Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
PUBLISHER
Abacus Human Resources
REVISION, TRANSLATION
Alexia Papadopoulos, M.A. Trans.
Tommy Guignard, Certified Translator, Translatom
GRAPHICS
Sbastien Tremblay, Artistic Director, Visualruck.us
Hlose Rolland & Martin Brunet of MY Communications - myocom.ca
SPECIAL THANKS
We wish to thank all the professionals from abroad who partnered with Abacus to ensure the continuity of their career in Quebec. You entrusted us with your time and an important part of your lives,
and it is largely thanks to our exchanges and experience with you that we were able to create this
guide. We hope it will contribute to the success of other professionals working in IT who have decided, just as you once did, to take on the wonderful project of immigrating to and working in Quebec.
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
CONTENTS
Introduction
6
Outlook 7
Which cities in Quebec have the most IT jobs? 7
The industrys most pressing issue: labour shortage! 7
Recruitment Conditions 8
What is the main solution to Quebecs labour shortage? 8
II. Preparing Yourself for a Successful Integration into Quebecs IT Job Market
10
18
1. The basics 18
2. Composing your CV 19
IV. The Job Search
24
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
4. Onsite interview 28
5. Technical tests 33
6. Professional references / Background verification 34
V. The Job Offer
35
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Introduction
Quebecs thriving Information Technology (IT) industry is expected to continue its rapid growth through 2016.1
With the supply of local IT professionals unable to keep up with the industrys demand for talent, a serious labour
shortage has now become one of the industrys major issues.2 In order to sustain their growth, local companies
of all sizes are now turning, more than ever, to qualified foreign-trained IT professionals in order to answer their
hiring needs.
The local IT job market has consequently become quite favourable for experienced, foreign-trained professionals. The type of preparation that these professionals undertake, both before their departure from their country
of origin, and after their arrival in their newly adopted country, will be a determining factor in the speed at which
they find work in their field, as well as the quality of the position they receive.
Most foreign-trained professionals who immigrate to Quebec do so with the objective of securing a good job
in their field. While many of these professionals are successful in doing so, others struggle to find work in their
area of expertise and are forced to settle for jobs for which they are overqualified. Where does this later group
go wrong? Do they fail to prepare themselves adequately before immigrating? Do they possess the appropriate
skill set for the Quebec IT market, or should they have upgraded their technical skills before beginning their job
search? What about their communication skills? Are their French and English language skills at an appropriate
level? Did they receive erroneous information from blogs, forums or other sources that may have led them to
take the wrong approach? Did they pursue their studies in Quebec when they should have begun working immediately? Perhaps they have a poorly composed CV, or lack the necessary interview skills to impress a prospective employer. The list of possibilities goes on and on. By reading this guide, we hope that you will avoid making
some of the mistakes that can hinder your successful integration into Quebecs IT job market.
This guide offers an insiders view of Quebecs IT job market and has been specifically created for experienced
foreign-trained IT professionals who are looking to successfully continue their career in Quebec. We will take you
through the different elements that will enable you to conduct a proper self-assessment of your profile in regards
to the Quebec IT market, before establishing a plan of action according to your profile, and finally determining
the steps that should be taken to adequately prepare yourself before beginning your job hunt.
Ultimately, we hope that this guide will play a key role in helping talented professionals from around the world
obtain positions in the Quebec IT market that match their qualifications, while allowing them to do so in as little
time as possible.
1. Adapted from Service Canada (2012), compiled by TECHNOComptences. This does not constitute an endorsement by Service Canada of this
product.
2. ICTC (2011), p. 37-38.
ABACUS INTEGRATING QUEBECS IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
EXCESS
OF SUPPLY
OVER DEMAND
SKILLS
SHORTAGE IN
MANY FIELDS
EXCESS OF
DEMAND OVER SUPPLY:
PERVASIVE SHORTAGES
2010
2011
2012
2013
ACUTE EXCESS OF
DEMAND OVER SUPPLY
ABSOLUTE SUPPLY
CONSTRAINTS
2014
2015
2016
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
As shown in the table above, skill shortages will be more acute in three occupations:
Computer and information systems managers
Information systems analysts and consultants
Broadcast technicians
There is also a significant risk of shortages arising for:
Computer engineers
Software developers
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
Overall, the IT market in Quebec is projected to be quite favourable for qualified IT professionals.
Recruitment conditions
According to the ICTC:8
Quebec employers will experience significant challenges recruiting for jobs that require five or more years
of experience. These challenges will be greater outside of the Montreal region owing to the smaller size of
the experienced labour pool. Recruitment challenges will be particularly difficult for companies that are seeking leading-edge skills. Delays in filling these jobs will cause operational problems.
The IT industry is currently experiencing and will continue to experience significant challenges in recruiting computer programmers who have leading-edge or highly specialized technical skills and can combine
these technical skills with essential soft skills (most notably team working, communications and problem
solving).
Skills shortages will be a serious challenge for both IT producers and IT users. For IT producers, the shortages will focus on computer programmers and software engineers with more than five years of experience,
with proficiency in leading-edge skills and the ability to work in a team-based development environment. For
IT users, the most serious shortages will focus on computer and information systems managers and business
analysts.
Recent graduates
Approximately 1,250 new graduates will enter the labour force every year.10 Keep in mind that most companies
are seeking individuals with 5+ years of experience, so it is difficult to say how many of those available graduates
will actually be filling vacant positions. That being said, even if they were all hired, that would still leave 4,750
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
positions to fill.
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
10
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
11
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Language factors
Location:
Montreal
Montreal is Quebecs main bilingual city and offers the best chances of working in the IT field to individuals who
speak little or no French. The city of Montreal will have opportunities for you if you have a technical skill set
that is in high demand (see II.4), even if you only speak English or havent yet reached a suitable level of French
communication. In addition to its bilingual core, the city hosts many IT companies that have a primarily American, English Canadian or foreign clientele. These companies are usually small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and
web-based organizations. Larger multi-national companies or government organizations will usually require their
employees to clearly communicate in French. Keep in mind that the opportunities will still be more limited for
professionals who have little or no knowledge of French, and it is important to focus on learning or improving
your ability to communicate in French.
It is important to note that given the dual nature of the IT market in Montreal (French local culture vs. Englishspeaking international clientele), most of the companies will give priority to bilingual professionals; whether
business processes and external communications are executed in English or French, there will usually be a certain
level of internal communication (i.e. interactions with colleagues, meetings, etc.) that will be conducted in French.
