How hard is it to find work in Ontario?
资料来源
http://www.settlement.org
This is a question that any skilled worker should be asking themselves before, during and after the immigration process.
There are many reasons to immigrate to Canada. However, just because you find out that you are eligible to immigrate, does it mean that it is the right decision for you? Making the choice to move yourself and your family is a life-changing decision. Be sure to make it a very informed decision. Why not make sure that you actually know what you are getting yourself into?
For most Skilled Workers, the decision to immigrate is an economic one. You expect to work in the area where you have been working for years. This is reasonable. However, you should know that it is not easy to find work in Canada that corresponds with your skills and experience.
How This Guide is Organized
This is just a short guide. It will also not give you all the information you need. It is a starting point and will lead you to more information. By the end of this guide, you will hopefully know what research you need to do to find out more about your specific situation and how to do it.You are hopefully reading this before you even decide to apply to immigrate to Ontario, or while you are in the middle of the application process. You may not have not done this kind of research before you applied to immigrate. However, the immigration application process for Skilled Workers usually takes years. Use this time to make sure that the decision to immigrate is the right one. If you are reading this guide while you are in the middle of your application process, this is a good time to find out more about the country you plan to settle in and what you can expect when you arrive.
As Skilled Workers, all of you will want to find good, meaningful work when you arrive. Others may have different reasons.This guide will still be useful for you as well. It will not answer all of your questions. In fact, it may create more questions for you. Feel free to ask your questions in our Discussion area. You'll find many other newcomers asking and answering questions there.
If you want to immigrate successfully, you must find out what to expect for you, in your specific career, in the city where you plan to settle. The immigration process takes time. Use this time wisely.
Contents:
* What You Should Do Before You Leave Your Country of Origin
* Enhance your technical English language skills
* Immigrant Integration in Canada
* Labour Market Information - Regulated professions, credential assessment, researching your occupation and the Canadian labour market
* Canadian Job Search
* Canadian workplace culture
* Barriers You'll Face - Your barriers / employer barriers
* Education and Upgrading - Take courses, if necessary, via distance education
* Getting Help
Before You Leave Your Country of Origin
Perhaps this should be called "Before you even apply". The immigration application process is not a true measure of how successful you will be when you land in Canada. You must pass the point system, yes. But, that is only a general measure. It cannot tell you for sure how successful you will be. Don't rely on the immigration process to decide if you will be successful. Rely on more information that you find yourself.Many newcomers are successful. Many are frustrated when they try to find work. It takes time to find good work, even for people born and educated in Canada. There is help for you to find work, but no one can guarantee you a job.
Do you know, for example, that some professions and trades are regulated by professional regulatory bodies? These are provincial, not national. Your international qualifications may not be accepted in Ontario, and you may need to get further training or take exams in order to re-qualify. Did you also know that it may not be necessary for you to re-qualify to work in your industry?
If you want to immigrate successfully as a Skilled Worker, you must find out what employers expect, in your specific career, in the city where you plan to settle.
If you choose to do no planning or research while your application is being processed, be prepared for the worst.
Language Skills
If this article is difficult for you to read, you're not ready to work in a technical English-language workplace in Ontario. Having good English skills just makes good sense when you move to Ontario. English is the main language of the province. Why not learn it as well as you can?It will not only help in your work, but it will improve your integration into your new community. Many communities are multilingual and you will find people who speak your language. But if your goal is to immigrate to Ontario permanently, learn the local language.
At the same time, don't forget the labour market value of knowing other languages. Speaking other languages can be very helpful when looking for work with employers who work with markets in other countries or diverse communities in Canada.
If English is not your first language, the immigration application requires you to take an English test. Just because you get a high mark on this test does not mean that your English is good enough for an employer. You can take English classes after you arrive in Canada. But, even these classes will not prepare you enough for the workplace.
Many English classes for newcomers in Canada are based on something called the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment - levels of English ability (spoken, written, comprehension). Most English classes teach you up to level 5. However, most employers have suggested that they need newcomers with at least a level 8 of English ability. Not only that, but employers expect you to be able to communicate effectively with the technical English required for your work.
Most English classes do not teach occupation-specific technical English. The government is funding some Enhanced Language Training programs to resolve this issue. However, this is something that you may have to learn on your own.
Start learning before you arrive.
Immigrant Integration in Canada
Like many countries, there are various levels of government bureaucracy in Canada and they do not always work well together.There are 3, sometimes 4, levels of government that will affect you in Canada - federal, provincial, regional, municipal. Each of these will have an impact on your life. In terms of work, it is the provincial that will have the most effect. But, it is the federal that selects you through immigration. Just knowing this should make you wonder, are they talking to each other? Not as well as you would like.
