Finding work as a newcomer in Canada: a practical first 90 days
A step-by-step plan for newcomers looking for work in Canada, with free government services, Ontario's 2026 job posting rules, and ways to show your skills.
By Muhammad Ashar, Founder and CEO, Verten Corp. ·
The first months in a new country are busy. You are finding a home, opening a bank account, maybe enrolling children in school, and looking for work at the same time. Job search advice online is often written for people who already have a Canadian network. This plan is for people who are starting from zero.
It focuses on Ontario, but most of the steps apply anywhere in Canada. It is general information, not immigration or legal advice.
Weeks 1 to 2: Set up the basics
Get your Social Insurance Number (SIN). The Government of Canada says you need a SIN to work in Canada or to access government programs and benefits. If you are a temporary resident, your SIN starts with "9" and expires with your immigration documents.
Find free newcomer services. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) funds free settlement services. They include English or French language training, employment services to search for jobs and prepare for the Canadian workplace, support for foreign credential recognition, and connections with your community. Outside Quebec, eligible groups include permanent residents (including resettled refugees), people approved to become permanent residents, protected persons, and some other groups. Use the "Find services" tool on the IRCC website to find organizations near you.
Book a free Employment Ontario appointment. Employment Ontario offers free, one-on-one support from a counsellor for resume writing, interview practice, skills training and job search. There are over 700 locations. You can call 1-800-387-5656, use live chat, or book online through ontario.ca/employmentontario.
These services are free. Be careful with anyone who asks you to pay for a job or for "guaranteed" interviews.
Weeks 3 to 4: Prepare your documents
Rewrite your resume for Canadian employers. Keep it to one or two pages. Start each job with what you achieved, not only what you were responsible for. Use numbers you can back up, such as team size or volume handled. Leave out details employers do not need, such as a photo, date of birth or marital status. A counsellor at a settlement agency or Employment Ontario can review it with you.
Check whether your occupation is regulated. Some jobs, such as nursing, engineering, teaching and many trades, need a license or certificate from a regulatory body before you can work under that title. Others do not. If yours is regulated, contact the regulator early. The process can take time, and you can work in a related role while you wait.
Gather your proof. Collect reference letters, transcripts and certificates. Translate anything important into English or French, and keep digital copies in one folder.
Weeks 5 to 8: Start applying, smartly
Know Ontario's new job posting rules. Since January 1, 2026, Ontario employers with 25 or more employees must follow new rules for publicly advertised job postings:
- They cannot include requirements related to Canadian experience in a public job posting or its application form. This covers work experience, education credentials and professional networks. Professional licensing requirements are not included in this ban.
- They must include the expected pay or a pay range, unless the pay is over $200,000 a year. A range can be no wider than $50,000.
- They must say whether the posting is for an existing vacancy.
- They must disclose if artificial intelligence is used to screen, assess or select applicants.
- They must tell applicants they interviewed whether a hiring decision has been made, within 45 days after the last interview.
These rules do not apply to smaller employers. Still, they are useful. If a large Ontario employer's public posting asks for "Canadian experience," that requirement should not be there.
Apply to fewer jobs, better. Ten applications that match your skills, each with a resume adjusted to the posting, usually do more than fifty generic ones. Track every application in a simple spreadsheet: company, role, date, contact and follow-up.
Use Job Bank and local services. Canada's Job Bank lists private and public sector jobs. Settlement agencies and Employment Ontario offices often hear about local openings first.
Weeks 9 to 12: Build Canadian proof of your skills
Many newcomers hear "we need someone with experience here." The posting rules above limit that for large employers in Ontario, but every employer still wants confidence that you can do the job. Here are honest ways to build it quickly:
- Workplace English. If English is not your first language, focus on the English of your target job: shift language, safety words, customer conversations and phone calls. Free government language classes are a good start.
- Short, job-focused training. A short course that ends with a demonstration of real work gives an employer something concrete to look at.
- Volunteer or part-time work in your field. It gives you a Canadian reference and current examples for interviews.
- Informational conversations. Ask people in your field for 15 minutes to learn how hiring works in their company. Do not ask for a job in that first conversation.
Entry-level roles in customer service, warehousing, cleaning, security and office support are common first jobs. They are also real careers with clear steps up. Pick a direction, not only a paycheck.
A simple weekly routine
- Monday: search and shortlist five to ten postings.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: tailor and send applications.
- Thursday: one learning block, such as a language class or a course module.
- Friday: follow up on applications and book one conversation with someone in your field.
Small, steady steps add up over 90 days.
Where Verten fits
If English is your second language and you are aiming for frontline work, start by finding your level. Verten's Workplace English placement test is free, takes about 15 minutes and needs no account. It recommends where to start in the Workplace English courses, from beginner (ESL-101) to sector tracks (ESL-104). Verten Academy courses end with a recorded practical demonstration, which is AI-assessed, and a pass earns a Certificate of Achievement that employers can verify online. Courses do not include job placement.
Take the free Workplace English placement test.
This article is general information, not immigration or legal advice.