In summary, if we consider the Montreal IT employment market to be one big pie, then bilingual professionals will
have the biggest piece of that pie, followed by exclusively French-speaking professionals, and finally exclusively
English-speaking professionals, who will be left with the smallest piece, although they will still be able to have
pie! If your level of communication is very weak in both English and French, then the best you can hope for is
crumbs, so make sure to make your ability to communicate a priority.
In conclusion, whether you speak only English or only French, make sure that you can communicate clearly and
with relative ease; the level at which you need to communicate will be determined by the type of position that
your are seeking (more on types of positions in the following section). Furthermore, becoming at least functional
in the secondary language that you are lacking will greatly increase the number of opportunities that will be
made available to you. The stronger your bilingualism, the more opportunities you will have, but if you have to
focus on only one language, make it French.
The rest of Quebec
For the most part, all cities in Quebec that have a healthy IT market, with the exception of Montreal, are unilingual French cities. This means that communicating in French with relative ease is a requirement in almost all
cases. Bilingualism is not usually a requirement in those cities, as many of the locals do not speak English. If you
choose to settle outside Montreal, then you should focus exclusively on learning French or improving your communication skills, depending on your situation. Again, the level of French communication that will be required will
greatly depend on the type of position that you are seeking.
Type of position:
The level of French required depends in large part on whether or not you are seeking a customer-oriented,
management or leadership position. By their very nature, some positions require individuals to be able to
communicate fluently with external customers (i.e. project managers, analysts, team leaders, technical support staff, etc.), while others require a level of fluency just strong enough to be able to communicate with colleagues (i.e. programmers) and superiors and understand what is being said at meetings, etc. Furthermore, if
you have an advanced technical skill set that is in high demand in the local market (see II.4), then companies
might be more willing to temper their language requirements.
12
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Important tips:
Many individuals who speak English as a second language and who decide to learn French spend
so much time, energy and focus learning French that they stop practicing English. They will then
notice that, although their French has improved, their English communication skills have substantially
diminished. Do not fall into this trap; make sure that you always dedicate a minimum amount of time
to maintaining your English, because you will be surprised at how easily you can lose the capacity to
communicate when you stop practicing a language.
Many individuals who apply for the CSQ and who do not speak French will make the appropriate decision to go through intensive French training in order to be well prepared for their interview
with the Immigration Quebec agent. However, once they receive their CSQ, many do not continue
learning the language and arrive in Quebec without the proper language skills. They are then obliged
to learn French after their arrival, losing valuable months (sometimes years) during which they could
have already begun working had they continued learning French before their arrival.
If your knowledge of French is limited or non-existent and you receive a position in your field for
which only English knowledge is required, make sure that you still seize every opportunity to learn or
improve your French, even if that means taking courses during the evenings. Even though you have
received a position with which you are satisfied, you will eventually want to advance in your career
and the knowledge of French will certainly play an important role in regards to the possibilities that
will be made available to you.
13
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
You may have a wealth of experience in different areas, but it is important to begin by determining which of
those areas you excel at, which you have the most experience in and, if applicable, which you consider to be your
area of expertise. The next step is to position yourself as a specialist in that area within the Quebec job market;
this begins with a focused and well-composed CV (see II.11 and appendix D). You may also consider obtaining
vendor-specific professional certification in the area that you consider (or would like to be) your specialty.
Junior
A junior employee typically has between 0 and 2 years of professional experience.
Junior candidates have the most trouble finding jobs, as most of the demand is centered on intermediate and
senior professionals.
Intermediate
An intermediate employee typically has between 3 and 5 years experience.
Depending on their profession and technical expertise (see II.4), intermediate candidates have access to a fair
number of opportunities. Job postings for Intermediate positions will rarely mention intermediate in the
title; for example, a posting for an intermediate programmer would simply be Programmer.
Senior
A senior employee usually has 6 years experience or more.
Senior candidates who have 6+ years experience are the most sought after in Quebecs IT job market. This
trend should continue through 2016.
As you can see, the more experience you have, the more opportunities present themselves and, of course, the
higher the salary you will be able to attain.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Number of years experience simply offers a general guideline in order to determine a candidates relative level. There are of course other factors that are taken into consideration when determining if a
professional is to be considered junior, intermediate or senior; those factors include the type, size and complexity
of the projects/applications worked on, skill level, etc. These other factors may positively or negatively affect your
14
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
status.
Permanent employee
As a permanent employee, you are hired directly by the hiring company for what is usually an undetermined
amount of time. This is the traditional form of work that most people are familiar with.
Compensation: Permanent employees are offered a yearly salary and benefits.
Contractual worker
There are two types of contractual workers: consultants and self-employed consultants.
In either case, you are usually hired for a pre-determined amount of time and for a specific project; once your
contract expires, it may or may not be renewed for another determined period. If it is not renewed, then you
must begin a new search for your next opportunity/contract. Contracts usually last 3 to 6 months (and are often
renewed) but can be as short as 1 month or as long as 1 year. Companies that typically hire contractual workers
include very large organizations such as banks, insurance companies, government institutions and multinationals.
Consultants are hired by a third-party firm (usually a recruitment agency ) for the duration of the contract only. As
with permanent work, you will be offered benefits and vacation pay (although they are usually quite minimal) for
the life of the contract. Once the contract ends (and if it isnt renewed) your wages and benefits cease.
Self-employed consultants can either be contracted by third party firms (usually a recruitment agency) or directly
by the company. This category of worker usually receives the highest wages of all categories, because, in addition
to the limited length of the contract, he receives no benefits and is burdened with supplemental administrative
work (such as managing his tax deductions, incorporation, etc.).
Compensation: Contractual workers are paid by the hour, and make anywhere from 50% to 100% higher salary
than do permanent workers. However, while consultants usually receive minimal benefits during their contract,
self-employed consultants do not receive any company benefits. As a trade-off, self-employed consultants usually
receive a higher wage than consultants (who in turn receive a higher wage than permanent workers).
15
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
8. Diplomas
Experience, technical ability and communication being the most important factors, the type of diploma that
you possess can also influence your successful job hunt, albeit to a lesser extent than the three aforementioned
factors. Certain highly technical or managerial positions may require a university diploma, but, for the most part,
individuals with extensive experience are the most highly sought after.
