INVALUABLE ARTICLE
Survival Job/Professional Work
New Canadians have widely different family circumstances and financial needs. No timeline exists that is right for all families and individuals. Below is a list of three reasonable options that are helpful to review. These job goals probably match the short-term, medium-range, and long-term goals that you could outline for yourself. Economic factors will determine some of your choices.
If you wish to work in your profession in the long-term, you must continue to work on your long-range plans while you are working at a Survival Job. Set some realistic goals for ways to get closer to your long-term job goal, and then focus on the short or medium range job that will help you to get closer to work in your profession.
Survival Job
A survival job is a job not related to your profession. For many newcomers survival work is their first step into the labour market. Survival work can be helpful in generating income while you settle your family, learn English and have your credentials assessed. It may be helpful in developing your network, building your understanding of the Canadian workplace, and connecting with your community.
Work through the information and resources contained in this Job Search website and connect with an employment counsellor to work towards a survival job as a part of your short-term planning.
Related Work
Like survival work, work related to your profession can keep you afloat financially while you work on your long-term goals. Work related to your field can more effectively move you towards your long-term goals. It will help to build your knowledge of your chosen sector in Canada and provide an opportunity to build up sector contacts and references.
Finding related work will require a higher level of English communication as well as higher-level job-searching skills, which will require greater planning and communication with your employment counsellor.
Professional Work
Your ability to return to working in your profession will require not only extremely high English skills but highly tuned communication skills overall. You will have explored and completed any licensing and credentialing required and will likely have some Canadian experience in your field, though related or volunteer work.
Finding and maintaining professional work requires highly advanced job-search skills. You will likely have a well-developed professional network, are involved in professional or community clubs or associations and have mentors advising you along the way. Canadian professionals develop ambitious “life-long learning” approaches to keep up with best practices and maintain your skills and standing in the field.
Reaching this level in communication, licensure and job-searching skills requires a lot of work, patience and planning. Again, your employment counsellor and professional mentors will be important in guiding you to reach your long-term goals.
Whether you are working on your short-, medium- or long-term plans we suggest using the information and resources provided in our Job-Search website, and the partnership provided by an employment counsellor, in working your way through the steps required to reach your goals.
