Employment

I'm Junior and I'm a newcomer to Canada. I have been here in Ottawa for 3 months and am still seeking a job.

It hasn’t been easy for me these last few months to get a job. There are a few reasons for this.

Firstly, Canada is a bilingual country and, in Ontario, English is more commonly spoken than French in many companies. As a newcomer who speaks French as my first language, it's difficult for me to talk with employers.

Secondly, most employers ask for Canadian references during the employment process and, for a newcomer in Canada, it can be challenging to gather references with no Canadian work experience and also from previous jobs in my last country.

Finding a job in Canada doesn't just come with hardships; there are many resources here we can take advantage of in our job hunt.

When job-seeking in Canada, the government helps us in our job search through various organizations, such as Achev, the YMCA, and CESOC. They offer workshops and one-on-one sessions with employment counsellors and help us with things, such as creating a CV. They also give us information on labour market trends and where to look for a job. In addition to these wonderful organizations, there are many websites where we can look for work, such as Indeed, Jobillico, and Guichet Emplois. It makes us hopeful! Despite all the difficulties I’ve faced as a newcomer, I can say that with the government’s efforts and resources, a job seeker can always find work. You just have to be patient and hopeful as I mentioned earlier.

Job seekers must be proactive too! The bigger effort must come from the future employee.