To work as an engineer in Canada you must have Canadian credentials. But, while you get your credentials you can work in a job related to engineering if a licensed engineer supervises your work. This is because engineering is a regulated profession in Canada. But only with a Canadian license can you call yourself an engineer in Canada and practice.
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The licensed engineer will be accountable for your work as an assistant, junior, or engineer in training, etc. So to work as an engineer in Canada, it’s important to get Canadian credentials.
P.Eng. Required to Work as an Engineer in Canada
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Canadian employers place a high value on the professional engineer (P.Eng.) designation. And you require a P.Eng. for many engineering duties and positions. Without this designation, you cannot sign any documents or call yourself an engineer. Each province and territory in Canada has its own regulatory body to license engineers. For example, in Ontario, the Professional Engineers of Ontario can confer the P.Eng. designation. These bodies govern the practice of engineering and integrate skilled immigrants.
To get your P.Eng. license, you must apply for it and:
Get recognition for your international degrees
Pass required exams, and
Meet all requirements.
For example, you require four years of work experience and one year must be Canadian experience. And you can gain this work experience when you work under the direct supervision of a licensed engineer.
Research How to Work as an Engineer in Canada
It’s important to know how your international qualifications will be viewed and what you need to work as an engineer in Canada. It’s also helpful to research the Canadian labour market and job prospects for your engineering type. These are some of the steps you can that you can take before you immigrate to Canada. And with this information, you will have greater success in resuming your career in Canada.
Get Credentials to Work as an Engineer in Canada
It can be time-consuming to get your international education and work experience evaluated. However, you can start the assessment process before you arrive in Canada. For example, you can gather and organize your official education and work documents while still in your home country.
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A great place to start is to contact the regulatory body in the province where you intend to work. The regulatory body can tell you what documents you need to bring. As well, the licensing body can tell you what you can do before and after you arrive in Canada. This may also save you time and money if you know what you require before you leave for Canada.
You may also need to translate your documents from a professional translation service in Canada. Again, the regulatory body will provide you with this information.
If you are already in Canada, you can work in a job related to engineering while you work towards getting your P.Eng. But you can only work as an engineer in Canada when you receive your license.
Benefits of Working in a Job Related to Engineering
While you may have engineering experience from your home country, you require Canadian experience to get your license. So it’s helpful if you can find a job that does not require a P.Eng. license but is related to engineering.
When you work in a job that is related to engineering you can:
Add value to your existing education and work experience
Show employers that you’re committed to Canadian standards
Enhance your language skills
Develop an understanding of the Canadian workplace, and
Build your professional network in Canada.
When in job interviews, you can explain to employers that you are currently getting your credentials assessed and when you expect to become a licensed engineer in Canada.
While you pursue your credentials, you can get your foot in the door with an employer. And once hired, you can apply for internal jobs that require a P.Eng. when you receive your license.
Language Ability to Work as an Engineer
You’ll need to prove your English or French (depending on your destination province) language competency or be tested. Even if you speak fluent English or French, it’s helpful to enhance your language skills. You can enroll in language classes while you are in your home country and continue them after you move to Canada. As well, you can assess your language skills by taking an online self-assessment test on the Canadian Language Benchmarks website.
It’s easier for you to gather and organize your official education, work, and identity documents while still in your home country. Check with your provincial or territorial regulatory body to enquire about the documents you need to bring and verify if they will need to be translated. You might need to use a professional translation service in Canada.
You may be eligible for Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program. Otherwise, you can find other free or affordable classes in English as a Second Language (ESL) or French as a Second Language (FSL) classes through school boards or settlement agencies. There are even language courses to teach you professional terminology, such as Enhanced Language Training (ELT).
Key Takeaways to Work as an Engineer in Canada
1. You can do engineering work in Canada without being licensed, but only under the direct supervision of a Canadian professional engineer (P.Eng.).
2. Without a license from the provincial engineering association, you cannot:
Call yourself an engineer
Hold the job title of engineer
Be recognized as an engineer, or
Work independently as an engineer in Canada.
3. Contact the provincial engineering association where you intend to work (see links below). Each province may have specific requirements for your engineering background and the licensing process may vary.
4. There are many benefits when you work in an engineering role that does not require a license. For example, it allows you to work in your field while you get your credentials assessed or work towards your P.Eng.
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.
You can get ready to work in Canada well before you even arrive. Researching the job market, and understanding what Canadian employers are searching for is vital. At Prepare for Canada, we provide tools, resources, and information to help you get ready for your job search! Here are four activities that will help you to get ready to work in Canada.
