|
|
|
Cultural
Information
As
an affluent, high-tech industrial society, Canada today
closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic
system, pattern of production, and high living standards.
As
a result of the close cross-border relationship, the
economic sluggishness in the United States in 2001-02
had a negative impact on the Canadian economy. Real
growth averaged nearly 3% during 1993-2000, but declined
in 2001, with moderate recovery in 2002. Unemployment
is up, with contraction in the manufacturing and natural
resource sectors. - CIA World Fact Book
"The immigration community is in an uproar over
the new legislation released by Canadian Immigration
authorities. The main purpose of this legislation appears
to be to 'wipe out' the excessive backlog of more than
300,000 applications. Only applicants who have already
been approved or have had an interview before the new
law comes into effect next June will be judged according
to the old criteria.
The new criterion applies for the 'skilled worker' category
only. The number of points required will increase, putting
more emphasis on education, language skills, work experience
and ties to Canada such as having family there or a
job offer. This will eliminate the old practice of earning
points for certain occupations. The new pass mark will
be 80 points out of 100 instead of 70.
How can you ensure immigration success under the new
system? Perform a job search first and obtain a job
offer. Obtaining a job offer before immigrating is not
impossible. Employment consulting firms that specialize
in this area are invaluable to someone that needs to
increase their points for immigration." www.canadausemployment.com
Non-Canadians interested in immigrating to the country
can check out CanadaVisa.com, which provides information
about obtaining work visas for Canada. Online assessment
of eligibility to live and work in Canada can be made.
In addition there is information on gaining permanent
and temporary work status in Canada. - www.goinglobal.com
|
| |
|
Cultural
Etiquette
Canadians
are polite, respectful of authority, consensus-oriented,
and tend to avoid confrontation. They are courteous
and respectful of women and older people, and men typically
observe traditional actions of courtesy (such as holding
a door open for a woman, or offering their seat to an
older person).
It
is appropriate to address older people by their last
name preceded by the appropriate term of "Mr.",
"Mrs.", or "Miss." "Bonjour"
is the traditional French greeting, and the polite form
of "you" when conversing with new people is
"vous." "Tu" is generally reserved
for family and close friends. Maintain an open and cordial
manner when talking to Canadians. Direct eye contact
shows sincerity. - www.goinglobal.com
|
| |
| Resumes |
Canadian resumes are comparable to those used in the United
States. As always, your resume should be accurate, concise,
and targeted to the employer.
There are many formats you can choose for your resume.
The three formats which are most commonly used are:chronilogical,
functional, and combination.
These are the most common formats. It often works well
for those with a long and consistent work record, and
you want your work experience to be front and centre.
Jobs should be listed in reverse chronological order (most
recent first). Many employers prefer this format.
Functional resumes. These are useful for those with little
work experience, many short contract jobs, and for those
changing careers. This type of resume focuses on your
skills and accomplishments, not your work history. Also
called skills-based resumes.
Combination resumes combine these two formats. It combines
your marketable skills with your work experience and education,
so that you can highlight related past experiences. -
www.canadiancareers.com
As for the cover letter, JobStar.org - http://jobstar.org/tools/
resume/cletters.cfm#Good - states that it is important
to address it to the person who can hire you, write it
in your own words, show that you know something about
the company and the industry, and use terms and phrases
that are meaningful to the employer.
Another trend is the portfolio. In the past, this format
has been limited to artists and designers, but portfolios
are now often used as a visual representation of career
and life accomplishments. If used wisely, a portfolio
can be a good way to pique a potential employer's interest.
Even better, if a copy of a portfolio can be left with
the interviewer, it may provide another reason for further
contacts. - www.goinglobal.com/
countries/canada/resume.asp |
|
 |
| |
| Business
Etiquette
Requirements
for a managerial or consulting position usually include
a post-secondary education and relevant work experience.
For consulting, experience is essential to establish
a client base from which to work. MBAs and other graduate
degrees are highly regarded, and can provide substantial
salary increases.
In
Canada, the market is dominated by the big consulting
firms: Accenture, Deloitte & Touche, PricewaterhouseCoopers,
and CapGemini Ernst & Young. However, there are
still many niches being filled by smaller, specialized
firms. The current trend in the industry is focused
around the IT sector. This sector is the largest segment
in Canada, generating approximately 40 percent of the
industry's revenues.
Many
successful business and consulting candidates have a
post-secondary degree with a concentration in commerce
or economics. The majority of higher-level executives
usually have completed post-graduate work, such as a
Masters of Business Administration (MBA). However, many
employers do not hire top-level employees simply because
of their level of education; the amount of experience
plays a large role in a candidate's job marketability.
Canadian Business Magazine is the premier publication
for this industry, published 24 times a year in English.
- www.goinglobal.com
Canadians
often include spouses in their business invitations.
Although, it is best to confirm this before making plans
to attend. It is also acceptable to reciprocate the
offer. If dining out for a business event, it is common
practice to dine at an upscale restaurant. Seafood is
very popular along the coasts. Business meetings are
held during any meal. Business conversation, however,
is typically withheld until after the meal. Eating habits
vary within different ethnic areas. It is best to follow
the lead of the host.
Business
gifts may be given upon arrival at a new job or upon
closure of a deal. It is common to unwrap such gifts
immediately. Appropriate gifts are those that are native
to one's home country. A bottle of wine, fine liquor,
candy, or treating someone to a restaurant meal are
also considered good gifts. It is not necessary to buy
expensive gifts, but it is in good taste to give gifts
of good quality. When offering flowers, avoid white
lilies, which are given for funerals, and red roses,
which are more appropriate in romantic situations. One
should also avoid giving personal gifts to colleagues.
- www.goinglobal.com |
| |
| Related
Articles |
| |
"Canada's job growth rolls on."
"Occupations
that are in demand across Canada." |
| |
| Leading
Newspapers |
| |
| Calgary
Herald |
| Edmonton
Journal |
| Halifax
Daily News |
| Montreal
Gazette |
| Ottawa
Citizen |
| The
Vancouver Sun |
| The
Globe and Mail |
|
The
National Post
List
of Canadian Newspapers - www.onlinenewspapers.com/
canada.htm
|
| |
| Useful
Links |
| |
Canjobs.com
- "Your Canadian Employment Search Network"
- http://canjobs.com/
- works like Monster.com with job searches, resume advice,
application network, etc. for free.
Apply
to U.
of Calgary Graduate Biz School
Canadian
Careers.com
Canada
US Employment - Articles about jobs in Canada.
World
Newspapers.com - offers listings for countries'
major newspapers.
Canadian
Embassy in the US - www.canadianembassy.org
US
Embassy in Canada - www.usembassycanada.gov
American
Chamber of Commerce - www.amchamcanada.ca
|
| |
| |
|
