A Canadian-style resume is necessary to propel your job search and help you to find the right job faster. As well, employers look for specific items that you may need to add to your existing resume format in Canada. And, in some cases, you may need to delete information. So to get noticed by employers it makes sense to revise and update your resume format with these tips in mind.
Eight Tips to Write a Canadian-Style Resume
1. Choose the right format for your resume in Canada
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2. Read the job description carefully
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3. Tailor your resume to the job description
4. Use keywords in your resume
5. Include the right information on your Canadian-style resume
6. Omit irrelevant information
7. Use strong and concise language
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8. Proofread your resume for spelling and grammar errors.
Why is a Canadian-Style Resume Important?
The format for a resume in Canada may look much different than the resume that you have used in your home country. So it’s important to know what information to include or omit on a Canadian-style resume. This is important because your resume is often the first impression you will make with a potential employer.
As well, recruiters may easily receive over 100 resumes for one position. And when they view that many resumes, they quickly scan them for essential information.
Preparing Your Canadian-Style Resume
1. Choose the right resume format
There are three resume formats that job seekers commonly use:
Chronological resume: this format highlights your work history and timeline.
Functional resume: this format highlights your work experience and previous job activities.
Combination resume: this combination format shows your experience and timeline as you would see in a chronological format and has a strong emphasis on your skills as you would see in a functional format.
You can decide which format is best for you based on your work history and what you want to highlight.
The job description will provide you with a clear picture of the:
Job responsibilities
Skills that are required (technical and soft skills such as communication and language)
Education, training and certification or designations that you require.
You can even use a pen or highlighter to mark what requirements match your work experience and achievements. This will give you a good sense of how closely your experience matches the job requirements.
3. Tailor your resume to the job description
When you see a job that interests you and that matches your skill set, take the time to tailor your resume to the job description. The time you invest in tailoring your resume will pay off. And when you tailor your resume you clearly show potential employers how you are a perfect fit for the job. This will increase your visibility to employers.
However, when you submit the same resume to every employer you reduce your chances of meeting specific job requirements the employer is seeking.
Whatever your job focus, you will need to clearly state the qualities you bring to that job to sell yourself to a prospective employer. For example, you can do this by adding a strong career objective/profile at the top of the first page, followed by a breakdown of your skills/talents with concrete examples. Then list your job experience and educational credentials on page two.
4. Use keywords in your resume
Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to collect, sort, and store resumes. This automated software can also compare your resume to keywords in the job description. If there is a good match, your resume will appear in search results.
You will have a better chance of showing up in search results if your resume contains keywords used in the job description. A good way to determine keywords is to read job descriptions for keywords that are used. Use those keywords to tailor your resume based on your skill set.
5. Include the right information on your Canadian-style resume
Ideally, your resume format should not exceed two pages. This requires you to be concise and only include the relevant information that you want to highlight. So avoid listing every job responsibility and only include the skills and responsibilities that best match the job description. Also, rather than listing your responsibilities, showcase what you accomplished. For example:
Instead of:
Responsible for sales and marketing.
Use:
Planned and implemented a $1M marketing campaign that achieved a 10% sales increase within six months.
Again, it’s important to remember that recruiters will quickly glance at your resume. So make it easy for them to identify that you have the skills, knowledge, and experience to achieve success in the job you’re applying for.
6. Omit irrelevant information
Be aware of the information that you do not need to include on a Canadian-style resume. Avoid including the word Resume at the top of your document. Recruiters know they are reading your resume and this also takes up valuable space. It’s also unnecessary to add your photo.
Your ultimate goal is to showcase your experience, skills, and qualifications in a professional manner. Most importantly, you want to avoid including information that can be used to discriminate on the basis of age, nationality, marital status, or other factors. This information can also contribute to employer bias in the selection process.
For newcomers entering the Canadian job, it’s also helpful to know that employers cannot ask interview questions that could be viewed as discriminating. For example, interview questions that ask about your marital status, nationality, religion, and other factors defined by the Canadian Human Rights Act are illegal.
There are many settlement agencies in Canada that can help you adapt your resume to meet Canadian requirements when you arrive.
7. Use strong and concise language
It’s important to use strong action verbs that will grab attention. Choose strong verbs that showcase your capabilities. And remember to use the past tense to describe your previous experience.
To write the perfect Canadian-style resume, be sure to check and double-check for spelling and grammar mistakes. It’s also helpful to ask someone to proofread your resume. A good proofreader can identify unclear sentences, spelling, grammar errors, or repetition.
