Business Analysts In Canada: Bridging Programs For Internationally Educated Professionals (IEPs)

There are numerous programs for Internationally Educated Professionals that new permanent residents to Canada may explore. These programs cover generic subjects ranging from workplace communication and integration advice to occupation-specific training. For those looking to enter the business analysis field in Canada, here are some organisations that offer training programs you may want to explore:

1. Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals - York University

2. Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Professionals - Humber College.

3. Business English for International Professionals – University of Toronto

4. Business Edge for Internationally Educated Professionals – University of Toronto

These links have been provided only as a guide. You would need to research the province you intend to relocate to in order to ascertain which bridging programs are available for your profession.

How To Gain Canadian Work Experience: The Education/Work Term Pathway

Another route to gaining the much-desired Canadian work experience is by signing up for a University or College degree with a CO-OP (Co-operative Education) element. CO-OP degrees involve work placements which can last up to a term and they provide opportunities for aspiring business analysts to learn the theory as well as the practice of the profession. 

This post provides a list of college degrees with work placement elements that are suitable for business analysts:

1. Business Analysis and Process Management from Sheridan College with Coop option

2. Learn Business Analysis with Mohawk College and explore Student Placement Partnerships

3. Check out the IT Business Analysis – Graduate Certificate from Cambrian College. An unpaid 8-week field placement in the third semester is part of the program of study.

4. Explore Information Systems Business Analysis Program (with experiential learning capstone) (T405) from George Brown College.

Do you know of any other courses I can add to this list? Any other suggestions for gaining Canadian work experience are welcome. Do leave a comment below.

How To Gain Canadian Work Experience: The Internship Pathway

Internships are great for getting your foot in the door when looking to gain Canadian work experience. A couple of internship opportunities for residents have been outlined below. Business Analysts new to Canada can also take advantage of these:

1. Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program
2. Career Edge Internships

Do leave a comment below if you know of additional internship opportunities.

How To Gain Canadian Work Experience: The Volunteering Pathway

Volunteering in your free time is one of the most effective ways of keeping depression at bay when job hunting. Looking for a job can be a very stressful period and it is important that you limit the amount of time you spend worrying, waiting for that phone call or thinking about factors you have no control over. Volunteering has multiple benefits such as keeping you engaged, connecting you to members of your professional network and providing an opportunity for you to gain some Canadian work experience, which can potentially help you land the job you seek. 

This post lists a number of websites in Canada where you can explore volunteering opportunities, which may or may not be related to the field of business analysis. The objective here is not to provide an exhaustive list but a starting point for any BA looking for opportunities to connect with other professionals and make a difference, while waiting for their ideal job:

1. Startup Canada

2. Govolunteer

3. Non-profit organizations

4. Volunteer Toronto

5. Goodwork.ca

6. Plan International Canada

7. Worldvision

Are you an employer offering volunteering opportunities to business analysts in Canada? Do you know of any companies offering business analysts volunteering opportunities? Would you like to share your volunteering experience? Do leave a comment below.

Canadian Provinces With A Demand For Business Analysts: 2018

Before deciding on which city to relocate to in Canada, It’s important to verify if there is a high demand for business analysts in your destination city. One quick way of doing this basic ground work is to visit the Job Bank website for labour market information regarding the BA occupation. Here are some quick steps to do this:

Go to the Explore Career section of the Job Bank website:

Enter your occupational title as shown below. Suggestions will appear as you type. All you need to do is select the appropriate one, with the right National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. Enter your destination city and then click on the search button:

Go through all the sections highlighted in red below to be sure your selected occupation is a good fit:

After carrying out these same steps for multiple cities, you should have a clearer idea which locations would work best for you. Another positive aspect of reviewing the details of your occupation on the Job Bank website is that it can help you highlight which additional skills you need to acquire before making the move.

Was this helpful? Do leave a comment below.

Networking Opportunities For Business Analysts in Canada

If you’re a business analyst in Canada looking for opportunities to meet with fellow BAs and potential employers, this post provides a list of professional associations you should consider registering with. These associations typically offer networking opportunities and events you can attend. Organizations looking for business analysts may also post job advertisements on their websites.

• IIBA

• PMI-PBA certification introduced by PMI

In addition to professional associations, Job Fairs are another popular avenue for meeting potential employers.

Do you know of any other associations business analysts in Canada may benefit from joining?

Job Boards/Search Engines Every Business Analyst Should Know About

While typing a simple search term such as “Business Analyst Jobs in Canada” will most likely return a long list of business analyst jobs and opportunities you can explore, it helps to have a list of reputable business analysis job boards and job search engines you can refer to for a start, until you decide which ones work best for you. 

The list below provides a starting point when searching for business analysis job opportunities in Canada and has not been arranged in any particular order of preference:

1. Job Bank

2. Indeed

3. Workopolis

4. LinkedIn

5. The Muse

6. ITjobs

7. Career Edge

8. Eluta.ca

9. Career Builder

10. Jobboom

11. Monster

12. Glassdoor

13. Simply Hired

14. Bajobs

15. Career Beacon

If you have an experience to share, do leave a comment below.

Recruitment/Employment Agencies In Canada For Business Analysts

Are you a business analyst looking for job opportunities in Canada?

In addition to applying for jobs through job boards, employment or recruitment agencies are a good place to start. One major advantage of registering with an agency is that they can match your profile to suitable employer positions quickly, connect you to hidden job opportunities and evaluate your skills on behalf of the hiring companies. I particularly like the article from Randstad, Canada which attempts to dispel some of the myths surrounding recruitment agencies.

Here’s a collection of employment agencies or websites providing recruitment services which extend to the business analysis profession that you can explore and bookmark on your job hunting journey:

1. Randstad

2. Hays Specialist Recruitment Canada

3. Modis

4. Procom

5. Michael Page

6. Beachhead

7. S.i. Systems

8. Robert Half Canada

9. Adecco

10. Kelly Services

Any ideas on which other agencies should make the list? Do you have any feedback on any of these agencies that might help others? Do leave a comment below.