Application tips for Canada: Similar to the USA, personal contact also plays an important role in Canada if you want to apply for a job in Canada. The personality of an applicant is sometimes even more decisive than the qualifications.
Therefore, initiative and unsolicited applications are welcome in Canada. In Canada, the application is usually not sent by post but by e-mail. There are two official languages in Canada: English and French. In the province of Québec, the application should be in French, in all other provinces in English.
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What is included in the application documents
Since the application in Canada is sent by e-mail, you only need to add a cover letter (“cover letter”/”lettre de présentation”) and a curriculum vitae (“resume”/”curriculum vitae”). If the potential employer also wants to see references and other documents, he will inform the applicant.
The cover letter
The purpose of the cover letter is to convince the prospective employer that it would be beneficial for the company to hire the applicant. His skills should be emphasized even more than in Germany. However, one should also not lay it on too thick by promising things that later cannot be kept. In Canada, it is customary to address the cover letter directly to an individual. If there is no specific contact person, the salutation should not be used. Because an impersonal form of address is not welcome.
The cover letter should not be longer than one page. In Canada you need a work permit to work there. Anyone who already has a work permit or is in the process of getting one should definitely mention this. This saves the company hassle with the Canadian employment office and underscores the candidate’s ability to take the initiative.
Here are a few tips for writing a cover letter:
- Common fonts for job applications are Arial or Times New Roman and font sizes 11 or 12
- Your contact details are at the top of the letterhead, followed by the date in the form of month/day/year and then the name and address of the contact person
- There is no subject line When writing a cover letter, you can use the following questions as a guide:
- How did I find out about the vacancy or the company and why do I want to apply there?
- What makes me suitable for the position offered and why am I the right choice?
- how do i stay (Request for a personal introduction, further contact by the applicant)
- Visit CanadianCareers.com for more cover letter tips.
The resume
Similar to the United States, Canada has strict anti-discrimination laws designed to prevent discrimination against employees in the workplace. Therefore, the CV should contain as little personal information as possible. This means no information on religious affiliation, age, origin, marital status or children.
Anyone who encloses a photo with the application must expect that the application will be sorted out immediately. Like the cover letter, the CV should not be longer than one page and its content should be based on the position offered.
Also Read: HOW DO I APPLY FOR A CANADIAN WORK PERMIT IN 2022?
The information in the CV is similar to that in Germany:
- Personal Information/Contact Information
- education
- work experience
- Internships
- Additional knowledge, such as computer skills, foreign languages, etc.
- Further information: e.g. scholarships, publications, voluntary work
- Information from references
Differences to German CVs:
- the CV has no title, but begins with a letterhead
- the structure of the CV is usually anti-chronological. You can also deviate from this, depending on which position is involved
- the data is not on the left but on the right
- no photo is attached to the CV
Certificates and grades should be translated in such a way that potential employers can better understand the applicant’s qualifications. However, it is also possible that you will be asked to have your training or degree officially recognised.
Recognition of German qualifications
Certificates and other important documents relating to professional qualifications should be able to be presented to the employer in a good translation. However, the potential employer may also require recognition of the qualifications.
This depends, among other things, on whether your profession belongs to a regulated (e.g. doctors, electricians, plumbers, engineers) or a non-regulated professional group and in which province in Canada you want to start working. For more information, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You can also contact an evaluation agency such as World Education Services.
Also Read: 7 types of visas to enter Canada from any country
The interview
Before the potential employer invites an applicant to Canada for a personal interview, it is also possible that the applicant will first contact the applicant by telephone. So you should be prepared for a phone interview. When invited to an interview in Canada, it is customary to bring certificates and reference letters with you. The certificates should be in English or, in the case of an interview in the province of Québec, in French translation.
The relationship between colleagues in Canada and the USA is rather relaxed. It is therefore possible that you will be addressed directly by your first name during the interview. However, this should not tempt you to adopt a friendly style at the interview. You should remain factual and score with your own personality and qualifications. If you are shortlisted, there will probably be several interviews. Rarely are you offered a job right after an interview. It cannot be assumed that travel expenses will be reimbursed.
