How Your International Degree Can Support Your Canadian Job Search

Many newcomers arrive in Canada with valuable international credentials and professional experience, yet their qualifications are not always fully recognized by Canadian employers.

To strengthen your job search, it’s important to understand the employer’s perspective and to clearly communicate how your skills and experience align with their needs.

Learn About WES Credential Evaluations

A World Education Services (WES) credential evaluation report can be an important part of your communications toolkit. WES evaluation reports bridge the gap between your experience and employment opportunities in Canada by helping employers better understand your qualifications.

Getting past initial screening

Most human resources hiring managers have a list of qualifications they consider essential for a specific role. Some are clearly stated in the job posting, while others may be implied. The more clearly you demonstrate that you meet these requirements, the easier it is for employers to see you as a candidate.

A credential evaluation makes clear to employers about the level and relevance of your international education. Submitting your WES report along with your application can help employers assess how your academic background might align with their needs.

Learn About WES Credential Evaluations

Canadian experience

You might find your job search slowed down because some employers—whether they say it or just think it—believe you don’t have enough “Canadian experience.” A WES credential evaluation can help address this concern.

Employers see Canadian bachelor’s or master’s degrees as an indicator of written and verbal communication skills in the language of the degree, typically English or French.

Because a credential evaluation states the Canadian equivalent of your international education, it signals that you are more likely to have the communication and workplace skills that some employers associate with “Canadian experience.”

Articulating your value

Once the employer sees that you are a viable candidate, the next step is to demonstrate that you are the most qualified.

For some roles, such as engineering, research, or specialized technical positions, your international education may be central to your value. In this case, a WES credential evaluation will help the employer understand how your degree supports your ability to add value to their company

In other cases, when the education requirement is a baseline, the main purpose of your credential evaluation is to get you through the initial screening. From there, you should focus on emphasizing the tasks in your previous roles that you performed well, work outputs you delivered, and the measurable business outcomes you contributed to.

Learn About WES Credential Evaluations

Overcoming the gap

A Canadian job search can be challenging, especially for newcomers navigating unfamiliar systems, expectations, and norms. Success often depends on being in the right place, at the right time, in front of the right decision-maker who is able to connect the dots between your qualifications and the potential value you bring.

A WES credential evaluation can open doors to interviews that you might otherwise miss, helping you move toward your goals with greater confidence.