Federal, provincial and municipal levels of government fund community organizations to help newcomers settle. This means that you will have access to help and information on social services, schools, health care, housing and recreational facilities; assistance in completing forms; arranges for interpreters and translators; résumé preparation and employment counselling; information about English as a Second Language training. However, the Government of Canada does not provide financial support to new skilled worker immigrants. You are expected to land with sufficient funds to support yourself and your family during your initial settlement.
The number of organizations with services available to you can be confusing. Spend some time on this site to find out about programs. But, also make sure that you contact an immigrant-serving organization in the community where you settle. They can help orient you to local programs and services and give you help with things like starting your job search, finding a place to live, accessing health care and much more.
These are all useful services and you should use them when you arrive. However in the end, you are responsible for your own success. Read this article to find out more:
Where can I find information about community services in my city?
Labour Market Information
The various levels of government do not arrange jobs for people. They have programs that will assist you to find yourself a job, but these programs will not get a job for you. Anyone who tells you that they can guarantee a job is probably selling something and you will find yourself out money, still without a job.Regulated Professions and Trades
Some professions and trades are regulated by professional regulatory bodies. These are provincial, not national. Your international qualifications may not be accepted in Ontario, and you may need to get further training or take exams in order to re-qualify. One of your first steps will be to find out how your qualifications compare with standards in Ontario and, sometimes, Canada.
The licensing process can be long and tedious. You may have to pay for credential assessment, certification or examinations. Find out as much about the process as you can and start to prepare early, if possible, even before arriving in Ontario.
But, also find out if you really need to get licensed. Do you really need to get licensed in order to find a job? No, and being licensed is no guarantee of getting work. There are many newcomers who have spent much time and money to get their license in their field and still are unemployed.
Find out what works for you.
Credential Assessment
Get your credentials evaluated and recognized before you come to Canada. Find out what you need to do, how much it costs and who recognizes the evaluation you do. You'll find that most evaluations assess your education, but not necessarily your work experience and what you've learned on the job. So, you need to figure out how to present this important information in a way that employers can understand.
Getting an assessment done will at least give you an idea of how your education is viewed in comparison to Canadian expectations. You will likely be doing a credential assessment as part of your immigration application. Be sure to choose the right assessment, which you can use for employers and other purposes.
Read this article about getting your credentials assessed.
Research, Research, Research
Even if you just do some basic company research as part of your Labour Market Information work, at least do that. Read this article to find out more about how to research companies in your industry or sector.
Also, the hiring process, resume expectations and many other things about your job search will be different from industry to industry. It is essential for you to find out what employers expect from you. Network, find a mentor, do whatever it takes for you to have a good understanding of what employers are looking for. Don't just find out what they want in workers, but also how they should be approached, so that your job search is successful.
f you thought immigrating to a new country and starting your life over again was going to be easy, think again. The immigration experience can be very fulfilling for you and your family. There are many examples of successful immigrants in Canada. In fact, many of the most successful companies in this country were started by immigrants. But, it is not an easy process, especially in the first few years.
Know what you are getting yourself into. Have a plan of action for your arrival. Prepare, be prepared and know what to expect.
Only then can your immigration experience start with a positive first step when you land.
Canadian Experience
If you have not heard it yet, you will hear about the issue of "Canadian experience". What is it, according to employers? Canadian experience is seen as proof of base language and communications skills and ability to function in the Canadian business culture. What matters most is relevant experience.You need to learn how to best present your foreign education and work experience. Surveys show that many employers don't know how to evaluate your experience, so you have to show them your value.
In a recent survey 50% of Canadian employers indicated that Canadian work experience "is either a requirement for employment in their organization or that foreign work experience is not necessarily considered equal to Canadian experience."
"Canadian work experience is seen as important because it proves that immigrants are able to work in the Canadian work environment (32 percent), that they are able to meet Canadian standards (14 percent) and because it lowers the risk of hiring employees who do not fit into the culture of the organization (11 percent). Employers who hire mostly regulated professionals are much less likely than other employers with no regulated professionals to say that foreign experience is accepted on par with Canadian experience.
These findings suggest that employers are aware that they are not hiring immigrants at levels consistent with their foreign qualifications and work experience." (Click here to read the full report)
That is one perspective of Canadian experience. Others define Canadian experience as understanding and doing things the “Canadian way”: "(i.e., learning how to adjust and adapt to Canadian customs and organizations)." Some newcomers find that a lack of knowledge of Canadian norms and values are a barrier to realizing their full potential. Some acknowledge that it takes time to adapt to a culture, to learn to interact effectively with potential employers and to perform well in their jobs.
And, for others, Canadian experience is a convenient way to discriminate against newcomers.
While all this is going on, employers do consider that it is important to better integrate immigrants into the workforce.
