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Accounting is a regulated profession in Canada. You will need to learn the process of how to achieve the same status and work as an accountant here in your new home. However, you bring with you a wealth of transferable skills to the labour market here in accounting and bookkeeping.
Here are 5 suggestions to start learning as much as you can about the accounting profession here in Canada before you arrive.
Whether you are rethinking your career, writing your resume, or preparing for an interview, the importance of knowing the skills that employers are demanding cannot be underestimated. Skills are the lens through which employers focus on candidates. Ultimately, if the employer doesn’t think you have the skills that they require, you will not get hired.
What does this mean for you, the job seeker? It means that you will benefit from investing time in learning about what specific skills that employers need — read job postings, speak to employers and employees in you target companies. Don’t assume that you know what they want. It also means that you need to be clear to employers about the skills that you have — in resumes, LinkedIn profiles, cover letters and when you network.
Earlier in 2015, Workopolis surveyed 256 Canadian employers about their hiring plans, and gathered some useful information for job seekers. Most interestingly, the 2 in 3 employers surveyed admitted to struggling to find candidates with the backgrounds they require.
What do Canadian employers say candidates are lacking?
Experience – 38%
Soft skills – 29%
Technical skills – 23%
Education – 4%
Interestingly, education wasn’t as important as experience. Another interesting finding is that soft (personal) skills valued even more by employers as hard (technical) skills. The Workopolis report is well worth reading — it also outlines the 10 most sought after skills in job postings specific to these 10 popular sectors: