5 Secrets to landing a job in Canada as a newcomer or new graduate

Are you happy with the job that you have right now? Is your current job the one that you always wanted? Is your job fulfilling your passion? Is your job providing you a purpose in life?

If your answer to any of these questions is NO, then you are in the right place. I have some tips for you to accelerate your job success in Canada. 

As a career coach I have had the pleasure to work with 30+ newcomers and new graduates in Canada in the past 3 years and I feel proud to say that each and every one of them ended up getting a job in their desired field in Canada whether they were in IT, HR, Finance or Accounting. So what I am about to tell you is tried and tested in the field and has produced fabulous results for my clients. 

1. Networking Mindset

How many networking events did you attend last week or last month? Do you think networking is helping you? We all know networking is important to get jobs. But most people make a big mistake while networking:

Most people connect with other people simply with an ulterior motive or the mindset of “Hey! Can you help me get this job?”. This is not the right mindset for networking. Think about it, why would anyone help you when they don’t even know you.

The networking mindset needs to be tweaked: Your mindset going into the networking call or session should be to simply learn and build a new connection. And not “Hey! Can you please refer me for this job in your company?”

Here are a few tips you need to remember while going to a Networking event – 

  1. Research about companies and jobs and also prepare questions to ask.

  2. Always show up on time.

  3. Always take notes. You won’t remember everything by the end of it.

  4. Send a thank-you note to people you have met, stating clear action items.

2. LinkedIn

Unfortunately, most newcomers and new graduates are not fully utilizing the power of LinkedIn. Here are three (3) things you can do to leverage the power of LinkedIn during your job search journey:

  1. LinkedIn is a 24/7 open networking event. Use it to research and find companies and people in the industry you are interested in. Connect with them. Network with them!

  2. LinkedIn Optimization: when looking for jobs, it is important to fully optimize your LinkedIn profile to match the keywords that recruiters are searching for on LinkedIn. Example: If you are a Project Manager, you must have the word Project Manager in your LinkedIn Headline

  3. Do you have a content strategy and are you posting weekly at least? If not, then I am sorry to tell you but even with a complete and fully optimized LinkedIn profile, you will be marked as an ‘Inactive’ user by LinkedIn algorithm and recruiters won’t be able to easily find you. If you want to be found by recruiters, build a content strategy and start posting content at least once a week.

3. Project Portfolio

A Project Portfolio is a quick snapshot of your school or professional projects. It could be in the form of a Website, PowerPoint or a 1-pager document. It’s up to you and how creative you want to get. But the idea is to showcase your skills and achievements. Also, the project portfolio allows you to stand out from the crowd because everyone is applying with a Resume and Cover Letter.

4. Coaching and Mentoring

The key difference between coaching and mentoring is that mentoring is a bit informal. There are no written contracts or any kind of commitment or obligation. 

Coaching on the other hand is a lot more focused on your goals, your development, more personalized and more formal, usually with a contract and some sort of a goal or obligation.

Example: Getting a job in Canada as a Project Coordinator or Manager.

Why do you need a coach or a mentor?

  1. To accelerate your job success.

  2. These people are invested in your success so they will give you personalized feedback.

  3. They will address your blind spots.

  4. Provide networking opportunities.

  5. Help with Resume, Cover Letter, LinkedIn, Project Portfolio, Interview prep and much more.

So, if you are sick, tired and unmotivated after failing to secure a job in your field, perhaps it is time to find a coach who can really help you succeed.

5. Learner’s Mindset

If you are not open to learning and receiving feedback for changes and improvement then success will come difficult. You have to be open to constructive feedback and open to learning new skills, tools and techniques to be successful in the Canadian Job Market. Nothing moves until YOU move! 

So, I want you to just imagine - What would the future be like if you commit to just 1 new strategy for your job hunt for the next month. Find your passion, hone your skills, and apply these strategies. You are sure to land your dream job here in Canada.

For more information and a free consultation, connect with me at omer@omerqadri.com

Omer Qadri