Set of Skills A Nigerian Immigrant Needs To Survive In Canada

It is a super vague question. What Skills A Nigerian immigrant Needs In Canada? Basically, you must be a goal-getter to get a job as a new immigrant.

I know a typical Nigerian is an example of a goal-getter. So I will be as broad as possible in my response, while you read on to grab the real tips you need.

Before your employer gets to meet you in person, they are going to first meet your Canadian resume. So on a resume, your list of skills is expected to include both work-related, such as technology, marketing, sales, projects, etc. as well as make emphasis on your soft-skills, such as communication, presentation, teamwork, etc.

Back home in Nigeria, a Nigerian immigrant already know that soft-skills hardly matter when it comes to Nigerian local jobs. But in Canada, soft-skills are especially preferred, over and above your work-related skills in many instances. Click to see the skills required in Canada via https://haskewlaw.com/emigrate-canada/canadian-skills-list-required/

While speaking about your work-related skills, typical employers in Canada expect a Nigerian immigrant to be specialized. What this means is that you must have many years of experience in your field of work, in such a way that it will show that you have touched upon every aspect of the skill.

This includes obtaining certifications to prove that you have advanced your knowledge in that particular occupation, as well as have strong recognition from your employer or industry to reinforce your capability.

For the sake of a better understanding, if you have a specialization in Digital Marketing, it means you should have a certification from Google Analytics, SAS, SEO, certification from the American/Canadian Marketing Association, certifications in working knowledge of marketing tools like Hubspot, Adobe, etc. mentioning any courses you have taken in them.

Emphasize all these in your resume to look compelling, because they are among 6 things Recruiters want to see in a Resume at first glance.

Notice that, when your employer or HR finally calls you for an interview, they want to meet someone who can speak fluently, and intelligently.

Your HR may not know your subject domain well, they will have some idea of the field. Therefore, you must be able to convince them that you have absolutely great communication fields, and you are a great team player, who also has a good understanding of marketing.

After your HR clears you, you will finally get to meet your hiring manager or the employing boss.

What Set of Skills A Nigerian Immigrant Need To Survive In Canada?

1. Attractive Personality

The Number One set of skills every Nigerian immigrant must possess to get a job in Canada is to have an attractive personality: It is most important you dress the way you would want to be approached. Dress for success! Look sharp, smell good, display confidence, energy, and learn to be funny.

Your manager would have already made an opinion of you the moment they see you approach the handshake.

2. Smile often to keep cool, calm and collected

During your interview, you will be poked and prodded to answer technical and soft-skill based questions. Here is what I mean about how you should answer the technical questions:

Hiring manager Asks: What are your thoughts on digital transformation for banking companies?

Job Seeker Answers: I think (say something you actually feel about it).

For instance, during my time with (the ex-employer), we evaluated some statistics around banks and studied the impacts of digital transformation. While they were running “XYZ” initiatives, there were other growth advantages that they were missing. So my team and I came up with an offering…

It is important to refer to more examples of your past experience, the more real and meaningful your responses look. You would have not just answered the question, but you have hit it out of the park by saying how you handled it in your previous role and the success you had with your creative thinking.

3. Create A Network

For all those times you have not been able to get an interview call, create a Network. Make frantic efforts to reach out to professionals in your field of work.

Learn how to create a LinkedIn profile via https://business.linkedin.com/en-uk/marketing-solutions/blog/posts/content-marketing/2017/17-steps-to-a-better-LinkedIn-profile-in-2017.

When you are networking, don’t just say you are looking for a job. Of course, you don’t want to look desperate. Everyone loves to give free advice. Though some may be busier, you will definitely find someone who will give you 15 mins of incredibly valuable advice.

They may even recommend you if they have an opening. Who knows? It’s these kinds of conversations that speed up your job search. You eventually get better, more focused, and you begin to understand what it takes to succeed.

To effectively network, go back to the basics. Beginners should learn how to make conversations. Learn how to ask intelligent questions. Learn how to start by saying hi, and asking anything useful rather than the weather. Prepare a well-rehearsed “about-me presentation” so you can impress the person you are meeting with.

Click to get more expert tips and learn more on Essential Job Search Tips For Nigerian Immigrants.

4. Create Confidence

The last most important set of skills a Nigerian immigrant to Canada needs is to Maintain Confidence. This comes from believing in your self that you have done good work in the past and can do much better in the future.

To many people, I would always say, go back to your previous work experience, analyze everything you did, and refer to what part of your work made the most impact.

You could have been a test engineer, but go back to that one moment where you identified a bug that saved your company and client a lot of hardship. Dwell on what made you look for the bug in the first place. Extract all the greatness from something so small and believe that you made a difference. This is what gives confidence.

Comparing your skills to other competitors as a Nigerian Immigrant will only stir worry. Your confidence will penetrate your skills in your interview, and your Canadian employer will feel compelled to talk more with you. Every more second you get to talk, the brighter your chances to get your target Job in Canada.

5. Communication Skills

Your ability to express your thoughts, emotions and ideas is an essential skill that is pivotal in your personal and professional life.

As an international student in Canada, you may carry the advantage of being bilingual or multilingual. Along with your native language, you are also required to be proficient in English, while some students even pick up some conversational French in the country.

What is the fastest growing job in Canada?

Here are the 20 fastest-growing jobs in Canada in 2023, according to LinkedIn:

Growth Marketing Manager
Product Operations Manager
Dispensary Technician
Technical Program Manager
Sustainability Manager
Head of Growth
User Experience Writer
Information Technology Associate
Site Reliability Engineer
Customer Success Associate
Valuation Analyst
Sales Development Representative
Security Engineer
Data Engineer
Ecommerce Coordinator
Technical Product Manager
Cyber Security Specialist
Crew Scheduler
Medical Writer
Media Planner

Frequently Asked Questions:

What skills do immigrants bring to Canada?
Immigrants with higher educations are also more likely to have majored in STEM-related fields (science, technology, engineering and math) than their non-immigrant peers.

Which job is easier to get in Canada?
A much more skilled but easy to get job in Canada is a software engineer or designer. If you have the relevant skills and experience, and have obtained the relevant software certifications, then a software engineer or designer may be a good fit for you.

What jobs are good for new immigrants to Canada?

6 Career Path Opportunities for Newcomers to Canada:

Medical Laboratory Assistant.
Pharmacy Assistant.
Dental Office Administration.
Medical Device Reprocessing Technician.
Health Care Aide.
Community Support Worker.

Is it easy for immigrants to get a job in Canada?

If you are a new immigrant to Canada, it can be challenging to find a job that requires Canadian work experience. However, there are many jobs available that don’t require previous work experience and can be a great starting point for building your career in Canada.

How can I work in Canada with no experience?
Work in Canada Without Experience can be possible with these two options below:

The Post-Graduation Work Permit or PGWP Program. The PGWP Program is aimed at overseas students who have graduated from a learning institution in Canada.
The Working Holiday Visa Program. The Working Holiday Visa is also known as the IEC – International Experience Canada.

Studying in Canada can help you take a big step in your career. We hope you find this article helpful on the set of Skills a Nigerian Immigrant needs to survive in Canada. Cheers, and good luck!

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