Do I need to be bilingual?

There is a common misconception among new immigrants that they will be disadvantaged if they don’t know both the official languages in Canada, i.e. English and French. This is not true. If you do know both English and French, you have an advantage. Being bilingual is considered an asset and in some professions it will very advantageous, but not essential.  If you know one of the official languages, you will be successful in Canada.

Showcasing your skills in your own native language will also work in your advantage. Remember, Canada is a land made up of immigrants. Companies in Canada will need service these customers in their language, and will therefore look to hire people who speak these various languages. For e.g. many companies in Canada have dedicated phone services in Mandarin and Cantonese to service the needs to their Chinese clients. Others advertise their customers service representatives and sales staff that speak Punjabi, Arabic, Farsi, Tagalog, and more. Canada brings in hundreds of thousand newcomers each year and with so many people coming to Canada it is no more just bilingual, it is becoming multilingual!

Make sure you highlight your native language capabilities in your resume and with potential employers