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A new approach to job-hunting |
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One of the first hurdles that new immigrants face in Canada is that it
seems impossible to find a job in their field. So what do you do - wait
until the right job comes along or take up whatever is actually
available?
Unless you are sitting on a very large nest egg, it makes sense to look beyond your narrow specialization and check out what other opportunities are available. However, if you're smart, changing careers won't necessarily mean you have to start from rock bottom again.
First off, accept that in the short term at least, you may not be making the same kind of money that you were before coming to Canada. This acceptance is important for two reasons - one, getting frustrated about the situation will only be counter-productive, and two, you need to be concentrating on a strategy that will pay off in the medium to long term.
If you've worked for a fair number of years, chances are you have at least some skills that are transferable to other jobs. For example, if you've been a high school teacher, you might have skills that might be useful in a daycare centre or at a publishing company that specializes in educational books.
Or you might be a computer hardware engineer, with the kind of knowledge that will help you flourish as a sales rep at an IT firm.
The trick when searching for jobs is to widen your focus beyond what you have been doing in the past, and look at opportunities that your skill set lets you pursue.
You need to do your research well, and concentrate on careers that will pay at least as well as the one you are leaving behind. Sure, you may not start at that salary, but having the right skills means you have the chance to learn quickly and move up the ladder faster than if you were to move into a dead-end job or one where the learning curve is way too steep.
Changing your career direction can be very challenging, but it can also offer an opportunity for self improvement and advancement.
If you find yourself running into the barrier of being “over qualified” for alternative positions you are interested in doing, do not allow yourself to be blinded by the level of your past accomplishments.
Focus on what you need to do to get the job, and eliminate qualifications that disqualify you from consideration. If necessary, manipulate your previous job descriptions to provide a logical transition toward your current interests.
For example, if you've been in a senior management position and are applying for a job several rungs lower, explain how your skills match the requirements of that position rather than focus on how your decisions helped double your company profits. Do not provide prospective employers an $100,000 resume for a $30,000 position. Trim your resume to meet the level of requirements for the position you are targeting.
Changing career paths requires creativity, persistence, and an enormous amount of fortitude. Your main goal is to convince the potential employer they will not be hiring an unhappy, disgruntled, liability rather than an able, enthusiastic asset who is willing to work beyond their station for the benefit of the company.
As with any position, employers will hire people who are eager to pursue available opportunity. Show them you want what they have to offer, and that you welcome the change of pace.
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