How can Indian IT Professionals Apply for Canadian IT Roles?
Canada offers a vast array of opportunities for Indian IT professionals looking to build a career overseas. Professionals looking for a career upgrade can find some of the biggest tech companies in this North American tech hub. With Canada being the fastest-growing tech hotspot in the continent, thousands of immigrants are applying for Canadian IT roles and looking for easy immigration pathways.
Canada is in dire need of skilled immigrants, and many Indians are settling in the country. The country boasts robust immigration policies and a relatively easy permanent residence (PR) process. Better still, the affordable cost of living and the public-funded health care are good reasons to consider working and living there. Canada also boasts a safe and secure environment to live in, and you are also allowed to bring your family members.
Technology workers have been in high demand for a long time in Canada. With new pathways to ease the immigration of the best talents, provinces like Ontario see a high influx of IT professionals. This is also a result of the United States’ stifling immigration policies.
To find IT jobs in Canada from India, you need the following documents
- Apply for Canadian PR
- Educational Visa: Work and study
- Professional job websites
Apply for PR for Canadian IT Roles
A PR would increase your chances of getting a job. There are different pathways an Indian can obtain a PR in Canada. For those employer-sponsored visas, companies prefer candidates with eligible visas, i.e., they prefer hiring candidates present in Canada. However, this does not cut across the board, as many companies are hiring remotely. The following are specific for IT professionals.
Applying Directly for Permanent residence
The Canadian Express Entry pathway offers an opportunity for skilled professionals to obtain their permanent residence. The first stage is creating a profile in the Express Entry Pool. With several deciding factors like age, education, and work experience, the candidate can get a Comprehensive Ranking System score. The draws are bi-monthly, and the highest profiles receive an invitation to apply (ITA). Since IT professionals are in high demand, it is easy to get a job offer from overseas, earning you points that can boost your score in the ranking system.
Provincial Nominee programs for IT Professionals
This migration pathway is fast gaining popularity among IT professionals. Some Canadian Provinces offer nominations to qualifying IT professionals in varying roles. Some programs offer nominations to tech workers directly from the Express Entry pool. Examples of popular Provincial Nominee programs for IT professionals that want to settle in Canada include
- Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream: This is a suitable pathway for professionals without job offers. The draws are targeted at specific IT professionals. This stream only allows invited tech workers to apply. The candidates are given a Notification of Interest, and then they can apply for nomination within six weeks. Targeted tech occupations include software developers, programmers, Web developers, Data analysts, and Information systems developers.
- British Columbia PNP Tech: there are up to 27 prioritised tech occupations in this pathway. This program does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Tech workers can obtain a “letter of support” to apply for a work permit. Examples of IT professionals that can apply to this pathway include software developers, programmers, Web developers, Data analysts, Information systems managers, and Graphic designers.
- Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway: this route to obtaining PR bears many similarities with the British Columbia tech pathway.
Obtaining a work permit for Canadian IT roles to transition into permanent residence
Aside from the above-listed routes, a job offer can offer a fast route to moving to Canada. While it does not offer a Permanent Residence status, a tech professional can attain a temporary resident status based on a work permit.
Canada initiated a Global Talent Program for specific IT professionals. This puts the country in a vantage position to hire the best IT talents. The program allows for quick processing of the work visa. A Labour Market Impact Assessment is obtained, and the work permit is released in two weeks. This is an excellent opportunity for Indians, and it is a surefire route to obtaining PR and citizenship.
Educational Visa: Work and study
Canada offers you the opportunity to study in Canada with a wide range of scholarship options. Canada allows international students to study various courses and obtain diplomas or degrees such as bachelor’s, MSc and PhD. These universities have Indian communities that can help you settle in and navigate your way around. After studying, you can apply for a work permit that extends up to 3 years. This allows you to apply to tech companies for entry-level roles, internships or full-time jobs. At Elite careers, we offer mentorship programs for university students seeking to enter the IT industry professionally.
Start-up Visa
At certain points in your tech career, you may become stranded. You may be stuck in a position and seeking to get into a bigger role. It is all right to run into a few problems and this is where a mentor comes in. They would act as network extensions, bringing together people who may never have met before and opening doors to new opportunities. A mentor can be a career builder, taking you from entry level roles to being a senior IT professional. And based on their relationship with you, they can recommend you for roles in bigger organizations since they are confident of your strengths and expertise.
Professional job websites for Canadian IT Roles
Job adverts for on-site and remote tech jobs are posted on websites like Indeed and other Canadian job portals. LinkedIn is a social media platform for professionals where you can network with other professionals in the field and even recruiters of organisations.
You need a CV tailored to the Canadian standard. Creating a resume may sound easy, but a Canadian CV requires a lot of expertise. Companies use an “Application Tracking system” to sift out relevant resumes from thousands of applicants. This tool utilises keywords and other formats to streamline candidates.
Lastly, getting assistance from a Registered Immigration Consultant is important to set you on the path to getting a permanent residence status. Also, in getting these IT roles, many candidates do not get through the first stage because their resume does not follow the Canadian format. Our team can revamp and polish your CV to meet Canadian standards.
The interview is the make or break part of the recruitment process. Acing this stage is no easy task. Our experts can give you proven principles of getting through with preparation and mock interviews.
At Elite careers, we offer you a wide range of consulting services, from career mentorship programs to career development options. Enrol in our Elite Careers’ Professional Success Program to get more tips on how you can get the best IT Canadian roles.
