What Canadian Employers Want in Employees

Canadian Employers want, and look for a number of important skills and attributes in job applicants.

As an immigrant to Canada and a job seeker in the Canadian job market it is important that you show the potential employer that you do have the attributes and skills that they are looking for.

Do not rely on your qualifications and skills only. Also, do keep in mind that your qualifications, skills and experience were gained in a job market that is foreign to Canadian employers.

Therefore don't expect (as most immigrants mistakenly do) that your foreign qualifications and experience will guarantee you a job. Remember, you are an unknown entity in the Canadian labour market. Why should they hire you? You must give them a reason for hiring you. When you do this, you improve your chances of getting hired.

To be successful as an immigrant in the Canadian labour market you need to know what the Canadian employers want and are looking for. Then, you have to market yourself and communicate to the potential employer that you do have the attributes and skills they are looking for.

Attributes That Canadian Employers Want

Here are the attributes that most Canadian employers look for. If you say you have them, be prepared to back up your attributes with real job related examples.
The order of importance may vary from one employer to another.

Attitude (your personal values)

• Do people think you have a positive attitude?
• Do you come across as confident (not over-confident)?

Communication skills

• Good command of the English language as spoken by Canadians
• You need to know and understand the language of your profession here in Canada
• Need to know any technical and professional terms as used in Canada
• Need to have good listening and understanding skills
• Be able to read and interpret technical material including charts and graphs
• Be familiar with current communication technologies and systems

Task-related skills

• You always complete your work on time
• You follow correct task policies and procedures

Health and Safety awareness

• You always follow established workplace safety rules and procedures

Problem-solving

• What's your experience in solving on-the-job problems?

Decision-making

• What job related decision-making were you responsible for?
• What were the outcomes of your decision-makings?

Interpersonal skills (the ability to relate with other people)

• How well do you interact with people in all levels on the job?
• Do you have good conflict-resolution skills?

Commitment to the job

• Everyone is enthusiastic about a job when they are looking for a job
• The question is, "how consistently enthusiastic were you in your previous job?"

Skills That Canadian Employers Want

Academic Qualifications

• What formal education do you have in your professional field?
• What specialized on-the-job training did you receive?
• What upgrading qualifications have you taken?
• Do you regularly upgrade your qualifications?

Communication skills

• Having a good command of the English language as spoken by Canadians
• Knowing and understanding the language of your profession here in Canada
• Being familiar with any technical and professional terms as used in Canada
• Having good listening and understanding abilities
• Being able to read and interpret technical material including charts and graphs
• Being familiar with current communication technologies and systems

Critical Thinking Skills

• Can you show that you are a critical and logical thinker who can evaluate problems and arrive at effective and efficient solutions?

Personal Management Skills

Do you:

• display good self-esteem and confidence?
• display responsibility in setting goals and priorities and carrying them out
• show adaptability in recognizing people diversity and individual differences

Teamwork Skills

• Working with others in a team to achieve the organization's goals
• Displaying good interpersonal skills
• Contributing ideas and respecting the opinions of other team members
• Leading when appropriate

In summary we see that Canadian employers want potential employees (both immigrant and Canadian) to have and display certain personal attributes and skills such as communication, positive behaviors and attitudes, problem solving, interpersonal, adaptability, as well as professional, technological and mathematical skills.

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