Canada’s education system is respected internationally for its intensive and practical approach towards post – secondary education. Degrees from Canadian universities are valued and accepted by employers all over the world.
As a matter of fact, the education provided by some of Canada’s reputed universities is considered to be at par with the education level of the reputed universities in the U.S and the Commonwealth countries.
After your graduation, you will have the option of working not only in Canada and India but in countries all across the world as Canadian degrees are internationally recognized. The Canadian Government is known to have a friendly attitude towards international students and provides them with ample opportunities to live and work in Canada after they complete their studies.
Through the ‘Post – Study Work Permit’, international students in Canada can easily continue staying in Canada after their graduation for a maximum period of up to 3 years even if they do not find a job immediately. You should apply for a post – graduation work permit within 90 days of receiving your final results.
In Canada, international students who have graduated in fields related to Automobiles, Construction and Healthcare are known to find jobs easily as compared to graduates from other disciplines.
However, it is important to keep in mind that the chances of you getting a good job in Canada after your graduation primarily depend on your personal traits, ability and qualities as well as the reputation of the academic institution you have graduated from apart from your field.
A good student with strong communication skills is likely to find a job irrespective of the current demand for new workers in his/her field.
How will I get a job?
As far as on – campus work is concerned, a majority of the universities in Canada offer ‘Work – Study programs’ as a form of financial assistance through which financially needy students can fund a part of their living expenses. These work study programs help universities fulfill their operational needs by hiring students that are currently pursuing their education at the institution.
For off – campus jobs, universities generally have separate departments that focus on initiating contact between prospective employers and students. They help employers find suitable candidates for their work from within the university.
You can also choose to enroll yourself for a ‘Co – operative program’ which includes a paid work – term as a part of the curriculum. You can use such a program to network and develop a good relationship with your employer which can benefit you at present as well as in the future.
A lot of students manage to get permanent jobs after their graduation at places where they had worked during their co – operative work term.
A big reason why international students choose to study in Canada is because they can easily stay on and work in Canada through the ‘Post – Graduation Work Permit’. You do not need a job to apply for this permit and can use this permit to stay in Canada and look for jobs that suit your needs and qualifications for a maximum period of up to 3 years.
Regardless of the type of work you wish to do, whether on/off campus or after your graduation, the process of getting a job will primarily rest on your own shoulders. You will need to be constantly on the lookouts for potential opportunities for jobs.
Go through websites, newspapers and network with people as much as possible. Working on your communication skills can be a great help while looking for a job.
Will I get a visa?
Getting a visa and study/work permits in Canada is comparatively much easier as compared to other countries like the U.S and the U.K.
Canada has always been known to be friendly and welcoming towards international students. An evidence of this welcoming attitude can be seen in the form of the ‘Post –Graduation Work Permits’, through which international students are permitted to live and work in Canada for a maximum period of 3 years after their graduation.
However, it is important to keep in mind that visa policies (for study as well as work) are formulated on the basis of the current economic and political situation of a country. These policies can quickly transform as and when the economic and political scenario of a country goes through change.
Therefore, it is advisable to make your decisions on the basis of the policies that currently exist as well as on the basis of the policies that are likely to be implemented in the future. Try and find out about the proposed changes in the visa laws and whether they are going to become more stringent or not.
Even though it is highly unlikely that you will be able to get a concrete idea about what the future visa policies will be, a little bit of research can help you get insights in to your future as an international student in Canada with regards to study and work permits as well as post – graduation work policies.