1. Devote Time to Your Job Search
It takes effort to find a great job, so be sure to devote time to important job search activities. You may have to spend time revising your resume to include information that Canadian employers look for.
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When you know what employers look for, you can tailor your resume so that employers notice your skills and experience. Preparing a well-written resume takes time, but it’s worth the effort because it may reduce the time it takes you to find a job.
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You will also have to apply for many jobs. One application will likely not be enough to get the job that you want in Canada. But, by applying for jobs on a frequent and regular basis, you’ll start to get responses from employers. It takes patience and focus to land a job that you are best suited for.
Join our free webinar to learn helpful strategies to accelerate your job search:
This is easier said than done, but there are many great programs that are available to newcomers to help with job search activities to help you stand out. One way to stand out is to get your credentials assessed. This is helpful because it shows Canadian employers that you have the skills and knowledge to perform a similar job in Canada. The Government of Canada can provide valuable information that explains how to get your credentials assessed.
By taking this step, you can help to ensure that you can work in Canada. You may discover that you require more training to get ready to work in Canada. But when you know what’s required, you’ll be in a better position to get the training you need.
3. Be Responsive and Professional
Once you do start to hear back from potential employers, make sure to respond to them as quickly as you can. This shows your interest and professionalism. Make sure that you put your best foot forward with each point of contact that you have with an employer. Use formal language and provide any additional information that they may request.
4. Stay Positive
You may have heard this tip often, but it’s always a good idea to stay positive and not get easily discouraged. If you don’t hear back from your first few Canadian job applications, then just keep applying until you succeed.
When you’re positive, you’ll make a great first impression. A positive attitude combined with a strong skill set shows Canadian employers that you’re motivated, talented, and eager to start your first job in Canada.
When you follow these tips, you’ll be off to a great start to get ready to work in Canada even before you arrive.
For more information, tools, free webinars, and more visit our finding a job in Canada resource page. Get the help you need to 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.
Job interview success will require you to prepare with these essential tips. We know that job interviews can be exciting, but they can also cause stress. However, when you prepare for your interview it will increase your confidence, reduce your stress, and lead to a positive experience.
These eight tips will help you to prepare for a positive interview experience.
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Know your strengths before your job interview in Canada
2. Know what’s required in your industry
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3. Know what’s required in the job
4. Research the company
5. Prepare responses to common interview questions
6. Dress for success
7. Arrive on time and have extra copies of your resume
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8. Take a deep breath
Essential Tips: Your First Job Interview in Canada
1. Know Your Strengths Before Your Job Interview in Canada
Focus on what strengths, skills, abilities, and experience you want to convey during your interview. When you focus on your strengths, you’ll be positive and confident during your job interview. This will also help you especially if you feel nervous before your job interview. Job interviews can be stressful, especially if you feel pressure to resume your career in Canada as soon as possible.
2. Know What’s Required in Your Industry
Knowledge is power when you interview for jobs in Canada. So you need to identify trends and changes within your industry. Factors like technology and globalization are contributing to rapid changes in most, if not all industries. So to be highly valuable in your chosen career, you need to know about:
Required credentials and designations you must have
There are also many pre- and post-arrival settlement services that can help you to learn more about your industry in Canada. And some settlement agencies can provide you with one-to-one job counselling to prepare for job interviews.
3. Know What’s Required in the Job
Read the job description again to make sure you understand the job requirements. A helpful activity to prepare for an interview is to make a list of job responsibilities. For each responsibility, list relevant examples when you performed that responsibility in a previous job.
This activity will help you to:
Identify how closely your skills and background match the job description
Define exactly what you did so that you can clearly discuss your experience
Focus on the successful outcomes that you achieved.
The job description will also outline the important credentials that you require for the job. If you do not have the credentials that the employer is seeking, you can discuss if you have a plan to obtain those credentials. You may even be in the process of obtaining those credentials at the time of your interview. This will show initiative and drive on your part.
Prepare to discuss your accomplishments and sell yourself. Canadian employers want to know how you can contribute to their success.
This is an important step for several reasons. The recruiter will likely ask you what you know about the company. So with proper research, you can prepare your answer, show interest in the company, and show your knowledge about:
The type of organization it is (public or private company, not-for-profit, start-up, etc.)
Types of products or services they provide
Interesting and relevant industry information related to the company
What makes the company successful and why you want to work for the company.
