The easiest way to find a job in Canada. Job fairs in November 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and provincial governments are constantly organizing job fairs around the world to find and bring new professionals to Canada. I will tell you about the fairs that will be held this November and how to prepare for them.

We are approached by many clients who want to immigrate to Canada. Unfortunately, during the consultation, it often turns out that they can't get a residence permit right now. Some don't score enough points because of their age, some don't have a higher education, and, of course, many don't speak English or French at a sufficient level.

But this doesn't mean that such candidates can never immigrate to Canada. They can tentatively come to Canada on a work or study visa. One way to find a job and get a work visa is to attend a job fair.

Job fairs

This is an online or offline event created specifically for employers and their potential employees to meet. Only verified companies are allowed to participate in such fairs, so you don't have to worry about the legality, reliability, and transparency of their job offers. Only two things need to be taken care of: the necessary documents and the choice of the fair.

I'll talk about the full package of documents later, but for now, let's move on to the specific fairs that will be held in November 2023. The principle of registration at such events is usually the same.

So, on November 9, the big immigrant fair will be held right in Canada, in the city of Mississauga, part of the so-called Greater Toronto Area. It will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Living Arts Centre. Admission to the fair is free. The event in Mississauga is universal: it offers immigrants help with three pressing issues at once — work, study, and housing. That means you'll not only meet employers from a wide range of fields but also helpful consultants and educators.

In general, if you are in Ontario, it is definitely worth spending a day at the fair. English courses, training on employment, banking, organizing a business in Canada, offers on renting accommodation — all this can be found in one and the same place.

The next fair is also a very large and regular event for francophone candidates. It is called Destination Canada Mobility Forum. The forum will take place in several stages and in different locations. On November 18 and 19, the event will be held in the French capital, Paris. From November 22 to 24, you can participate in the city of Rabat in Morocco, and from December 4 to 6, the fair will be held online. Visitors from any country can register for all three stages.

In order for your application to be approved by the organizers, you must meet one of the criteria: either have a profile in the Express Entry system, or be invited to the International Experience Canada (IEC) program, known as the Canadian equivalent of Work & Travel, or simply meet all the requirements for immigration.

But even if it doesn't work out, it's too early to despair. You may still be allowed to participate if you have exactly the knowledge and experience needed by the employers who participate, and there are many of them at the forum. The provincial authorities are actively promoting it to companies to help them attract more skilled migrants for permanent residence.

The next fair will be suitable for physicians of all kinds. It will be hosted by the province of New Brunswick. Territorially, this fair will be held in the UK and Ireland in four sessions: November 19 in London, November 21 and 22 in Belfast, and November 24 in Dublin. You don't need to be a resident of these cities and countries to participate, just fill out an application form on the website, wait for a response, and come to the fair on one of the days.

However, New Brunswick is not only looking for doctors but also other healthcare professionals: nurses, lab technicians, and more. For them, the province is holding a separate fair in November in Belgian Brussels. It will take place on November 26 and 27, and there are a lot of factors to consider when registering and selecting participants. You'll need to indicate your country of study, length of service, whether you have a driver's license, and, of course, profiles in New Brunswick's immigration system and Express Entry.

How to fill in the application form

I recommend that you take the application form for participation in fairs seriously. You can't correct the data in it, and the organizers take into account every little detail when considering candidates.

First, you should know exactly the NOC number assigned to your specialty in Canada's National Occupational Classification. This is a five-digit number that implies a very specific set of competencies. Getting your number wrong can be very costly — we have a separate article on the possible consequences.

Second, if you have applied for any of Canada's immigration programs, you need to be sure to include your number on the application.

Third, if you have taken any of the language tests valid in Canada, this can also add weight to your profile, be sure to attach the result to the application form.

Finally, the most important thing is a quality CV. Just don't forget that in Canada, the requirements for it differ from country to country. So you can't just translate your resume into English.

Our assistance

I highly recommend taking the time to learn the specifics of the Canadian CV format so you don't get frustrated later because you weren't invited. Or you can entrust your CV to professionals — it's faster and more reliable. Our team has an experienced Canadian specialist who has prepared dozens of CVs written according to Canadian standards and can help you as well. You will also be able to get sample cover letters, a list of job search sites, and contacts of Canadian employers.

If you need help in determining your NOC, and help with finding the right way to immigrate, then as an immigration consultant, I can assess your chances of immigrating to Canada under over 120 immigration programs and streams. We also provide a service to track job fairs in your specialty. If a fair is launched, you will receive an email notification and you will certainly not miss the next event to find professionals to work in Canada.

Ivanna Pavlenko, regulated Canadian immigration consultant