In some professions such as law or architecture there is a perception that knowledge of Canadian laws, building codes etc.can only come with Canadian experience or education. You have to be able to show that you know Canadian legislation or codes or ways of doing things.
That's what you're up against. An immigration system that is somewhat disconnected from employers and provincial labour markets. Again, it is a good idea to prepare yourself for it before you arrive.
Canadian Job Search
There are many parts of the job search that might be different than what you're used to. In fact, the very idea of having to search for a job may be very foreign to you. You may never have had to write a resume or create a portfolio of your work. Do you know the type of resume format a potential employer in your industry expects you to present?Visit our Finding a Job section for useful information about finding work. You'll find specific information about Canadian expectations in the job search, including:
[*]Portfolios - Presenting your accomplishments in terms that employers can understand
[*]Resumes and Cover letters
[*]Information interviews
[*]Technical, product and industry environment literacy
[*]Regulated vs non-regulated jobs
Canadian Workplace Culture
You may still find some differences from how business and work is done in Canada, compared to what you have been used to. These differences will vary for different people, for different reasons. No one can tell you exactly how things will be different. You need to work to find out how your working style may be different and how you can convince an employer that you are what they are looking for and can fit into their company.Read this excellent guide - Working: Canadian Style. It will give you a good overview of what to expect.
Barriers You'll Face
Most of the barriers listed below come from research done with employers, and from other immigrants' experiences. Visit the Employment section of our Discussion area to read about others' experiences and to post your own. Some specific issues that Canadian employers have indicated they find with newcomers:[*] Lack of Fit
[*] Language and Communication Barriers
[*] Unfamiliarity with the "Canadian Way"
[*] Lack of Recognition of Foreign Credentials and Work Experience
[*]Licensing issues
[*]Training and upgrading
[*] Different Standards for Performance
[*]Racism and discrimination
[*]Ignorance
[*]Inability to verify foreign work experience
[*]Lack of experience working in Canada
[*]Lack of knowledge of local labour market information (i.e. employers, companies, hidden job market)
[*]Lack of knowledge of support services in the community
[*]Lack of knowledge of workplace rights
[*]Misinformation (from friends, family, community, service providers, etc.)
[*]Inability to present yourself effectively to employers
[*]Lack of child care Employers have some of their own insights about the advantages and disadvantages of hiring newcomers (from the previously mentioned report). It is useful to know what employers are thinking about you:
Advantages to Hiring Immigrants
[*]Hardworking
[*] Good work attitude/respectful
[*] Loyal
[*] Often highly skilled
[*] Create a more diverse workplace
[*] New ideas
[*] Flexible - will work shifts that are hard to fill
[*] Will work for less money . initially
[*] Help to serve immigrant clients in their language Barriers to Hiring Immigrants
[*] Language, language, language! (Comprehension, writing, speaking/listening, reading)
[*] Lack of experience with Canadian work culture/business etiquette
[*] Temporary: want to go to other larger Canadian cities
[*] Not able to work in a team
[*] Frustration with being overqualified for their jobs
[*] Cultural differences/misunderstanding: holidays, language, way of dressing themselves, religion
[*] Sexism
[*] Harder to integrate to working teams
[*] Harder to assess skills/qualifications
Education and Upgrading
Even if you think you're an expert in your field, you always have things to learn. For a newcomer, you may need to learn some new ways of doing your work, technology or just have taken some course to show to an employer that you are a life-long learner.There are many places to get ongoing training. Read this article to find out more about the various educational institutions where you can take workshops, courses and programs.
Getting Help
There are many community agencies that provide employment services for newcomers to Ontario and even more agencies that provide services to all residents in a community. You might not be used to finding free services in your country of origin. It is useful to know that you can find many services to help you find work.Find out more in this article - Why should I get help to find work?
Visit the Access to Professions and Trades - Portal. This website, co-sponsored by Settlement.Org helps you to find specific occupational information, get more explanations about how to get back into your profession or trade and find help in your local community.
For more information
[*] Access to Professions and Trades - Portal - Find specific occupational information, get more explanations about how to get back into your profession or trade and find help in your local community.
[*]Skilled Worker Class Immigrants - describes the requirements for applying as a Skilled Worker Class Immigrant.
[*] Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) - CIC is the federal department responsible for Canadian immigration and citizenship. The Web site contains detailed information on CIC policy, programs and services. It also has application kits, publications and links to related Web sites.
[*]Access the Hidden Job Market - information about how to find jobs that are not advertised in traditional ways.
[*]Employability Skills Profile - a fact sheet developed by the Conference Board of Canada. Describes critical skills that employers look for.
[*]The Facts About Labour Market Information - useful information and and a definition of what the labour market is and why you should understand how to use it in your job search.
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