Canadian Career and Culture: Guide to Adapting to a New Canadian Workplace

In this week’s issue

• Guide to Adapting to a New Canadian Workplace

• Strategies for an Impactful Executive Summary on Your CV

• Newcomer-Friendly Job Listings

• These Canadian Cities Were Ranked Among the Richest in the World. Are They Right for You?

• Things to Do Around You
  

Career Corner

Guide to Adapting to a New Canadian Workplace

Starting a new job in a new country can feel overwhelming — and that's completely normal. You’re not just adapting to a different role; you're stepping into a whole new culture.

As Anne Meyer-Miner shares in her article on University Affairs, even within the same country, every workplace has its own way of doing things. Feeling lost, stressed, or uncertain at times is part of the journey.

To help you navigate this transition, Anne offers four thoughtful strategies:

Research your new ecosystem. Every role has a history. Take time to explore past documents, meeting notes, and team resources. You don't need to memorize everything, but building a mental map of where to find information will make you feel more grounded.

Spin a web of connections. Relationships are key. Reach out to colleagues — even those you won’t work with directly. Introduce yourself, ask questions, and show your willingness to contribute. Building these connections early can open doors later.

Understand the food chain. Early on, meet with your manager to understand what is most important. Focus first on achievable goals that demonstrate your strengths and value.

Create and maintain your own systems. A new beginning is a perfect chance to build good habits. Set clear boundaries, find a workflow that suits you, and don’t be afraid to communicate your needs.

By taking a steady, intentional approach, you’ll build a strong foundation — and thrive in your new Canadian workplace.

Learn the Lingo

Strategies for an Impactful Executive Summary on Your CV

Austin Belcak recently described a CV as a marketing document — and we couldn’t agree more. One of Austin’s best analogies is to think of your CV like a Sports Centre Top 10: it should highlight your 3–5 most relevant experiences, not everything you've ever done.

This approach helps you avoid "word salad" — meaningless, jumbled adjectives that don't show your real impact. Instead, every section should have a clear purpose and tell a measurable story.

Here’s a quick breakdown of Austin’s tips:

Include your job title in your executive summary
Start with your job title clearly plugged into the summary. This immediately frames you for the role you're targeting and shows alignment from the first glance.
✅ Administrative Assistant Summary

Make your first bullet a career highlight
Use your first bullet to showcase a major accomplishment from your career. This sets the tone with a clear, impressive win right away.
✅ Coordinated scheduling and communications for a team of 10 executives, improving efficiency by 20%.

Follow up with a few case study bullets
Add two or three bullets that prove your skills through specific examples and measurable outcomes.
✅ Led the transition to a new CRM system, training 30+ team members and reducing client onboarding time by 15%.

Finish with a culture or extracurricular bullet
End with something that shows your personality or cultural fit — it helps you stand out and be remembered.
✅ Volunteer event organizer for local literacy programs, boosting attendance by 40%.

FIND YOUR PATH TO CANADA TODAY

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Newcomer-Friendly Job Listings

• Clinical Psychologist, Thunder Bay, ON

• Early Childhood Assistant, St. Albert, AB

• Early Childhood Educator (E.C.E.), Edmonton, AB

• General Construction Labourer, Ajax, ON

• Truck Driver, Edmonton, AB

• Civil Engineer, Brampton, ON

• Geriatric Psychiatrist, Peterborough, ON

• Speech-Language Pathologist, Surrey, BC

• Office Manager, Montréal, QC

Canadian Culture Highlight

These Canadian Cities Were Ranked Among the Richest in the World. Are They Right for You?

Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal were recently ranked among the world’s wealthiest cities in the 2025 World’s Wealthiest Cities Report. While this signals growing industries, career opportunities, and high standards of living, how do you know if these cities are right for you?

Toronto

Pros:
➕Largest job market in Canada, especially strong in finance, tech, healthcare, and education.
➕Extremely diverse and multicultural — a wide range of newcomer support services available.
➕Vibrant city life with arts, culture, dining, and professional networking opportunities.

Cons:
➖Very high cost of living, especially housing and childcare.
➖Traffic congestion and long commute times in some areas.

Vancouver

Pros:
➕ Strong economy with opportunities in tech, film, trade, and environmental industries.
➕ Milder climate compared to other major Canadian cities.
➕High quality of life with access to beaches, mountains, and outdoor activities.

Cons:
➖ One of the most expensive housing markets in North America.
➖ Smaller job market compared to Toronto; networking is crucial.

Calgary

Pros:
➕ Lower cost of living and housing compared to Toronto and Vancouver.
➕ Growing industries beyond energy, including tech and innovation sectors.
➕ High average salaries and a relatively strong job market.

Cons:
➖ More limited public transportation compared to bigger cities.
➖ Winters are long and very cold.

Montreal

Pros:
➕ More affordable cost of living, especially in housing.
➕ Thriving cultural and tech scenes, and strong educational institutions.
➕ Opportunities for bilingual professionals (French and English speakers).

Cons:
➖ Language can be a barrier: many jobs require at least conversational French.
➖ Colder winters and higher taxes than other Canadian cities.

Things to Do Around You

In Toronto, the Great Canadian Comedy Festival brings five days of laughter to The Rec Room with performances from comedians around the world. Enjoy shows, an opening gala, and a grand finale in Niagara Falls. May 4–8, 2025.

In Bowmanville, just an hour east of Toronto, Maplefest celebrates the sweet taste of spring with maple syrup treats, craft vendors, live music, and family-friendly fun in Historic Downtown. Don’t miss the famous pancake breakfast and free shuttle service. May 3, 2025.

In Port Moody, just 40 minutes east of Vancouver, the Fingerling Festival invites families to help release thousands of young salmon into Noons Creek and explore one of the largest environmental festivals in the Lower Mainland. Enjoy hands-on activities, educational exhibits, and nature-focused fun. May 3, 2025.

In Ottawa, ArohaFest: Spring Edition at Harold Shenkman Hall celebrates the rich, bilingual arts and culture of India with dance and music performances, henna and Rangoli art, yoga and Bhangra workshops, plus the “Melodies of Krishna” multidisciplinary showcase. May 2–3, 2025.

In Ottawa, the Ottawa International Writers Festival presents Canada’s Festival of Ideas with world-class authors and thinkers in science, history, poetry, politics, drama, fiction, and more across multiple city venues. May 1–4 & 14–16, 2025.

In Ottawa, Cinco de Mayo at ByWard Market celebrates Mexican culture with dazzling papel picado, live music and dance, authentic Mexican food, and enchanting folkloric art. Enjoy the International Youth Folkloric Ballet of the City of Puebla, the “Discover Puebla” photo exhibit, a children’s zone, dance workshops, food tastings, and carnival games. May 4, 2025.