Obstacles encountered by immigrants looking for a job

Lack of knowledge of French or, in some cases, English, is one obstacle candidates looking for a job may face. French is the language of work and is the most widely spoken language in Québec. Knowledge of French is essential for daily life and finding a job. English is an asset in some fields and is sometimes required by employers.

The difficulty of obtaining recognition of experience and training acquired overseas and the absence of a network of contacts are among the major obstacles to finding a job.

Work-related problems experienced by immigrants can also be caused by other factors. The failure by some employers to recognize the potential and quality of immigrant labour; the difficulty of accessing retraining and the scarcity of jobs in some sectors or regions, are among them.

Many of these obstacles can be overcome by:

• acquiring good knowledge of French before arriving in Québec
• having knowledge of English, if necessary
• finding out early on about the conditions for practicing your profession or trade
• contacting the regulatory body for your profession or trade to find out about the conditions that apply to your specific situation and to begin the accreditation process before your arrival, if possible
• creating a network of personal and professional contacts as soon as you arrive or even earlier, during exploratory visits to Québec
• learning interview and writing techniques that will enable you to compile a curriculum vitae as customary in Québec and highlight your potential, experience and training
• acquainting yourself with workplace values in Québec
• finding out early on about the job opportunities in your field and in the various regions of Québec
• accepting a job other than the one you were seeking or one involving less responsibility, while you acquire Québec experience or obtain training

Finding a job is one of the major factors in a successful immigration plan. Set up winning conditions by being prepared before your departure and by accessing the various assistance and integration services available as soon as you arrive.

To learn more Étude L’insertion en emploi des travailleurs admis au Québec en vertu de la grille de sélection de 1996 (PDF, 576 Kb) (Summary report on the occupational integration of workers admitted to Québec on the basis of the 1996 selection grid) French language Employment