You can use LinkedIn to learn about companies in Canada. LinkedIn is also helpful to develop and expand your professional network. Consider creating your LinkedIn profile if you don’t already have one. To learn how to set up a profile, and other helpful tips download our free 12 Tips For LinkedIn
In addition, your research will help you to identify if this is the company that you would love to work at. In other words, does the company culture and do their values align with what is important to you? Factors that may be important to you might include if the company is recognized for being:
Innovative
Socially responsible
Environmentally friendly
An industry leader, or
An Employer of Choice.
5. Prepare Responses to Common Interview Questions
Most interviewers will ask questions about your experience, qualifications, and fit for the job. And here are some common questions that you can expect and prepare for in advance:
Tell me about yourself?
Prepare for this question by providing a short and clear answer that describes your career path and why you have applied for this position. For essential insight about yourself, be sure to complete the Drake P3 personality assessment®. This free assessment will help you to define key areas of your personality that you would like to showcase. You’ll also gather more information that will be helpful to your job search in Canada.
Why should we hire you?
Provide a clear picture of how your skills, experience, and personality match the job requirements. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be for the interviewer to assess if you are the right fit for the job. When you receive your Drake P3 assessment report, you can highlight how your strengths match the job requirements. Use the information from your report to prepare a concise answer to this question.
Tell me about the best job you ever had, and what did you enjoy about it?
Here the interviewer is assessing your fit for the job. For example, do the elements that you most enjoyed in your best job exist in the job that you’re interviewing for? When you complete the Drake P3 assessment, you’ll gain a clear understanding of what you need in a job environment to be highly successful. You can complete this assessment for free right now! With this self-awareness, you’ll find the career joy that you’re seeking.
6. Dress for Success for Your Job Interview
Decide what you will wear to the interview. You’ll feel more confident wearing a clean and neat outfit that fits properly. If you’re unsure if you should dress casually or formally, it’s best to dress in more formal attire. Dressing too casually may send the wrong message to the recruiter or hiring manager. It’s better to dress more formally and err on the side of caution so you don’t feel uncomfortable about how you’re dressed.
Most workplaces in Canada have a scent-free policy to protect people who have allergies. So avoid wearing perfume or cologne. This will also allow the interviewer to focus on your stellar qualifications and not be distracted by a strong scent. You also want to avoid wearing an overload of jewelry. Again, you want the interviewer to focus on you and your solid responses.
7. Arrive on Time and Have Extra Copies of Your Resume
Nothing will be more stressful than arriving late for your interview. So give yourself enough time and aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. This will allow you time to mentally and physically prepare for the interview and calm any pre-interview jitters you may have.
8. Take a Deep Breath Before Your Job Interview
Getting nervous before an interview is a common response. So it’s important to think of how you can manage that nervous energy before you go into your interview. One helpful strategy is to regulate your breathing. Before your interview take a few deep breaths and:
Inhale through your nose and count for four seconds
Exhale through your mouth and count for four seconds
When you take deep breaths you send a message to your brain that will help you to relax. This will help you to stay focused and provide clear responses to interview questions.
When you follow these interview tips, hopefully, you will receive a job offer so that you can resume your career in Canada. However, even if you don’t get a job offer, you can be proud of your effort and consider this interview as an important practice for your next interview! All the experience that you get will only improve your interview skills and performance.
For more information about finding a job in Canada resource page for tools, resources, webinars, and more!
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.
Opening a bank account before you arrive in Canada offers many benefits including transferring funds before you travel to Canada. Also, when you land in Canada, immigration officials may ask you to show proof of funds. When you open a bank account before you arrive, you can easily prove that you have available funds.
Canadian banks are among the most solid, secure financial institutions in the world. The Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) provides insurance to protect eligible deposits made to CDIC-member banks. And for Canadians, knowing their money is CDIC-protected is reassuring!
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How to Choose a Bank in Canada
It’s necessary to open a bank account in Canada. Most Canadians rely on their bank to:
Receive paycheques
Pay bills
Save money and earn interest.
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To select a bank, you can visit the bank’s website to compare services and fees. While many banks have national branches and automatic banking machines (ABM) networks, it’s best to select a bank that has branches in the community where you will live.
Also, when you open a bank account you will receive a statement with your new mailing address. You can use your statement as identification when you apply for:
Government services
A provincial health card, or
A driver’s license.
