Migrating to Canada as a skilled worker requires extra measures because in most cases, you are not competing with migrants, you are competing with citizens. For someone to be considered skillful in any endeavor, a lot of factors come into play. First is the time spent in such field of work, second is the experience and third is qualification and then other factors.
Most likely for Canadian jobs, locals have several advantages that make them not just more qualified but more likely to be employed by Canada-domiciled businesses.
But as a potential migrant, do you need to worry that your international skills may not be able to beat the competition with citizens and residents in Canada? Well, your worries are justified; however, with the approaches we will outline, your migration will be certain because we focus on migrant-friendly sectors.
Still, applicants must understand that since the skilled labor sector promises more pay, and with advancement in Canadian education and society, migrating to Canada through a skilled workforce migration may prove a bit more challenging. Nevertheless, success is guaranteed through a diligent, accurate, and timely approach to your employment and migration process.
Tips for Successful Migration of Skilled Workers
Not just the citizens but the Canadian government through several immigration regulations tries to preserve the country’s skilled labor market for the citizens; however, sometimes the local supply of skilled workforce is insufficient and the country then allows employers to migrate workers. As a potential skilled worker in Canada, understanding these things earlier on can improve your chances of success.
- Some sectors are more migration-friendly: For a vacancy to qualify for visa sponsorship, it must meet some Canadian employment requirements. In this case, potential employees may observe these career paths that are in constant shortage in the country and build expertise in such sectors.
- Leverage remote approach to job hunting: While there are several other means of migrating to Canada without securing a job, Canada’s work visas offer one a lucrative means to migrate, live, and at the same time work in the country.
Even before migrating to Canada, you can secure a job in the country through social media, web search, and other portals that now offer remote access to Canada-domiciled firms.
It is important to try remote job applications because visa sponsorship offers relief for the applicant as the sponsor shares in the visa process burden through facilitation of the process and even support for the applicant upon arrival in Canada.
- Refine your skills: Skilled workforce migration is competitive because Canadians and other candidates from international space are also aiming for those. To qualify, secure, and retain employment, potential migrants must possess exceptional skills and experience in the target employment sector.
- Conduct yourself with civility: The skilled workforce sector occasionally has such workers interacting with the broader society or even the elites in employing organizations, affiliates, or other elite members of the society. This calls for respect and appropriate conduct.
Your potential employer will desire to discover your temperaments beforehand as such, individuals hoping to migrate to Canada on a sponsored skilled work visa must conduct themselves in civilized manners in public and semi-public spaces like social media. Foreign employers often examine potential employees’ online activities before deciding on employment.
- Be timely and accurate: Both your employment and migration require critical information. Providing appropriate information in time will help your Visa and employment process get the right attention. Avoid manipulating or falsifying your information.
Employment Visa Official Process and Requirements
Given Canada, both visa and employment are official matters. Applicant and employer are to submit to official regulations. These include the adherence to the following for the employer:
- Proper screening of the applicant
- Apply for official approval of worker migration through the Canadian LMIA.
- Pledge support and guidance to the applicant
- Adhere to Canadian government provisions on running of enterprise category
- Ensure a valid and mutually acknowledged employment contract with a migrating employee
Applicant’s official roles while in pursuit of Canadian skilled workers visa
Since several immigration and employment requirements are documents connected to the home country, earlier knowledge of what documents individuals migrating to Canada for skilled work must provide is vital to success. This is to enable the applicant enough time to gather those documents and prepare for other migration procedures. Crucial documents or procedures that an applicant on a Canadian skilled workforce visa process may need to provide are:
- Academic qualification proof
- A detailed rendering of experience, skills, and expertise through a Resume or CV
- Passport
- Certificate of Birth or other local official documents that may serve as a means of identity.
- Undergo police character assessment and tender ensuring certificate.
- Undergo and tender a security clearance evidence. This is most likely given a skilled work Visa.
- Present an IELTS or other language proficiency test result indicating excellence and practical command of English or French. Depending on your area of employment in Canada, English and French are the country’s two most popular languages.
- Submit copies of passport photographs as required.
- Undergo health screening intended to certify the applicant as free from health challenges of immigration concern.
Canadian firms employing skilled workers that sponsor Visa
Having understood your responsibilities and those of your sponsor, it is time to find a Canadian employer who may be willing to sponsor your visa. Below are Canadian sectors and firms with visa sponsorship records.
- Tech: Canada’s tech space is booming. Of course, this shouldn’t occur much as a surprise if the US is your next-door neighbor. A Canadian tech firm known to sponsor visas is Constellation Software Inc. Skilled tech workers hoping to migrate to Canada may learn more about the corporation here.
- Professional services: Skilled workers in the professional services sector hoping to migrate to Canada may benefit from visa sponsorship.
The professional services are a huge employer of skilled workers. A notable professional service firm that sponsors visas in Canada is KPMG. You can learn more about careers in the firm via this link.
- Healthcare: Canada’s healthcare system is growing as the country has become a favorite health tourist destination for several individuals across the world.
Apart from, Health tourism, Canadians pay a great deal of attention to their health. A Canadian healthcare facility known to sponsor visas is Hamilton General Hospital Ontario. You may explore the hospital’s career page here
- Financial Sector: Canada’s growing Financial industry is constantly improving to serve a global community. With such a projection comes a diversification of their workforce. One of the major migrant sponsoring financial institutions in Canada is Toronto Dominion Bank. You may access their career page here.
Common Eligibility focus
Each Canadian employer has characteristics they look for in an employee. This makes it tough to pinpoint an all-encompassing eligibility criteria. We however have to enlist the common criteria while hoping that the applicant make further inquiries to discover the eligibility criteria of the target employer. Below are some criteria that may be instrumental in securing jobs in Canada’s skilled work sectors:
- Good communication skills: Skilled work means the ability to translate vision into instructions and translate instruction into practical actions. This requires effective communication on the side of a skilled worker.
- Experience: Canadian employers appreciate workers who know their onions regarding areas of employment. Such expertise that may have grown from prolonged experience is highly appreciated.
- Advanced education up to a university degree, equivalent or higher qualification
- Language command: Workers in Canada’s skilled work sector are expected to be individuals with advanced command of either English or French.
Visa application
We are assuming at this stage you may already be lucky to secure Canadian employment and ready to proceed to the next stage. This stage is about your visa application. It is recommended that you not only maintain effective communication with your employer but also that you stay guided by an expert in Canadian immigration.
Given that this post is about skilled workers’ migration, we assume that ideally, the Canadian TEER 1 Work Visa may apply. This is most likely applicable if you are migrating with a University degree. If your skill stresses more actual experience and non-formal expertise, click here to access a page with detailed information on Canadian work visas.
- Initiate your work permit process: For migrants, working in Canada includes an official permit to do so. This is the function of your work permit. You can learn more about Canadian work permits and how to apply for one here.
Benefits of Working in Canada
- Strong worker’s protection laws
- Access to quality and collaborative work environment
- Assurance of justice especially regarding career growth
- Judicious pay with occasional benefits in non-monetary form
- Avenue to grow as an individual and likely career advancement.
- Access to advanced society, work tools, and healthcare
- Likelihood of insurance benefits
- Access to a serene and peaceful society
- Being part of a workspace that promotes work-life balance
Conclusion
Migrating to Canada as a skilled worker comes with awesome benefits which include higher pay compared to several others. It also include an assured career growth.
While acknowledging that the skilled worker market presents a higher competition, it is worth every attempt as securing employment in the advanced sectors also guarantees long-term job security.