That being said, if you have a university diploma combined with relevant experience, you will be given preference over individuals who have the same experience combined with an IT-related diploma from an institution
other than a university. Individuals who do not have any IT-related diplomas whatsoever will need to demonstrate
extensive experience in order to be considered for most positions.
12. For more information see: Ministre de lImmigration, de la Diversit et de lInclusion (2014).
http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/education/comparative-evaluation/index.html
ABACUS INTEGRATING QUEBECS IT JOB MARKET
16
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
ECEEHQ. It is usually only in cases where you may wish to work for public services (i.e. government) that you may
be required to have at least begun the ECEEHQ process .
That being said, as we discussed in section II.1, one of the main causes for an increased perception of risk by
employers when it comes to hiring a foreign-trained professional, is the challenge of verifying your international
credentials. When an employer is unsure of a diplomas worth, he or she may be reluctant to offer a strategic or
high-level position to the qualified applicant. Is your diploma comparable to a Quebec bachelors degree? Or
is it a masters degree? Or perhaps it is comparable to a college degree? Is it even recognized at all in Quebec?
These are all questions a potential employer may ask that can reduce your chances of obtaining a high-level
position in your field. Given that the ECEEHQ is a document that is conferred by an official government institution (Quebecs immigration ministry, the MIDI), it may go a long way towards reducing this perception of risk and
increasing your chances of obtaining a high-level position in your field. At the very least, we recommend that you
consult the MIDIs Diploma Comparative Evaluation Guide, available in appendix B, in order have a good idea of
how your diploma compares to those awarded by Quebecs Educational System .
It is important that you always keep in mind that the main barrier to attaining a high-level position in your field is
the employers perception of risk. The less risk associated with your profile, the greater your chances of getting a
high-level position in your field. When it comes to reducing the risk associated with the verification of international credentials, the ECEEHQ is a powerful, cost-efficient tool that will increase an employers confidence in your
profile and therefore we recommend it.
You can complete the ECEEHQ process from anywhere and at any time, regardless of your current location or immigration status. We recommend beginning the process as soon as you receive your CSQ (or in some cases your
CAQ), so that it can be completed by the time you arrive in Quebec.
For complete information on the valuation comparative des tudes effectues hors du Qubec and how to
begin the process (whether youre living abroad or in Quebec) please refer to appendix C.
Tips:
Many companies offer training courses and in-house certifications. Although these may be assets,
they are far less important than the official certifications that are delivered directly by the appropriate
technologys vendor.
This may seem obvious, but make sure that the certifications which you own, or that youre working towards, are directly related to your area of expertise (i.e. a network engineer who holds a CCNA
will be given greater credibility and consideration than a network engineer who holds a programming
certification such as a MCPD).
17
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
1. The basics
Presentation is everything
Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs; this makes it easier to read your CV and quickly absorb
information.
An experienced professionals typical CV averages 3 pages, however, the length can vary anywhere between 2 and 4 pages, depending on several elements of your profile, such as:
Years of experience. You cannot expect a person who has 8 years of experience to fit all of their
experience in the same amount of space as a person who has 3 years experience. The more experience
you have, the longer the CV.
Number of companies youve worked for. If youve worked for the same company and held the same
position for your entire career, then you will probably need less space than a professional who has worked
for several companies or who has held several positions/worked on several projects within the same company. The more diverse your experience, the longer the CV.
Always check for grammar and spelling mistakes. If you make mistakes in your CV, then a recruiter will
assume that you do not pay attention to detail and therefore there is a strong chance that you will make
similar mistakes in the workplace. Your odds of getting contacted for an interview decrease.
Highlight important information such as the names of companies youve worked for, the title(s) of your
position(s), and the dates that youve worked for each company.
Use an attractive font (we usually recommend Arial 10pt for the body of the text and Arial 11pt-12pt for
titles and headers) and keep the same font throughout the entire document.
Stay consistent and keep it simple. It is important to maintain a consistent pattern of font size and paragraph spacing. This keeps your CV clean and neat and makes it easy on the eyes. Make sure to avoid too
much highlighting, underlining, formatting (i.e. Italics), etc.
18
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
platform, then your CV must clearly demonstrate that you are a .NET programmer, even if you have knowledge
of other languages such as PHP or JAVA. Another example would be a system administrator who, in addition to
the main responsibilities associated with a typical system administrator, has also done some scripting and light
programming. Does this make him a programmer? Probably not. His CV must therefore clearly demonstrate that
he is indeed a system administrator who has some knowledge of programming, rather than a person who can be
a system administrator just as well as a programmer.
Use keywords
As stated earlier, a recruiter will scan your CV in a matter of seconds, searching for specific keywords related
to the position they are trying to fill. Having the proper keywords related to your area of expertise throughout
your CV will increase your chances of getting contacted for an interview. In the IT industry, those keywords are
generally related to the technological environments that youre the most familiar with as well as the title of your
positions and the sectors in which youve worked (i.e. banking, insurance, multimedia, government, internet,
consulting, etc.).
Furthermore, most recruiters use candidate management systems to manage their applicant database. These
systems usually contain thousands of candidates and recruiters will search for a group of very specific keywords in
order to find potential candidates (i.e. project manager + ITIL + senior + agile + banking + mainframe + COBOL
+ DB2). If the right keywords arent in your resume, it wont even show up in the recruiters search query. Dont assume that because youve worked on a certain platform, the recruiter will automatically know all the technologies
associated with that platform. Recruiters arent usually technical experts and they base their evaluations on the
keywords that they see in the CV to determine the extent of the applicants knowledge; if it isnt in the CV, then
the recruiter will automatically assume that you do not know it.
2. Composing your CV
View a sample resume in appendix D. Note that there is more than one way to compose a winning CV that is
adapted to the Quebec job market; the format we propose is only one of several successful methods.
a. Your coordinates
You must write your first and last name in lowercase and uppercase, respectively; your complete address with
postal code; your telephone number and a simple email address.
Example: Jean MAILHOT
19
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
c. Technical knowledge
This is the section in which you state, in point form, the technologies that you know well and that you have used
in a professional environment. If youve held a high-level position such as project manager or infrastructure
specialist, then you will describe the technical environments in which youve worked. There is no sense in stating
all the technologies that you know, regardless of skill level (i.e. a programming language that you studied in
university but have never used professionally). Make sure that you stick with technologies that youve used in a
professional setting, and always begin with the ones you know best.
