The topic of “Canadian experience” is a seemingly complicated one to deal with for many IT professionals who wish to work in their field in Quebec. Due to a lack of official information on the subject, there is a great deal of misinformation circulating that may be confusing to many foreign-trained IT professionals (FTP). The truth is, there are many factors that determine whether a FTP will be able to work in the IT field in Quebec, and, for the most part, lack of Canadian experience is NOT one of them.
In order to better understand the reason that Canadian experience is not a prerequisite for the IT sector, you simply have to take into consideration some of the main drivers of the IT job market:
— The IT sector is booming in Quebec, creating a pressing labour shortage. As a result, the demand for many positions is greater than the number of available local professionals who can fill these positions. There is consequently a genuine need for foreign-trained professionals who have the technical skills that match the market’s high-demand positions.
— There is no professional order (i.e. Order of Engineers) that controls access to IT related professions, even for software engineers.
— From the types of technologies that are used to the practices and processes employed, the IT field is generally homogenous worldwide, making it relatively simple for an IT professional to transfer technical skills and knowledge from one country to another.
Local companies are therefore faced with three main options when it comes to filling a high-demand position:
— Hire an experienced foreign-trained professional who has the knowledge required to do the job.
— Hire a recent graduate who has very little or no field experience.
— Don’t hire anybody.
As you can probably deduce, the option of hiring a foreign-trained professional is the most logical solution. As an FTP, finding work in your field mainly depends, in order of importance, on two key success factors (in order of importance).
— Do you have a set of technical skills, competencies and experience that match the needs of the Quebec IT market?
— Do you have the appropriate level of communication skills?
These two points are the determining factors for establishing a successful career in Quebec and must be accorded the utmost importance. In order to help you adequately answer these two questions, our next articles will relate to different aspects that you should consider before entering the Quebec IT market. We will go over some important steps that you can take that will strengthen your profile and make your candidacy as attractive as possible to potential employers. After all, the goal is to not only work in your field, but to do so at a high level that will allow you to maintain continuity in your career.
If you are an IT professional who is immigrating to Quebec, you can find some important helpful information on our website, www.abacustalent.com . Registering on our site also makes you eligible to receive our free personalized preparation and job placement service. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask me!
