Join the Scotiabank StartRight® Program designed for Newcomers‡ and get up to $2,200* in value in the first year.
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.
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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.
Newcomers to Canada often ask this burning question “how long will it take to get a job?” However, a better question might be “how can I reach my career goals?” By asking this question, it allows you to focus on what you truly love to do and help you to achieve your long-term career goals.
Linda Ryan is the Provincial Manager (Apprenticeship Services), BCCA. Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan to get her valuable insights about how you can commit to your long-term career goals by not applying for jobs. Sound odd? Find out about a smarter approach to achieving career success and the advice that Ryan provides to newcomers.
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 specialises in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
I tell them to forget about applying for the job and instead commit to building their long-term career. And in that one sentence, I manage to dash hopes and yet plant a seed for success. My comment is perplexing until I follow it up with these questions, “what’s your dream job?” or “what’s the career you’d truly love?” Let’s face it, the last time you’ve been asked those questions was when you were a kid, everything was possible, and money didn’t matter.
Well, for immigrants preparing to arrive in a new country, it’s nice to bask in the warm glow of the “I’m in” feeling. This is common, especially after receiving a confirmation letter from the government. However, it can quickly dissipate when the cold reality of “oh crap, how can I afford this?” sets in. So, the best advice I give to clients is to prepare yourself (from both a time and money perspective) for it to take up to six months to find the work you truly love to do.
The worst thing you can do as a newcomer is to accept ‘survival jobs’ too early to earn some cash. Yes, it’s tempting and practical, but it can kill your career. This is because it’s so far from your profession that you’ll never be able to use it as a ‘Canadian experience’ reference. Or because it pays so little that you’ll have no spare time and energy to devote to:
Another common mistake is to assume that your out-of-country or in-country experience in a different discipline or industry equates to a role you’re fooling yourself into applying for. I always tell clients to aim for the moon and if you fall, you’ll hit a few stars along the way! What I mean is, hold true to your dream job, but be realistic and take small steps to get there.
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
REGISTER FOR THE WEBINARDon’t kid yourself into thinking you can shoehorn your project management experience for financial services companies into project management for construction companies. Or fool yourself that 10 years of engineering in another country will be accepted at face value for 10 years of engineering in Canada. It won’t! While the fundamentals are the same, the industries, credentials, processes, codes, and laws can differ. Until you have a few years of Canadian experience, your expertise or seniority will not be considered like-for-like.
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I offer three smart and easy steps to take to ensure you land a career-building role faster:
Invest more time in researching roles, duties, companies and less time applying. Don’t adopt the ‘spray and pray’ approach by firing off your resume. Decide that you are a 100% fit for the role (i.e. you could do the job with your eyes closed). Also ensure that the company is a match for you and that you tick the practical boxes (i.e. realistic commute, salary, hours etc.). Do this before you edit your resume.
Take the time to read the job description and critically assess your entire education and career (not just your existing resume), so that you are confident you can demonstrate you are the obvious best match for the role.
Yes, it requires you to park your ego and take a few steps back to get in the door, be employed in a role aligned with your career goals, and earning while learning. So, before you spend time editing your resume or drafting a cover letter ask yourself: Is this role a solid stepping stone for my long-term career goals? Will the role give me opportunities to expand my network, credentials, job prospects in the field I’m interested in? How can I express these goals in my cover letter to test if a potential employer is open to supporting me on my career journey?
Then and only then are you ready to apply for the job.
*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.
Networking is a crucial way to research and learn about your profession in Canada. And asking the right networking interview questions can help you to make professional contacts, speed up your job search, and grow your career. Another key to successful networking is being authentic.
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 networking, Ryan provides great insights and advice to newcomers on the importance of authenticity. Read more to learn why networking is important, how to create a network, and how to network while being yourself.
Networking provides a chance for newcomers to connect with others from a range of professions. It’s also a vital way to achieve career success in Canada. When networking to build a genuine relationship, it can help you to:
And when you connect to ask networking interview questions, you’ll gain helpful information about labour market trends, job postings, and training and skills development.
And as Ryan points out, you’ll achieve success when instead of ‘trying’ to network, you commit to building a genuine relationship by being curious, present, and authentic. In doing so, you’ll benefit by learning from their career experiences.
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
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Prepare for Canada asked Ryan for her best networking tips. Here’s what she had to offer about being genuine, authentic, and present:
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true, first impressions count! Ryan advises against entering a room with a “me, me, me” agenda. “Even if it’s only in your head, you’ll inadvertently push people away. They may not be able to put their finger on it, but on a primal level, they’ll sense an ulterior motive. As a result, they subconsciously see you as a threat and quickly and quietly move towards the exit or a less threatening professional animal!”