Note: The professional summary and technical knowledge sections are the key elements to your CV when it
comes to defining your area of expertise. It is important that they remain focused; if they are too general or
vague, you will loose your reader.
d. Diploma(s)
If you have a university diploma in your field of expertise, then you should include this section in the first third of
the first page. It must be presented by stating the title of your diploma, the name of the university or institute,
the country from which youve received it, as well as the dates of study. If you have several diplomas (i.e. bachelors degree, masters degree, etc.), make sure to start with the most recent one.
If your diploma is not university level (i.e. technical school, college, etc.) or if it is not related to your area of expertise, but you have extensive experience, then you should include this section at the end of your CV.
Note: If you have completed an valuation comparative des tudes effectues hors du Qubec, then you should
include the title of the evaluation given by the MIDI, under the title of your original diploma.
e. Certifications
Vendor-specific professional certifications (see II.10) are great assets in the Quebec IT market and if you hold
one or several of them, it is important that the reader be made aware of this right away. It must be presented
by stating the title of the certification(s) as well the date of completion. There are several ways in which you can
integrate your certification(s) into your CV, such as:
Including a logo of your most important certification(s) in the top right section of the first page. If you
choose this method, then you should also include a Certifications section towards the end of your CV, following your professional experience information.
Include your certifications in the profile summary section. If you choose this method, then you should
include the Certifications section in the first third of the first page.
Make sure to only include vendor-specific professional certifications in the first third of the first page. Training
courses or in-company certifications that youve received that arent internationally recognized should be briefly
listed at the end of your resume as an Additional training/certifications section.
20
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
f. Language
If you speak either English or French at a level that could be qualified as at least intermediate, then you should
include your language knowledge as the last point in the Profile Summary section, or as a section of its own. If
you believe your level of communication is weak in both English and French, then it may be better to include this
section towards the end of your resume.
The best way to describe your language knowledge is to simply state the languages that you know (beginning
with English if your CV is in English or French if your CV is in French) and include in parentheses your level of
knowledge (i.e. English (advanced), French (intermediate), Portuguese (fluent), etc.)
Note: As mentioned earlier in this guide, if your level of communication is weak in both English and French, then
you should probably focus on improving your communication skills before beginning your job search.
Professional experience
If the first third of the first page is the most important section in terms of grabbing your readers attention, the
professional experience section will play the most important role in determining whether you will be contacted
for an interview; it is the heart of the CV and must be composed according to an important set of rules.
Present your experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent job and moving
backward. Include the exact dates (month and year) of the beginning and end of each position that youve
held. If youve had many positions within the same company, then you should also indicate the dates of each
position.
For each entry of work experience, begin with the company name and location (city and country) and follow with the title of the position that you held.
Job summary. For each job, compose a brief paragraph that describes the companys core business,
industry and number of employees.
In point form, describe the main projects that youve worked on as well as your primary responsibilities
and achievements. Some prefer to have two separate sub-sections; one in which they describe their role and
responsibilities, and another in which they state their major achievements. Others prefer to integrate both
their responsibilities and achievements in the same section. Both approaches are acceptable and you should
use whichever one gives most value to your specific experience. In either case, it is important that you provide enough detail so that a potential employer understands the types of projects that youve worked on and
the technological tools that were used, in addition to the day-to-day tasks for which you were responsible.
Technological Environment. At the end of every position, include a small section that simply states all the
elements of the technological environment of the position.
21
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Tips:
Be careful not to go into too much detail, as you want the reader to be intrigued enough to
contact you for an interview in order to learn more about your profile, but not informed to the point
where they will make up their mind about your candidacy without speaking with you first.
Your professional experience section is the one in which your expertise and specialties should
materialize. Stay focused and make sure that the reader will be able to determine the type of specialist that you are.
Use action verbs (i.e. designed, managed, evaluated, defined, built, led, etc.) rather than passive
expressions (i.e. was responsible for, was in charge of, etc.)
If youve worked for a consulting company through which you were placed in jobs for other
companies, then you should also include the names of those companies, the dates during which
you worked for them, and the job summary as sub-sections to the consulting company. You should
consider each client-mandate youve done as a job experience in itself, and you should present it just
like you would any other job while putting more emphasis on the type of projects that youve worked
on and the technological environment involved.
22
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
23
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Reactive resources
A reactive strategy is probably the main strategy that you will use when searching for your first job in Quebec.
Given that your local network is limited when you first arrive, you will need to rely heavily on existing job postings
in order to find vacant opportunities that match your profile. There are 2 main reactive sources for finding vacant
job opportunities in the IT field:
24
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
sented with interesting opportunities that would not have been available to you otherwise. The main drawback of
this method is that your profile is made public and can be viewed by any company; if your profile is attractive, you
may be continuously contacted for opportunities that may not be of any interest to you.
Tip: Many new jobs are added regularly so make sure to check the job boards every day, and be the first
to apply to a new position.
b. Company websites
If you have an interest in a specific industry (i.e. multimedia), then research all the companies within that industry
that have offices in your region and visit their websites. Some will have job openings posted on their websites
where you can apply directly. Others may not have any current openings but it would be to your benefit if they
already had your resume handy when an opening does arise. If you do decide to send an application to a specific
company even though there is no job posting, it is of utmost importance that you include a customized, company-specific cover letter.
Tip: This is a time-consuming endeavour so make sure that you only target companies that truly interest
you.
c. Recruitment agencies
Given the strong demand for qualified IT professionals, there are endless recruitment agencies in Quebec that
specialize in the IT industry. When visiting an online job board, you will notice that a large number of job postings
belong to recruitment agencies.
Recruitment agencies are commonly contracted by companies in the IT industry to help them find qualified candidates to fill their vacant positions. Recruitment agencies are indeed an effective job-searching resource, especially
in the IT job market. They will usually call you for a telephone interview, meet you in person, and frequently have
you do a technical test. If your skill set and profile fit with any of their clients positions, they will recommend your
candidacy to those clients for an eventual interview. Because recruitment agencies have inside knowledge of their
clients needs and company structure, they can also give you valuable tips to help you prepare for an interview
with a specific company. A good recruitment agency can act as a strong ally on your behalf; given their in-depth
knowledge of the job market, candidates that they present to hiring companies are often accorded extra importance. They will also act as an agent on your behalf and help you through negotiations when you receive a job
offer.
