REGISTERING WITH SOCIAL SECURITY

Another top priority. Although you have a work permit you will not be able to start employment without a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Yellow Pages again: your local Canada Human Resources and Skills Development Centre will be found under the Government Services listing. It’s a pretty straightforward process: you just fill in a few forms outlining your work background, and some personal details, and you are then issued with an SIN card (see Figure 16 for an example). Be sure to take this with you when you attend interviews.

As well as being the place where you register for your SIN, the Canada Human Resources and Skills Development Centre is an extremely good source of information and assistance during your job search. It offers the services of government advisers, has extensive job listings and a wealth of publications, directories and lists that you can make good use of.

FINDING OUT WHERE TO LOOK

You are now set up and ready to begin the job search in earnest. Where to look? It is all a lot easier now that you are actually in your chosen locality. As mentioned you can get help from the Canada Human Resources and Skills Development Centre.

Reading the local papers

The next step is to get hold of all the local papers, both daily and weekly, and scan the jobs section. Figure 17 shows examples from several major cities. Make it your priority every day to scan these advertisements and get your applications off as quickly as possible. Sometimes a job advertisement will invite you to ring for an informal chat about the position. Do so. Anything that helps to make you memorable is to the good, and this gives a proactive impression.

Making speculative approaches

The procedure is not very different from conducting the search from the UK – just easier. Consult Yellow Pages for firms which seem to be in your field and send them all a speculative letter. Stress your versatility and adaptability and that you are available to start immediately.

CASE STUDY

George continues his search

George and his family have settled in Toronto. As soon as they arrive George continues his search.

At the reference library he finds a wealth of contacts and information about the Toronto area, much more than he was able to get hold of while still in the UK. He consults Matthews Media Directory which leads him to a couple of publications specialising in the recording industry.

George puts together individualised résumés and speculative letters for the studios mentioned in these publications.

Within ten days he has been invited to three studios to chat about possibilities.

Using libraries

Your local library will have addresses and telephone numbers of Canadian companies arranged by job sector: for example, manufacturing, retail, service. Make use of these. Librarians are usually very keen to help, so if you let the reference librarian know what you are after and why, you will get all sorts of useful information. As in the UK the use of public libraries in Canada is free. The library will have a full selection of newspapers covering all of Canada. The Wednesday and Saturday editions usually carry the most job adverts.

Whilst in the library consult Matthews Media Directory for listings of daily newspapers, business and trade publications and news, satellite and wire services. Also try Matthews CCE Directory, containing listings for community papers, the ethnic press, multicultural radio and TV stations as well as the university newspapers and radio stations.

Some of the publications featuring job vacancy advertisements are:

• Canada Employment Weekly
• Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
• National Business Employment Weekly.

Finding the right publication

Job-specific magazines which carry advertisements for vacancies include:

• CA Magazine (for chartered accountants)
• Canadian Music
• Canadian Nurse
• Explore
• Marketing Magazine
• Medical Post
• Northern Miner
• Pulp and Paper Canada.

Checking the notices

Still at the library, you can check the bulletin board to find out what is available to job-seekers in your area. You might be able to:

• join a job-finding club
• offer your skills on a voluntary basis
• attend relevant lectures and job fairs
• join a professional development association.

By doing any of these you begin to immerse yourself in the community and create your own network of contacts.

Finding leads from other sources

If you have friends or relatives in your new location they might be able to introduce you to someone from their firm, or they may have other influential contacts. Don’t be afraid to ask.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, a government body, produces various newsletters and info sheets which can be a valuable source of information about the Canadian job market. Ask at your Canada Human Resources and Skills Development Centre.

Yet another source of contacts and information is the Canada Career Information Partnership (CCIP), a national network of government and private sector agencies which provide career and labour market information to Canadians. See Useful Addresses for contact details.

The Internet will be as useful to you once you arrive in Canada as it was when you began your preliminary search. As well as investigating all the Internet sources mentioned earlier, look out for community nets and sites in your new area.

VISITING AGENCIES

Employment agencies are the other avenue to explore. Most cities have them in abundance. Your first step is to identify those which recruit in your field of expertise, and then blitz them with your letter and résumé. Be prepared for a lot of foot-work, as most will want you to come for a personal interview before putting you on their books.

Looking for the right agencies

As in the UK some agencies are better than others. Look for those that seem to be interested in you personally. In fact, an agency that doesn’t want a personal interview probably isn’t going to come up with much to help you. Be sure that you let them know exactly what you are looking for: you don’t want to waste your time and travelling expenses attending interviews for inappropriate jobs.

Keep up the pressure. Most agencies deal with hundreds, if not thousands, of job-seekers in a month. It is easy for a consultant to remember somebody he saw yesterday, but he may forget you if you were last in touch three weeks ago. Make it part of your routine to phone them regularly, drop into their offices if you are in the vicinity. Make yourself memorable so that they remember you when the good job comes along.

For help in finding the right agencies for you try the on-line link to Association of Cdn Search Employment & Staffing Services at www.acsess.org

CHECKLIST

Before you go you will need to:

• Tidy up all your administrative and personal affairs.
• Be sure you have original copies of all important documentation including education certificates, birth certificates, marriage licence.
• Contact several removal companies and get quotations. Find out exactly what services they offer and get a firm price.
• Get personal and business references in writing.
• Get evidence of your automobile insurance no-claims history.
• Remember passports and visas.

After you arrive in Canada you will need to:

• Contact a Canada Human Resources and Skills Development Centre to register for employment and get your Social Insurance Number.
• Register with the Provincial Health Plan, if you are eligible.
• Find a suitable doctor and dentist.
• Start scanning the classified ads in daily and local papers.
• Check the local Yellow Pages for employment agencies and possible employers.
• Send out an avalanche of applications, speculative letters and letters to employment agencies.

CASE STUDY

Lucy is off to a good start

Lucy’s aunt meets her plane. She is thrilled finally to be in Canada (even if she can’t see much in the way of wide open spaces around the Ottawa airport!).

‘We’ll stop at Bob’s Burger Bar on the way home, Lucy,’ says her aunt. ‘He’s anxious to meet you. I hope it’s not too much of a rush, but he’s kind of hoping you could start tomorrow. They’re rushed off their feet.’

‘Okay,’ Lucy replies. ‘But I also want to call the BUNAC office. I want to travel around a bit and they may have some leads for me.’

Lucy is doubly fortunate in having the support services provided by BUNAC as well as a relative to help her on arrival.