How to look for work as a newcomer to Canada

Looking for a new job is stressful, and doubly so when you’re searching in a new country. Where should you begin when everything is so unfamiliar?

To help you get started, we’ve highlighted the best job sites, tips to help you use them, plus the benefits of boosting your job search by partnering with a staffing firm like ours!

Top job search platforms in Canada

In Canada, employers often rely on the following platforms to find candidates:

• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Job Bank
• Monster
• ZipRecruiter
• Glassdoor

To ensure your search is as broad as possible, raise your visibility and, ultimately, find work faster, we recommend creating a profile and uploading a resume on multiple platforms. We also highly recommend registering with two or three staffing firms—it’s free to do so and always in your best interest since recruiters often have access to job postings that aren’t listed publicly.

To start, let’s take a closer look at each of the sites listed above.

Searching for jobs on LinkedIn

LinkedIn houses roughly 675 million candidate profiles and 30 million company profiles across the globe. It's one of the most widely used tools for employers and job seekers in Canada. Get started by creating a profile and uploading your resume to the LinkedIn database (it’s FREE!).

Already have a profile in a language other than English? You’re halfway there! Set up your profile for your Canadian job search by translating it into English. The more detail you include in your profile, the better (stay tuned for tips on LinkedIn profile best practices). And remember to MATCH your profile to your resume – employers will look for this. That means your experience and timeline (where you worked and when) should be the same on LinkedIn as it is on your resume.

Four tips to enhance your job search on LinkedIn:

1. Look at company profiles: Find out more about companies you’re interested in by reading about their mission, values and recent news items/posts. You can also browse and apply for their open jobs.
2. Follow companies: This will keep you connected to any NEW posts and/or job opportunities. By following companies you’re interested in, you’ll receive notifications and see their posts in your newsfeed.  
3. Connection requests: When applying for jobs, look up key contacts at the company and connect with them personally on LinkedIn. Make sure to send a message introducing yourself with details about your professional experience and career goals.
4. Create job alerts: Receive automated alerts about new postings that match your job search preferences. Alerts can be sent daily or weekly through email, app notifications, or both. Learn more here.

Searching for jobs on Indeed

Like LinkedIn, Indeed enables job seekers to create or upload a resume and create a profile for FREE. You have the option of sharing your profile publicly or privately – we recommend publicly (only select private if you are confidentially looking for work).

Five ways to use Indeed for your job search:

1. Look at company profiles: Indeed company profiles feature reviews from job seekers and employees, along with information about interview processes and answers to common questions.
2. Follow companies: Follow companies you're interested in to receive notifications about new job postings and reviews.
3. Create job alerts: Set up alerts to receive new job postings that match your job search preferences. You can update the search terms and frequency of your alerts on the Email Settings page. Learn more here.
4. Salary trends: Get an idea of what you could earn for certain roles within Canada. Learn more here.
5. Message board: Indeed offers job seekers the ability to personally message an employer after applying for a job. Alternatively, employers may reach out to you, so keep an eye on your Inbox.

Searching for jobs on Job Bank

Job Bank is an employment website that is operated by Employment and Social Development Canada (a Government of Canada department). It’s a great resource when searching for roles within the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

Searching for jobs on Monster

Monster is a commonly used job board both in Canada and around the globe. You can search for jobs using keywords and/or by location, and then add additional filters to further target your search. For example, you can filter on remote (home-based) jobs only and/or those based in the office. Monster also offers job alerts, which will send new jobs to your inbox automatically.

In addition to searching for opportunities, the site offers resume support, career advice and salary tools (be mindful of resources that are free and those with a cost associated).

Searching for jobs on ZipRecruiter

ZipRecruiter is a commonly used job board for entry- to intermediate-level opportunities across North America. Use the “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” symbol on ZipRecruiter’s job suggestions to help the platform learn what roles you're interested in so it can show you similar ones.

Like the other sites, ZipRecruiter offers job alerts, a message board and salary trends. The site also features “Phil,” a digital Recruiter (powered by AI Technology) to support job seekers. Phil helps job seekers make the best use of the site based on their search activities.

Searching for jobs on Glassdoor

Glassdoor gives job seekers access to a large database of job listings, company reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview questions and more. All the information about companies has been provided anonymously by current and past employees or candidates who have interviewed with the company. Note that you will need to create an account to access any of these features.

Partnering with a Staffing Firm

Let’s start by clarifying that there is NO FEE to register as a candidate with a staffing firm. In fact, it’s against the law to charge a candidate a fee for staffing or job placement services in Canada. The employer (staffing firm clients) pays for the staffing company’s services.

So, what’s the benefit? There are many, but here are the top three:

1. Staffing agencies become your job search partner and support you through every step of your career – from your search to the interview stage and eventually to placement (and over again if you land a contract position or decide to look for a new role in the future).
2. You have access to a team of dedicated Recruiters (real human experts, not digital recruiters, like Phil from ZipRecruiter) advocating for you. Plus, you can simultaneously apply to as many postings as you like on the company’s job board. With each job you apply for, your resume lands directly in front of recruiters working on those roles.
3. They’re in the job market every day talking with employers. They know what jobs are out there – and sometimes have access to exclusive roles that are not posted publicly.

Ready to get started? Register with our firm today! Once you create a profile, you can immediately start searching for and applying to our jobs HERE.

Be aware of employment scams

When navigating your job search in a new country, it's important to be mindful and protect yourself from scams. And with the rise of AI, these scams are on the rise, but fear not—there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

1. If someone reaches out to you with an opportunity, research the company beforehand to ensure it's legitimate. Do they have a proper website and can you find the person who reached out to you on their staff directory?  
2. Be cautious of job postings that promise high salaries for minimal effort or require payment upfront. Legitimate employers will not ask for money in exchange for a job. This includes money to set up your laptop or other office-related expenses.
3. Don't provide personal or financial information until you're certain about the employer's credibility. This could involve looking up their employees on LinkedIn and reaching out to them with your concerns.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it's best to err on the side of caution and steer clear of the opportunity. If you're working with a staffing firm, you'll also have a partner on your side posting jobs you can trust.