Another one of her favourite truths, you can’t fake it ’till you make it’ especially with a smile! As she explains, it’s all to do with muscles, tendons and exposure of the teeth. “You actually engage a different set of muscles to force a smile. So, your best efforts to force a smile (even if well-intentioned) are more like getting ready to bite. And guess what this does? It triggers another subconscious fight or flight instinct in your ‘prey’. I mean peer network!”
Ryan explains that this pearl of wisdom was shared with her early. “It was like the heavens opened and the light shone for the first time. I always felt uncomfortable with my approach to networking, but I never knew that simple lever to pull. As a result, I got stuck every time when trying to create a meaningful networking connection.”
When you’re waiting to talk, you’re in your own head (so people feel unheard). If you’re waiting to talk, you’re not truly listening to what the other person is saying. Instead, you’re trying to find something intelligent or insightful to broadcast (so people feel undervalued). And, if you’re waiting to talk, you’re not allowing yourself to experience the human connection (subtle body language, energy, pitch/pace/tone of voice) that’s possible.
Networking is about connecting with people who have similar interests. And a key element of your network is to provide mutual help and support. Strong networking skills can help you to find a job. As well, these skills will also help you to achieve success in the workplace after you land a job. So building and nurturing your network contacts is an essential part of your career success!
An important benefit of networking is that it can help you learn about jobs that are not yet advertised, also called the “hidden job market”.
To understand the hidden job market think of it as an iceberg. The top of the iceberg represents the visible job market or jobs that are widely advertised. The bottom part of the iceberg represents the hidden job market. This is where you can learn about jobs that are currently only posted internally.
When a company advertises a job externally, it’s common for employers to receive hundreds of applications for one position. And that means more competition for you. So networking is a helpful way to access the internal hiring process.
Building a wide network of contacts is key to accessing the hidden job market. A helpful way to create a network is to make a list of people who can help you. This can include:
You can also identify contacts from:
When networking it’s good to start with who you know. However, that can be hard if you recently arrived and know very few people. So connecting with professional associations can be a great place to build your network and meet new people!
If you’re not used to networking for business purposes, it can feel uncomfortable. But, remember that other people want to help you to succeed in Canada. And one day, you’ll be in the same position when you can help others arriving in Canada.
You’ll become more comfortable when you ask the right networking interview questions. These networking questions are thoughtful and lead to useful information to conduct your job search. And by asking thoughtful questions you’ll leave people with a good and lasting impression. And like Ryan stated, “first impressions count”.
You’ll likely have your own questions that you would like to ask. And here are some other questions that you can add:
Listen actively to their responses and probe for more information with related networking interview questions.
Networking is a great way to propel your job search. But it’s also important to maintain and nurture your relationship. A strong relationship based on mutual support will go a long way to advance your career. These tips can develop and enhance your networking skills.
Building relationships with other professionals is important when networking. And asking thoughtful networking interview questions can help you build rapport and reach your career goals.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, 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.
In addition to writing a ‘Canadian style resume,’ it’s also vital to include a well-written ‘elevator pitch’. An ‘elevator pitch’ or career goal is a quick summary that describes your professional goals and the value you can offer. You can use an elevator pitch in many situations, including interviews, networking conversations, cover letters, and your resume. With clear examples of an elevator pitch, you’ll be able to write an effective pitch 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 job searching in Canada, Ryan works closely with newcomers who are eager to continue their careers in Canada. Ryan provides advice and career tips to help newcomers succeed in Canada. In the article, learn about the importance of an elevator pitch and examples of what to include in your pitch.
Linda Ryan: At a high level, an elevator pitch is a communication tool that will help you to promote yourself clearly and concisely. That’s why it’s called an elevator pitch. For example, you should be able to say it within 30 seconds, about the time you’d spend riding an elevator with someone. But, before you’re ready to say your pitch, you need to prepare to write it.
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Linda Ryan: Even before people begin to write, I suggest that they find a:
This is a great place to ask yourself about your career goals. This step is about imagining what you’d love to be/do and reality-checking that career dream with what the industry is expecting you to possess. Ask yourself and answer what…
With the answers to these important questions, you’re ready to begin writing your elevator pitch.
Linda Ryan: As I’ve said, you’re ready to begin writing your elevator pitch when you know what you’re searching for. But, you don’t have to create the pitch all in one go. For example, a smart next step is to list the key elements of your “story”. A good example of an elevator pitch should include:
Linda Ryan: With the facts in front of you, review and edit what you’ve got then begin joining the points together with sentences.