Recruitment agencies will also frequently have positions that arent posted in the public job market that they can
present to you. There is a hidden job market in Quebec that consists of job opportunities that are never publicly posted. As your career in Quebec advances and your network grows, the number of these hidden opportunities that will be made available to you will increase.
That being said, there are three main drawbacks to using a recruitment agency: First, throughout the recruitment
process, you do not have direct contact with the company (except for the interview). Therefore the process can
take more time and be less clear than if you were dealing directly with an employer. Second, because a recruitment agency receives many new positions regularly, they sometimes like to meet certain candidates proactively,
even if no position is currently available. This allows them to quickly recommend your profile to employers as
new positions present themselves. But because they cannot guarantee that a position will present itself, you may
spend a lot of time meeting with recruitment agencies without ever receiving any interviews or offers. Finally, the
recruitment agency often has confidentiality agreements with its clients and will not divulge the identity of its client when presenting one of their vacant positions to you and validating whether they can present your candidacy;
you may only find out the identity of the company once they confirm an interest in meeting with you.
25
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Proactive resources
Proactive resources allow you to build a solid professional network in order to gain an advantage in the job market. A proactive job hunt is an effective method for staying ahead of the game by giving you access to opportunities before theyre presented to the general public. These opportunities are know as the hidden job market
in Quebec and, although they represent only a portion of all positions, they are still substantial enough that
you should plan your job hunt accordingly. Another benefit of building a solid network is that you increase your
chances of being referred by peers for opportunities within their companies. Although it is generally the candidates who best fit a potential job who will be hired, hiring managers will often give extra attention to candidates
who were referred by one of their internal employees.
As mentioned earlier, if you are seeking your first job in Quebec, then you will probably need to rely heavily on
reactive sources at first because your network will be limited. However, building a solid network of professional
contacts is important for ensuring a solid, comprehensive career progression, especially in the IT industry.
a. Linkedin
Linkedin (www.linkedin.com) is the worlds most extensive professional network, with over 120 million members originating from more than 200 countries. It is an online professional network through which you can build
direct relationships with strategic business contacts, such as colleagues (past and present), recruiters and human
resources professionals. Linkedin gives ambitious professionals access to a substantial number of employment
opportunities. It is much more than a simple website on which to post your resume; Linkedin provides an opportunity to stay in contact with professionals from your industry, advertise your career goals, build and grow
your professional network, and, ultimately, gain access to the hidden job market. In addition to providing access
26
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
to numerous job opportunities, Linkedin can also help you gain preferential access to those opportunities if your
network is well built (i.e. through ex-colleagues or supervisors who can refer and recommend you to hiring managers, recruiters, etc.).
LinkedIn and the IT industry in Quebec
It is important to emphasize the major role that Linkedin plays in Quebec, especially in the IT industry. It is one of
the main recruitment tools used by employers, recruiters and headhunters to find experienced IT professionals.
Your presence on Linkedin is essential to properly growing your career and finding positions that best match your
qualifications.
b. Job fairs
There are many IT-related job fairs in Montreal and they offer a great way for you to learn about companies
that are hiring, get a sense of the IT industry in Quebec as a whole and, most importantly, introduce yourself to
company representatives in order to begin building your network and uncovering potential opportunities. After
attending a job fair, it is a good idea to send the people youve met an invitation through Linkedin.
E-mail
E-mail is the most common method for sending your application. Simply send an e-mail with your CV to the
address that is included with the job posting. If you are including a cover letter, then keep the introduction in
the body of the message to a minimum. If there is a specific contact name in the job posting, then address your
e-mail to that person. If there is no contact name, simply begin with To Whom it May Concern. Name the position you are applying for and, if applicable, the associated reference number, and state that you have attached
your CV and cover letter to the e-mail. Include a closing statement that you deem most appropriate and send!
If you do not include a cover letter, then it would be beneficial to add some extra, relevant information in the
body of your e-mail message. In addition to the elements mentioned previously, you should also include a very
brief introduction stating the number of years experience you have and, if applicable, your technical capacity
in accordance with the positions core requirements (i.e. 7 years experience managing large scale projects, or 6
years experience in web development, mainly using the .NET platform, etc.).
Application form
Some positions will require you to fill out an electronic application form. The content of these forms may vary
from company to company, but they are usually fairly straightforward. Make sure to follow the instructions and
take the time to diligently complete the whole form. No further action aside from that which is mandated by the
form is required.
Other
Some positions, such as those in graphic or web design, require the inclusion of a portfolio. If your expertise
happens to be in a highly visual profession such as those mentioned above, your portfolio is even more important
than your CV since it is a real-time representation of your capacities. A web-based portfolio that can be visited
simply by following a URL is ideal.
The IT employment market is naturally very internet-driven; sending your CV by fax or dropping it off in person is
therefore not recommended.
ABACUS INTEGRATING QUEBECS IT JOB MARKET
27
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
3. Telephone interview
The telephone interview is generally the first step in the selection process. Although It can last anywhere between
5 and 45 minutes, depending on the company, it usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. Although the objectives of the
telephone interview may vary (i.e. some companies may ask in-depth technical questions), it is generally used to
determine whether you meet the minimum requirements of the position and will rarely involve any form of indepth questioning.
Here are some of the typical elements of your profile that a company will want to validate or inquire about during
the telephone interview:
Level of communication in French and/or English
Your availability to begin working
Your salary expectations
General competencies and knowledge in accordance with the jobs core requirements. If youve applied
for a technical position (i.e. programmer), you can also expect some questions about the number of years
youve worked with certain types of technologies.
Holes you may have in your CV
The telephone interview is shorter and less complex than the in-person interview but it is just as important since
it will determine whether or not you proceed to the next step in the process. Because you never know when you
will receive a call from a company representative, it is important that you always be ready for that call. Here are
some tips to help you succeed in the telephone interview:
Always expect a call, that way you will not be taken off guard when you do receive one.
If you receive a call and you arent in a position to talk freely (i.e. you are in a noisy public place; youre
not feeling ready or up to the task; you are short on time, etc.), politely ask the interviewer if it is possible to
schedule the call for a later time. This is perfectly acceptable practice and the person calling you will usually
be happy to oblige. If you simply need a few minutes to move to a quieter location or to regroup, then you
can simply ask for a few minutes before pursuing the call.
Relax! You will be asked simple and straightforward questions and it is important that you communicate
your answers to the best of your ability; it is difficult to do so if youre stressed or nervous.
