FINDING WORK AS A QUALIFIED TRADES PERSON IN CANADA

Canada is currently experiencing growth across the board in the construction industry. Therefore there are shortages of qualified skilled trades people for various projects. There will probably be many job opportunities because older workers are leaving these occupations due to retirement and few young people are training for them. Over the long run, population and business growth is creating a need for new houses, factories, schools, hospitals, offices and other structures.

How to tap into the job market?

The answer seems relatively simple but in reality is rather complicated. You have the skill and the employer has the job…. it sounds rather straight forward. It is quite easy nowadays to walk into a Canadian construction site and ask for a job. The Canadian employers would normally offer you the position based on the condition that you are legal and have a valid SIN (Social Insurance number) and this is where most of the Canadian employers need representation and assistance from a licensed professional who is willing to do the paper work for them in order for them to hire you.  The next important factor to the employer is the time scale, how long an employer is willing to wait? There are fortunately programs and services in place by the Canadian government who will assist the employers to get their employees faster. But Employers must be able invest time and resources to accomplish this and that’s why you as an applicant must realize the importance of engaging the professional assistance of a licensed consultant. By hiring a licensed third party who has the experience and knowledge of both jobs and immigration can be a smart way of moving forward with your job search.

 Programs such as The Provincial Nominee and HRSDC foreign worker websites have extensive information on this. Please visit http://www.canada.org.uk/visa-info/immig/e_prov.htm

Below is a brief outlook on what to expect in the Province of BC

OUTLOOK FOR TRADE OCCUPATIONS

According to BC work futures, trade occupations are expected to grow about the same as the all-occupation average, according to the Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS). Based on the historic relationship between population growth and construction activity and on the anticipation of good levels of investment, COPS projects that about 2,725 new jobs will be created between 2001 and 2011.

Because the construction industry employs such a large number of workers, there will be a significant number of openings in the long term, especially to replace an aging workforce. In the short term, there will be considerable competition for positions and new workers will have to compete with experienced workers for the available jobs. However, industry sources indicate there may be a long-term shortage of apprentices entering the construction industry.

As with many trades, apprentices are often chosen from the ranks of a company's current employees, such as construction laborers (in NOC 76). Red Seal certification for tradesmen means workers are qualified to work in any province or territory. In these occupations, trades people can advance to supervisory positions or start their own businesses.

Here are a few tips that may help you find a job in your field in Canada.

TIPS ON FINDING A JOB

Put together a job search folder and get a Diary or a Calendar to get organized. Prepare a CV/ resume and cover letter done professionally, keeping in mind the difference in terminology used within the construction trade in Canada. Enlist help from a certified professional in Canada if you are unsure about this.

Remember that looking for work in Canada as Foreign Worker is hard; you should consider doing this in partnership with a certified professional as it can take time to land a job! You need to view it as an adventure and as an opportunity to explore your field in your chosen Province. A positive attitude throughout the job search campaign is absolutely required.

It is imperative to work with a professional in order to help you with the job search and the important filing and lodging of your application. This is because once you have a job offer it needs to be approved by the federal and or provincial government. Canadian Employers often feel very reluctant to deal and submit documentation to the government due to time constraints and lack of hiring a foreign worker through the maze of Canadian immigration bureaucracy. Often you don’t get a response from a Canadian employer when you apply on your own without representation.

Coming for a fact finding trip combined with a job interview is not a bad thing at all. It gives you an opportunity to explore your potential neighborhood, housing and schools.  Once you have achieved this you should look into the licensing requirements as every province has its own Licensing and Regulations regarding trade professions. Some provinces allow you to challenge your qualification and apply through RED SEAL prior to gaining your residency. Please visit http://www.red-seal.ca/

Read online Canadian newspapers  http://newslink.org/nonusn.html

Look at the geographical area you are interested in daily for ideas on what the key issues are and which companies and industries are growing in your areas of interest. File clipped articles. Note names of individuals and companies mentioned in the articles.

Find 10 potential contacts each week and make 10 cold calls. Develop a list of possible companies from the job bank  http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/  and  phone book  http://www.canada411.ca or contact me for some advice on how to get started

Arrange and conduct 2 to 4 interviews for your fact finding trip; Follow up with thank-you notes.

Spend 4 to 5 hours on the web to do research.

Do research on your occupation and get study materials sent out to you. Schedule appointments with colleges if necessary.

Answer all employment ads from the web and other sources related to your career objective even if you are "under" or "over" qualified. Contact anyone you know who might know someone in the company for referrals. Follow up on applications with telephone calls after 3 days. Note the job details and make notations for each.

Read 2 Canadian professional/ trade journals related to jobs/fields of interest. Respond to ads in classified employment section.

Visit on line job fairs

Write thank-you notes immediately following each appointment. Re-emphasize your interest and qualifications. State what your next step will be.

Below is the website which gives you information on your occupations

http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/generic/nocsearch.asp

I have used a Bricklayer occupation as an example.

NOC TILTE FOR Masonry and Plastering Trades (NOC 728)

Bricklayers lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone and other similar materials to construct or repair walls, arches, chimneys, fireplaces and other structures in accordance with blueprints and specifications. They are employed by construction companies and bricklaying contractors or they may be self-employed.

Example Titles

apprentice bricklayer
bricklayer
brick mason
refractory bricklayer
stonecutter
stonemason


Main duties

Bricklayers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Read sketches and blueprints to calculate materials required
• Cut and trim bricks and concrete blocks to specification using hand and power tools
• Prepare and lay bricks, concrete blocks, stone, structural tiles and similar materials to construct or repair walls, foundations and other structures in residential, industrial and commercial construction
• Lay bricks or other masonry units to build residential or commercial chimneys and fireplaces
• Lay radial bricks to build masonry shells of industrial chimneys
• Lay or install firebricks to line industrial chimneys and smokestacks
• Line or reline furnaces, kilns, boilers and similar installations using refractory or acid resistant bricks, refractory concretes, plastic refractories and other materials
• Lay bricks, stone or similar materials to provide veneer facing to walls or other surfaces
• Construct and install prefabricated masonry units
• Lay bricks or other masonry units to build patios, garden walls and other decorative installations
• May restore, clean or paint existing masonry structures.

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in bricklaying is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for bricklayers is compulsory in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the Yukon.
• Trade certification for stonemasons is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland.
• Inter-provincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified bricklayers.

Additional information

• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
• Red Seal trade certification allows for inter-provincial mobility.

Classified elsewhere

• Concrete Finishers (7282)
• Supervisors of bricklayers (in 7219 Contractors and Supervisors, Other Construction Trades, Installers, Repairers and Servicers)
• Tilesetters (7283)

Shadi Norman has been assisting clients from the UK for the past 6 years and is certified and licensed by Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants and holds a Job finding certifications from Human Resource Skills Development Canada.  She is an Immigration and employment consultant as an expat from the UK, now living in Vancouver BC. She can be contacted at ansnorman@shaw.ca or visit her website at www.jobsearch-in-canada.com