While using the spell-checker on your computer is helpful, it’s not always perfect. For example, it may not pick up the difference between words such as there, their, and they’re. So always remember to check your spelling.
When you follow these eight tips to format your Canadian resume, you’ll be on your way to resuming your career in Canada.
Final Format Checklist for Resumes in Canada
When you have completed your resume, review this short checklist before you submit it to the employer:
Does it look professional? Look at your resume through the eyes of a hiring manager. Ensure your resume design and content looks inviting to read. Avoid large blocks of text and keep the information short and to the point.
Is the information clear? Ideally, you want your Canadian-style resume to be easy to read. The hiring manager should easily find the information they’re searching for.
Is it the right length? The last thing that you want to do is give the hiring manager a lengthy four-page document. Try to keep your resume to two pages.
Does it align with the job description? Make sure that you show the skills, experience, and qualifications that relate to the job. This will also serve to keep your resume to a reasonable length.
Can the hiring manager get in touch with you? Make it easy for the hiring manager to contact you! Include your phone number and email address at the top of your resume so they can see it with ease. Make sure you include a professional email address. And if you are still in your home country, make sure that you will have access to the email address after you arrive in Canada.
Also, it’s important to write a one-page cover letter to accompany your resume in Canada. The purpose of the cover letter is to demonstrate your knowledge of the company and how well you’ll fit it and add value to the company. Many hiring managers may not even read your resume if your cover letter doesn’t capture their attention.
For additional information, resources, and webinars related to finding a job in Canada, click here! We can help you achieve your career goals in Canada!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
For newcomers, learning to drive a car can be an important first step. If you have never had a driver’s license before, we’ll explore learning to drive and how to get your driver’s license in Canada.
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A driver’s license will help you do many practical activities such as:
Go to job interviews and travel to work
Shop for groceries
Run important errands.
Learning to drive can also allow you to do personal activities like going on exciting road trips, discovering charming small towns, and enjoying scenic drives.
A driving license can also be used as an official piece of Canadian identification. Just one more benefit of having a driving license.
Obtaining your driving license is also helpful if you plan to live in a suburb where communities are more spread out. That distance can make it challenging to get around quickly and efficiently without a car.
You may already have your driving license from your home country. If you currently have a driver’s license you may be able to take advantage of the foreign license exchange agreement or get credits for your foreign driving experience. This will allow you to obtain your Canadian driver’s license more quickly.
Getting Your Driver’s License for the First Time? Where to Start
Getting your driver’s license in Canada may vary depending on the province where you reside. However, all provinces will require you to pass driving tests:
A driving theory exam (a written exam that tests your knowledge of driving rules and road signs)
A vision test
One or two in-car driving tests.
Getting your G1 Driving License
When you successfully pass the driving theory exam and the vision test, you will get your G1 driving license. With a G1 driving license, you are only allowed to drive when there is a fully licensed driver in the car with a minimum of four years of driving experience. As well, there are other restrictions that you have to follow.
Getting Your G2 Driving License
To graduate from your G1 to a G2 driving license, you will have to pass a road test. The road test will test your basic driving skills. You can take this driving test after you have been a G1 driver for 12 months.
Getting Your Full G License
To get your full G license, you must pass a test that covers advanced driving skills such as parallel parking and driving on a highway. You can take this driving test:
After 12 months of driving with a G2 driving license, and
Before the G2 driving license expiry date.
But if your G2 driving license expires, you’ll have to do all of the tests over again. So it’s important to complete your G license driving test before your G2 expires.
When you pass your G driving test, you will successfully get your full G license! With this license, you can drive any car, van, or small truck.
Learning to Drive a Car with a Professional Driving School
If you do not have a driver’s license from your home country and have never driven before, you may want to learn to drive in Canada. A beneficial way to learn to drive is to take driving lessons before you get your license.
When you take driving lessons you can gain several benefits. For example, you can:
Increase your safety:You’ll learn the rules of the road and the best driving techniques. From driving in changing weather conditions to avoiding a collision, you will increase your safety and the safety of others.
2. Develop good driving habits and skills: You’ll get the practice you need to drive with confidence and the skill to pass your driving test in Canada.
3. Learn with professional driving instructors: With an experienced and professional driving instructor, you’ll learn the proper driving techniques as well as the common mistakes you need to avoid. Activities like speeding or following too closely can amount to expensive tickets, collisions, and serious injury to yourself or others.
