New immigrants entering the job market may be faced with credential recognition issues. Language or cultural barriers may affect newcomers’ confidence or their ability to communicate with their employers and colleagues. They may also face discrimination.
“Despite the need for new Canadians there are still some employers who have a bit of a bias towards Canadian-born [workers],” said Tim Lang, president and CEO of Toronto’s Youth Employment Services, also known as “YES” for short.
“New Canadians bring a whole set of new experiences and new ideas that can really benefit [a] company,” Lang told CIC News. “And although they may be learning English or learning French [newcomers] can get over those minor barriers and be very, very productive long-lasting employees that help the company grow.”
Most Canadians already see the benefits of immigration, even during the pandemic. Immigrants fill gaps in the labour market, and are a major source of population growth in Canada. So, it is important that immigrants have the same access to jobs in order to ensure their long-term success, and in turn, Canada’s long-term success.
Have a Canadian-style resume
The Canadian government’s webpage outlines a complete list of the “do’s and don’ts” of resume writing. To sumarize: keep resumes clear and concise. Make sure there are no spelling errors, and keep the page count down to two pages. Quantify achievements by using firm numbers that employers will understand. Write in the third person, so do not use “I,” “my,” or “me.”
