8 Horcruxes of Job Search in Canada. Part 2
Disclaimer: Everything written here reflects my subjective opinion and personal experience. I am not a certified immigration consultant — just someone sharing their journey. Three months in Poland, two months in Canada, countless hours analyzing the job market, rewriting resumes, attending 5 interviews in Poland and nearly 50 in Canada… all of this gave me insights I believe are valuable enough to share.
The first article in this series about "horcruxes" included an extensive, but very important, introduction. That’s because the most critical step in finding a job in Canada — or in any European country, for that matter — is preparing your mindset.
It’s essential to make a decision early on: will you follow the traditional advice and start with entry-level or blue-collar roles, or will you aim for the position you truly want now, instead of waiting a year or two?
Of course, this doesn’t apply to professions requiring retraining, diploma validation, or cases where job searching for months isn’t an option due to financial or personal constraints. Every situation is so unique that applying a one-size-fits-all approach is impossible.
For me, the only guiding principle in any situation is common sense — it helps me determine which strengths I can rely on today and which weaknesses might hold me back, all within the context of my current circumstances.
I’ve heard many stories that confirm two opposing perspectives:
Starting from lower-level positions is helpful. It allows you to understand industry nuances in the new country, build a foundation, and gain local experience, which helps you move upward.
Taking roles far below your qualifications can backfire. It raises questions with future employers, and while working in such roles, you risk losing your professional edge and momentum.
This is why I firmly believe it’s critical to decide for yourself what kind of job you want to pursue, rather than relying too heavily on the experiences of others. Of course, this means critically analyzing your hard and soft skills and crafting your own strategy and tactics. But one thing I know for sure — if you work hard enough, something will happen.
These articles are just broad strokes of my fresh experience in finding a job in Canada. Behind each "horcrux" lie countless nuances and details, but I’ve tried to outline them as thoroughly as possible. So, let’s begin.
Horcrux #3: Networking.
A few days after arriving in Canada, I attended a webinar titled “How to Land Your Dream Job in 10 Weeks (Without Applying Online)” by the well-known Austin Belcak.
While the content was excellent, one fact infuriated me at the time: the entire premise boiled down to this —
You won’t land your dream job by applying online. Networking accounts for
90% of success.
As I listened to Austin, anger and frustration bubbled up inside me.
"How, dear Austin, am I supposed to build a network in Canada in just a few weeks?"
I thought.
"Your webinar clearly isn’t designed for someone like me."
Still, I watched until the end, took notes, and even snapped some screenshots. A seed had been planted.
For the next few weeks, I stuck to the familiar path — applying to job openings online via LinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Jooble. Each application in Canada takes 30-60 minutes, given the customization required for resumes and cover letters. I won’t go into detail here; this is a must-do and simply part of the process.
At the same time, I tried reaching out to local HR professionals and connections through LinkedIn, asking for recommendations for L&D roles. The results were mediocre — just 2 or 3 contacts.
I even attended a job fair, which, while not particularly fruitful in terms of job offers, gave me the chance to practice my Elevator Pitch (which, by the way, is crucial) and connect with a variety of people.
Then, one day, I had what turned out to be a brilliant idea — though I didn’t know it was brilliant at the time. Otherwise, I would have done it on my first day in Canada.
I sat down and wrote a LinkedIn introduction post, weaving storytelling into it to highlight my expertise and journey.
And that’s when the magic started.
For an entire month, I received 2–5 messages a day from Canadians, Americans, Poles, French, Germans, and others offering networking opportunities, help, and even job referrals.
Every single day.
I even received a few (hilariously) strange offers — several messages from men in the Middle East proposing marriage in exchange for a way to immigrate to Canada. But let’s remember, entrepreneurship isn’t really my thing, so I had to politely decline.
I couldn’t keep up with the flood of messages. The post garnered 3,467 likes and 464 shares in record time. And this was from someone with fewer than 500 connections before posting.
I had no expectations when I wrote it — none. Yet it exceeded everything I could have imagined.
This response also reveals something essential about Canadian culture: people here genuinely want to help. If helping means sharing your post, they’ll gladly do it.
Key Lesson of this horcrux.
Don’t just put up a green “#OpenToWork” frame on LinkedIn and call it a day (I personally can’t stand that frame). It says very little about who you are and does nothing to showcase your personality.
Instead, sit down, reflect, and craft a story about yourself. Highlight your character, achievements, and professional journey. Show both vulnerability and courage—qualities that are deeply valued today.
Once you do, be ready for the opportunities that will come your way. And make sure your resume is polished and ready to shine — it’s your calling card.
But that’s a topic for the next horcrux.
In my first month of job searching in Canada, I had just three interviews despite submitting up to 20 applications per day.
After the LinkedIn post — and constant updates to my resume (which, by the way, is no longer a static document) — I started getting 2–3 interviews per day.
Turns out, Austin was right. Building a network is possible. Even quickly.
August 19, 2022.