Open a Bank Account with the Right Features
Banks offer a wide range of accounts to choose from, and that can be overwhelming. But keep in mind that most newcomers will require a chequing account to deposit funds, write cheques, and pay bills. You will also need a debit card to deposit and withdraw funds from an ABM or branch. You may also want a higher-interest savings account and credit card.
Banks offer banking service packages at low-cost monthly fees. For example, The Scotiabank StartRight™ Program for Newcomers*¹ offers a number of low-cost options to meet your banking needs. To help you make your important banking decisions, Scotiabank can explain your options in the language that you prefer and provide personal support at the bank branch.
Feel free to ask for an explanation if there is anything you don’t understand. The role of the bank employee is to provide quality customer service and any questions you may have. So you don’t need to worry about asking questions or taking up too much of their time.
Most importantly, get answers to your questions and only sign a contract when you’re confident you understand the terms.
Documents You Need to Open a Bank Account
To open a bank account in Canada, you will require the following documents:
Permanent Resident Card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence
One piece of government identification such as your passport or driver’s license
If you’re an international student, you will require a letter of acceptance from a Canadian educational institution and a study permit.
If you are a foreign worker, you will require a current valid passport and work permit.
To open a bank account, you need to go to a local branch in person and have two original pieces of identification. You will have an interview with a bank employee who will:
Discuss different banking options
Suggest the right bank account based on your needs
Explain your rights and responsibilities, and
Help you complete the paperwork.
With , you’ll be ready to manage your financial needs and achieve financial success in Canada.
*¹ – The Scotiabank StartRight Program, created for Canadian Permanent residents from 0-3 years in Canada, International Students, and Foreign Workers.
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.
Millennials are finding franchising success as the franchise ownership demographic is starting to change. The millennial cohort is the generation born between 1980 and 2000 and represents approximately 9.8 million people in Canada.
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Millennials are also the most ethnically diverse generation that Canada has ever seen. This diversity contributes to innovative thinking, enhanced creativity, and access to broader networks and relationships. The bulk of immigrants to Canada is millennials because Canada’s immigration point system favours younger applicants.
You may think the typical franchise owner is someone established looking to leave a corporate gig, or a baby boomer with a high net worth, but that’s changing. Millennials are finding franchising success and it may just be a perfect fit.
What Millennials Offer to Franchisors
For franchisors, the millennial cohort can provide:
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A solution to retiring baby boomers leaving the franchise system
Access to an energetic, passionate, educated, and tech-savvy talent pool
Opportunity to shape owners who will be leading the business.
Millennials value mentorship, expertise, and teamwork. This is invaluable since franchisees succeed when they can tap into training, support, and business know-how.
What Franchisors Offer to Millennials
For millennials, the franchise model provides benefits that include:
A business framework and set of tools for those who may lack years of business experience
Strong training programs to develop or enhance business skills to operate a business
Access to a network of existing franchise owners for support and guidance
Marketing and other critical expertise from a recognized brand
Opportunity to jumpstart business and entrepreneurial goals
These combined benefits can reduce the burden of building a new business from scratch, yet still appeal to the entrepreneurial goals of millennials. Millennials could well be the future of the franchise industry.
How to Increase Franchising Success
The franchise industry in Canada has seen double-digit growth in recent years and the number of new franchise brands and outlets continues to grow. There are over 78,000 franchise units in Canada, and 4,300 new franchise outlets open each year. With such a broad expanse of franchise brands to select from, here are some things millennials can consider to increase their franchising success:
Search for Brands that Match Skills and Education:
Millennials are highly educated so take advantage of your academic background to increase your franchising success. For example, educators may want to pursue franchise categories related to educational products and services.
Do Your Research:
Millennials are resourceful so put that skill to use and explore franchise categories and potential franchisors. The Franchise Disclosure Document provides extensive information about the franchisor.
Speak to Other Franchise Owners:
The Franchise Disclosure Document provides a list of current franchisees. Arrange to speak with franchisees to find out more information about the franchisor, industry trends, and their franchising experience (both positive and negative) to avoid any surprises.
While franchise fees can be expensive and even prohibitive for millennials, franchisors offer a range of investment levels and some may be as low as $10,000. Determine what available cash you may have and look to other financing options that may include:
Traditional bank loans
Supplemental financing from friends and family
Canada Small Business Financing Loan
Millennials are finding franchising success and the mutual benefits that franchisors and millenials offer each other could be a perfect partnership.
Visit the Franchise Consulting Company for information to help you make an informed franchising decision. Whatever your decision, we can help you decide if franchising is right for you!
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.
