Challenges of Finding Employment for Newcomers and Immigrants to Canada and US

When I came to Canada I was already in my late teens. As I was eligible to work I applied for several different jobs and attended many job interviews. It didn’t take me long to realize that language was going to be a huge barrier. There were many turn downs and even if I was told during a job interview that I was going to be hired, I never got “the call.”

Admittedly I was young and lacked experience as I was still finishing high school. You could say I was dealing with a string of bad luck situations. But in reality, I was a kid full of dreams and hopes. And that was what carried me through the rejections. That was my situation.

What about those newcomers who are well-educated and have qualifications? I have seen many incidents where the best many can do is work in a warehouse wasting their Ph.D. on low-income employment. It appears that when you have the required credentials and certifications from other countries, they aren’t recognized in Canada or the United States. A high percentage – up to 60% – of these qualified people cannot use their accreditation for skilled labor in the workforce unless it’s from an internationally known university or corporate entity.

This is actually the first major obstacle for newcomers and immigrants to Canada and the United States.

It often means that years of study in a home country does not get the same credibility or recognition here and one must start from scratch. To gain that first work experience in your specific field of expertise is beneficial. This is because many companies will examine your local experience and legitimate references. A great way to earn this is through volunteer efforts. Not only will this get you some experience in your new home, it will introduce you to contacts that may also provide assistance further down the road.

The next obstacle, and I’ve already mentioned it, is language.

When Mark from Monster insists that accent is usually not an issue I have to respectfully disagree. If the interview is for just three people and one has an accent, most of the time that single person would be disqualified based on the accent and perceived language barrier. This is regardless of how well they are able to express themselves.

CBC News featured a story on Mr. Gupta who sent out several resumes but could hear the enthusiasm wane when speaking to prospective employers on the phone. While it’s easy to claim that accent has no impact, the society in which we live say the opposite. CEOs may state publicly that there is no such thing as discrimination based on ethnic background, but in reality, there is. In other words, if you are an immigrant seeking employment, your odds of getting “the call” are in direct relation to the accent you have. You won’t receive that call which is a simple form of elimination for the company you applied to work for. And is heartbreaking for you. Particularly if it was your dream job.

The bottom line is to not give up. 

Many Canadian companies embrace cultural diversity and encourage people of all cultures to work under the same roof. Accent or not, all are welcome provided you are the master of your domain. There are also some companies that are a bit more lenient on the accent. Niches that brew specialists like the IT industry, software development, and data recovery are harder to find, however. They are also the types of industries that can open many doors and make the immigration process somewhat easier for some.

Take for example a data recovery company where I happen to work – is always looking for experienced engineers. In these cases, even if the experience does not include working in Canada or North America, we focus on experience in a related field as opposed to where that experience was gained.

This doesn’t mean you stand a better chance at finding work in Canada or the USA if you changed your plans and studied for a degree in software development or data recovery. What it does mean is that you should stay on the path you have chosen and follow your dreams. Just be aware of some of the obstacles you may encounter and how to navigate them in order to succeed.