4. Get your driving license faster: When you complete your driving lessons and receive your certificate, you can take your driving test eight months after you complete your written test. Without a driving certificate from a qualified driving school, drivers must wait 12 months before they can take the G2 driving test. Learn more about Canada’s graduated licensing system.
5. Reduce your insurance rates: With a certificate from a driving school, you may be rewarded for your time and effort with lower car insurance rates. However, the driving school that you attend must be approved by the provincial Ministry of Transportation. Click here for approved driving schools in Ontario.
Key Takeaways About Learning to Drive a Car:
Learning to drive a car in Canada can allow you to do many practical as well as personal activities.
2. While the process to get your driver’s license may vary slightly across Canada, all provinces use a graduated licensing system. This system allows you to progress from a G1 license to a G2 license, and finally to a full G license.
3. To learn to drive in Canada with confidence and skill, you can consider taking driving lessons from a government-approved driving school. Driving lessons provide you with many benefits, including lower car insurance rates in Canada which will save you money.
For more information about living, working, and banking in Canada, check out our upcoming free webinars!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
Celebrating Pride Season in Canada (June to September) is an important time to celebrate and recognize the contributions and achievements of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities and their allies. While Pride 2023 celebrations and events take place in cities across Canada, Toronto is host to the largest Pride event in North America each year in June. However, Pride events also happen throughout the year in many communities. Learn more about the history, relevance, and Pride 2023 events and celebrations across Canada.
2SLGBTQI+ stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning and additional sexual orientations and gender identities.
Two-Spirit (or 2 Spirit or 2S) is an Indigenous term that means a person has both a feminine and masculine spirit living in the same body.
Pride allies can also show their support and solidarity by actively:
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Supporting the rights and safety of the 2SLGBTQI+ community
Supporting systemic change, and
Promoting inclusivity.
Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month?
While celebrating Pride events is a key focus of the season, it’s also a time to focus on Canada’s commitment to human rights. A fundamental human right is the right to live free from all forms of discrimination, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Canada is one of the most friendly 2SLGBTQI+ nations in the world. In fact, Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specifically outlines how each individual has equal protection under the law. The Charter states that people are free from discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, ethnic origin, and sexual orientation. Among other things, this means that:
Same-sex relationships are not a crime
Same-sex marriages are legal and come with rights such as pensions and benefits
Hate crimes and hate speech are illegal
Employers cannot discriminate against you based on sexual orientation or gender identity
Doctors or health care professionals cannot refuse treatment based on sexual orientation or gender identity
Canada’s promise of equality makes it a nation of choice for individuals fleeing countries that criminalize sexual orientation.
According to the Human Dignity Trust, “66 countries have jurisdictions that still criminalize LGBT people” because of who they are and who they love. With sentences that range from fines to prison, or even to the death penalty, criminal punishments have profound negative effects.
Learn about LGBTQ2 Activism in Canada:
Services and Support for LGBTQ+ Newcomers
Recognizing the need for greater support, more settlement agencies now offer services to the LGBTQ community. In addition, more LGBTQ agencies offer services to multicultural communities, especially in large cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Support services can include one-to-one support to identify settlement needs, housing, legal issues, financial insecurity, employment and questions about refugee claims.
Settlement Agencies:
Here are some settlement agencies that offer LGBTQ+ newcomer support.
A large crowd lines the Pride Toronto parade route. Toronto is host to the largest pride event in North America each June.
While many of the Pride festivals in Canada began as a protest and demand for equal rights, today’s festivals are more of a celebration with a party atmosphere. Today, Pride events celebrate and recognize the progress that the 2SLGVTQI+ community has made over the years. And, while there is more work to be done, the 2SLGVTQI+ community continues to demonstrate resilience and strength.
Toronto’s first pride parade was in June 1981. At that time, Pride events took place during a seven-to-10 day festival. Since 2016, June has been declared Pride Month in Toronto. Today, Pride Toronto is among the largest organized gay pride festivals in the world.
Vancouver’s first pride parade occurred in 1978. Today the annual Pride parade run by the Vancouver Pride Society, is the largest parade in Western Canada.
Montreal Gay Pride, or Fierté Montreal was founded in 2007. Formerly, the city’s Pride festival was part of a general arts and music festival that began in 1993. Today, the Montreal Pride Festival is the largest francophone LGBTQ gathering.
In 2022, Calgary’s parade focus was the complex intersection of immigration and the 2SLGVTQI+ community. Working with the End of the Rainbow Foundation and the Centre for Newcomers, pride parade marshalls represented countries including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Iran.
