I can’t tell you how often I speak to
new and returning Canadians lamenting that seemingly age old quandary when
looking for a role based in this country: "Canadian employers want current
Canadian experience, but how do you get current Canadian experience without
current Canadian experience?" Without a doubt this is a deeply frustrating
challenge.
At its heart, the best plan to securing
meaningful work in Canada is simple. Perseverance is the name of the game.
Knocking on doors until one opens is stressful and all-consuming, but
ultimately rewarding, as it is the first step up the ladder to build a new
career here. That said, I believe there are strategies that can turn a
potentially longer process into a much shorter one.
Recently, I had the pleasure to
participate in Toronto Homecoming, an event focused on helping Canadians
repatriate back to our local market. As in years past, the event was a success.
The attendees I spoke with were bright, talented, experienced professionals
diligently committed to finding meaningful work in Canada. Yet, there were two factors that made it readily
apparent to me who would find work quickly and who would face a more uphill
battle.
The first and most important element was
an individual’s ability to translate their story. There is no doubt that experience and skills
gained abroad are relevant to the Canadian marketplace. However, if that experience cannot be framed
in context and given detail, its value is greatly undermined. Too often, people I met made the assumption
that I knew they worked at China’s 3rd largest investment bank or
Spain’s largest telecommunications company just by sharing the name of their
former employer.
Individuals who gain traction with Canadian companies have spent time
articulating the scope of the businesses they have worked with, the skills they
have gained there, and have crafted arguments as to why these experiences are
transferable to the Canadian marketplace.
They have done this both in their resumes and in the story they tell
about themselves. They don’t wait to be
questioned about their past, they provide context upfront.
On top of that, individuals successful
in the search process understand the deep importance in leveraging their story
through the cultivation of allies and advocates in the Canadian market. Online applications are black holes where
resumes disappear into the abyss. Savvy
and proactive job seekers reach out and form relationships in the market
face-to-face or over the phone in order to share the story they’ve crafted and
have those with the inside track give them advice. Surely, this is not an instantaneous route to
a new opportunity – but it is the best and surest way to cultivate advocates
who will go out of their way to open previously unseen doors.
Deciding to leave the known to explore
a new market requires a pioneer’s heart.
The key to success is not to lose that proactivity once you get
here.
Lauren Thorek, Associate Director
Excellent insight to a challenging venture!
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