A Canadian Immigrant's Story

Category: Career

Vancouver Sign at Granville Square 0

Job Search

Canadian Job Seekers’ Top 5 Mistakes and Solutions

The Canadian job market has its own unique cultural and professional nuances that can catch many job seekers off guard. This post will identify Canadian job seekers’ top 5 mistakes and solutions to help them land their dream job. 1. Using a Non-Canadian Resume Format 2. Neglecting the Power of Networking (The “Hidden” Job Market) Mass-applying to hundreds of openings on sites like Indeed or LinkedIn is a common strategy, but it yields the lowest return on investment. 3. Submitting a Generic Resume for Every Application In a competitive market, a one-size-fits-all resume stands out for the wrong reasons. If...

BC Parliament Building 0

Daily Life / Food / Job Search

My Observations: 10 Changes in Canada in the Last Decade

Change is truly inevitable. In the last decade, I have observed changes in Canada that may affect people’s decision to move to or stay in this beautiful country. In this post, I will share my observations with you. Skytrain is almost always full. In my first few years in Canada, getting a seat on the Skytrain was rarely a challenge except during rush hours. Now, it is almost a miracle to immediately find a seat during peak hours except at the first station. I still consider Canada’s public transit system great. But, I was more comfortable before. Traffic is becoming...

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Career / Job Search

Why Can’t I Find a Job in Canada?

5 Resume Mistakes That Come Between You and Your Dream Job If you are a new immigrant, you might have asked the question “Why Can’t I Find a Job in Canada?”. A resume is usually our first contact with employers. If we fail to make a great first impression with our resume, we will not move on to the next steps of the hiring process. This article then talks about five mistakes that prevent you from landing your dream job in Canada. 1. Wrong contact information Imagine this situation. You created a compelling resume. However, you mistyped your contact information...

Resumes and Documents Can Be Printed at Public Libraries 0

Job Search

Tips for New Immigrants: Printing Resumes and Other Important Documents

In this digital age, we hardly need to purchase and maintain a printer at home.  However, there are times when we need to have physical copies of our resumes and important documents.  This post will give new immigrants tips on printing resumes and other possibly life-changing documents. Immigrant serving organizations When I was new to Canada I took part in a program that prepares new immigrants for the Canadian labour market.  Aside from joining workshops and mentorship opportunities, I also took advantage of resources that were made available to us.  I remember updating and printing resumes using the organization’s office...

Dress for Success Vancouver's Newcomer Package 0

Daily Life / Networking

Dress for Success Vancouver’s Newcomer Package Gives Joy To Women

I first heard about Dress for Success Vancouver’s Newcomer Package while volunteering for the Success Luncheon in November 2022. Needless to say, I was pleased upon learning about this new service. I actually wished that I was able to avail myself of it when I arrived in Canada. Like most immigrants, I came to Canada with overflowing excitement and my bare essentials. I had my regular clothes from my beloved tropical country, a few business outfits, and zero winter clothing. As I came to Canada alone, I also left behind my support system. I did everything that I could before...

Vancouver, British Columbia 0

Career / Job Search

Eight Canadian Resume Writing Tips for Immigrants

Immigrants need to learn a gazillion things such as creating a resume tailored to the Canadian job market. Fret not. I did some research and recalled my experiences to write these eight Canadian resume-writing tips for immigrants. Font Size Multiple articles state that employers and recruiters usually scan resumes for only six to seven seconds. You need to impress them in this very short amount of time. You can only do that if they can actually read your document comfortably. To call attention to your name, experts recommend 20-24 point fonts. Section titles and headers are best with 14-16 point...

Companies Support Minority Groups 0

Career / Daily Life / Job Search

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Canada and What It Means to Immigrants

As a new or future immigrant, you are probably wondering how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Canada look like. You’ve done your research. You felt relieved upon finding out that Canada’s immigrant population is more than 20% of the total so you won’t stick out like a sore thumb. However, you know that adjusting to a multicultural work environment with its unique expectations, norms, and policies is a challenge. So if you are thinking: “Are there regulations or policies that can protect me as an immigrant? How should I behave so as not to encroach on other people’s rights?”, then...

Mercy's Story 0

Business / Finances / Immigrant Stories

Mercy’s Story (and 10 Business and Financial Tips for Canadians)

Moving to a new country at 19 years of age is a formidable feat in itself. But that is only the start of Mercy’s inspiring immigration story. Mercy came to Canada from the Philippines with bright hopes of creating a rosy future. However, life sent her on a tortuous path toward her dream life. A month after landing in Canada, she found out that she was pregnant. As a pregnant teenager who was new to the country, she badly needed support. Unfortunately, she barely got any because her relationship with her baby’s father ended shortly after they learned about the...

Erika doing story time during her last visit to the artisan community in Cusco, Peru 0

Business / Career / Immigrant Stories

Erika’s Story: Going Down Memory Lane from Peru to Canada

Don’t we all have those moments that when we look back, we realize how much they changed our lives? Mine is emigrating from Peru to Canada. Hola, mi nombre es Erika (my name is Erika). My drive to lead a life full of meaning and adventure is born from my hometown experiences and Peruvian roots. You might think that my life back in my home country was hard and that was why I emigrated to Canada to look for a brighter future. Well, the truth is, I had a beautiful life in Lima, Peru, where I’m originally from. I lacked...

Seizing Opportunities in Canada 0

Application / Career / Immigrant Stories

Alwyn’s Story: Seizing Opportunities in Canada

Alwyn’s story is about successfully reinventing himself and seizing opportunities in Canada. I first met Alwyn two decades ago when we started working for the Livestock Division of a well-known pet company in the Philippines. I worked in research and compliance while he worked in sales. Back then, he was passionate about animal health and husbandry. His passion, knowledge, and experiences brought him to Manitoba, Canada. However, his courage to reinvent himself has opened up opportunities for a better life for him and his family. Here is Alwyn’s story in his own words. Experiencing The Joys and Struggles of a...