Landing Your Ideal Position in Canada: My Journey Unveiled
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Chapter 1: From Aspirations to Reality
As a child, I was captivated by films that depicted stunning foreign landscapes, vibrant lifestyles, and towering skyscrapers. Like many, I nurtured a dream of relocating to a foreign land. However, as time passed, that dream faded into the background.
After completing my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, I secured a position as a QA Engineer in Pune with a multinational corporation. Life was progressing smoothly, but as I reached my mid-twenties, my parents began their search for a suitable partner. Eventually, I met my dream companion, who just so happened to be from Canada. What a coincidence! We tied the knot in January 2019, and shortly after, my husband sponsored my Permanent Residency in Canada.
I obtained my PR in December 2019, but I felt apprehensive about leaving my stable job with a good salary. I reminded myself that nothing lasts forever, and it was time to embrace new challenges. I booked my flight for April 2020, but life had other plans. The COVID-19 lockdown in Canada meant I had to wait to join my husband.
With the assistance of the Vande Bharat Mission, I finally arrived in Canada in June 2020. It was summer, and I was thrilled to embark on this new chapter of my life.
Section 1.1: Preparing for the Job Hunt
After a brief period of settling in, I decided to start my job search. Fortunately, I had done some preparatory work before moving. My husband had provided invaluable guidance on the Canadian job market. Here’s what I did prior to my arrival:
- I honed my programming skills by finding an excellent tutor on urbanpro.com who helped me strengthen my confidence and grasp essential concepts.
- I created a polished LinkedIn profile, which is crucial for job hunting in Canada.
- I began connecting with Canadian professionals on LinkedIn, inquiring about the QA job market and seeking advice from recent immigrants.
- By the time I arrived, I had over 500 Canadian contacts and 15 friends who had recently settled in Canada.
- I tailored my resume to align with Canadian ATS standards, emphasizing experience over education and certifications. Before leaving my previous job, I requested feedback from my managers to enhance my LinkedIn recommendations.
Now, let's return to my job search.
Section 1.2: The Job Search Begins
After a few weeks of acclimatization, I dove into my job search. I re-established my network and used my new Canadian phone number to connect with LinkedIn contacts. Through these conversations, I learned about interview expectations, online assessments, and tackling technical questions.
To facilitate my job search, I utilized a one-month free LinkedIn Premium trial, allowing me to explore profiles privately and monitor my applications. My daily routine for the next few weeks looked like this:
Morning Routine:
- 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Applying for jobs on Indeed, LinkedIn, and company websites.
- Step 1: Searching job portals.
- Step 2: Connecting with contacts on LinkedIn.
- Step 3: Customizing my cover letter and resume based on job postings.
- Step 4: Seeking referrals from mutual connections.
- Step 5: Submitting applications once permission was granted.
- Step 6: Keeping organized records of my resumes and cover letters to track submissions.
- 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM: Preparing for interviews and solving coding challenges.
- 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Engaging with friends to maintain connections.
As I became more visible to companies, recruiters began reaching out to me to submit my profile for consideration.
Chapter 2: Understanding the Employment Landscape
In Canada, there are three main types of employment:
- Full-time Employment: Companies hire candidates directly.
- Contract Employment: Companies often use recruitment agencies to find candidates. These contracts typically pay hourly and can last from a few months to a year, with possibilities for extension.
- Outsourcing: Candidates work full-time for an outsourcing company and are assigned to client companies.
Returning to my job search routine...
I was actively participating in coding assessments and interviews, which often followed this structure:
- HR discussions about skills, experience, and salary expectations.
- Technical assessments (not always included).
- A technical interview.
- A final interview with multiple managers, sometimes involving salary negotiations.
After some persistence, a friend referred me to an outsourcing company where I successfully secured my first job as a Senior Software Test Engineer in Canada. I felt immense joy after navigating through five interviews and four coding assessments.
Throughout this journey, there were ups and downs, and while rejection can be disheartening, the unwavering support from my family and friends fueled my determination to keep going.
If you need assistance with your job search in Canada, feel free to reach out.
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In this video, I discuss how to land your dream job in Canada, providing insights for newcomers navigating the job market.
Here, I share my personal experience of securing my ideal job in Canada as a newcomer, with tips for others on a similar path.