The Myth of "Canadian Experience"

"My only relevant experience to this position is from outside Canada; should I leave it off my resume?"

I get this question a lot from international students.

This question points toward these folks believing (or having been told?) that their previous experience is irrelevant, inferior, or invalid. Not something they should be proud of.

This breaks my heart.

The experience you have outside of Canada is absolutely valuable and should be put onto your resume, especially if they are relevant to your target roles. You should be proud of your previous accomplishments, and what you've learned in other roles will be valuable in your future ones.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission stresses an employer’s responsibility under the Human Rights Code to consider all work experience – Canadian and foreign – when assessing if someone is suitable for a job.

Any company is required to only post job requirements that are reasonable and directly related to how the job is done.

• relates to the purpose or nature of the job
• was adopted honestly rather than for a discriminatory reason
• is necessary to do the job
• the situations of individual job applicants are still considered and accommodated as much as possible if they do not constitute an "undue hardship."

Employers cannot require Canadian experience when posting a job online unless it specifically relates to the requirements of the position, e.g. they need someone with expertise in Canadian Employment Law or Greater Vancouver Building codes or a specific cert like being a licenced Physiotherapist in Ontario.

So, if this is the case, what's with the "Canadian Experience" thing that we hear so much about?

Other than speculations about a company's Xenophobia or discriminative practices associated with wanting "Canadian Experience", employers are looking for two things when they hire someone:

They have the skills necessary to quickly add value and solve the problems of the position, and they have the potential to thrive in their new role. There is nothing worse for productivity, outcomes, and team dynamics than hiring someone who hates their job.

All in all, someone who:

• Understands and has the skill requirements for the job and can demonstrate their results
• Has great English communication skills and will be able to communicate and collaborate with team members
• and will be able to thrive and perform within the (Canadian and company-specific) workplace culture

(Further Reading: No Canadian Experience, No Job. Myth or Fact? by Elizabeth Gawronski)

(Looking for more resources than you could ever use to improve your English? I'd suggest UEfAP (Using English for Academic Purposes in Higher Education) )

So, how would you, as a candidate, display these proficiencies without work experience in Canada?

1. Highlight experiences where a high degree of English proficiency was required. Did you TA a course? Lead a student club? Volunteer? Get a scholarship? Highlight the ways your language skills helped you succeed in these roles.
2. Demonstrate your Ownership and Leadership skills. Canada is an individualist society where there is quite a high level of ownership, initiative and autonomy expected from and baked into the work culture. Write results bullet points on your resume that showcase your skills in this area.
3. Be EXTRA mindful to have fantastic grammar and spelling, and remove other small errors from your resume. Download Grammarly to have extra "eyes" on stuff like this.
4. Adapt your resume to each job listing and keep it relevant. Throwing a generic resume at 100 roles will yield significantly worse than tailoring your resume to your specific target positions.
5. Highlight the skills required for the job you are applying for, and focus on the RESULTS from your previous experiences* that prove that you have those skills. (whether Canadian or not, Volunteer, personal project, or paid)*.
6. Translate the name of the company, your role title, and the description of your role into English. If a recruiter cannot read up on what your previous company did, they won't be able to see whether your experience is relevant. Consider putting a short blurb about the company if it is not a brand name a recruiter may have run into before, so they have context.
7. Use keywords from the job description of your target role to build your resume. Again, highlight your understanding of the role you are applying to, and showcase how you are well-equipped to solve this role's problems.
8. Optimize for Applicant Tracking System (ATS) but write your resume for humans.
9. You can get your credentials assessed; having an ECA shows that your credentials are valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada. This is especially important for a regulated job.
10. Research LinkedIn, Resume, Networking and Email communication etiquette here in Canada; it may be different than you expect! Here's a HUGE document on intercultural business etiquette that is absolutely fascinating.

You also must avoid these common errors in your resume, networking efforts, or interviews. (No, these are not just tips for international students; plenty of Canadian job seekers make these mistakes, too!)

• Resumes
• Phone Screening
• Interviewing
• Networking

I'll leave you with this: so, so, SO many of the best resumes, interviews and hires of my career have been with international students with limited "Canadian Experience."

The drive, passion, and creativity these folks have brought to my life and the organizations I've worked in is unmatched.

Many of them have told me stories of coming into the job market for the first time, and they (like most people trying something new) found it challenging, had a high learning curve, and required work. But this is the case for almost everyone. It's just hard to find a job.

I find Vancouver especially interesting because there are more people from "somewhere else" than "here" in most spaces I operate in. And I think that is one of the most beautiful things about living and working here.

It's in our best interest, both as corporations AND as a society to have diverse teams and companies. Teams perform better, generate fresh ideas, and develop unique approaches to challenges.

I know it's hard to look for jobs, whether you're an international student or not. But I promise many companies, groups and teams will appreciate your varied and diverse experience and see you as the asset you are.

Have confidence that your previous experience is valid, valuable, and will serve you well throughout your career wherever you end up.