Job Hunting in Canada from Australia: Where to Start

Job Hunting in Canada from Australia: Where to Start

The good news: Australian professionals are well regarded by Canadian employers. The work culture is similar, English is the operating language, and many industries actively look for skilled workers from comparable systems. The less good news: the Canadian job market has specific conventions, a local network bias, and expectations that take time to work around when you’re new.

This guide is for people planning their move and wanting to line things up before they go, and for those already on the ground looking for their first Canadian role.

Before You Leave: What You Can Do from Australia

Update Your LinkedIn Profile for a Canadian Audience

Canadian recruiters use LinkedIn the way Australian recruiters use SEEK. If your profile isn’t current, polished, and pointed at Canada, you’re invisible to the people doing the hiring.

Key things to get right:

• Set your location to the Canadian city you’re moving to — yes, before you arrive
• Update your headline and About section to speak to your target role and Canadian market
• Connect with recruiters in your industry who are based in your target city
• Follow companies you want to work for and engage with their content

LinkedIn Premium is worth the investment during your job search — the InMail credits let you reach hiring managers directly, and the “Who’s viewed your profile” feature tells you when a recruiter has looked at you.

Research Which Industries Have the Most Opportunity for Australians

Some industries translate directly from Australia to Canada:

• Mining and resources — significant overlap, especially in Alberta and Western Canada
• Healthcare — nursing in particular has active Australian-trained recruitment
• Technology — Toronto and Vancouver both have large and growing tech sectors
• Finance — Toronto is Canada’s financial centre, broadly comparable to Sydney
• Construction and trades — in high demand across most provinces
• Education — a pathway exists but requires credential recognition

Industries with more friction:

• Law — different legal system; generally need to re-qualify
• Medicine — longer credential recognition process through the Medical Council of Canada
• Accounting — CPA pathways exist but take time (12–24 months typically)

Adapting Your Resume for a Canadian Audience

The differences matter more than most Australians expect:

| Australian convention | Canadian convention |

|—|—|

| Called a “CV” | Called a “resume” (2 pages max, 1 page for junior roles) |

| Date of birth, photo sometimes included | Never include personal details |

| “Duties included…” language | Action verbs: “Led”, “Delivered”, “Managed”, “Built” |

| “Referees available on request” | Leave it off entirely |

| Longer paragraphs acceptable | Bullet points, quantified where possible |

Canadian employers want to see numbers. “Managed a team” becomes “Managed a team of 8 developers across two concurrent projects with a combined budget of $1.2M CAD.” If you can quantify it, do.

Where to Search for Canadian Jobs

Job Boards

• LinkedIn Jobs — most active for professional and technical roles across all provinces
• Indeed Canada (ca.indeed.com) — broad coverage, all industries
• Workopolis — Canadian-specific job board, good for mid-career professionals
• Job Bank (jobbank.gc.ca) — Government of Canada’s official job board; useful for identifying in-demand occupations and provincial nominee streams
• Glassdoor — essential for salary research, even if you apply elsewhere

Related Reading

Moving from Australia to Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide

IEC Visa Canada: Everything Australians Need to Know

How to Open a Canadian Bank Account Before You Leave Australia

Finding a Rental in Canada as a New Arrival: What to Expect

Australia vs Canada Cost of Living: What You Actually Need to Earn