Canada offers many job opportunities for newcomers. The best way to succeed is to prepare! This Web site can help you get ready for the challenges of finding a job.

The Working in Canada Tool can help you to decide where to live and work. Use the Tool to produce a report on job descriptions, wages, skill requirements, language training and job opportunities based on your occupation and a location. By researching different occupations and different locations, you can make settlement decisions that are right for you and your family.

How do I Find a Job?

Job Postings

Job postings can be found in many places: on the Internet, on a community bulletin board, at job fairs or in a newspaper “help wanted” section.

• A job fair is an event where businesses promote themselves and sometimes accept resumes for jobs openings

You can also contact employers directly to ask if they are hiring.

IMPORTANT: You need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card to work in Canada.

Job Bank is the Government of Canada's electronic listing of job opportunities across Canada. You can search Job Bank by occupational title, availability and time of posting. Job Bank is the largest Web-based network of job postings available to Canadians. Over 900,000 new jobs are posted every year.

• Up to 50,000 job postings can be accessed at any one time.
• Up to 2,000 new jobs are posted every day.

Job search tools - Service Canada List of tools and resources to help you find jobs, create a resume, choose a career, assess your skills and more.

Labour Market Contacts and Networking

Newcomers may face challenges finding a job in Canada. Statistics Canada identifies four labour market challenges faced by newcomers to Canada. One challenge is labour market contacts and networking.

Newcomers may have trouble finding out about jobs in the hidden job market because they do not have an established network of contacts.

Hidden Job Market

Due to the time and cost of advertising a job (e.g., posting a newspaper job ad), many job vacancies are filled informally. This creates what seems like a "hidden" job market. Information about available work is often circulated through managers, employees and business associates, as well as through family, friends and acquaintances.

Networking is the way to search for jobs in the Hidden Job Market.

Networking

In addition to job postings, many people search for work in Canada through networking. Networking tells people that you are looking for work.

Who Should be in My Network?

You may already have a network. Your network starts with the people closest to you—your family and friends. Your network can also include your acquaintances—people you know socially. Here are some people to consider:

• Neighbours and family friends
• Employers and co-workers
• Club members
• Teammates and classmates
• Teachers and coaches
• Community leaders
• Librarians

Good networkers are people who share in the lives of others by giving and receiving information, advice, support and commitment.

Organizations to Help You

There are hundreds of organizations to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada. These organizations can help you in many ways, including in your search for a job. For more information on organizations that help immigrants, visit the Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Service Canada Web sites.