Country: Russia

Date Hired: May 10, 2022

Job Title: Software Developer

Employer: Wingate Group

How did the Immigrant Centre help you to find a job in Canada?
Immigrant Centre assisted me in writing and proofreading my resumes, provided resume templates, shared relevant information about carrier opportunities in Winnipeg as well as job fairs.

What types of job search techniques did you use to find your job?
The primary source of job openings was Indeed.ca. Additionally, I visited job fairs, followed web resources provided by Immigrant Centre and also talked to my friend (that was the last resort).

What differences have you noticed between working in Canada and working in your home country?
Since software standards are rather international, I have not noticed any significant differences compared to my home country. However, owing to the fact that before that I was employed for a short period of time as a general worker in manufacturing in Winnipeg, I would like to specifically note cleanness and higher level of industrial standards and culture in Canada.

What advice would you give to immigrants and newcomers looking for work?
1. Use as many sources as possible: Indeed.ca, Job Bank, web sites of local companies, job fairs. 2. If you are looking for a remote position, do not restrict yourself to Manitoba only - apply anywhere in Canada 3. Submit as many resumes as possible (at least 5-10 a day). Conversion rate on Indeed.ca was only 10% for me. It might have been caused by my reluctance to make specific resumes and insufficient relevant experience. 4.Use separate resumes. I am talking about level of skills required. You shouldn't apply for assembly position and mention your master's diploma in resume. Please make at least three or four different versions tailored to the scope of skills potentially or factually required for positions you are applying for! 5. Don't get misled by the long and intricate list of technical requirements - apply anyway! Soft skills - how you communicate, the way you behave in a difficult situation, how you treat clients and teammates, whether you are capable of working in a team - matter a lot. Technical skills can be acquired with time, soft ones - highly unlikely. 6. Stay calm and composed. It takes employers longer time to process applications. Much longer than in my home country. Sometimes I felt like nobody actually needed fresh blood and they were posting openings for fun. Because if business is dragging so much, it indicates it's not really interested in workforce. But in fact, employers hesitate to hire straight away because they are not confident if your resume matches your skills and their needs. Some companies may simply not have suitable hiring and screening standards to filter candidates quickly. Long talk short, just don't panic, bare with people and you'll be rewarded.