If the interviewer concludes that your profile is a potential fit with the position, you will usually be scheduled immediately for an in-person interview. In some cases, the person who called will need to discuss your profile with
the hiring manager before scheduling your for an interview and will simply thank you for your time and call back
at a later date.
Tips:
Only discuss salary at this stage if the interviewer brings it up. Give him or her a range for your
salary expectations and save any further salary talks for the in-person interview.
There is no need to follow-up after a telephone interview. This step in the process is usually
pretty clear-cut; either you have been selected for an in-person interview or you have not. A followup call or e-mail this early in the process does not affect your candidacy either way and may only
annoy the person you spoke with.
4. Onsite interview
The onsite interview is the most crucial step in the entire job-hunting process. This is when you will formally
28
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
establish yourself in the eyes of the interviewer, and when the company will decide whether they want to hire you
and how much they are ready to offer in terms of salary.
Depending on the company, you may be subject to 1, 2 or 3 interviews before a hiring decision is made. Most
companies will make a decision after 1 or 2 interviews. Usually, you will meet first with a person from human resources who will determine how well you fit with the company and whether you fill the positions overall requirements. You will then meet with one or more managers or team leaders who will determine how strong you are
technically, and how well you fit with their team. In some cases you may meet the technical manager first and the
HR person second, or all of them at the same time.
There are many standard questions that may be asked during an interview (i.e. What are your main strengths and
weaknesses? Why did you leave a certain position?) Rather than practice for specific questions, we prefer to make
sure that you prepare yourself in such a way that you remain flexible and able to answer any question, whether
you have practiced for it or not.
The key to succeeding in any onsite interview is preparation. The objective of the interview is for you and the
company to get to know each other, and for both of you to determine how well you fit with the position (experience, presentation and technical knowledge) and with the company philosophy. The best interviews are those
that resemble a fluid two-way conversation, rather than a one-sided question and answer session. By coming to
the interview fully prepared and focused, you will naturally be more confident, relaxed and ready to be yourself in
order to openly discuss any topic that is presented or answer any question that is asked.
29
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Here are some of the elements of your CV that you should consider revising:
Projects that youve worked on
Description and goal of the project
Length of the project
Your specific role
Technologies that were used
Skills that were most put to use
Did you work in a team? If so, who comprised the team (i.e. number of members, positions, etc.)?
Achievements
Problems that youve encountered and how you resolved them
Failures and how you dealt with them
Roles that you would have liked to play
c. Know yourself
Self-awareness is the first step in ensuring a successful interview. The better you know yourself, the more easily
you can handle any question that comes your way, and the more freely you can discuss the subject at hand. Selfawareness will also give the interviewer a greater sense of confidence in you and help create a positive interview
setting.
Using the points below as a guide to get the ball rolling, take the time to undertake a thorough self-evaluation.
Consider writing down your thoughts and taking notes as you go along.
What do you like most about your profession and what do you like the least? Why?
What are your personal skills and which aspects do you need to improve? Why?
What are your technical strengths? What about your technical weaknesses?
What is your area of expertise?
Do you prefer large corporations or small-to-medium-sized businesses? Why?
Which type of responsibilities do you excel at?
What kind of work environment do you consider ideal?
What is your ideal job/company? Why?
What are your career and life objectives?
Relationships with colleagues/supervisors/clients/employees
What is the social role that you usually play in a team?
Do you prefer being put in a position of leadership or do you prefer being a contributing member of
a team?
Which interpersonal situations do you excel in and why?
Which interpersonal situations make you feel uncomfortable and why?
How do you deal with conflict?
Once you have finished, go over all the information youve gathered and talk about it out loud, in the language(s)
that will be used during the interview.
30
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
your skills in your area of expertise to the fullest extent possible. The interview is the time to show what you are
capable of and you need to be as technically fresh as possible.
The interview
As stated earlier, the goal of an interview is to evaluate your personality fit with the companys culture as well as
your professional background and technical competencies as they relate to the demands of the position. Make
sure to arrive 10-15 minutes early and greet the interviewer with a smile and a handshake.
31
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
If both these candidates have the same skill-set and experience, which one do you believe will be more successful
during the interview? In almost all cases, the qualified professional has a greater chance of being selected in
addition to being offered a more competitive salary.
Always keep in mind that companies are businesses that are looking for qualified professionals to help them
achieve their objectives and increase their profits. If youve been contacted for an interview, it is because the
company is already interested in your profile and wants to know more about your international experience and
how you can contribute to their team. If you take the qualified immigrant approach, then you are basically
asking the company to do something for you. When you take the qualified professional approach, you are
showing the company what you can do for them.
Always be the qualified professional by coming prepared for the interview, believing in your skills and focusing on
your qualities and experience.
iv.
Be transparent
Companies in Quebec do not expect perfection from their employees, nor do they expect candidates to know
everything. Rather, what they do look for are individuals who know their strengths and who are also fully aware of
their limitations and areas where they may need improvement. Once again, self-awareness is the key.
Dont be reluctant to express yourself when you sincerely feel that you are really good at something. At the
same time, make it clear to the interviewer if your knowledge is limited or non-existent in other areas. Such
transparency builds trust and reinforces your strengths.
Tip: If you dont know something, its ok to answer, I dont know.
32
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
factors are met, and the highest being acceptable when not many of those same factors are met.
If you are being considered for a permanent position: Always discuss salary in terms of annual income (e.g.
$55,000 to $63,000 per year).
If you are being considered for a contract position: Always discuss salary in terms of hourly wage (e.g. $40 to $45
per hour).
b. Questions
If you have questions during an interview that fit with the flow of the discussion, then ask them as you go along.
It is best to save all other questions (i.e. those that you prepared before the interview) for the question period at
the end of the interview.
In general, youll want to know how well the company fits with your skills and objectives. Here are some questions
that you should consider asking:
What are the specific, day-to-day responsibilities of the job?
How many employees does the company have?
Is the company currently in a period of growth? Are there any expansion plans?
What is the companys vision? What are its objectives?
What are the benefits offered?
Does the company offer any training programs?
What are the possibilities for advancement?
What are the standard working hours?
How often are performance reviews and salary raises given?
When will the company make a hiring decision about this position? What are the next steps in the process?
When can you expect to hear from them?
5. Technical tests
If you are applying for a technical position (i.e. programmer), then you can almost certainly expect to be tested.
