In recent years, Canada has become a significant player in the list of hopeful professionals who are finding improved opportunities in other countries. One of the employment pathways to gain employment in Canada is to obtain an LMIA Canada job offer. The LMIA or Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document an employer in Canada must obtain before hiring foreign workers. In this blog, we will look at how to obtain an LMIA Canada job offer and what you should know to have a successful application.
Before we go into the process of obtaining an LMIA Canada job offer, it is important to understand LMIA. The LMIA is issued by Employment and Social Development Canada and is a document that clearly states that there is a need for a foreign worker for a position. Further, an LMIA is meant to show that the hiring of a foreign worker will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. For that reason, obtaining a positive LMIA is an important part of the process for the employers and employees looking to come to Canada.
1. Analyze the Job Market
Be sure you analyze the job market beforehand to gain a foundational understanding of what segments of the labour market are in high demand and what employers are willing to employ foreign workers, visit Job Bank Canada to gain insights into job posts that have fallen into the LMIA pool of positions for consideration.
2. Create Your Resume & Cover Letter
Be sure that you created a professional resume & cover letter based on the job postings you want to land. Ensure that they are specific to the job you are seeking, is able to introduce you and your skills in order to sell the company on the idea that it would be beneficial to hire you for the LMIA Canada. Leverage keywords related to the job description within each resume and cover letter knowing this is an important way to ensure your resume is even read by the employer.
3. Network & Apply
Networking is a huge part of the job market in Canada. Reach out to low and high skill industries of professionals you know through LinkedIn, job fairs, and local networking events. Indicate to them that you are interested in securing an LMIA Canada job offer. Apply directly with the employer on their website or with a platform they have as well for the job openings they have as soon as you discover them.
4. The LMIA Application Procedure of the Employer
Subsequent to your job offer acceptance, the concerned employer shall request an LMIA so as to be able to effectively employ your services. This entails submitting an application to ESDC establishing foreign hiring practices for that particular employer, and showing that efforts were made to recruit and hire a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.
Examples of details that employers will add include how the job scope shall be defined in the first place, that the wages they are going to pay the successful candidate, and how they went about recruitment in the first place to try and fill the position with a local.
5. Make a Decision on the LMIA
The employer should expect a response within a few weeks whether or not to approve the LMIA application received from ESDC or not. If it comes through positively, an international worker will receive LMIA paper copy, which is very important to fulfil the work permit application process. Even having an LMIA Canada job offer will increase your prospects for getting a work permit.
6. Submit an Application for a Work Permit
Upon receipt of a positive LMIA letter the major step is to file a work permit application. While filling in the application form, you may want to make sure you have attached documents that are necessary to back up your application process; this may include your job offer letter and the document on LMIA. Furthermore, you will also want to make sure that you submit your application as soon as possible due to the nature of the processing times for such applications.
It can be life-changing pursuing a career in Canada after obtaining a job offer supported by an LMIA. If you learn the LMIA procedures, get everything right for your application and liaise with your would-be employer, you are likely to succeed. Whether you are a skilled worker, caregiver, or nursing in a short supply sector, an LMIA is an important component of your journey to working in Canada.
Take it positively, keep learning, and make sure that you do all the possible things to obtain your LMIA in Canada job offer now! There’s a way to make that vision of yours where you work in Canada come true, provided you work hard and adopt the right strategies.