Post Graduate Work Permits and Employment after graduation

1. Post Graduate Work Permits and Employment after graduation International Student Advising Office Fall 2009

2. What will be discussed? • Overview of Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Program • Applying for Permanent Residency (PR) • Application Process for Post Graduate Work Permit • Career Advice

3. PGWP – Overview of permit • You must have completed all requirements for your degree or diploma to apply • Do not need a job offer • PGWP’s may be issued for no longer than 3 years • PGWP allows you to gain valuable Canadian work experience – this will help if you want to apply for Permanent Residency (PR)

4. How can I become a Permanent Resident once I graduate and have my PGWP? Federal Govt./Canada Experience Class (CEC ) • Need 1 year of full-time professional, managerial or trade work experience in Canada with your PGWP before applying • (Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B under the NOC) • Work experience gained during your studies does not count - only work experience gained after graduation can be counted. • To apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class please review the application guide

5. How can I become a Permanent Resident while working with my PGWP? Provincial Govt. of NL/Provincial Nominee Program • Allows international graduates to be considered for nomination for permanent residence in Canada. • Must have established strong ties to NL & intend to live, work, & establish themselves in this province. • Require a full-time job offer from a NL employer in his/her field of study or in an area that is related to the field of study OR have a proven attachment to the local labour market for a period of at least six months • To apply for permanent residence under the NLPNP please review the application guide

6. The Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP): • You must apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit within 90 days of graduation from your program of study • You must have a valid Study Permit when you apply for the PGWP • During your program of study, you must have studied full time for 8 months in order to be eligible

7. If you studied for... less than 8 months less than 2 years but more than 8 months 2 years or more Then... you are not eligible you may get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of time you studied (for example, if you studied for 9 months, you may get a work permit issued for 9 months) a work permit may be issued for 3 years Who is eligible for PGWP?

8. How to apply : • Obtain an application kit via CIC website and read the guide. • Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents. • Refer to & include the Document Checklist with your application package • Pay the fee ($150) & get necessary receipt. • Mail the application form and documents.

9. How to pay the fee for PGWP? There are 2 ways to pay: • You can pay the application fee ($150) at a bank using form "IMM 5401" (form available at the ISA office) or • You can pay online via: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/index.asp

10. Where to you mail your PGWP application? Buy an “XpressPost” envelope at the post office and mail your application to: Citizenship and Immigration – Work Permit Case Processing Centre 6212 - 55th Avenue, Unit 555 Vegreville, AB T9C 1X6

11. How do I get started with job search? • Decide what type of job you want • Update Cover Letter & Résumé or CV • Job market search – open jobs • Job market search – hidden jobs (most important) • Research employers & get a mock interview

12. Self Evaluation • Need to have some idea of what type of work you want to do & where once you graduate • Think about skills you acquired through work, school, volunteering, activities, etc • Identify short and long term goals – work in Canada, in NL, return home, travel, etc • Considering graduate school? • If you graduate, get a job for a while and then start grad school, you will not be able to get another PGWP • Not eligible for another PGWP if you have previously been issued a Post-Graduation Work Permit following any other program of study

13. Cover Letter & Resume or CV • Target the position and employer/institution • Make sure to have your cover letter & résumé or CV critiqued (email: lwalsh@mun.ca) • In North America, a résumé and curriculum vitae (CV) are different. • Résumé: used for job search • CV: used for academic and research positions

14. Search the open job market Open Job Market: easier way to search for work: • Classified ads in local and national newspapers • Online job listings: • www.workopolis.com , www.careerbeacon.com • www.jobbank.gc.ca & • www.psc.gov.nl.ca/psc/jobs/main.asp?id=external • Job fairs – on campus, in the community or virtually • On campus employer information sessions • Community events, tradeshows and conferences

15. Search the hidden job market Hidden Job Market: requires you to network & research • 85% of jobs are not advertised, so you have to network • Who can be my network? • Develop a list of friends, family, past employers, professors etc. • Talk to these contacts and let them know you are looking for work • Make contact by telephone, face to face or email • Tell everyone you are job hunting, you never know what may happen!

16. Research companies & get a mock interview • Explore yellow pages, ask other people, or review a company’s website • Review organization websites that have employers as members. • St. John’s Board of Trade website (membership directory). www.bot.nf.ca • NATI: NL Association of Technology Industries www.nati.net • Contact the career centre (cdel@mun.ca) & request a mock interview. • You can get great advice and suggestions to improve your next interview!

17. Questions about Post Graduate Work Permit or Job Search? Contact the ISA Office: • Natasha Clark (nclark@mun.ca) or • Lynn Walsh (lwalsh@mun.ca)