And always remember: you need more than one elevator pitch. Good elevator pitches are simple to understand and feature your unique selling points.
Linda Ryan: If all else fails, feel free to use this… (but I wouldn’t recommend it!!)
‘My career objective is to work in <insert sector here> and I’m open to any opportunity in your company.’ If anything, this is an example of an elevator pitch to avoid.
*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 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.
To achieve professional success it’s vital to develop a career plan. But, where do you start? If you don’t know where or how to start to develop your plan, then continue reading and get helpful tips.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to developing a career plan, Linda Ryan shares the top five things you can do to achieve success! Prepare for Canada spoke to her to get her valuable insights about how to develop a career plan. Ironically, none of her tips even mention resume, job hunting, or LinkedIn. Those elements, Ryan stated, are all about attitude and approach. In contrast, the tips she offers provide the building blocks of any successful life transition. And, that includes helping newcomers develop a career plan to achieve success even before arriving in Canada.
We asked Linda Ryan for her advice on why it’s essential to develop a career plan and where to begin. She discussed five key tips that she has come to believe are the building blocks of any successful transition.
1: Get focused
2: Get real
3: Get knowledgeable
4: Get prepared
5: Get on with it.
Linda Ryan: My first tip is to get focused. “Adopting the ‘‘I’ll take any job’ mindset is one of the most unhelpful approaches to career transition, especially in a new country.” Accepting any job, or what’s also known as a survival job, serves to pay the bills while you search for a job that aligns with your:
However, accepting “any job” is not a sustainable career development strategy. And, taking any job will leave you feeling unfulfilled, unproductive, and unhappy.
A better approach is to focus on what you would love to do in one, five, or 15 years from now.
To help you get focused, you can look at your interests, aspirations, existing education, and experience.
Linda Ryan
The next step is to look at the:
It’s helpful to focus on up to three possible role types that you would like to pursue. This will help you decide what specific activities you must act upon to develop a plan and achieve career success.
Linda Ryan: It’s important to be realistic about the job prospects in Canada. So it’s a good idea to access high-level labour market information for the city, province and profession where you plan to settle. Job Bank is Canada’s national employment service that’s available as a website and mobile app.
It helps you develop a career plan and find work by providing an overview of your profession in Canada. This career planning tool is invaluable and provides information about:
Linda Ryan: It’s helpful to know if your profession is regulated or unregulated in Canada. When you confirm this, you’ll know what you require to work in Canada and what it actually means for your goals. With this knowledge, you can adjust your career-planning activities accordingly.
Linda Ryan: One vital activity is to understand the difference between education evaluation and credential evaluation. There are clear differences between each activity that can help you prepare for career success.
If you plan to arrive in Canada soon, you can start these activities before you arrive. Because doing so is smart and strategic! To learn more, check out this post.
Also, get comfortable with planning. In fact, you should have a Plan A and a Plan B (maybe even a Plan C) for your career. And expect to change these plans as your circumstances and experiences change.
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Linda Ryan: Only you are accountable for developing a career plan, no one else. However, it’s healthy to ask for help and seek guidance from experts. You can even access free newcomer services to help you achieve your career goals faster. It’s also helpful to build connections with peers in your local industry.
But, it’s up to you to take consistent and constructive action to build the career that you want. So, get into action, adjust your plans, and keep on doing.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Career counselling can help you navigate what you require to build your career in Canada. In fact, it can help you to build your success faster when you access pre-arrival career services. For newcomers, finding a job that best suits your skills, background, and experience can reduce your job search stress.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips about how pre-arrival career counselling can help you build success.
Prepare for Canada (PFC) spoke to Ryan, who arrived in Canada as a newcomer in 2010. As she explained, settlement services were not as available as they are today. Further, she stated that pre-arrival services didn’t exist, or she was unaware of them. As a result, she struggled to find a job.
In response to the need to help newcomers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada fund free pre-arrival career counselling, employment information, and resources. These services give newcomers knowledge and power to build effective job search strategies even before setting foot on Canadian soil.
Linda Ryan: I had a solid education, a great career in my home country, and a management track record to be proud of. And when I came to Canada, I had to jump many hurdles including:
Although Canada had confirmed that it “wanted me”, arriving in Canada as a skilled immigrant still felt like it wasn’t enough. I had to learn from many mistakes about how to:
Easily, I could have saved myself 100 hours of self-doubt and self-defeating job-hunting activities. If I were pre-armed with career counselling services, I could have asked specific questions to someone in the know. By investing 10 hours before I arrived in Canada, I could have achieved success faster. Without this knowledge, it was a challenge to enter the job market.
