Vancouver's economy relies on startups, innovation, and movies. Foreigner-friendly yet competitive. Vancouver lacks IT talent. Coding skills are desirable.

Even if you can't code, take classes and network. BC has the most self-employment in Canada. 18% self-employed. Vancouver draws businesspeople.

Opportunities

Growth Strategies Vancouver

Vancouver is Canada's main seaport and transcontinental highway's western terminus. Vancouver is Canada's third-largest city. British Columbia wants to become a trade and economic centre, producing employment.

Numerous graduates make Vancouver's employment market competitive for foreigners. Years of economic growth. Vancouver's worldwide headquarters. Government: Expats may benefit.

By 2029, BC will have 861,000 jobs. 75% of these jobs need postsecondary training. Vancouver needs expats to fill vacancies.

Biotechnology, IT, and technology need knowledge.

Expat actors and filmmakers don't need to go to LA or NY. Vancouver's 100-year-old film industry ranks fifth in North America. Vancouver's film industry employs 35,000 people and generates $750 million yearly.

Companies need skilled employees:

Green tech, digital media, life sciences, natural resources, services (healthcare, high-tech, retail).

Grammar

Even though half of Vancouverites don't speak English, it's required in all Canadian jobs (excluding Québec). Vancouver's multiculturalism requires French, Chinese, and Mandarin.

Etiquette

Canada's business-like. Avoid US-Canada comparisons and French-English hostility.

White lilies are unprofessional. They're linked to death in Canada. Unromantic crimson flowers.

TransLink, UNBC, PNI Digital Media, AbeBooks, and Vancouver Film Studios.

Vancouver jobs/skills

Vancouver will have 800,000 vacancies in biotechnology, natural resources, and healthcare in a decade. Amazon plans to hire 3,000 Vancouver jobs by 2022. Facebook and Samsung want to develop here, while Microsoft invests in rail. Best employment agencies in British Columbia .

Vancouver's tech boom hurts. Web, software, and programmers scarce. HTML and Java are your ticket to Canada. Front-end developers in Vancouver average 78,000 CAD (58,500 USD).

Payscale

Vancouver's ranking in Mercer's top ten pleasant cities attracts expats. Curiosity grew. City prices rise. 3.9% annually. Food, housing, and transit grew most.

Wages don't always match inflation. Vancouver's average income is $55,000 (74,000 CAD). 54,000 CAD after taxes (40,500 USD). Average CAD$44,000 (33,000 USD). Singles in Vancouver require $55,000 to live comfortably (41,250 USD). "Comfortably" means no roommates, downtown, enough money for dining out, a gym membership, and phone.

125,100 CAD (93,800 USD) (93,800 USD) 67,000 CAD (50,250 USD) CAD Programmer (58,500 USD) 75,000 CAD (56,250 USD) (56,250 USD) 70,000 CAD coder (52,500 USD) (52,500 USD)

Career advice

Expats in Vancouver struggle to acquire work permits. A job and employer sponsorship are required. Vancouver's workforce is competitive. Housekeepers are educated and competent. Employers save money by hiring visa-free labor. The government anticipates numerous tech, IT, software, and healthcare employment vacancies next year. Competent employees improve expat prospects.

In competitive employment markets, foreigners must standout. CV, cover letter necessary. Don't let Canadian spelling damage your reputation. Canadian and American English spellings differ.

Licenses

Work permit applications in Vancouver are straightforward. Employment contract necessary for TFWP clearances. This authorization only applies to the job you applied for. New work permit required when changing employment. Visas and work permits are addressed in our Canada guide.

Vancouver Employment Tips

Vancouver Jobs

Vancouver's underground job market means many positions, especially high-ranking ones, aren't published online. Word-of-mouth, referrals, networking, and recruitment firms advertise many occupations.

Meet-ups

Networking may be tiring and depend on luck. Perfect timing. Vancouver InterNations activities and organizations help expats connect. You may meet Vancouver-relocated businesspeople there.

Business in Vancouver, CPA BC, BC Tech Summit, and Canadian Internet Marketing Conference are Vancouver networking events.

Online/Social

Follow the social media accounts of potential clients. Many companies post job ads on social media to find candidates.

Other options include employment boards and portals. Vancouver:

Jobsites

Kijiji.ca Vancouver.ca

BCJobs.ca

Workopolis Monster

Headhunters and recruiting firms have close links to companies and know about job openings. Vancouver's Strive hires. 67% of the posts they filled in 2018 were unadvertised. Let 1-2 businesses find you. They may find a company that needs your abilities. Vancouver firms:

Strive/Goldbeck/Half.

Localize CV

Canadian spelling mixes American English, British English, Quebéc French, and local peculiarities.

Foreign phrases:

Canadian English American English license license

You?

Imagine someone reading your CV overseas. Include Canadian equivalents for foreign degrees and credentials. This helps HR assess whether you're qualified and shows that you localized your CV.

Self-educate

Canadians always learn. They may have unrecognized credentials. If job adverts omitted these conditions, that would be OK. Some companies ask for courses, seminars, and specialties. Take relevant courses and include them on your CV.