ISS is available virtually and in-person Mondays-Fridays during business hours.
Welcome to Step 2!
You are probably wrapping up your first year or two and are now听thinking about testing the professional waters over the summer break.
For most of you, it is likely your first time trying to find a job in a foreign country, or it may well be your first job anywhere. We understand your stress, as you are in the midst of听studying for midterms and finals on top of听worrying about your job applications.
Here is a list of recommended steps - to take action instead of worry.
(Please note: to view and register for career fairs, information sessions and workshops offered through CaPS, login to and click on the听Events tab. For a more comprehensive introduction to internships, please visit CaPS'听滨苍迟别谤苍蝉丑颈辫蝉听辫补驳别.)
- Exploring Career
- CV & Cover Letter
- Interview Skills
- Building Professional Image
- Knowing the Market
- Essential Documents
- Knowing your Workplace
Exploring Career Options
If you are more of a do-it-yourself person, here is a list of resources that will familiarise you听with the potential applications of each major in the job market.
List of Resources
听
Sometimes, figuring听things out on your own听can be difficult. A new perspective from an advisor can听help you make the right decisions to find your career path. They听will also help in orienting you towards a career path that fits your interests and skills.
List of Resources
- CaPS C-Lounge:听a roaming lounge where students can drop in without听an appointment and chat with a career advisor. Ask any question that is on your mind.听
- CaPS Career advisors: students can ask an advisor about any career-related inquiries. An appointment is mandatory.听
- Find out if your faculty or department also has a career office.听
Perfecting Your CV听& Cover Letter
When it comes to CVs and cover letters, one size does not fit all. In today鈥檚 competitive job market,听 CVs and cover letters need to be tailored听to targeted industries or jobs.
If your CV and cover letter directly address the job鈥檚 requirements and showcase how well you can meet them, your chances of getting an interview invite increase dramatically. But many students struggle with the issue of how to focus on different aspects of themselves on different CVs and cover letters.
Here are some resources that will help you improve your job searching tools:
List of Resources
- If you have yet to attend any workshops about the basics of writing a听CV听and cover letter by CaPS, check them out on the CaPS website!
- CaPS CV advising (drop-in & by appointment)听
- 成人VR视频 Writing Center Tutoring: You may book a tutorial session to correct your writing听on your CV and cover letter.
- Workshop:听Perfecting the Cover Letter by CaPS and Graphos for graduate students (under the tab 'Graduate Workshop')
- For career assistance from off-campus resources,听visit Step 4 of iSTEP (under the tab "External Resources - CV and Cover Letter Advising").
Developing听Interview Skills
Comprehending Interviews
Once you have received an interview invitation, you must听prepare.听Many job applicants spend little time preparing for an interview, leading听to poor results. Thorough preparation will improve听your confidence,听performance, and job prospects. The resources below will provide you with a sense of this process:听
List of resources
- CaPS Workshops: Practice your Interviewing听(under tab 'Interview Preparation')
- CaPS Workshops: Practice Case Interviewing听(under tab 'Interview Resources')
- The career or internship office of each faculty may offer more discipline-specific workshops for interview techniques as well. 听
听
Fortifying Your Interview Skills
Practicing your Interview in French
Many听interviews are conducted entirely or at least partially in French听in Quebec. Depending on your area of studies, fluency in French may have an impact on an employer's decision to hire you.听听
Many international students are not prepared for this situation, as they have never听experienced interviews in French. Attending the workshops below will help you听learn the strategies for a successful interview in French.
Please note that intermediate to advanced level听of French is听required in order to attend some of the workshops.
List of resources
- FLC+CJE workshops series: "fran莽ais au travail"听(Follow to see the schedule for these听workshops.)
- Other French learning tips听(under tab "Expanding听Skills-Language")
听
Mock Interviews
A听mock interview听is a听conversational exercise resembling a real interview听for the purpose of providing an experience for a job candidate. Mock interviews听help a听job applicant听understand what is expected in a real interview. They also help听an applicant improve their听self-presentation.听
List of resources
- CaPS Advisors:听听Students can ask an advisor about any career-related inquiries听or schedule mock interviews. An appointment is mandatory.
- CaPS + InterviewStream:听At 成人VR视频, in addition to scheduling听an appointment with an advisor for a mock interview, you can听also use the online platform听InterviewStream听to practice whenever it suits you.听
- Faculties and departments may also provide mock interview appointments.
- For a list of external resources听you could use,听visit step 4 of iSTEP (under the tab "External Resources").
Building Your Professional Image
In Canada and many other job markets, self-presentation and self-promotion matter!
This includes actions to be taken in addition to听drafting your CV and cover letter and can be done听both on and听offline.
