There are a variety of employment opportunities for foreign nationals working in Canada. With an aging population and significant labour shortages, Canada’s need for skilled workers is greater than ever. Canada has many in-demand jobs for foreign skilled workers and a high minimum wage of $15 per hour. Some of the most in-demand jobs in Canada are Sales associate, Truck Drivers, Welders, Business development manager, Project manager, Web developer, Electrical engineer, Accountant, Human Resource Manager, Financial advisor, Registered nurse and Pharmacist. Most Canadian companies offer flexible working hours which provides a work-life balance with less stress, a greater sense of wellbeing and a lower risk of burnout. Mandatory employee benefits in Canada include a pension fund, maternity leave, standard 25 days of paid leave, employment insurance, healthcare spending accounts, gyms and workplace canteens. Canada has a unique payday scheme; it happens every two weeks on Wednesday.

A job application in Canada requires a resume or a Curriculum Vitae and a cover letter. The resume should be chronological and personal details such as religion, age, race, marital status and signature should never be included in a job application for Canada. The resume should include professional experience, educational background, soft skills and career goals. A complete dossier of educational certificates, diplomas, job recommendations and references will be requested by the company you are applying to. The cover letter should explain why you are right for the job and how you could add value to the company despite not being from the country. Canada is a bilingual country. English and French have equal status and are both considered official languages. In Quebec, employers are required to provide all work documents in French if requested by the employee.

To be able to work in Canada as a foreign national, a work permit is a must. The type of visa depends on the type of occupation in Canada. The two main types of visas are open work permit and employer specific work permit whereby the first allows you to work for any employer, in any province or territory in Canada and exempted from Labour Market Impact Assessment. The latter is specific to a single employer, time and position and requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment. An employer-specific permit can be obtained through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which allows Canadian employers to hire foreign nationals who can fill labour shortages temporarily. Immigration options include Express Entry i.e. when you immigrate as a skilled worker, Provincial Nominee Program i.e. when you are nominated by a specific province, Family Sponsorships etc. among many others.