Linda Ryan: It’s a unique, pre-arrival Canada-wide service that helps high-skilled newcomers explore and build construction careers in Canada. Whether you’re an engineer, architect, project manager, estimator, technician or tradesperson looking to continue your career in Canada. Or, if you are a business, IT, HR, marketing, procurement or finance professional exploring how to move into a high-demand industry, BCCA-IN can help.
The program has evolved and extends services to clients or partners of clients, whether or not construction is their primary industry focus. The wisdom is that if you support spouses/partners pre-arrival, you also increase the success rate for settlement, integration, and employment.
Do you want one-on-one coaching to help you continue your construction career in Canada before you arrive? The Integrating Newcomers program is for you if you’re a technical professional e.g. tradesperson, engineer (in any discipline), architect, technician, technologist, project manager, estimator, or analyst. This Canada-wide service can help you get started!
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Linda Ryan: Counselling services help newcomers to find career success faster. As well, these services provide a return on investment for the economy and the community that newcomers settle in.
Linda Ryan: We offer a range of services that include:
Our services focus on the best and most practical career, credentials, and connection activities. As a result, these services help newcomers to find employment faster.
Our team has multi-industry experience that can benefit newcomers. We’re also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada. So we get it!
Linda Ryan: Ten years on, I’m so passionate about helping others build their careers. So not only do I provide career counselling, but I dedicate my time to ensure newcomers avoid the mistakes I made!
Linda Ryan: If I could depart three pearls of wisdom about how to achieve success in Canada, I’d say:
2. Access free employment and settlement services
3. Do it before you land in Canada.
There is a world of opportunity in Canada! But you’ve got to know where to look and how to access it.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Building Canadian work experience before you arrive in Canada can give you a competitive advantage. It can also help you to achieve your career goals faster. And employers place a high value on Canadian work experience. But how can you gain experience before you land 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 specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to.
When it comes to building Canadian work experience in construction, Ryan provides specific advice. Prepare for Canada spoke to Ryan and here’s what she had to say about the importance of Canadian work experience and how to gain it before you land in Canada.
Linda Ryan: In Canada, construction employers appreciate a foundation of technical education plus hands-on experience in the local sector. As well, they like to see that you:
This is critical, especially if the role is considered a regulated profession in Canada e.g. Engineer, Architect, a trade, etc. It’s all of these elements that are called “Canadian experience”.
Linda Ryan: While employers can’t blatantly specify Canadian experience as criteria when advertising roles, you can understand why they look for it. Canadian work experience allows employers to find the best candidate for the job. For example, someone who:
Linda Ryan: For newcomers, one way to gain Canadian work experience is to upskill. This allows you to gain highly coveted experience and work towards credential recognition in your profession. But how do you do it when you haven’t even landed in Canada yet? Here are four helpful ways:
Start with the basics. Identify a Canadian professional association (member-based organization) in the sector, profession and ideally city/province where you’ll land in Canada. Any online search engine will help you do this! When you find one:
If you can afford to pay for membership-do it! Over time, your membership will help you to build your connections, knowledge, and reputation. The associations will also give you ideas on further education, certification or professional development programs. Don’t forget to list your membership on your LinkedIn profile and resume, as soon as possible.
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Search for free or low-cost online webinars in your field of expertise provided by a Canadian professional association, regulatory body or credential authority. When you complete the courses or events, list them on your LinkedIn profile and resume. Once you have a Canadian professional credential you can replace the courses on your profile. You can start to look for courses here:
Don’t forget to use this list to research, prepare for and begin the credential recognition process for your trade or profession before you arrive in Canada. Having the right Canadian credentials will give you a competitive advantage when building your career.
BuildForce Canada is a national organization that focuses on developing a high-skilled construction workforce. One way they do this is through online elearning courses that they offer.
The Construction Institute of Canada (TCIC) offers professional development for the construction industry. Browse the e-learning course list.
TCIC also offers Gold Seal certified courses, programs and workshops for industry professionals who want to climb the management ranks. This national accreditation for construction management professionals can also lead to the professional designation P.GSC. You have to meet the criteria (Canadian industry experience and education) to receive the designation. Learn more about Gold Seal.
When you arrive in Canada, the best way to enhance your Canadian work experience is to look for roles relevant to your career. Actively searching for more junior roles can be an effective way of “earning and learning” the industry and profession.
*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?
Ryan offered these tips to make a career change to the construction industry.