More and more employers refer to LinkedIn profiles to know their candidates. And many vacancies are filled through contacts in your field. These two听types of recruitment听-听one so publicly accessible听and the other much more hidden -听both involve presenting your most professional self at any time.
听
Establishing a Presence on LinkedIn
CaPS provides feedback听regarding your LinkedIn profile during 20-minute听drop-in sessions.听
There are also plenty of chances around campus where you could even get a free professional LinkedIn headshot!听
List of resources
- CaPS LinkedIn Advising:听on an appointment or drop-in basis.
- Coffee with CaPS Student Leaders - In Person (LinkedIn).听Register on
- Engineering: Building Your Network with LinkedIn Workshop (+photo). Register on 听
Introduction to Networking
Networking is an important part of any job search, and particularly here in Quebec. It is the process of establishing contacts for the purpose of gathering information, communicating your career goals, seeking advice, and obtaining leads on jobs. Unsurprisingly, the larger your network is, the more likely you are to be successful.
Unless you put effort into building your network, this could be one of the weak spots for many international students. But there are ways to compensate, and the following resources can help you on that path:
List of resources
- CaPS workshops: Practice your Networking听(under tab 'Undergraduate Workshops')
- Networking Tips
- : 成人VR视频, in partnership with Ten Thousand Coffees, has created听成人VR视频Connect, a career network designed to make it easy for members of the 成人VR视频 community to听receive or offer mentoring and career advice, connect with the 成人VR视频 community and make the most of your 成人VR视频 professional networks
- CaPS mentorship program:听The 成人VR视频 Mentor Program is designed to connect 成人VR视频 students with 成人VR视频 alumni, allowing them the opportunity to gain valuable experience and advice for career development.
- More 成人VR视频 Networking venues and events
- Each department鈥檚 student association may have plenty of networking events throughout the semester. Check their Facebook pages and websites regularly!
Mastering the Market
Where to Start Looking for a Job
In addition to traditional, published vacancies, one of the most important and often neglected ideas behind job searching is the "hidden market". Many听vacancies are filled by candidates with an internal reference, meaning they are听never publicly advertised. This shows the importance of networking. It is that in Quebec, "hidden" vacancies make up 30% of the job market.听
Have a look at the following resources to learn where to look for a job:
List of resources
- CaPS Workshops: How To Find a Job 听(under tab 'Undergraduate Workshops')
- CaPS Workshops: International Students: Finding summer and part-time opportunities听听(under the tab 'Targeted Workshops')
- CaPS Workshop: Job Search for 1st Time Seekers听(under the tab 'Additional Workshops')
- A list of job search sites
- Visit the previous section to find听more information about Networking (under the tab "Build Professional Image- Introduction to Networking")
听
Getting familiar with the Canadian labour听market
One of the biggest issues presented to international students might be the lack of knowledge of the local labour market. For example, what field is in high demand at the moment?听Where should one start to search for jobs? What are the reasonable expectations of salary? What is expected of you when you enter the labour market?
Check out these workshops and online tools to help you understand Canadian and Quebec labour听markets:
List of resources
- CaPS Workshop: Business Etiquette For Job Seekers听(under the tab 'Targeted Workshops')
-
provides information about different trades and occupations in Quebec, including听their principal tasks, wages, job prospects, potential employers, prerequisites and the training required.
You can also find out about trades and occupations in high demand, growing sectors of activity and the availability of workers.
Securing Essential Documents to Work When You are a Student
SIN
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a nine-digit number required to听work (and get paid) in Canada.听Employers must ask for the SIN听of all new employees as soon as they are hired. You may apply for a SIN before you start working, or up to three days after your start date. A SIN听is also required for taxation purposes.
- ISS Information on how to apply for a SIN
- 听- the government agency that issues SINs
听
Do I need a work permit?
Find out if you need a work permit for your part-time jobs, summer jobs, or internships.
- CaPS+ISS Workshop: Finding Jobs in Canada听(under the tab 'Targeted Workshops')
- ISS information on the requirements for on-campus work, off-campus work, and co-op or internships
听
A newly created website from IRCC that goes through the various steps that students should follow from studying, working, all the way to citizenship.
Knowing your Workplace
Are Unpaid Internships Legal?
Unlike some other countries, there are few laws in Canada defining or regulating internships directly.听 Each province has its own employment standards legislation, regulations, and/or guidelines that may apply to interns.听
听
Integrating into your workplace
Once you鈥檝e been hired, you鈥檒l feel much more at ease in your professional environment if you are conscious of work values in Quebec and what is expected of you.
List of resources
- I choose Montreal:
- MIFI:听
- 听(in French)
听