To the 2SLGBTQI+ community, newcomers, and allies celebrating Pride 2023, we wish you a Happy Pride! It’s time to celebrate and continue building safe and welcoming communities across Canada!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
For many newcomers, owning a home in Canada is a source of pride, satisfaction, and accomplishment! And buying a home is also an investment that grows over time and provides a great financial benefit. But before jumping in, consider these vital first-time home buyer tips!
Buying your first home is an expensive decision. And, it will likely be the biggest purchase that you make in your lifetime. So you want to ensure that you understand exactly what’s involved. Buying a home in Canada may be quite different than in your home country. From the home buying process to the types of homes and styles, the layouts, and the materials, there can be many differences.
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Should You Rent or Buy a Home?
Many newcomers arrive in Canada with savings to buy their first home. In fact, a 2019 survey conducted by Royal LePage revealed that newcomers represent a growing segment of the Canadian real estate market. Some of the findings showed that newcomers:
represent 1 in 5 homebuyers across Canada
live in Canada for about three years before they purchase a home
arrive with savings intended to buy a home.
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It makes sense that newcomers are eager to enter the Canadian real estate market. Indeed, owning your own home is exciting for many reasons. Homeownership can be a great investment and a way to build personal wealth. Young families may want more space with a backyard for children to play. Or, buying a home in Canada may be an important part of your immigration dream!
But rarely do people have enough money to buy a home outright. And this is where lenders can help you by giving you a loan, also known as a mortgage. But, you will have to have enough savings to pay for a down payment before you can get approved for a mortgage.
What’s a Down Payment?
Essentially, a down payment is a portion you put down towards the value of your home right up front. If you don’t have enough for a down payment, you’ll have to build your savings. You subtract the down payment from the purchase price of the home and you supplement the remaining cost with a mortgage.
In addition to saving money for a down payment, there are other costs that you will have to pay, such as closing costs. It’s important to factor in the closing costs because they can be costly and often take first-time homebuyers by surprise.
So before you rush into buying a home, it’s important to understand all the costs involved for a first-time home buyer in Canada.
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When Renting a Home Makes Sense
If you have recently arrived in Canada, you’ll discover many things in the city you have landed in. And, you may discover that you love the city and want to make it your home. On the other hand, you may learn that it’s not quite what you had expected. Or, you may land a job in a different city and want to relocate to another region or city in Canada. When you first arrive in Canada, it’s best to continue renting until you’re certain about where you want to live long-term.
Are not certain where you want to live (what neighbourhood or city?)
Have not yet landed a permanent job
Expect your financial situation will change over the next year or so
Need time to save for a down payment.
When Buying a Home Makes Sense
A large advantage of buying a house is the sense of pride that comes from owning your home in Canada. In addition, you become a part of a community where you know your neighbours and gain a sense of belonging. And most importantly, you’ll gain financial benefits when you:
Pay down your mortgage over a period of time
Create wealth and build equity in your home.
In general, it makes sense to buy a home if you plan to remain in the city for five years or more.
Three Financial First Steps Before You Buy a Home
Before you become a first-time homebuyer, you need to prepare to meet new financial obligations. And these are three important steps to take before you buy a home:
1. Establish Credit History:
When buying a home as a newcomer, you also have to establish your credit history in Canada. You can begin to build your credit by getting a credit card, or applying for a small loan and making regular payments.
2. Build an Emergency Fund:
Another important factor to consider before you buy a home is how stable your financial situation is. When you decide to purchase a home, you need financial discipline. For example, it’s important to save money for an emergency fund. When you own a home or a condo, you need to set aside money to deal with unexpected issues such as a leaky roof, basement flooding, or a burst pipe. Any of these expenses could be thousands of dollars.
3. Save for a Down Payment:
Most importantly, you need to save for your down payment. However, with as little as just a five percent down payment, along with mortgage insurance, you can actually own your home in Canada.
In Canada, the minimum down payment is the percentage of the home’s purchase price. And depending on the house price, the minimum down payment amounts vary.
5% for the portion of a home’s purchase price below $500,000
10% for the portion of the purchase price from $500,000 to $999,999 (plus 5% for the value below $500.000)
20% for homes that are valued at greater than $1 million.
Until you have made some firm decisions, it may make more sense to continue renting a home before you buy a home.
Important Questions for First-Time Home Buyers
In addition to thinking about financial first steps, you’ll also need to consider other practical questions such as:
How Much Can You Afford?
