The top tips to gain Canadian experience as a newcomer have been discussed below in detail.
For immigrants, Canada offers several chances in both life and work. The federal government’s many immigration initiatives, including Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot, and others, designed to balance off the aging population, have increased the number of educated, experienced, and skilled people living in Canada.
While most people are aware that a resume written in the Canadian style is a crucial tool for obtaining work, “Canadian experience” is a term that new immigrants come across less frequently on their quest to work in the sector of their choice. This essay will define the Canadian experience in detail and outline how to begin building one.
Defining Canadian experience
First of all, be aware that there is no one correct response to this query; other definitions could be offered. Let’s start by defining what Canadian experience isn’t: it does not entail having actually worked there.
Instead, the Canadian experience combines –
- The ability to demonstrate local experiences, such as volunteering with a Canadian organization.
- Accomplishing education or bridging programs in Canada.
- Applying for a temporary, part-time, or survival job, as well as soft skills. Most of these are acquired through different experiences compared to academic or classroom training/instruction.
Soft skills like these contribute to your Canadian experience, among other things:
- Understanding Canadian business culture and developing interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, leadership attributes, and the ability to resolve conflicts.
- Communication skills, including proficiency in English and/or French, Canadian slang, and industry-specific jargon.
- Understanding of regional market and industry trends.
- Being receptive to and sensitive to cultural diversity and multiculturalism.
- Possessing a spirit of altruism and communal service.
- Team compatibility includes adaptability, positivity, and going above and beyond to assist others.
- Potential to establish and maintain excellent working relationships, including interpersonal skills, including eye contact, a smile, a handshake, respecting others’ personal space, and small chat.
- Understanding of Canadian laws and regulations that are relevant to your profession.
Top tips to gain Canadian experience as a newcomer
Even while you might not immediately have a thorough understanding of Canadian culture, there are a few things you can do to begin developing your Canadian experience. Here are several approaches you can take:
Volunteering
This is an excellent setting to socialize with people from many walks of life, gain knowledge of other people’s cultures and traditions, practice your language abilities, and celebrate diversity. You may have the chance to use essential talents related to your line of work depending on the type of volunteer role you select. Reference letters sent by the groups where you volunteer may also be useful when applying for jobs.
According to a study by Statistics Canada, many survey participants said they had the opportunity to learn new skills due to their volunteer work. For instance, based on the survey’s findings,
- 64 percent of respondents said their interpersonal skills had improved;
- 44 percent said their communication skills had improved;
- 39 percent said their organizing skills had improved;
- 33 percent said their fundraising skills had improved;
- 27 percent said their technical or office work skills had improved; and
- 34 percent said their knowledge of topics like health, women’s or political issues, criminal justice, or the environment had increased as a result of volunteering.
Building a network
Use networking tools like LinkedIn to connect with individuals born and raised in Canada or who have lived there for a long time to increase your awareness of regional culture and market trends. Consult with experts in your field to see whether earning any certifications or licenses is necessary for your line of work. Attend conferences, networking events, and workshops to increase your understanding of regional best practices. Eventbrite and Meetup are fantastic resources for finding local events.
Virtual learning
To stay aware of news and developments in your business in Canada, read newspapers, blogs, and discussion forums online. An excellent approach to acquiring pronunciation, honing your language abilities, and staying up to date on current events in politics, sports, and other topics is to watch the daily news on television. This will help you strike up conversations with people you meet while networking.
Bridging Programs
As the name implies, bridging programs help immigrants “bridge” their foreign education and experience by connecting them with local professional peers and business leaders so they can get career advice. Numerous government-sponsored settlement agencies and educational institutions across Canada host these in-person or online sessions. The details of each organization’s many initiatives may typically be found right on their website.
Some of the primary organizations conducting these Bridging programs for newcomers are as follows:
- JVS Toronto
- Skills for Change
- Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program by the Government of Canada
- ACCES Employment
- Ontario Bridge Training Program
- Humber College Bridging Programs
- Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia
- Seneca College Bridging Programs
If you work in a practice firm, you can gain Canadian experience if you reside in Quebec. Practice firms provide newcomers with the chance to stay current on their knowledge and pick up practical work experience while actively seeking employment. There is no money or compensation exchanged. It gives unemployed people a chance to work in a setting replicating the commercial activities of actual business trading.
Top tips to gain Canadian experience as a newcomer – attempting to find temporary or part-time work in your field
Another way to get Canadian experience is to step down from your current position in your home country and look for temporary or part-time opportunities. This will provide you time to seek the position you want while giving you the opportunity to put your skills to work, demonstrate your ability, fill a gap in your resume, and learn regional best practices, lingo, and jargon.
New immigrants bring with them strong technical skills and a wealth of work experience from their nations. Employers and recruiters looking for candidates with Canadian experience are looking for people who can show that they are adaptable to fit in with their teams and are knowledgeable about the subtleties and social signs of Canadian culture.
It could take some time, and it might seem a little tricky at first, but as you arm yourself with numerous materials and Canadian experience, it will grow easier, and you’ll feel more secure.
