If you want to find work in Canada there are different searching options available to you. These include help with writing a CV and making a job application. A good starting point is the Service Canada website which has a wealth of information on many different areas for those who are new to life in the country.

One of the recommendations made by the Service Canada website is to network as much as possible. Large numbers of job vacancies are filled each year without ever having been formally advertised so if you are not making contacts in the industry you want to work in then you are missing out on opportunities. It is a good idea to send your CV out ‘on spec’ and many Canadians do this when searching for work. You can also take a look at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website which has programmes for helping expats to find work in Canada.

Canada has an equivalent to the UK Job Centre. This is known as Job Bank and is a government website with listings for vacancies across the country. This is the largest job site in the country. You can register your details and have search results sent to you regularly.

There are a number of other places where job vacancies are advertised. Local and national newspapers often carry job listings, there are many internet websites for job hunters and all the larger towns and cities have recruitment agencies. One of the largest recruitment agencies is Adecco, which will be a familiar name to European expats. The Adecco website has a useful search function to help find the closest branch to you.

Unemployment in Canada is comparable to rates in the US and the UK, although the rate does vary across the country. Provinces that have very little industry have higher rates of unemployment. The national rate of unemployment was 7.6% in April 2011. By province the rates vary. In Newfoundland and Labrador unemployment dropped from 12.8% to 11.1% in April 2011. The rate of 11.2% in Prince Edward Island remained the same. In Nova Scotia the rate rose slightly from 9% to 9.2%. The rate also rose in New Brunswick from 9.6% to 10%. In Quebec the rate rose from 7.7% to 7.8%. In Ontario the rate dropped from 8.1% to 7.9%. In Manitoba the rate dropped from 5.5% to 5.2%. The rate in Saskatchewan dropped from 5.2% to 5% and in Alberta the rate rose slightly from 5.7% to 5.9%. The rate in British Columbia dropped from 8.1% to 7.9%.

As Canada is a bilingual country you need to have a good working knowledge of either English or French, depending upon the area that you are going to be working in. Those who are moving to Quebec to work need to be able to speak French. There may be a requirement in some jobs to have a good knowledge of both.

Most areas have a range of temporary work options available. These include bar work, farm work and temporary professional posts such as teaching. Those who are on short stay visas or student visas opt for posts like these but in some areas recruitment for such posts is limited to locals. It is a good idea to check the regulations in the province that you are in before searching for a temporary job.

Those who are caught working illegally are often deported from the country. There are also penalties for employers as they should not employ a member of staff who does not have a Social Insurance Number. This can only be given to a person who is legally residing in the country and who has the right to work there.

There are several business networking organisations in Canada and one of these is the Business Network International. They operate a system whereby members carry and pass on business cards for each other, promoting ‘word of mouth’ referrals. Most areas of Canada have their own branch. Members hold regular meetings and advice is easily obtained from fellow members.

Useful Resources

Adecco Recruitment Agency
http://www.adecco.ca

Canada Job Bank
www.jobbank.gc.ca

Service Canada
www.servicecanada.gc.ca

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca

Business Network International Canada
Tel: 1 800 365 2276
Fax: 1 888 798 9377
http://www.bnicanada.ca/