The National Occupational Classification (NOC) is Canada’s reference on occupations. It provides job descriptions, occupational statistics and labour market information. This is great if you are hoping to be an administrative assitant in Canada.
Finding a job in Canada may be different than in your home country and you may need help finding job vacancies, updating your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and understanding what Canadian employers are looking for.
Credentials recognition
Several agencies assess international education credentials to help newcomers to Canada access the education and employment they need.
Administrative assistant is a non-regulated profession in Canada. However, some employers do ask for your credentials’ evaluation. Mostly though, they will give you a project to test you and have a look at your recommendations. Before spending any money on evaluating your education credentials, enquire with the companies you are applying to if they need one.
Credentials assessment services
If you are planning to enrol in a college or university program to upgrade your skills, contact the institution in which you plan to study and find out the steps you should take and the credential assessment agency you should use.
Make sure not to discount your international education and skills. Try to build on your existing knowledge and skills and explore university and college options thoroughly before deciding. You might be able to have advanced standing, transfer some of your credits and benefit from prior learning assessment options by using your international credentials and experience to gain credit or course exemptions. This way you will complete your program more quickly, without wasting money and repeating the education you already have.
World Education Services (WES)
Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
The International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES)
The Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC)
The Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada
To find more organizations and agencies providing credential evaluation, assessment and qualification recognition services click here. You can also visit the Foreign Credentials Referral Office for information, path-finding and referral services on foreign credential recognition to help internationally trained workers like you succeed and put their skills to work in Canada more quickly.
Best locations
Most Canadian cities offer employment opportunities in the administrative sector. However, when looking for jobs, broaden your geographic area to include smaller cities and towns close to your target city. For example, if you intend to work in Toronto, you might find a job opportunity in nearby Hamilton, which is less than an hour’s drive from there.
Research and find out where there is demand for your area of the profession in Canada and accordingly decide where you want to settle.
Choosing a City.
Major employers
You can visit the Best Employers for New Canadians website to check for immigrant-friendly corporations and organizations which you might be interested in. This special designation recognizes Canada’s best employers for recent immigrants. These employers offer interesting programs to assist newcomers to Canada in making the transition to a new workplace — and a new life in Canada.
Another website to check out is TRIEC’s Immigrant Success Awards which recognizes employer leadership and innovation in recruiting and retaining skilled immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area.
