-arrival services didn’t exist, or she was unaware of them. As a result, she struggled to find a job.
If knowledge is power then local knowledge (industry, credentials, networking and employment) is the catalyst for successful Canadian careers. This is the single biggest truth for newcomers to Canada and in the past they/we had to learn it the hard way.
Linda Ryan
In response to the need to help newcomers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada fund free pre-arrival career counselling, employment information, and resources. These services give newcomers knowledge and power to build effective job search strategies even before setting foot on Canadian soil.
Linda Ryan: I had a solid education, a great career in my home country, and a management track record to be proud of. And when I came to Canada, I had to jump many hurdles including:
Although Canada had confirmed that it “wanted me”, arriving in Canada as a skilled immigrant still felt like it wasn’t enough. I had to learn from many mistakes about how to:
Easily I could have saved myself 100 hours of self-doubt and self-defeating job-hunting activities. If I was pre-armed with career counselling services I could have asked specific questions to someone in the know. By investing 10 hours before I arrived in Canada, I could have achieved success faster. Because without this knowledge, it was a challenge to enter the job market.
Linda Ryan: It’s a unique, pre-arrival Canada-wide service that helps high-skilled newcomers explore and build construction careers in Canada. Whether you’re an engineer, architect, project manager, estimator, technician or tradesperson looking to continue your career in Canada. Or, if you are a business, IT, HR, marketing, procurement or finance professional exploring how to move into a high-demand industry, BCCA-IN can help.
The program has evolved and extends services to clients or partners of clients, whether or not construction is their primary industry focus. The wisdom is that if you support spouses/partners pre-arrival, you also increase the success rate for settlement, integration, and employment.
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Engineering Video’]
Employment Services Help Newcomers Work in Canada
How to Career Change to Canada’s Construction Industry
How to Reach Long-Term Career Goals by Not Applying for Jobs
LinkedIn Profile | Essential Tips & Advice for Newcomers
Education Evaluation and Credential Recognition | What Newcomers Must Know
Linda Ryan: Counselling services help newcomers to find career success faster. As well, these services provide a return on investment for the economy and the community that newcomers settle in.
Linda Ryan: We offer a range of services that include:
Our services focus on the best and most practical career, credentials, and connection activities. As a result, these services help newcomers to find employment faster.
Our team has multi-industry experience that can benefit newcomers. We’re also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada. So we get it!
Linda Ryan: Ten years on, I’m so passionate about helping others build their careers. So not only do I provide career counselling, but I dedicate my time to ensure newcomers avoid the mistakes I made!
Linda Ryan: If I could depart three pearls of wisdom about how to achieve success in Canada, I’d say:
2. Access free employment and settlement services
3. Do it before you land in Canada.
There is a world of opportunity in Canada! But, you’ve got to know where to look and how to access it.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
There are many exciting careers in the construction industry right across Canada. And available jobs will continue to increase with many current workers retiring in the years to come. So if you’re looking to make a career change, there are great possibilities, even if don’t have a construction background.
Linda Ryan is the Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services) with BCCA. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips on how to successfully make your career change to the Canadian construction industry. BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, is a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN). The BCCA-IN team helps newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
Prepare for Canada: Can you tell us more about the shortage of workers in the construction industry? What types of professions are needed?
Linda Ryan:
With an 80,000 shortfall predicted in workforce numbers over the next decade due to retirements and modest industry growth, it’s fair to say Canada’s construction industry is actively hiring. Like any industry, construction needs tradespeople and specialist professionals such as engineers, architects, estimators, etc. As well, the industry requires strategic professionals for functions such as:
Prepare for Canada: The employee shortfall is great news for job seekers with a construction background. But, what advice do you have for newcomers who want to make a career change? In other words, how can newcomers actually transition their non-construction skills and experience?
[cjtoolbox name=’BCCA Webinar LP’]
Ryan offered these tips to make a career change to the construction industry.
Transitioning your career to a new industry is possible as long as you have a clear plan and are prepared to take lots of small, progressive steps to get there. Accepting that your career transition is a journey, not a destination, is key. It will prepare you for the action and accountability you must assume to make a successful career change.
Answer this question: What’s my goal in moving into the construction industry?
In other words, what will it give you that you don’t currently have? The more honest you are about what and why the more focused you can be about the kind of roles and companies that will suit you. Answering this question will help you confirm what you’re prepared to do to get started because you will have to take a step back in the short term to build your reputation in a new industry.
This is where people make a big mistake. Recruiters will ‘pigeonhole’ you when they read your resume and only consider you for roles that match your experience and industries. So, your old resume won’t cut it. You can overcome this barrier by investing time to look back on your life, hobbies, family influences, volunteer endeavours, and professional experience. Then rewrite a resume and cover letter that shows:
i. An exposure to and interest in construction
II. Key skills and past role achievements that will transfer well into your new target industry.
Crafting Your Job Search Action Plan to Work in Canada
LinkedIn Profile | Essential Tips & Advice for Newcomers
Canadian Style Resume | Is it Necessary?
Welder Jobs and Salary in Cities in Canada
3 Ways to Get Canadian Work Experience
Achieve Your Goals in Life by Creating Your Reality
Construction Jobs in Canada | What Newcomers Must Know
Working in Canada | A Guide to Land Your Dream Job!
Start job hunting for roles you’re a realistic fit for in the construction industry. This may mean considering more junior roles. Although you may have transferable skills, employers know that you will have to learn the industry to add 100% of your value, and that takes time. So, know your value but be humble about where you will start your career.
Spend less time applying for jobs and more time tailoring your resume for specific ‘obvious fit’ roles.
Business in Canada relies on a strong network, and even more so in the construction industry. If you’re not prepared to invest time to network and connect with peers online and offline, then you’re not really committed to a career transition.
LinkedIn is a helpful tool to build a professional network and connect with peers. However, don’t connect to ask for a job. Instead, connect because you share a common:
Sometimes it’s as simple as sending a blank connection request on LinkedIn, other times, it’s about asking to connect because you’d value some ‘local industry insights’. Try different approaches. You’ve nothing to lose.
There are many construction associations across Canada. Most are formed as corporate, member-based, not-for-profit organizations. Their mission is to advocate for local construction stakeholders. The associations offer networking events, short in-person and online (inexpensive) courses and are great sources of local industry insights. To find your local Canadian Construction Association, start here: CCA Membership.
These are great tips for anyone looking to make a career change and enter the Canadian construction industry. And BCCA-IN can provide the support and guidance you need.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.