Transitioning your career to a new industry is possible as long as you have a clear plan and are prepared to take lots of small, progressive steps to get there. Accepting that your career transition is a journey, not a destination, is key. It will prepare you for the action and accountability you must assume to make a successful career change.
Answer this question: What’s my goal in moving into the construction industry?
In other words, what will it give you that you don’t currently have? The more honest you are about what and why the more focused you can be about the kind of roles and companies that will suit you. Answering this question will help you confirm what you’re prepared to do to get started because you will have to take a step back in the short term to build your reputation in a new industry.
This is where people make a big mistake. Recruiters will ‘pigeonhole’ you when they read your resume and only consider you for roles that match your experience and industries. So, your old resume won’t cut it. You can overcome this barrier by investing time to look back on your life, hobbies, family influences, volunteer endeavours, and professional experience. Then rewrite a resume and cover letter that shows:
i. An exposure to and interest in construction
II. Key skills and past role achievements that will transfer well into your new target industry.
Start job hunting for roles you’re a realistic fit for in the construction industry. This may mean considering more junior roles. Although you may have transferable skills, employers know that you will have to learn the industry to add 100% of your value, and that takes time. So, know your value but be humble about where you will start your career.
Spend less time applying for jobs and more time tailoring your resume for specific ‘obvious fit’ roles.
Business in Canada relies on a strong network, and even more so in the construction industry. If you’re not prepared to invest time to network and connect with peers online and offline, then you’re not really committed to a career transition.
LinkedIn is a helpful tool to build a professional network and connect with peers. However, don’t connect to ask for a job. Instead, connect because you share a common:
Sometimes it’s as simple as sending a blank connection request on LinkedIn, other times, it’s about asking to connect because you’d value some ‘local industry insights’. Try different approaches. You’ve nothing to lose.
There are many construction associations across Canada. Most are formed as corporate, member-based, not-for-profit organizations. Their mission is to advocate for local construction stakeholders. The associations offer networking events, short in-person and online (inexpensive) courses and are great sources of local industry insights. To find your local Canadian Construction Association, start here: CCA Membership.
These are great tips for anyone looking to make a career change and enter the Canadian construction industry. And BCCA-IN can provide the support and guidance you need.
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Building your professional network is essential when you’re seeking a new job. And, if you’re moving to Canada you can start building your network even before you arrive. A strong network can help you to access the Canadian job market by building and developing relationships. Effective networking is a critical job search activity that you can begin while still in your home country. Discover six helpful tips to develop your networking skills!
Until you arrive in Canada, your online network will be key. But, when you arrive in Canada, make an effort to network face-to-face to build relationships. It may seem difficult but most people are eager to help, even those who may not be closely connected to you.
Networking can open many doors to jobs that are not yet advertised, but first, you must have the right connections. So, how can you build your professional network in Canada when you live abroad?
Building an effective network takes time and effort. Take time to create a plan of action to build your professional online network. Set some goals and know what you want to accomplish. When you’re clear about what you want to achieve you can have the right conversation.
Possible goals might be to:
“You are not ever a genius all by yourself. Your ideas are a function of the people you are connected with…”
Carol Dweck, Author, Mindset
The people you know can likely introduce you to others in their network. Start connecting with your contacts in a meaningful way. Reach out to the people you already know to build your professional network. Chances are that they know someone who has moved to Canada before you and can connect you to them. Whether or not they are in the same profession as you, they may be able to offer professional insights and introduce you to others.
Research shows that close to 80% of available jobs are not advertised. This represents what is known as the hidden job market. You can access the hidden job market through your professional and personal contacts and network.
Start by listing your current contacts:
A thoughtful approach to using social media can help you make connections quickly, and build relationships over time.
Actions:
“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity”
Keith Ferazzi
One way to build relationships with your network is to create value. Be someone who provides, information, and support to others. Your network partners will remember your effort and be willing to return the favour.
Consider:
An elevator pitch is all about you: who you are, what you do, and what you want to do. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to hiring managers and other connections. Your social media presence is your elevator pitch and it represents your professional brand. So, carefully craft what you want to communicate.
Actions:
Building an effective network is all about the quality of the relationship. So, it’s important to keep in touch with your network. In that sense, think quality of contacts over quantity. Keeping an active network takes time, planning, and effort to maintain the relationship.
With friendly rapport, when your contacts hear of job opportunities, they’ll think of you and be excited to help you.
While networking may seem like a lot of effort, it’s essential to build your professional network before you leave for Canada. With the right connections, you’ll be on your way to landing the right job in Canada and meeting exciting new people.