How to apply for jobs in Canada

Job Bank's advice is to present your qualifications clearly, concisely and strategically, tailor the resume to each job, and back achievements with firm numbers. Keep it to two pages at most, put recent roles first and cut or shorten anything more than 15 years old. Leave out age and other personal details to avoid bias, never include your Social Insurance Number, and skip the photo: Job Bank notes photos are not the norm in Canada and can lower your chances. References go on a separate sheet. Our Canadian resume format guide shows the layout.

A cover letter is not always required, but when you write one, Job Bank suggests a short introduction that shows enthusiasm for the role or company, a middle part with your top matching skills and one or two concrete examples, and a close that restates your interest. Match the tone to the company's culture. The cover letter builder drafts a first version from your resume for the posting in front of you.^[3][4]

Human-rights protection in hiring comes from two levels. The Canadian Human Rights Act covers the federal government, First Nations governments and federally regulated companies such as banks, trucking companies, broadcasters and telecoms; its prohibited grounds include race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics and disability. Section 7 makes refusing to employ someone on those grounds a discriminatory practice, and section 8 extends that to application forms and job ads. Every other workplace falls under the human-rights law of its province or territory.

Ontario's Human Rights Commission spells out what that means on a form: no direct or indirect questions about race, ancestry, place of origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status or disability. The only age question allowed is whether you are 18 or over, employers should not request photos, and a driver's licence copy should wait until a conditional offer, and then only if driving is essential. A form may ask whether you are legally entitled to work in Canada. The Commission also says employers should only ask specifically for "Canadian" experience if they can show it is really needed for the job, and should consider experience from any country.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Job Bank recommends sending a thank-you letter to your interviewers, ideally the same day as the interview. After that, one polite follow-up when the date they gave you has passed is enough. Track every application, interview and reply in the job tracker so nothing slips through.

For pay, Job Bank publishes wages by occupation and region; use them to build a realistic annual range before the salary question comes up, and weigh benefits such as health and dental coverage alongside the base figure.

Employment standards are set mainly by the provinces and territories, so the rules depend on where you work. In Ontario, for example, employees with less than three months of service are not entitled to notice of termination or termination pay under the Employment Standards Act; after that, the minimum is one week for under a year of service and two weeks from one year to under three. If your contract sets a probation period, read what it says about notice and reviews.^[2][5][12]

If you are not a citizen or permanent resident, you usually need a work permit. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada distinguishes employer-specific permits, which require a job offer, from open work permits, which do not. To hire a temporary foreign worker, many employers must first apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, so ask early whether the employer is prepared to do that.

Express Entry is the online system IRCC uses to manage permanent-residence applications from skilled workers under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. In the federal public service, section 39 of the Public Service Employment Act gives Canadian citizens and permanent residents preference in advertised external processes when other applicants also qualify, after veterans and war-service pensioners.

For degrees and trade certificates earned abroad, the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) helps you find the organization responsible for recognising your credential in the occupation and province you are aiming at. Start that early if the occupation you want is licensed. To apply in French in Quebec, translate your resume rather than sending the English one.^{[7][13][14][15][16]}