Recipients of an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada may begin their job search in Canada in a variety of ways.
Through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) well-known Express Entry application management system, foreign nationals frequently attempt to immigrate to Canada.
Note: The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) are three of Canada’s most popular economic immigration programs. Express Entry serves as its application management system.
Here’s additional information about Express Entry.
To put it briefly, after receiving an ITA from an Express Entry draw, successful candidates for Express Entry are requested to file an Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR).
After applicants have sixty days to submit their eAPRs to IRCC, the processing time of eAPRs by IRCC is determined by a service standard. As of this writing, the IRCC anticipates processing 80% of eAPRs in less time than the six months allotted for service.
Applicants who have filed their eAPR and are reasonably certain that their application will be accepted can begin their job search in Canada during this six-month waiting period by employing the following three strategies:
Online Networking
Establishing a network is important because having a strong network is crucial for effective job performance and accessing employment opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.
Networking is the practice of “sharing … information and ideas [with] individuals who share a common profession or special interest, typically in a casual social setting.”
By using this technique, a potential immigrant to Canada can expand their network of contacts before they even set foot on the country. This is due to the fact that networking may be done via a variety of online channels, including professional web platforms like LinkedIn and social media sites like X (previously Twitter) (more on LinkedIn later).
In addition to being a great method to learn about news and trends in a particular area or in general, networking may help you find possible career opportunities within the field you want to work in when you get to Canada.
Even while creating a network could seem intimidating, particularly for someone who is new to Canada, websites like this one can be a fantastic resource for learning the value of
Government of Canada Job Bank
Run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Government of Canada Job Bank is a nationwide employment service available via a mobile application and website. This job bank is run “on behalf of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments,” according to ESDC, which also claims that it “makes it easier for employers to recruit and hire across the country” by assisting Canadians in finding employment and helping them plan their careers.
With the Canada Job Bank, potential immigrants* have access to more than 150,000 job postings that can be filtered by location, job type (remote, part-time), job title, and more. These resources can be used for job search and career planning even before they travel to Canada.
The Job Bank is not a short-term resource.
ITA participants can use social media sites like LinkedIn, one of the most popular job-related websites in Canada, in a variety of ways to aid in their job search.
*According to a Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) survey from 2023, LinkedIn was the second-most-used resource for immigrants seeking “information about work prospects before coming to Canada.”
When it comes to job search tools, LinkedIn can be a useful resource for ITA recipients who are looking for work before they arrive in Canada. It offers a platform that lets users search through thousands of job postings using filters similar to those used by the Canada Job Bank. LinkedIn also has strong networking capabilities.
According to the same TMU study, during the pre-arrival phase of information search
Specifically, this study indicated that:
- Roughly 75% of survey respondents who said they used social media before arriving in Canada said the work they obtained “was either ‘very’ or ‘quite’ related to their skills”
- Almost four in every five “immigrants who secured high-paying jobs” were pre-arrival social media users*.
*Meanwhile, the study indicated that, on the other hand, nearly 75% of immigrants “who gained precarious, low-paying employment” did not take advantage of social media before coming to Canada.
