Home - Communities - Occupation - Blogs - Education

You were a teacher in your home country, and you are not sure what type of job that would qualify you for in Canada. You know that the certification process can be long, and perhaps you want to improve your English. In the meantime, you need to get a job and some Canadian work experience.

The first thing that you need to do is to look at your transferable skills. What personal attributes do you have, and what skills did you develop that you can use in another job? To some degree, this may depend on the subject area that you were teaching: Do you know a lot about history? Are you good at proofreading? Do you have experience working with very young children, or with people with disabilities? Any of these specialties would provide you with transferable skills that you can use in your next job. Some transferable skills that are common to most teachers include: organizational, administrative, analytical, communication, leadership, research, problem solving, presentation, writing and conflict resolution. This list is not exhaustive. Reflect on your experiences and feel free to add to this list.

Considering all of the transferable skills that teachers possess, you have many different options in terms of what type of job to pursue while you are waiting for your Canadian teaching certification. International teachers can work as a teacher or a tutor with a private school or a tutoring centre. There are also many different programs in the community where international teachers can get a job coaching basketball at a recreation centre, working as a tour guide at a tourist attraction, or running educational programs at a museum or science centre. Further, international teachers can get a position in social services working with youth, young children, people with disabilities, and many other groups. It is even possible to enhance your knowledge in this area by taking a program at a community college. While it may not be necessary to get a job, it would certainly expand your job options. If you prefer teaching adults, you may want to pursue a career in corporate training. There are so many different options for teachers. There are three main things to remember:

1. Be aware of your transferable skills. You should always have them in
the back of your mind so that you can effectively market yourself.

2. Keep your mind open. Don’t limit yourself to one or two job titles. Be
open to any job that you qualify for. You may find a great opportunity
that you never even considered.

3. Look everywhere. You may find your dream job in the strangest of
places. Keep your eyes and ears open for potential opportunities.

Good Luck!