Best Career Options in Canada

Canada attracts thousands of international students every year due to its well-developed economy, high living standards, and numerous employment opportunities. International students can explore some of the best career options in Canada with a degree in dentistry, medicine, engineering, law, or business management.

Canada has become a favourite destination for students/immigrants to pursue their higher studies and seek job opportunities. One of the primary reasons for choosing Canada is that Canadian immigration policies provide various benefits. Moreover, factors like high standard of living, safety, medical benefits, etc., also attract immigrants. So if you are looking for the best career options in Canada, this article is for you!

Table of Contents

• Highest Paying Jobs in Canada
• Regulations for Working in Canada
• Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada
• Best Job Sites in Canada
• Subjects with the Highest Graduate Salaries in Canada
• Canadian Universities with the Highest Graduate Employability
• How to Get a Work Visa for Canada?

Highest Paying Jobs in Canada

International students looking at some of the best career options in Canada can aim to become a surgeon, IT Managers, dentists, engineering managers, psychiatrists, etc. Canadian universities offer a large number of English-taught degrees and also have numerous employment opportunities. As per the data collected pre-COVID, the following are some of the most popular high paying jobs in Canada:

Surgeon

Canada is viewed as one of the best countries for healthcare services. The country was placed in 24th position among 30 countries with 2.8 doctors per 1000 people by OECD. Hence, a large number of doctors are hired in Canada. According to Jobs Bank, the employment growth rate of general practitioners and family physicians is estimated to be the 2nd highest in the country. Some of the job profiles include neurosurgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon, and physician.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is responsible for dealing with the mental disorders of patients. In 2018, around 48,500 people were working in this profession, and this number is expected to increase by 32,500 from 2019-28. The possible roles in this field include clinical psychologist, patient counsellor, diagnosis, and treatment planner. To practice as a psychiatrist in Canada after graduation, students need to clear an exam by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Dentist

A dentist deals with the treatment of all mouth and teeth-related diseases. It is one of the most respected and high-paying professions in Canada. Students need to complete a bachelor’s degree and a four-year masters in dentistry to practice as a dentist. There are ten accredited dental schools in Canada at present. The major roles in dentistry are dental assistant, dental hygienist, and office administrator, among others.

Utility Manager

Utility Managers are responsible for supervising the functions of utility organizations like water, power, gas, electricity, etc. Some of the popular roles taken up include power plant manager, power systems electrician, and mining supervisor.

Engineering Manager

The duties of an engineering manager are to supervise and guide the engineering teams for the completion of a project/task. According to Job Bank Canada, 17,900 new graduate engineers will be entering the job market by 2019-28. However, only 15,200 jobs would be created, so the competition in this field is quite high. Students can find various roles like product engineer, quality control manager, design manager, and more.

Construction Manager

They are responsible for managing and directing the construction of structures, buildings, and roads. In addition, they need to create plans, coordinate with customers and manage the team of subordinate workers. The job market is balanced in this field as there was a demand for 28,000 jobs against 31,100 graduates from 2019-28. Students can work as project managers, site inspectors, project coordinators, superintendents, etc.

IT Manager

The role of an IT manager is to create IT strategies and research solutions and manage staff members. The pay scale is lower when compared to that of a doctor or dentist, but it is easier to secure a job in this sector in Canada. Students need to have a bachelor’s or a master's degree in computer science, IT, or a related discipline. The various roles under this category are IT director, IT operations manager, and senior IT manager.

Pilot

Pilots are responsible for ensuring safe air travel. According to Job Bank Canada, the job market in this field is stable, as the number of jobs generated is equal to the number of pilots that have entered the field. It has also been found that the highest number of openings for pilots are there in Toronto. Some of the possible roles are airplane pilot, flight engineer, copilot, etc.

Lawyers

The main responsibility of lawyers is to manage the legal obligations of their customers. It has been estimated that 46,000 new opportunities will be generated in this field from 2019-28, according to Job Bank Canada. The major career options that students can take up include legal counsel, general counsel, attorney/lawyer, etc.

Marketing Manager

The major tasks of marketing managers are to manage and enhance the brand value of the company’s products and services. In addition, they need to formulate strategies and campaigns to promote brand awareness. Possible roles under marketing are marketing director, marketing manager, and senior marketing manager, among many others.

Regulations for Working in Canada

Being an international student, you are permitted to work post the completion of your course for a duration that sums up the length of your course. You need to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Programme (PGWPP) within 90 days of completing your degree/course. However, the work duration cannot be more than three years in this case. If you want to work in the country for a longer period, then a Canadian Experience class permanent residency visa is required.

The students who have graduated from any such type of institution that is mentioned below are eligible to apply for the PGWPP:

• A public higher education institution or
• A private higher education institution that complies with the rules of public schools or
• A private higher education institution that holds qualification courses of 900 hours or more 
• A private institution that provides degrees approved by the Canadian province in which it is located

Most In-Demand Jobs in Canada

According to the Canadian Business Magazine, the most in-demand jobs in Canada are in the healthcare industry and STEM. There are a number of opportunities like dentistry, nursing, and physiotherapies in the healthcare sector. The STEM jobs (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) are the best career options in Canada. Engineering specialists, telecommunication managers, conservation officers, etc., also have a great chance of getting hired in Canada. Other than these professions, mining, occupational therapy, and school counselling are other areas that can be taken up as career choices.

Best Job Sites in Canada

Many websites in Canada declare themselves to be the best when it comes to job hunting. However, one should research effectively before applying for various jobs. Several companies have their search engines or job posting boards, so it becomes easier to apply for jobs. The common websites useful for job hunters are Monster, Indeed, Glassdoor, and Careerbuilder.

There are numerous employment opportunities available in Canada post-graduation. The key is to plan effectively and choose a program that is suitable for your career growth. The program should match your skills and help you grab a job opportunity in the desired industry.

Subjects with the Highest Graduate Salaries in Canada

A degree in finance, software engineering, business administration, etc can help students get the highest graduate salaries in Canada. One can also have a high income in other work fields as well once they gain experience and advance to managerial or administrative positions. An average salary in the range of CAD 164,000- CAD 340,000 is considered in the higher range in Canada. Find below some of the subjects that lead to the best career options in Canada with the highest graduate salaries:

Canadian Universities with the Highest Graduate Employability

Several Canadian universities are ranked among the best universities in the world known specifically for graduate employability. Students are taught important personal and professional skills which can be applied in the real world. Listed below are the top universities with the highest graduate employability rates that prepare students for the best career options in Canada:

• University of Toronto
• McGill University
• University of British Columbia
• University of Montreal
• McMaster University
• University of Waterloo
• University of Alberta
• Queen’s University
• Western University
• University of Calgary

How to Get a Work Visa for Canada?

International students who have completed their degree course in Canada are allowed to work for a period that sums up the length of their program, but no more than three years. One can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) within 180 days of receiving the written confirmation of completion of the course. The minimum duration of the courses should be eight months to get a PGWP to explore some of the best career options in Canada. Listed below are the eligibility requirements for international students to get a PGWP in Canada:

• The applicant should have studied full time in Canada and his/ her course duration should be at least eight months
• One should apply for a work permit within 180 days of completing their course and written proof from the college/ university should be submitted indicating the same
• The student should have a valid student visa when applying for the PGWP