Preparing for a trade interview with a Canadian employer

When you apply from another country, the interview is often a video or phone call. You may speak to the owner, a shop manager or a person from human resources (the staff office).

Interviewers are usually polite and friendly, and they often begin with a short chat. Canada has two official languages, English and French. Ask the employer which language is used at work if you are not sure.

Questions you may hear:

• Practical questions. "Walk me through how you would do this installation." Go through your steps in order and explain why.
• Example questions. "Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work." Describe what happened and what you learned.
• Safety questions. How you prepare for a job, what protective equipment you use and when you would stop work.
• Fit questions. How you work in a team, and how you feel about conditions such as outdoor work in winter.

Honest, step-by-step answers in plain English usually work best. Practise them out loud in Skills Practice.

Canadian workplaces differ by province, industry and employer. These points are common.

• First names. People usually use first names, including with supervisors.
• Polite, clear speech. People often speak in a calm and polite way. Feedback may be given gently, so listen for what needs to change.
• Speaking up about safety. Workers are usually expected to report hazards. They are also expected to ask before doing a task they are not trained for.
• Asking questions. Checking an instruction is normally seen as careful work.
• Being on time. Arriving on time and ready is expected. Call or message early if you are delayed.
• Respect for everyone. Teams often include people from many countries and backgrounds. Equal respect for everyone is expected.

Try the everyday situations in Living & Working Here to practise choosing a good reply.

Canadian trade words are often the same as American ones, and some are used mainly in Canada. If you learned British English, these may be new.

In Canada, workplace rules are mostly set by each province or territory. There are fourteen sets of health and safety law: one federal, ten provincial and three territorial. Most workers come under the law of the province or territory where they work.

• The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is a federal body. It provides information, training and education on workplace health and safety. Its website lists the responsible government department in each province and territory.
• Canada.ca, the Government of Canada website, has a workplace standards page about federal and provincial labour laws.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the federal department for immigration, including visas and permits.

Links are in the official sources list on this page. We are not connected to any of these bodies.

Employers often ask about your reasons for moving. For example:

• Why do you want to work in Canada?
• Why this province or city?
• Do you plan to stay long term?

They usually want to know that your reasons are real and that you understand the place you are moving to.

• Talk about the work first. Explain what you hope to do and learn in your trade.
• Add honest personal reasons. Safety standards, family and a stable future are common and fair.
• Show you know the location. Say something true about the province or town, such as the climate or the main industries.
• Avoid a rehearsed speech. Keep a few points in mind and say them in your own words each time.

One short example: "I have been a plumber for ten years. I want to work where safety is taken seriously. I know the winters are cold in your province, and I am ready for that."

Do not copy this answer. Build your own, then practise it in General Practice.

• Confirm the time zone for the interview. Canada has several time zones.
• Check your camera, microphone and internet the day before.
• Find out which province the job is in, and read a little about it.
• Use the interviewer's first name if they introduce themselves that way.
• For example questions, choose one real event and explain it from start to finish.
• Describe practical work in order, with the safety steps included.
• Practise speaking your answers before the interview. See how it works.