More and more French-speakers choose Canada to immigrate to for many reasons: a lower rate of unemployment, better job opportunities and the quality of life.
Are you already in Canada or are you planning to immigrate? You can start your job search from overseas and get a work permit before you arrive, or wait to be in Canada before starting your job search.
You have built a strategy to find a job, found information about job markets and opportunities, contacted organizations, updated your resume and LinkedIn, applied for a job… and now you get an interview.
Get prepared!
Canadian employers are interested in hiring French immigrants
Canada initiated immigration policies to attract French people to develop the economy, particularly outside Québec. Despite the increase in immigration, Canada wants more. Justin Trudeau’s government announced quotas for up to 350,000 immigrants in 2021: a 40,000 increase, as compared to 2018 (www.immigrer.com). That’s why they organize annual events like Destination Canada in Belgium and France. Canada is looking for French-speaking, qualified workers as French is one of the official languages in Canada, along with English. Employers are interested in hiring you and Canada promotes French-speaking immigration!
How can I get a work permit? What can I do if my temporary permit is almost done and I want to keep my job? If I want to extend it? To learn possible ways of doing this, depending on your situation, visit the Canadian immigration website, and always refer back here for the latest updates.
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) programs:
- Study in Canada: www.educanada.ca, www.cicdi.gc.ca, www.cic.gc.ca/francais/etudier/
- Temporary work: www.cic.gc.ca/français/travailler/permis.asp, www.canada.ca, www.canada.ca/immigrationfranco
- Immigrate to Canada: it is possible with, or without, a job offer: www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/veniraucanada.asp
How can I get information about immigration and employment in BC?
Canada is very vocal about the benefits to French-speaking citizens of immigrating, they organize specific events, each Canadian province provides information about labour markets and life in its own territory.
Francophone minority groups are important in each province and can get you helpful information and tools. Here are some tools for employment and immigration in British Columbia:
- Programme d’immigration francophone de Colombie Britannique: https://www.vivreencb.ca/fr/
- Website about employment in BC: www.workbc.ca
- For entrepreneurs: SDECB (Société de Développement Economique de Colombie-Britannique), member of Rdée Canada (promotes the economic development of Francophone and Acadian communities in Canada).
French-speaking organizations can also help you in the immigration process: Pôle emploi international, Pvtistes.
Why is it important to be well informed when looking for a job?
Your relationship with your employer is highly relevant to Canadian culture. It’s very different from Europe. If they are interested in your profile, they want to know first if it will be possible for you to get a work permit, how the process works for them. Managers could be reluctant to hire someone with a temporary permit, particularly if it’s almost expired, but solutions exist to get another one. Prepare your arguments related to work permit possibilities. Organizations and tools exist for employers to help them to hire French-speakers immigrants.
Be informed about immigration programs, and build your own immigration strategy: immigration programs available to you could depend on your experience in Canada, or your field and qualifications, as related to each province’s programs: there are many ways for French people to work in Canada and immigrate.
Canada Talents dedicates its energy to the french-speaking community in Vancouver. We help you in your job research and integration. Join us for our next CONNECTWorking event to ask your questions.