Competitive Advantage and Canadian Experience

foreign markets: Rather than viewing skilled immigrants as a relatively untapped source of talent and a competitive advantage due to their knowledge of foreign markets, languages, cultures and business practices, a large proportion of employers turn away candidates who lack Canadian experience or those whose international educational and professional qualifications are different or unfamiliar to them, according to Canadian HR Reporter. According to some studies, newcomers are taking longer to settle and obtain suitable employment than was the case with previous generations of immigrants. Many newcomers experience discrimination and challenges relating to their lack of Canadian experience and qualifications even where the evidence tends to suggest they should be highly employable in this country. This is in spite of the fact that immigrants on average tend to be better educated than those born in Canada. In the absence of a valid and legally defensible bona fide occupational requirement, employers are prohibited from discriminating against candidates on the basis of race, religion, national or ethnic origin. The problem with refusing to consider candidates due to their lack of Canadian experience is it not only artificially narrows an organization talent pool but could also be illegal. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.