As a guideline, financial experts state that you should not pay more than 30% – 32% of your total household income for housing and home-ownership costs such as:
Mortgage interest
Property taxes
Maintenance.
But, that’s a guideline. You may decide that you’ll budget more for housing or, cut back on other discretionary expenses such as entertainment or dining out. Read more about mortgage affordability.
Can You Get Pre-approved for a Mortgage?
A mortgage pre-approval means that a lender has stated that you qualify for a mortgage loan based on your current income and credit history. The pre-approval will indicate the:
Pre-approval term (usually 90 – 120 days)
Interest rate
Mortgage amount.
The lender will assess your financial situation and determine how much they are willing to lend to you to buy your house. This will give you confidence when choosing which homes to consider buying. It will also help when you make an offer on a property because the buyer knows you are serious and able to make the purchase.
What Home is Right for You?
When you’re ready to search for a home, you need to consider:
What do you need and want in your house? (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, storage needs, etc)
What’s in the neighbourhood? (is it close to schools, work, shopping, parks, place of worship, public transportation, and other services?)
What type of house do you want to live in? (condominium, detached or semi-detached home, townhouse, duplex, or triplex)
When you answer these questions, you can narrow down your house search to find the ideal home for your needs. You can also provide this information to your realtor who can help you find your ideal home in Canada. Realtors are trained and licensed to help you find and buy a resale property. You may decide to choose an agent who has sold other properties in the areas that you are considering. Or, you may choose a realtor that a friend or family member recommends.
Talk to the realtor about the things that are important to you in a home, but keep a realistic approach. Many Canadians buy what is called a “starter home” and then they work their way up the property ladder. Be ready to accept that your price range may not cover all the features you want in a house.
You do not pay for the services of a realtor. Realtors earn their money by keeping a commission on the selling price of the house that they help to sell. The commission is paid by the seller, not by you the buyer.
Making an Offer
Once you’ve found a property that you want, you’ll want to make an offer. An offer represents your desire to purchase the property and the amount that you’re willing to pay for it.
Your real estate agent can usually give you advice about the price you should offer on a resale home based on your local market conditions and recent home sales in the neighborhood.
After agreeing on a price, the seller will stop showing the property to other prospective buyers because the home is now ‘conditionally sold’ to you, and will begin to take the necessary steps to complete the transaction.
Similarly, you will also need to begin taking steps to fulfill your part of the purchase process, including any conditions you may have listed in your offer such as a home inspection or finalizing financing. These vary by location, and your realtor is a good person to ask about the next steps.
Typically, the offer-to-purchase agreement will include:
Property Details:
This is a detailed description of the residence’s address, including street name, house, lot, and block number. It will also often include a list of additional items included in the sale (appliances, garage door openers window coverings, etc).
Transaction Details:
Here a clearly-stated purchase price that both parties have deemed acceptable will appear. There will also be a description of the deposit amount here. A deposit demonstrates that you are serious about your offer, and will persuade the seller to not entertain any further offers. The Offer will also often contain the payment method (cheque, credit card, etc.), as well as mention who will hold the deposit.
Closing Date:
This is the date when the property becomes yours and you are free to move in. By this time, any previous owner is expected to have removed all of their belongings and cleared any of the conditions you may have imposed.
A Statement of Transfer of Insurances and Warranties and Representations:
Typically, the seller is responsible for the property until the closing date and guarantees that they have the legal right to sell the property. They also guarantee that all buildings and improvements do not encroach upon neighbouring lands.
Additional Terms:
Here you’d place any additional modifications or improvements to the property that have been agreed upon by both seller and buyer.
Conditions:
This is where you’ll typically find a list of agreed-upon conditions of sale, the breach of which could result in a nullification of the purchase agreement. This could include a description of financing conditions, property inspection conditions, condominium documents conditions, and the sale of buyer’s home conditions.
Closing Costs When Buying a Home
In addition to your mortgage, there are several closing costs that you must pay before you can take possession of your house. To “take possession” means the home is now legally yours. First-time home buyers are very often surprised when they learn of these additional costs. Examples of closing costs that you can expect to pay include:
Appraisal Fee:
This is the cost for an appraiser to assess the property value. Your mortgage lender may require an appraisal to determine whether the selling price is reasonable for the market.
GST:
You must pay the Goods and Service Tax (or Harmonized Sales Tax) on a newly constructed or substantially renovated home. Resale homes do not require a GST payment.
