International students must apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in order to be eligible to work in Canada after the completion of your studies. Centennial’s team of international student advisors offer drop-in advising sessions and information sessions on the PGWP process.
Find out about upcoming webinars and the advising schedule.
Learn more about convocation / graduation.
What is the step-by-step job search process?
The reality is that it can take some time to get your job search documents ready. It is recommended that you begin this process early. Schedule time each week to work on tasks to get yourself job search ready.
Here is a list of recommended items to work on in your final semester (or earlier!).
Identify the types of positions you can apply to upon graduation. Review at least 5 job postings and make a list of the skills, experience, and education required. This information will help with creating an industry-specific resume.
Update your existing resume and cover letter according to the Canadian format. Emphasize industry specific skills and terminology. Add new work, volunteer, and extra-curricular experiences, as well as academic projects. To get started, download our resume template.
Create (or update) your LinkedIn profile to match the information on your updated resume.
You will need to gather at least 3 professional references. Get their permission to be used as your reference and create your reference list with their name and contact information. Download a sample reference list.
Learn how to target your resume and cover letter to a job posting. Attend a webinar or book an appointment with an employment advisor.
Learn about effective job search and networking strategies and resources that you can use in your job search, including informational interviewing, cold calling/emailing, industry job search sites, professional associations, internship programs, and new grad opportunities. Check out the Job Search Resources section on Experience Centennial.
Prepare responses to common general and behavioural interview questions. Use the Big Interview tool to practice virtual interviewing and get AI feedback. (Sign up using your myCentennial email address.)
Reach out to alumni, industry professionals and recruiters in your field to request an informational interview, and learn more about career pathways in your industry. Use LinkedIn and Ten Thousand Coffees to find contacts.
Begin applying to jobs! Save every job posting and application submitted on your computer. Track your job search using a job search log. Follow up with employers about 1 – 2 weeks after the posting deadline if possible.
If you need help, book a weekly or bi-weekly appointment with an employment advisor to review your work and discuss your progress and next steps.
Are there any internships or new grad opportunities that I should apply to?
Many organizations and companies offer opportunities to help new grads get their career started. These may be referred to as internships or new grad programs. The recruitment typically begins early, so do your research well before your graduate.
Here are some resources:
- Career Edge - Paid internships for new grads. Apply after you complete your studies.
- Ontario Internship Program - Internships with the Ontario government.
- Some companies offering various new grad opportunities include:
Rogers, Telus, Bell, RBC, BMO, Scotiabank, Deloitte, Accenture, Shopify, D2L, CGI, Metrolinx. Learn more by visiting the company’s careers webpage.
Hear from International Alumni
"As an international student, a lot of students come to Canada to further their career development. Therefore, I would recommend you to understand the difference between Canada and your home country’s workplace environment. Besides that, I advise you to not be afraid to express your thoughts, whether in school or in workplaces." - Vinh Truong, Software Engineering Technology (2021) Read More.
How can Career Services help?
Career Services is a team of employment advisors, a career counsellor and peer career coaches. We support students and graduates in developing confidence and tools for career success, from first semester to graduation.
Through Experience Centennial, our job and resource portal, we offer:
- Drop-ins and appointments to support you with any stage of your job search and career planning, including resume / cover letter review, LinkedIn review, job search planning, interview preparation and practice, and more.
- Downloadable tip sheets, resume and cover letter templates and samples for your program.
- Access to job postings and exclusive online tools to help with career planning, interview practice and networking.
Learn more about Career Services.
Can I receive job search support from Career Services after I graduate?
Yes, you can continue to use Experience Centennial to access job postings and resources, book appointments with an Employment Advisor, and attend all events even after you graduate. In fact, we encourage and highly recommend it!
Accessing Experience Centennial
- Go to Experience Centennial.
- Click on Students/Alumni.
- Sign in using your myCentennial user name and password.
Connect with Career Services
416.289.5233 | careerservices@centennialcollege.ca
@LaunchYourCareer (Instagram) | @ExperienceCentennial (Twitter)