You could be tested before, during or after the interview. There are three main ways that a company will test your
knowledge; you may be:
Subjected to a written or electronic test
Asked detailed technical questions by a member of the companys technical team (this person is often a
manager or senior employee)
Presented with whiteboard coding questions.
Tip: Candidates often practice by coding alone at home on a computer with a compiler. During the actual
interview, they stand at the whiteboard or written test and forget how to initialize an array without their
trusty syntax highlighter. This method is good basic practice but we recommend that you also do some
mock coding by simply using a paper and pencil.
Personality tests
This is not a common occurrence but some companies may also subject you to a written or online personality test
33
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
before making a final hiring decision. The goal of this test is to formally evaluate your personality and how well it
fits with the companys culture. There is not much you can do to prepare for such a testsimply be yourself!
Background verification
Although fairly uncommon, some companies will also require a criminal and/or credit background check before
deciding on whether to hire a candidate. These companies usually process a lot of sensitive information and need
to have very detailed information about the person they are considering hiring.
34
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
35
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Negotiation
Negotiation is standard practice in Quebec and it is something that you should be prepared for. The best time to
begin negotiating is after youve received and reviewed the written job offer.
36
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
for you, I will need more money before accepting your offer. That type of vague request is not going to be taken
seriously. Instead, youll want to construct your counter offer in a professional manner that makes your objectives
clear. The example below illustrates one way to phrase your counter offer effectively:
While I appreciate your offer and would welcome the opportunity to join your staff, I cannot accept the offer as
is. However, if you were to increase the salary to $60,000 per year and add an additional week of paid vacation
time, I would happily accept the position.
Obviously, you would replace the details above with your own.
37
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
CONCLUSION
The goal of this guide is to help you gain a clear understanding of Quebecs IT market in order to realistically
determine the types of opportunities available to you, and to assist you in establishing a plan of action that will
allow you to efficiently and successfully obtain a job that matches your qualifications.
We hope that the main message you received is that preparation is the key to success, and the best preparation
begins with an honest and thorough self-evaluation (see appendix E). To summarize:
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 key success factors will not only determine how successful you will be in obtaining a job that suits your
qualifications, but they will also help you make an informed decision when the time comes to accept a job offer.
In the previous section we pointed out some of the elements of a job offer that must be considered when evaluating a proposal. Some professionals will be happy with a high salary; some will want better benefits; others are
simply looking for a job with challenging responsibilities. There are so many factors to consider that it sometimes
becomes difficult to make a decision. Depending on ones qualifications and goals, different people will have
different priorities, but always keep in mind that the first job that you choose will have an important effect on
your career path and the future career opportunities that will be made available to you.
If your qualifications meet the job markets key success factors, then the first priority should be to seek as much
continuity as possible with the position that you held before immigrating. The second priority should be to seek a
position that offers responsibilities that will allow you to learn and grow while sharpening your professional skills
in order to take your career forward. The third priority should be to obtain a fair wage in accordance with your
capabilities, experience and job responsibilities.
To illustrate, we will describe a real-life scenario that a foreign-trained professional was faced with:
This person had 5 years experience working as a .NET developer in his country of origin. Not long after arriving in
Quebec, he received job offers from two companies: The first company offered him a position as a programmer in
their support department, along with a salary of $60,000 per year. His responsibilities would have included using
some of his .NET knowledge to do some development, but would mostly involve correcting code and making
modifications using older programming languages such as VB and classic ASP.
The second company offered him a position as a developer in their R&D department, along with a salary of
$53,000 per year. This company used the most updated and advanced technologies, offered a training program,
and his primary responsibilities would have been developing new code using the most recent version of .NET.
Although the second job was a little underpaid but offered relatively fair compensation, the environment and
position that they offered was best suited for his skills and gave him the opportunity to grow his knowledge base
to become a better specialist. He was in an ideal position to grow his career and, in the long term, to make more
money than he would have made had he chosen to accept the first position, which offered more short-term pay
but limited his career growth.
Always keep in mind that the Quebec market has a tendency to create specialists rather than generalists. Therefore, the first position that you accept will greatly determine the type of specialist that you are and will affect the
opportunities that will be made available to you during the subsequent steps of your career, whether it is an internal promotion or your next job with another company.
38
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
REFERENCES
Certicities (2014). Certification Database by Category. http://certcities.com/certs/other/category.asp
Information and Communications Technology Council, ICTC (2011). Outlook for Human Resources in the ICT
Labour Market, 20112016. Prepared by John OGrady, Prism Economics and Analysis. http://www.ictc-ctic.ca/
wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ICTC_Outlook2011_EN_11-11.pdf
Information and Communications Technology Council, ICTC (2008). Outlook for Human Resources in the ICT
Labour Market, 2008 to 2015. http://www.ictc-ctic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ICTC_Outlook2008_EN_1008.pdf
LinkedIn. http://www.linkedin.com
Ministre de lImmigration, de la Diversit et de lInclusion (2014). Qubec government. Obtaining a
comparative evaluation. http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/education/comparative-evaluation/index.
html
Ministre de lImmigration, de la Diversit et de lInclusion (2013). Qubec government. Finding out about
French in Qubec. http://www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/en/french-language/learning-about/index.html
Ordre des ingnieurs du Qubec. http://www.oiq.qc.ca
Service Canada (2012). Gouvernement du Canada. Job Futures Qubec: 2012-2016 Scenario by Occupation.
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/qc/job_futures/job_futures.shtml
Note: In-text figure based on a compilation by TECHNOComptences of relevant data from sections Main Labour
Market Indicators; Total Annual Needs 2012-2016.
TECHNOComptences (2011). Diagnostic sectoriel de la main-doeuvre du secteur des technologies de
linformation et des communications 2011. Performed by Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. http://www.
technocompetences.qc.ca/sites/technocompetences.qc.ca/files/uploads/industrie/etudes-et-rapports/2011/
TECHNOCompetences_DiagnosticSectoriel_Final_VR.pdf
TECHNOComptences. www.technocompetences.qc.ca
39
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Appendix A
Cons
Lower salary
Paid overtime
Greater pay
Diversity of projects
Moderate choice of projects
Greater autonomy and flexibility
Paid overtime
40
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Appendix B
JORDANIE
KAZAKHSTAN
KOWET
LIBAN
MADAGASCAR
MALI
MAROC
MEXIQUE
MOLDAVIE
NIGRIA
PAKISTAN
PROU
PHILIPPINES
POLOGNE
RPUBLIQUE DE CORE
RPUBLIQUE DM. DU CONGO (ZARE)
RPUBLIQUE DOMINICAINE
RPUBLIQUE DU CONGO
ROUMANIE
RUSSIE
RWANDA
SNGAL
SRI LANKA
SUISSE
SYRIE
TAIWAN
THALANDE
TOGO
TUNISIE
TURQUIE
UKRAINE
URUGUAY
VENEZUELA
VIETNAM
ZIMBABWE
41
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Appendix C
A. Cost
$106 (Canadian currency) for the valuation Comparative + the cost of translating your documents (refer to section C).