Land Transfer Tax:
This is a tax charged to buyers in most provinces, usually based on the purchase price.
Legal Costs:
This includes fees charged by your lawyer for services such as conducting a title search, drafting a title deed, and preparing the mortgage, and registration fees. A guideline for costs is typically between 1.5% to 4% of the purchase price of the home.
Mortgage Default Insurance:
High-ratio mortgages (those with less than 20% down payment) require mortgage default insurance. The cost is usually added to the mortgage it varies depending on the amount of your down payment.
Mortgage Life Insurance:
Special insurance coverage to cover the cost of your mortgage in the event of death or severe illness is available from most lenders.
Home Inspection Fee:
Hiring a home inspector is voluntary but recommended for resale homes, and usually, the cost ranges from $400-$600. With a home inspection, you may discover issues with the house that will cause you to back out of your offer altogether. Or, the home issues may be manageable and you could ask for a lower purchase price to offset any repair expenses.
As well, you may want to bring in trades such as an electrician, a plumber, and perhaps a structural specialist to ensure you understand all the home systems. They can also provide cost estimates for repairs if needed.
Why You Need a Home Inspection When Buying a Home
When you buy a home, it’s important to conduct a home inspection. This is usually done before you make an offer, and the offer is usually conditional upon inspection. When inspecting a house, a home inspector will look for:
Foundation: home inspectors will look to see if there is a leak in a foundation wall and whether insulation is in place. If there’s an active leak, they will determine the condition behind the wall.
Plumbing: an inspector will determine if the drains are installed properly and not leaking.
Windows: the inspector will make sure that the window seals are not damaged. For example, if one of the windows gets fogged, that tells that the window has to be replaced. Next, the home inspector will look at the frame to see if there are any openings that have to be resealed; otherwise, you may get an air leakage.
Furnace: the home inspector will check the quality of the filter and whether it is installed properly. They will check the quality and age of the furnace itself and whether it’s leaking any water inside or gas, which could be very critical.
Mold: an inspector will also look for mold (or termites) in the house because it can result in significant costs to repair later.
First-Time Home Buyer Tips for Newcomers
Be Informed: Take advantage of free tools and resources to learn about buying a home as a newcomer and learn about mortgage deals for newcomers.
Know How Much You Can Afford: You can use online mortgage calculators that will give you approximate costs, and monthly mortgage payments.
Get a Pre-Approved Mortgage: You can talk to your lender about getting a pre-approved mortgage certificate.
Use a Realtor: There are many different real estate companies in Canada and many agents to choose from.
Get a Real Estate Lawyer: A real estate lawyer will review your purchase agreement contract. The wording in these contracts is very important and your lawyer will make sure everything is done properly in terms of the law.
Prepare a Budget: Plan for your home closing costs or the costs associated with the date on which you actually take possession of your home.
When buying a home in Canada, it’s vital to consider these first-time home buyer tips. Learn the essentials and become informed about everything that’s involved. Homeownership provides great pride, security, and achievement. And when you’re informed about your home buying decisions, you’ll feel confident about your purchasing decisions!
For more information, tools, and free webinars about living in Canada visit our Settling in Canada resource page. We’ll help you to settle in Canada successfully!
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
A LinkedIn profile is essential for professionals who want to build their brand, expand their network, and find employment. For newcomers, these LinkedIn tips and advice will help you to create a professional profile and:
Showcase your work achievements
Highlight your international experience
Make connections with others in your industry and in the location where you plan to settle.
Linda Ryan is the National Program Manager with BCCA-Integrating Newcomers, a government funded, Canada-wide, pre-arrival career coaching service for high skilled construction professionals immigrating to Canada (*BCCA-IN).
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A career and certified performance coach, she and the BCCA-IN team specialize in helping newcomers plan for, and achieve, employment success, no matter what city or province they are moving to. When it comes to looking for a career, Ryan provides tips on how newcomers can use LinkedIn effectively and propel their job search.
Essential Tips to Craft a Professional LinkedIn Profile
1. Create or Update Your About Section
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Your LinkedIn profile represents your personal brand. Therefore, a professional profile is the best way to project your desired image.
Prepare for Canada:What are the important elements that newcomers should include in the About section on LinkedIn?
Linda Ryan: This section of your profile is a combination of your career biography and your value pitch to potential employers and contacts. It should be concise so that it doesn’t go below the line and force the reader to click the ‘More…’ button. It will take time to get this right, so write, proof and rewrite it several times.
