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:: Hot Topics |
Get
an Edge on the Canadian Job Market
with These Essential Tips
By Sandra Lim
Résumés and Cover Letters
Canadian résumés and cover letters are substantially identical to those
used in the United States. Accomplishments-based chronological, functional,
and combination résumés are widely accepted, as are CVs in appropriate circumstances.
A two-page résumé is widely accepted in Canada. Scannable and ASCII résumés
incorporating relevant keywords are also used for electronic job searching
in Canada.
Watch Out!
There are some slight variations to be aware of when preparing for a job
hunt in Canada. Things to watch out for:
Educational System & Academic Credentials
The term "college" has a different connotation in Canada than it does in
the United States. In Canada, after completion of high school, students
have a choice of attending either university or college. Only universities
grant degrees, while colleges (also called community colleges or institutes)
provide career-oriented and technical training leading to diplomas or certificates
generally requiring one or two years of study.
Furthermore, Canadian university degrees are abbreviated somewhat differently.
For example, a Bachelor of Science is referred to as a B.Sc., rather than
a B.S. Any confusion can be avoided by spelling the name of the degree in
its entirety.
The Quebec educational system differs from the rest of the country. After
grade 11, students in Quebec must complete a two-year "collèges d'enseignement
général et professionnel" (CEGEP) program to be eligible for university
entrance. CEGEPs also offer three-year career and technical programs similar
to those provided by community colleges in other provinces.
Canadian Spelling
Usage of American spelling (often the default setting of spell-checkers
in word processing software programs) could be mistaken for typographical
or spelling errors by Canadian employers. Just a few common examples:
| Canadian
Spelling |
American
Spelling |
| colour,
labour, behaviour |
color,
labor, behavior |
| centre,
theatre, fibre |
center,
theater, fiber |
| counsellor |
counselor |
| enrolment |
enrollment |
| catalogue |
catalog |
| paycheque |
paycheck |
| licence
(noun), license (verb) |
license
(noun/verb) |
Recent Job Search Trends
In the last few years, Canadian companies have embraced Internet recruiting.
A 1999 survey by iLogos Corp. of Quebec City showed that 96% of Canadian
respondents use their corporate Web sites to post job openings. However,
when it comes to senior executives, word of mouth and executive search firms
are still the preferred route, even by technology companies. At the end
of 1999, more than 2,800 search firms were active in Canada with the number
of Canadian recruiting firms increasing by more than 15% annually.
According to a recent Globe and Mail article, sophisticated
recruiting software that lets employers pre-screen prospective candidates,
such as Recruitsoft and E-cruiter, is gaining popularity among Canadian
companies. Along with sending a résumé, applicants fill out a questionnaire
asking upfront whether a candidate meets certain crucial criteria—with
questions such as, "Can you travel? Do you have a Canadian passport?—the
kind of information that a résumé doesnÍt usually include. In some cases,
candidates are required to respond to the questions before theyÍre even
able to submit a résumé. Some of the software programs use a scoring system
to assign points to candidates' answers. When candidates pass the questionnaire
stage, their résumés are forwarded electronically to hiring mangers for
an on-line review. Managers then contact candidates by email and often conduct
further on-line testing.
About Sandra Lim
Sandra Lim is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW) and
the first Canadian to earn the Credentialed Career Master (CCM) designation. ,
and a Certified Electronic Career Coach (CECC).
Through her company, A Better Impression, she provides clients with résumé
and career counseling services to help them create a better impression.
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