With the current labour shortages in Canada, it can feel challenging to find workers that are best suited for your business. Luckily, international workers are searching for jobs that offer a new pool of talent that you can look into employing. But how do you go about doing this? Don’t worry, we’re here to help: here are three steps you should take immediately to attract international talent to your business.
Step One: Investigate the Paperwork Involved
The largest drawback to employing international workers is the legal side of things. You, naturally, want to make certain that your workers can work in Canada and that they have all the paperwork needed to live life without worry so they can be productive at their jobs.
The first thing to look into, as suggested by the Government of Canada, is to see if you need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is a document that verifies the need to employ an international worker due to there being no Canadian workers available. If you do not require an LMIA, you can go straight to putting up an offer of employment on the Employer Portal. Once you have found an international worker, they will also need to apply for a work permit. It is then wise to send the employee information on what to expect from their position/working for you so there are no surprises, and they can take on the role just as any Canadian worker might.
While it may appear daunting, taking these steps can not only make you more accessible to international workers, but it also shows that you are open to finding the best fit for the job regardless of where they currently reside, and that you are aware of what is legally required to employ them (and are willing to assist them with this as well). Working together to get the paperwork completed can show an international worker just how trustworthy and compassionate your business is, which makes you that much more appealing to work for.
Step Two: Create a Specific Timeline for the Hiring Process and a Team to Handle It
Creating a timeline that allows for some comfort for the international worker can make working for your company more appealing because they will see that you care enough to be aware of the challenges they may face during the hiring process. If you do not already have a hiring team, it can be wise to create one, especially now that there are more elements to take care of in such a process.
Step Three: Be Aware of the Culture Shock
Canada is a very culturally diverse place, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t still a culture shock to consider for new international workers. Creating a buddy system in your workforce by having a senior employee paired with your new international worker to help with both work and home life can do wonders in making the shift to working for you that much easier, as will keeping in mind how to interview international workers when you are going through the interview process. Everyone is different, and that is something that you and your business can celebrate just as much as Canada does.
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