Once you’ve got it right, you can add to it and reuse your pitch on your resume, in networking conversations, interviews etc. The key things you should describe are:
Your profession e.g. Civil Engineer, Nurse, Accountant, Business or Project Manager etc.
Level of education
The industries you’ve worked in e.g. construction, healthcare, logistics, etc.
The size and scope of projects you’ve been involved in (quantify them)
If you’re progressing (‘challenging’) or have acquired any Canadian credential (with a relevant professional body)
If you’ve registered for membership with a relevant professional association in Canada, and
That you’re a ‘Canadian Permanent Resident’ (or other legal status).
2. Capture Your Good Side
Adding a high-quality headshot to your LinkedIn profile will make you more visible to employers who are searching for people with your skills and experience. According to LinkedIn, members with profile pictures receive up to 21 times more profile views than those without a picture.
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3. Make Your Headline Attractive
You need to keep the headline of your LinkedIn profile shorter than 120 characters. It’s even better if it’s shorter. Include relevant keywords used in your profession. This will allow potential employers to find your page with ease.
You also need to make sure that your summary is short, concise, and interesting. A hiring manager will read hundreds of resumes and you need to make sure that you stand out.
4. Highlight Your Relevant Work Experience
Listing your past experience is important for your LinkedIn profile. However, be mindful that some of your past experiences may not relate to the career you want to pursue in Canada.
List your previous jobs that are relevant to your current career aspirations. Focus on the workplaces, experiences, and credentials that directly relate to the types of jobs you want to pursue.
It’s also essential to update your current position. For example, did you receive a promotion, win an award, publish an article, or complete an innovative project? If so, it makes sense to update your profile to reflect your achievements.
Showcase your professional career, growth, and accomplishments in the Summary and Experience sections of your profile.
Prepare for Canada:What should newcomers be aware of when sharing information about their experience?
Linda Ryan:Newcomers often apply for a range of roles and seniority to test the job market. It’s an understandable tactic and a valuable learning exercise but don’t spread yourself too thin. Be careful about the range of roles you apply for. Your LinkedIn profile and more specifically your Experience section should support the roles that you apply for.
“Less is more” when it comes to submitting job applications and I’d say the same for the level of detail you list in your Experience section. This will work better than providing too much information. Include three to five bullet points that sell your:
Seniority
Technical skills, and
Unique achievements.
5. Update Your Professional Skills
Certifications are eye-catching. So add notable certificates, skills, or abilities that you possess. Many training programs or skills will have badges that you can add to your LinkedIn profile.
Update this section regularly or whenever you learn a new skill. These skills could be terms that the LinkedIn algorithm will pick up and help recruiters to search for and find you. You should also delete skills that are no longer relevant to your career interests or are outdated.
Watch now to get architecture and licensing tips for newcomers:
Updating your location is vital when building your LinkedIn network.
Prepare for Canada: What advice do you have for prospective newcomers who have not yet landed in Canada? What location do you suggest they provide on their LinkedIn profile?
Linda Ryan:Yes, we are living in an era of increased remote work possibilities but still having your home country listed as your LinkedIn location, will hinder rather than help you. Recruiters and employers, even professionals in your industry, will want to connect with ‘local’ peers, so the more local you seem, the more relevant you are (or at least, the more you have in common on a very basic level).
You can get around this by ensuring you list Canadian Permanent Resident or another relevant legal status on your profile (in the Name/Title section) and/or by changing your location to the city/province you’re moving to. Feel free to say “Relocating to X” if you feel that’s more of an accurate reflection of your geographic status.
7. Ask Others to Endorse Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile comes to life when other professionals endorse your skills and recommend you. It’s also very persuasive when your network speaks for you.
But carefully select who you ask to endorse you. For example, you should only ask people who know your work well to recommend you. Otherwise, you risk putting people in your network in an awkward position. As well, if they don’t know you well, they won’t be able to give a strong recommendation that reflects your experience. The same applies to you when others ask you to provide recommendations, as it puts your judgment to the test.
Prepare for Canada:How valuable are LinkedIn endorsements and recommendations for newcomers?
Linda Ryan:Having peer-to-peer recommendations on your profile and professionals who endorse your skills, is super important for your LinkedIn profile. For newcomers, going through the process of securing these recommendations and endorsements is also the first test of your home-country professional relationships. It’s a valuable indication of who you can count on for references when you’re successfully shortlisted for that first job in Canada!