B. Timeline
Approximately 4-6 months for your file to be processed following the receipt of your completed documentation
(timelines can vary greatly).
42
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Appendix D
SAMPLE CV
MARIE SAMPLE
7045 Imaginary Ave.
Montreal, Quebec, H2S 2T4
(514) 555-5555
sample@gmail.com
PROFILE SUMMARY
Software Engineer with 8+ years of experience developing software under both Web and Windows
environments, with a focus on the .NET platform
Extensive experience in the full Software Development Life Cycle
Excellent knowledge of object oriented programming, web programming, SQL Server databases and
reports and large systems integrations
Ability to lead a team
Quick learner who adapts easily to new processes, latest technologies, trends and excellent training skills
Speaks English (advanced), French (beginner) and Spanish (fluent)
EDUCATION
Bachelors degree in Software Engineering
UdelaR University, Montevideo, Uruguay
2002
1998
TECHNICAL STRENGTHS
Programming:
Frameworks:
Microsoft Technologies: WCF, .NET Remoting, Web Services, Active Directory, MSMQ
Web Technologies:
Database:
SQL Server, SQL Server Reporting Services, SQL Server Integration Services
Concepts:
Software:
Operating Systems:
43
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Programmer Analyst
Company Z
Participated in the design, development, implementation and maintenance of client/server applications for the
insurance industry. The applications were designed for covering all aspects of the business, including
insurance policy issuing, management of claims, finances, reinsurance, brokers commissions, customer
management, internal and external reporting.
Technical Environment: Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite, .NET Framework 1.1, 2.0 and 3.5, C#, ASP.NET, JavaScript, Web Services,
.NET Remoting, Enterprise Services, Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Services, SQL Server 2000 and 2005, SQL
Server Reporting Services.
Systems Analyst
Company Y
Was involved in all phases of the development life cycle for the companys resort management application,
which tracks and processes tour bookings by agents, timeshare allocation, customer loyalty, payment
transactions and Concord loans. This application is an on-going project to migrate their legacy system into a
.NET application. The system is layered both logically and physically using configurable transport
communication Web Services, Remoting and InProcess.
Developed modules for change requests initiated by the client. Updated the web services to accurately
reflect the changed functionality of the application.
Used a data-driven approach to develop components of the application, making the application easily
configurable by the user.
Migrated parts of the application to use .Net 2.0 controls or other third party controls like the Infragistics
grid as per the client requirement.
Communicated regularly with the client in order to clarify any ambiguity regarding feature requests to be
incorporated into the application.
Developed custom controls based on the functionality requirement of the client.
Created and/or modified the database stored procedures and functions that are a part of the data access
layer of the application.
Automated required processes such as creating merge documents or PDF files of the reports created
from the application.
Involved in the continuous integration process for builds and deployments on the client network.
Supporting the client and their user base 24/7 in their production environment as required on a per call
basis.
Technical Environment: C#, Visual Studio .Net 2005, SQL Server 2005, XML Web services, Sql *Plus, Microsoft Enterprise Library,
Infragistics grid, Windows 2003 Server, Citrix Server, IIS 6.0.
Application Developer
Company X
44
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Developed an application dedicated to inventory and material management, order processing and print
schedules. The front-end provides user-friendly interfaces, invoice report generation and pending order
processing information. The application manages the processes gathering requirements, quotation requests
and processing, purchase orders and tracking, payment tracking, as well as product reception, inventory and
delivery.
Created dynamic GUIs with .Net Web Controls and Data Bound Web Forms.
Worked in ASP.NET Web Forms, Web services, ASP.NET State Management, ASP.NET Caching
features, Configuring ASP.NET optimizations, Securing ASP.NET web application.
Used ADO.NET objects such as Data Reader, Dataset and Data Adapter, for consistent access to SQL
2000 data sources.
Used C# for creating classes. Integrated Crystal Reports with ASP.NET and VB.NET pages.
Developed business objects in C# for implementation of business logic.
Deployed XML Web Services according to the business requirement.
Used Style sheets for achieving uniformity through all the aspx pages.
Implemented an Export to Excel feature.
Technical Environment: C#, VB.NET, ADO.NET, ASP.NET, Crystal Reports 9, Oracle, IIS, Windows 2000
CERTIFICATIONS
ADDITIONAL TRAINING
2006
2006
2005- 2006
45
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Appendix E
SELF-EVALUATION CHECKLIST
The following is a checklist to help you better evaluate your skills in the context of the Quebec IT market. So be
honest about your skills! You should come away from this checklist with a better understanding of where you
need improvement.
Fluent
Advanced
Excellent knowledge
of either French or
English is required
(spoken and written)
46
Internal positions
(ex. developer, programmer,
etc.)
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Intermediate
Functional
Poor
Internal positions
(ex. developer, programmer,
etc.)
Minimal requirement,
French or English
(spoken and written)
Minimal requirement,
French or English
(spoken)
I can interact in a
simple way, although
I may have to ask the
other person to repeat
or rephrase things and
help me formulate
what Im trying to say.
I can ask and answer
simple questions on
very common topics.
Almost impossible to
find employment in
the Quebec IT market
I do not understand
the language and have
difficulty recognizing
it when its spoken. I
am fearful of even the
most basic conversation as I dont have a
minimum vocabulary
for answering questions.
47
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
6+ years of experience
Most desirable
Intermediate
Junior
Generalized
Unrelated specialty
Less desirable
Most desirable
Other IT diploma
48
INTEGRATING
QUEBECS
IT JOB MARKET
ABACUSTALENT.COM
INFO@ABACUSTALENT.COM
404 SAINT-PIERRE STREET,
SUITE 301,
MONTREAL, QC,
H2Y 2M2
Certification(s) unrelated to
specialty
Not useful