The Harsh Truth about Being an Immigrant Job Seeker in Canada

This week I wrote a post about the harsh truth immigrant job seekers face in Canada, and it went viral for a reason: immigrants resonated with it.

So in this article, I`m expanding on the topic to help you understand the barriers employers create for immigrant job seekers and also what you can do about them.

This is what the post said:

?"You are on a student visa – We don’t want to talk to you until after you graduate

?You are a recent graduate – You don’t have enough experience

?You are a skilled newcomer – You don’t have Canadian experience

?You have Canadian experience in a different field of work – This is not really Canadian experience

?You work in a regulated area – You don’t have the appropriate credentials

?You have experience in more than one industry– We need experts in this industry

?You have a broad skillset and experiences – Not a fit. We are looking for specialists!

?You want visa sponsorship – We have no idea how this works

?You bring a lot of experience – Overqualified

?In every job description out there:

?“Diversity and inclusiveness are at the heart of who we are and how we work.”

?The next thing you hear from employers: “We can’t find people with the skills we need.”

Result: Skilled immigrants are underutilized and unhappy, employers keep searching for the perfect candidates, and the Canadian economy suffers.

When will employers in this country wake up?

So let's take a look at why this happens:

I could list several reasons but instead, I will just give you the overview.

The bottom line is that employers want to avoid costs with training and turnover, and having to deal with unnecessary problems such as miscommunication issues due to language or cultural barriers.

Ideally, they want to hire people who are ready to hit the ground running. This means they need people who are familiar with their challenges; people who know their business, the industry, and the Canadian landscape. This kind of talent will have a smoother onboarding and add more value to them.

They want to hire people who can speak the language well and have already adapted to the Canadian workplace culture. Remember, employers expect you to adapt to them as opposed to the other way around (even though they may not agree with this), that's why Flexibility and Adaptability are among the most sought-after skills in the market.

Solving or minimizing this issue requires action from several parties: From the government and professional associations, employers, but also from you, immigrant job seekers.

I want you to know I totally understand your pain. The pain that stems from constant rejection, from being undervalued, and underestimated. The sense of unfairness. The fear and insecurities that arise from these experiences. The seemingly insurmountable stress of living in a country with a rising cost of living and a housing crisis. The belief you have done everything you could. The lack of hope for the future.

It's okay to feel all this because you are only human. You have been doing your best. But you cannot allow yourself to stay in this state of mind, because it puts you in victim mode, and there is little you can do for yourself when you are in that emotional space.

I love the song 'Bring it all back' by S Club 7 that says: 'When the world seems to get too tough, bring it all back to you.'

I know it's a lot to take accountability for, but it's your only way out. You cannot wait for employers to change their hiring approach or for the government to intervene.

You will have to do what you wish employers did: Keep an open mind and hold yourself accountable.

But what does this mean?

Have you ever heard the saying that every challenge or problem you face is a learning opportunity? well, this is true in this situation as well.

I`m here to tell you there is actually a lot more you can do. When you take accountability by bringing it back to you, you reclaim your power to change your employment situation.

The reason you may not know this yet is because you have not had the chance to learn this earlier. Nobody taught you personal marketing and job search strategies in college, you probably didn't learn this from your parents or past employers. How could you possibly know this? Here lies your learning opportunity.

Think with me: it can be hard to sell yourself in your own language and culture. We can't expect it to be easy in a new country, new cultural landscape, new language, can we?

It took me many years to master these techniques, and I can tell you from experience that only a small percentage of immigrants (3-5%) have been applying them correctly.

Your way out consists of:

• Working daily to hone your English and/or French skills.
• Understanding exactly what employers are looking for.
• Doing an honest and accurate assessment of your skills and experiences.
• Determining a clear, specific, and attainable goal and staying focused on it. Your goal should be the intersection of what the market needs and your skills and expertise.
• Mastering the art of personal branding: articulating the aspects of your experiences that directly match what employers are looking for both through written and verbal communication.
• Building personal connections weekly in a genuine yet strategic and culturally appropriate manner. This might lead to referrals and strengthen your applications.
• Hyperfocus on your interviewing skills.
• Managing your emotions well along the way. This requires you to stay focused, confident, and willing to persist if it takes longer than you would like.

Landing a meaningful job in Canada as an immigrant is achievable for most skilled immigrants. I'm 100% confident in this because I work with job seekers on a daily basis, and have helped hundreds of them secure fantastic jobs. However, you will have to dedicate time and energy to learning these techniques.

I want you to know that I see you, and your struggles, and that's exactly why I started a Career Consulting Business focused on Immigrants. There is help, there is hope, there is a way out. The question now is, are you ready to take the necessary steps?

If so, don't hesitate to reach out to me and I can share more details about our Career Program.

Kind Regards,

Luciana.