My best advice is to give freely and hopefully, you’ll receive in return. Seek out and provide recommendations and endorsements for past colleagues (be authentic) and in return, you will receive a percentage back.
Also, be prepared to draft a factual recommendation and approach a past manager or colleague to see if they’d be happy to post it on your LinkedIn profile. It makes things easier if you’ve proactively scripted a recommendation they can edit and use.
From a recruiter’s perspective, the Recommendations and Endorsements section of LinkedIn profiles are great indications of the truth in a candidate’s resume. These elements take time to gather, so the sooner you invest energy in getting them done pre-arrival, the better!
8. Create a Personal LinkedIn Profile URL
By default, LinkedIn will give you a URL that can be a little clunky. However, you can edit this to make it cleaner. For example, you can use your full name if it has not already been taken by someone else. To edit your URL:
Click the ME icon at the top right-hand corner of your profile
Click View Profile
On your profile page, click Edit Public Profile and URL
Under Edit URL, click the Edit icon
Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box
Click Save.
If your full name has already been used, consider a variation including your middle initial. You can add your personal profile URL to your resume and online job applications. This step is important because it allows you to add this link to your resume and online job applications.
9. Leverage Strategies to Build Relationships on LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides value by allowing you to network and build authentic relationships with peers in the location or industry that you want to enter or are in.
Linda Ryan
Prepare for Canada: What are some specific actions that newcomers can take to build LinkedIn relationships?
Linda Ryan:Some simple actions for building relationships on LinkedIn include:
Making meaningful and polite comments on articles
Adding positive comments to other people’s comments
Using the Like icons on posts or articles.
And remember, never get involved in political debates, opinion snowballs, or contentious conversations. LinkedIn is a professional forum, not a personal soapbox!
10. Know How to Connect with Others on LinkedIn
When you add someone new to your network, make sure that you send a message explaining the reason you would like to connect with them. If you don’t already know them, and you only send the default connection, they will likely ignore your request.
Your message does not need to be long or detailed. But when you add a personal touch it ensures that the person that you are contacting will see value in the connection.
Prepare for Canada: What advice do you have for newcomers about how to connect with others on LinkedIn?
Linda Ryan:LinkedIn is a professional social networking forum. Yes, you can leverage it when job hunting but it’s primary purpose is sharing, learning and connecting. So when using it to connect with peers in your industry, try these simple tricks:
Send a connection request and don’t add a note. What have you got to lose!
Send a connection request to a recruiter summarizing why you’re a solid fit for the role they’re advertising and ask “if it’s possible to connect to learn more”.
Send a connection request to a peer and add a custom note.
Sample Connection Requests:
Hi <insert first name or contact>, I am moving to the area and would value some local industry insights. Any thoughts?
Hi <insert first name of contact>, it looks like we share similar project experience. Look forward to connecting. Thanks!
I’m looking to identify key challenges that local industry is facing right now and how I could turn them into opportunities. Any thoughts on the top two-three challenges?
Hi <insert first name of contact>, I’m a<n> <insert your profession title> moving to <insert city that contact is in>. Would you have 5 minutes to share some local industry insights? Thanks.
I’m impressed by your career trajectory. Would you be willing to share two or three tips on what you did or didn’t do that’s helped you most? I’d value your advice.
I’d consider you a local industry expert! What’s your best advice on the top two or three opportunities/challenges unique to the industry?
Prepare for Canada:What final advice would you give to newcomers about using LinkedIn most effectively?
Linda Ryan: Try not to achieve perfection initially with your LinkedIn profile. But please follow the tips above before you start connecting and applying for jobs. Like your career, your profile will evolve over time. Be prepared to revisit it as you network, build connections, move locations, acquire courses, secure credentials and join professional organizations.
An effective LinkedIn profile is essential to create your professional brand while you conduct your job search. These tips will also help to propel your job search and build your network in Canada.
Learn More about BCCA-IN
*The BCCA-Integrating Newcomers program is a free, pre-arrival, Canada-wide service, focused on helping high-skilled newcomers explore and build successful construction careers. Services include one-on-one career guidance, tailored resume, cover letter, LinkedIn advice, and an in-depth skills and education assessment to help newcomers focus on the best career, credentials and connections activities. The Integrating Newcomers team not only has multi-industry experience but are also immigrants who have built successful careers in Canada.
Corinna Frattini is the content marketing strategist at Prepare for Canada and contributes articles related to working in Canada. With a background in human resources and leadership development, her articles focus on what Canadian employers seek and how newcomers can continue their careers in Canada.
