Linda Ryan; Employment Liaison Specialist for BCCA-IN
In Canada, construction employers appreciate a foundation of technical education plus hands-on experience in the local sector. They also like to see that you’ve acquired membership of a relevant (provincial or federal) professional body and hold or are ‘challenging’ the appropriate Canadian credential for the role, especially if that role is considered to be a regulated profession in Canada e.g. Engineer, Architect, a trade etc.
All of these elements add to what is commonly called ‘Canadian experience’. While employers can’t blatantly specify this as a criteria when advertising roles, you can understand why they might look for it. It allows them to find the best candidate for the job: someone who has the skills and specialist training required to technically do the role; and someone who will take the least amount of time to add value to their projects because they know the processes and protocols of the local sector.
As a newcomer to the Canadian construction industry one of the most obvious ways to get some of that highly coveted ‘Canadian experience’ and also work towards credential recognition in your profession; is to upskill. But how do you do it when you haven’t even landed in Canada yet?
Here are some ideas…
Join a professional association
Start with the basics, identify a Canadian professional association (member-based organisation) in the sector, profession and ideally city/province where you’ll land in Canada. Any online search engine will help you do this! When you find one, read all the resources on the website, sign up for the newsletters, follow the organisation on LinkedIn and share its content. If you can afford to pay for membership-do it! Over time, you can leverage this membership to build connections, build your knowledge and build your reputation. The associations will also give you ideas on further education, certification or professional development programs. Don’t forget to list your membership on your LinkedIn profile and resume, as soon as possible.
Leverage online professional development opportunities
Search for free or low cost online webinars in your field of expertise-ideally provided by a Canadian professional association, regulatory body or credential authority. When you complete the courses/events, list them on your LinkedIn profile and resume (until you’ve got something better to replace them with e.g. a Canadian professional credential). Examples of where you can start looking are:
Don’t forget to also use this list to research, prepare for and begin the credential recognition process for your trade or profession before you arrive in Canada. Having the right Canadian credentials will give you a huge competitive advantage when building your career.
Identify national e-learning certified courses
BuildForce Canada is a national organization focusing on the development of a high-skilled construction workforce. One of their initiatives offers online self-paced courses via https://elearning.buildforce.ca/.
The Construction Institute of Canada (TCIC) offers continuing professional development for the construction industry.
TCIC also offers Gold Seal certified courses, programs and workshops for industry professionals who want to climb the management ranks in construction. This national accreditation for construction management professionals can also lead to the professional designation P.GSC, once the designation criteria (Canadian industry experience and education) are met. Learn more about Gold Seal https://www.goldsealcertification.com/.
You see, there are lots of ways you can begin to build your ‘Canadian experience’ before you arrive in Canada-what I’ve listed is only a sample. Start now, set yourself some goals, and take small steps each week towards being completely successful. This is your career; take accountability for it.
Oh, and when you arrive in Canada, obviously the best way to enhance your 'Canadian experience' is to look for roles relevant to your career. Actively searching for more junior roles can be a very effective way of 'earning and learning' the industry and profession. Helping you build your long-term career faster.