Migration To Canada - How To Prepare For A Job Interview

If you're considering migrating to Canada, you'll need to seek the services of a good migration agent to ensure that your application goes smoothly.  In the meantime, you'll probably be looking for work in Canada.  So, how can you prepare for an interview with a Canadian employer?  Read on for a few helpful hints.

Relevant qualifications

It's important to bear in mind that any qualifications that you hold as a tradesman may not be recognised in Canada.  This means that you may have to undertake a further training course and exam before you can legally work in Canada.  However, your Canadian employer will usually arrange and fund any training that you need.

If you are planning on working and residing in Quebec, you must be fluent in both English and French, and any interviews that you attend will probably be conducted in French.

Common interview questions

What Canadian work experience do you have?

Canada has few public holidays compared with Australia and their annual leave allowance is typically less too.  You'll need to demonstrate that you understand this work ethic and that you've conducted thorough research into the industry you want to work in.  If you've held any voluntary positions in Canada, this is relevant so remember to tell the interviewer.

Why do you want to relocate to Canada?

When answering this commonly asked question, steer clear of mentioning temporary arrangements such as a university 'gap year'.  Recruiters want to see that you are intending to settle permanently so make this clear in your answer.

Family is extremely important to Canadians so always mention that the move is important to your family if you have one.

What about your contacts in Canada?

If you are applying for a sales role, you'll need to show that you have already made a network of useful and relevant industry contacts in Canada.  Try to have these contacts evident on your LinkedIn profile to show the recruiter.

If you already have business contacts or friends in Canada, your interviewer will see this as a positive step towards your integration into the Canadian lifestyle.  This will be even better if those people are prepared to act as referees for you.

What salary are you looking for?

This can be a very tricky question to answer.  Make sure that you are prepared by finding out what the current average salary is for the position you're applying for, commensurate with your age, qualifications and experience.  Your migration agent may be able to help you to find this information.

It's important to bear in mind that, because of the distance involved, many initial interviews with Canadian companies are conducted via Skype or over the telephone so it's useful if you can practice these with a friend first.

In conclusion

When applying for work in Canada, remember that your employer will usually manage the process of obtaining a visa for you.  This means that if you're offered an interview, you could be well on the way to success.  Be prepared, especially for the common interview questions mentioned above. For more information, contact a business such as Fisa Pty Ltd.

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