4 minute read
Finding Success Through Hiring Foreign Talent
Matt Nelson
Owners of a small business prioritize and become experts at developing business strategies and executing daily operations.
Recruitment can feel challenging. Essential recruitment and hiring skills can open new opportunities and propel a business forward, whereas a poor hiring decision can become an expensive and time-consuming mistake.
The challenge is compounded by the fact that we currently find ourselves in an employees’ market where Canadian Employers are competing for talent within a limited talent pool. The recruitment success becomes more closely tied to the overall success of our business strategies.
Have you turned down new clients or work because a support role was sitting vacant? We don’t have to become passive victims of the current situation. We can look to other Canadian companies who compete within industries that have been navigating ongoing talent shortages for years, such as Technology, to see how they continue to be successful. Those that found shortfalls in the local talent pool did not cancel their projects; instead they looked abroad and hired qualified talent from outside Canada. Companies can leverage programs the Canadian government offers that are designed to help businesses hire foreign workers and drive our economy.
Hiring Great Talent from Outside Canada
Before we look at how to hire outside Canada, let’s first define who can work in Canada.
To legally work within Canada, a person must be one of the following. • A Canadian Citizen • A Permanent Resident • A Holder of a Valid Work Permit in Canada • An International Student (whose student visa specifically outlines work conditions)
Kicking Off the Process
Start the process of hiring a foreign worker by considering all the immigration options available to you as a Canadian employer as well as the options available for the candidate. Where one option might not be suitable for your candidate, there may be another immigration program that will work.
Here are 7 steps to guide you toward successfully filling your position with a foreign worker.
1. Post a Clear and Precise
Job Description.
Include all essential requirements, responsibilities, and duties of the role as well as any specific language requirements.
2. Use the Free Local Services
Available to Find Foreign
Workers. a. Settlement Service Providers
The organizations that can connect you with job-ready newcomers in Canada can be found through this government site. https://ircc. canada.ca/english/newcomers/ services
b. Job Banks
Search Job Bank websites where agencies post foreign worker profiles. Some sites also allow employers to post jobs.
c. Canada’s Job Bank
This is a free website where you can post your job, review labour market information, and connect with workers across Canada.
d. Employee Referrals
Ask your current employees! They can be a great source for potential
candidates and they already know your business.
e. Universities and Colleges
Postsecondary institutions provide many services, including co-op and internships as well as placement services connecting foreign workers with employers.
3. Here is a Helpful Hint for the Interview.
It is okay to ask whether a candidate can legally work in Canada. In instances where a candidate shares that he or she is already on a work permit, you may then ask further questions such as the type of work permit and whether the person can legally work for the company while on the existing work permit.
4. Ready to hire the foreign worker?
Determine if your business requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or if the candidate can be hired through an LMIA-exempt offer of employment. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or legal immigration counsel can provide insight and guidance for determining that information.
5. Have the worker apply for a work permit independently. Or with the help of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant or counsel. 6. Maintain close communication with the foreign worker to understand work permit processing timelines and ensure you understand any conditions of employment. 7. Receive the work permit! You may now legally hire your candidate! Some Advantages of Hiring Foreign Workers
1. Find strong qualified candidates where none are available locally. 2. Escape the local talent war. 3. Leverage new perspectives that can increase business effectiveness. 4. Increase the reach of your business through cultural richness and languages opening new markets. As you recruit for roles, you will inevitably come across candidates currently working on a work permit or will require a work permit to legally work within Canada.
Before disregarding those potentially strong candidates, consider whether the effort now will pay off for your business later. There may be a program that simplifies hiring those candidates. The individual may be on an open work permit that requires no effort at all.
Immigration continues to play a vital role in Canada’s economy and shows no signs of slowing down. Small businessowners should understand the available program options so they can make the best hiring decision for the business. s Matt Nelson, a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant & Senior HR Consultant with Pacific Rim HR & Immigration Inc., combines Immigration support with 15+ years as an HR leader offering strategic solutions for Immigration, HR services, and HR program development. www.pricanada.com
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