Finding Your First Employment As An International Graduate In Canada

Several international students attending a post-secondary school in Canada still need an employment offer lined up when they finish their studies.

So, when you graduate in Canada, changing from international student to foreign graduate, you will be required to begin your employment search from the ground up.

This article has been compiled with hints and recommendations to assist foreign graduates in beginning their employment hunt.

Note: The hints below are for international students who have explained their employment status in Canada, such as graduates who already have their Post-Graduate Work Permit or another work permit.

Research

It is uncommon to understand what position you seek when entering the labor force as a new graduate. So, studying prospective occupational employment routes is a significant step in discovering your first employment after the conclusion of your studies. Indeed.com, a famous job search platform utilized by employment seekers and employers, mentions research as the initial step for seeking employment after studies.

This procedure can be begun in so many methods, which include the two methods below:

Searching For Employment By Sector

For instance, a marketing graduate can use phrases like “kinds of employment in the marketing sector” to start their employment search.

Searching For Employment By Program

Another method would be to market graduates with a bachelor’s program seeking an “entry-level marketing employment bachelor’s program” via Google.

A search of this kind is more likely to offer results where a phrase like “bachelor’s program” is attached to the employment narration and listing. This can give you an ideal notion of the conditions employers anticipate for the position you seek.

Now is also an ideal time to perform a preliminary search through available employment listings. This can assist you in curating your resume before you officially begin applying for vacant roles.

Lastly, take some time to study prospective employers or firms you may desire to work for (offering a role you might be interested in). This can assist you in obtaining an idea of firms to apply to when you are prepared, as it can give you a notion of their culture, the income they provide, and more.

Note: younger employment seekers usually only remain in a single profession for up to three years, indicating that they may seek a long-term profession immediately after finishing their studies. Based on information disclosed in a March 2024 article from LinkedIn, Generation Z workers between 1997 and 2012 spent an average of only 24 months and three months at employment.

LinkedIn is another famous job platform that lets users connect and search for employment via its devoted employment search device.

Networking

Networking is a vital part of the employment search process in Canada. It’s a tool that can help international students and all job seekers tap into job opportunities that may not be publicly advertised. It’s about finding a job and staying updated on information and trends in your desired sector or the Canadian job market in general.

Based on information advertised in a 2023 article by software firm HubSpot, the significance of networking as an employment seeker can be viewed in statistics, which include the following:

According to a 2020 LinkedIn report, nearly three-quarters of study respondents were employed because someone they know made a presentation or a connection.

Networking can also be beneficial for staying updated on information and trends in the sector you seek to work in or the general Canadian job market. For instance, you can learn about new job openings, industry events, or demand changes in the job market. This information can give you a competitive edge in your job search.

Meaning Of Networking And Who I Can Network With

Networking is the phrase used to explain what happens when individuals come together, often in an unofficial social environment, to share data and notions with others who share a common interest or occupation.

Networking authorizes new employment seekers, including recent graduates, to ask individuals they know questions that may assist them with their employment search. Networking can be carried out with friends, family, school alums, individuals attending employment fairs, and the people at assigned networking events.

Develop Or Update Your Resume

Ensuring your resume is adequately prepared will assist you in being outstanding to prospective employers.

Note: It is crucial to link your resume to each employment you apply for based on the keywords, terms, and conditions attached to each employment listing. This is because, based on occupational coaches, linking your resume to each employment description allows you to demonstrate your applicable experiences and proficiencies. Applicable experiences and proficiencies refer to the skills and experiences directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. This approach can indicate that you are an outstanding fit for the position.

For instance, returning to the point of using “bachelor’s program” in your first employment search, you will want to concentrate on ensuring your resume uses keywords and terms that attract the skills and experiences needed by the role you are applying for.

That implies, as an instance, that if you see several employment listings referring to best applicants having a bachelor’s program in marketing, you are required to contemplate making use of “bachelor’s program” in marketing on your resume rather than “degree in marketing from (name of school).

Get Ready For Interviews

Getting ready for interviews before time can assist you in indicating more positivity to an employer when it comes to the time for your interview, as it indicates additional levels of preparation and assurance.

Forbes’ research in 2023 declared that nearly 40% of interviewers judged individuals based on their voice and total assurance. This strengthens the high worth of readiness before partaking in an official employment interview, as preparation is the foundation for developing a good first impression via your voice and outward assurance.

Getting ready for an interview can involve performing mock interviews with family and friends or performing easy tasks such as getting ready and practicing responses to regular interview questions before you ever speak to a potential employer.

It also helps to study the employer and its values or mission statement. This gives you an ideal knowledge of what they may seek in a worker.