Before You Arrive

Working in Manitoba

Whether you have a job arranged before you arrive, or plan to find work after you arrive:

  • Learn as much as you can about the labour market in Manitoba.
  • Research your occupation or the industries that you are interested in.
  • Consider how your new job (workplace culture and duties) may be different in Manitoba.
  • Research employment opportunities using websites such as Canada Job Bank, Workopolis, and Indeed.
  • If you work in a regulated profession or trade, learn about your occupation and the requirements to work in Manitoba.
    • Visit the website of the professional regulatory body specific to your regulated profession or trade.
    • There are licensing/certification steps you may be able to complete before you arrive.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Canadian style of job searching techniques, resumes, interviews and hiring practices.
  • If you already have a job offer, learn about your new employer or/the company you will be working with.
  • Practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing as much as possible in the language you will use when you live and work in Manitoba. See English and French in Manitoba.

Prepare to live in Manitoba

Learn as much as you can before arriving about the facilities, available services, culture, climate and geography of the community that you will live in.

  • Learn about Manitoba and the city or town in which you plan to live.
  • Learn about the weather, particularly in the month of your arrival.
  • Be certain you have a place to live for the first few weeks until you can get yourself settled permanently.
  • Gather and bring important documentation related to work and school. Examples include:
    • letters of reference from employers
    • high school diploma and transcript
    • college/university diplomas and transcripts
    • professional certification/licenses

Travel Manitoba has a selection of videos showcasing the places and people of Manitoba on their YouTube channel and website. Tourism Winnipeg also has videos of Winnipeg on their YouTube channel.

Pre-arrival services

These pre-arrival services are free and available to you if:

  • you have received a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) letter OR a notification about a positive eligibility decision on your application from the Department of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada; and
  • you are outside of Canada.

Active Engagement and Integration Program (AEIP)

https://aeipsuccess.ca/
Delivered by: S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Live and Learn

http://myenglishonline.ca/livelearn/
Delivered by: English Online

Planning for Canada

www.planningforcanada.ca
Delivered by: Colleges and Institutes Canada (Canadian Immigrant Integration Program) and the International Organization for Migration (Canadian Orientation Abroad)

The Planning for Canada pre-arrival program provides newcomers with the right information, tools, and Canadian contacts to equip them to find work reflecting their skills and education, as well as to make informed settlement decisions. Delivered in both French and English, in-person and online depending on country of origin, we offer a full-day group orientation session on preparing for life in Canada, a personalized one-hour planning session on career and settlement goals, and extensive connections to Canadian organizations for additional settlement guidance. A joint initiative of Colleges and Institutes Canada (Canadian Immigrant Integration Program) and the International Organization for Migration (Canadian Orientation Abroad), we have over twenty-five years of collective experience delivering in-person and facilitated online information sessions around the world to over 130,000 newcomers. As a result, newcomers who attend our sessions are better equipped to find work that reflects their skills and education as well as make informed settlement decisions.

Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA)

www.arriveprepared.ca
https://www.alteredminds.ca/sopa/
Delivered by: Altered Minds Inc.

Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) is a network of Canadian agencies delivering free pre-arrival supports designed to help newcomers find and retain employment in Canada. An intake counsellor will meet with you online to provide settlement help and referrals, and develop a personalized family settlement plan. Through facilitated and self-guided online courses you will:

  • develop job search skills, create targeted resume and cover letter, and prepare for job interviews
  • understand Canadian workplace culture, practice workplace communication skills

To hear more about SOPA, view the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s31GPBXz5K0.