I just wanted some general advice about writing cover letters to canadian employers.  I'm doing this for a friend of mine but the problem is that they are living in another country.   Their goal is basically to land a job here so that the employer will help to pay some of their traveling cost and other expenses such as getting a work visa.  I'm wondering if I should mention any of that in the cover letters that I am emailing with every resume  or if that is something that is just always just assumed to be known by any hiring company in Canada.   I went to my local government human resources office and asked them this same question already too.  They told me that I should just leave the cover letter written in the same way that anyone already living in Canada would write one.   But is that really accurate?  The office didn't seem too sure about this, so I have decided to look online for a more definite answer.

  So to clarify my questions in better detail,   do most canadian employers / companies already assume that a job seeker is looking for travel cost coverage and help with VISA documents when they see that the person that is applying to a position is currently living in another country?    Or should all of this information be included in the cover letter?   I'm hoping someone here can answer this question better for me.   I don't mind doing favors for my friend and job hunting for them,  but it would be nice to know if I'm using the correct cover letter format  or not.  Sometimes I think I should even include an extra letter with every resume that I send out or something.   A letter of introduction that just explains my friend's overall intentions upon being hired and any requests that they may have.   But as of right now,  I have only been using the standard cover letter format which includes citing where I found the job posting in the first paragraph,  describing my job skills in the second paragraph,  and explaining how I can be contacted in the third paragraph.  Therefore, any extra help or advice would be appreciated.  Thanks for your time.

Hi adam612,

I wouldn't mention requiring travel funds in the cover letter. It's much better to highlight your friend's strong credentials and value offered first -- get the employer interested and then your friend can negotiate compensation and stipends.

As far as work authorization, sometimes it is a good idea to state that assistance would be needed to apply for work authorization, and this can be briefly explained in the cover letter. But make sure you know exactly what your friend requires -- this article has a good overview of the different types of immigration categories:
A Guide to Canadian Immigration

Also, check out the Monster Canada site for job searching:
Monster.ca

Thanks so much for the fast reply.  I am often applying for jobs,  even for myself,  so this should help greatly.  Based on those categories, most likely my friend is trying to come here under the Temperorary Foreign Worker program   so I'll just include that on the cover letter.  I also read somewhere that many employers already know how to contact Canadian immigration and how to get that process started too but I might include the website link in the cover letter as well;  if you think that is appropriate.  Thanks again.

Hi adam612,

You're welcome! I wouldn't include a web link for the employer to learn more. It's almost like giving the employer an assignment or extra work before there is even interest, do you know what I mean?

Sorry for replying again to the same post.  Just figured it might be easier than making a new topic since you reply so quickly.  I tried posting on a few other job websites too but no one seems to reply at all compared to here.  But I just had two more questions about this  in any case.  Would I just write the statement about assistance in the third paragraph of the cover letter?   I think that it's the best location since it would be a part of the closing statement and not just thrown directly at the employer too soon.  

I am also thinking that I will write it  something like this.   "If I am considered for the position of  *(insert job title here)*  I will need some assistance with relocation and travel costs.  Such financial aid can be obtained from the Temporary Foreign Worker program that is currently being offered by the Government of Canada.  You would simply have to contact them on my behalf to make all of the necessary arrangements".    

Is that good in your opinion?   I might shorten it down, I just wrote that example really quickly.


And if it helps even more,  I will just attach a full copy of the generic cover letter that I plan on using  to this post when I get it done.  Doing it now so it probably won't be too long to finish.  Cover letters tend to be quick.

Hi adam612,

It's okay, you can keep posting to this thread! I agree that the statement should be towards the end of the letter -- by that point, the reader should already be interested in interviewing your friend. I would shorten the request for assistance. Take out the part about assistance with travel -- that can be negotiated later on.

Maybe something like this would work: "I meet the criteria for Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the employer application process is very straightforward. I am confident that my expertise in ____ would allow me to make immediate contributions to...(state how your friend would benefit the company if hired...)."

I am going to finish off the entire resume first,  then the cover letter after that,  and I'll post it all here  just to see what you think of it.   Just curious about something else though.  Is it better to use my address on the cover letter and resume when applying for jobs for my friend?   Someone was telling me  that its a bad idea to use my friend's address  since they are in living in another country.  

They said that it would lower the chances that any employer might be interested in hiring them overall   since most canadian employers prefer to contact someone in the local area or at a local street address.   I have no idea if this matters or not though.   Figured I would just get your thoughts about it.   If its really necessary,  I'll put my address on everything that I email out,  although a small part of me  won't like to do that.

Hi adam612,

I don't think you should include your home address on your friend's resume. It's misleading and will more likely frustrate hiring managers when they realize the resume isn't for a local candidate. Also, as you are thinking you don't want to do that, I would say go with your gut instinct!

I feel like I'm almost done.  I decided to use the functional resume format  and i think this new resume looks world's better than the original.  I'll include both though,  just so that you can see it for yourself.  Hardest thing is shortening it down at this point because I don't want to remove too much.  If I remove too much, I know that I might be deleting important  skills.  And I may just let this resume run into 3 pages length  although I hoped I could avoid that.

 You can tell me later what you think of it.  I'm just doing it the best as I possibly can  since I know there are no shortage of applicants that are living in Canada already with office assistant  / administrative assistant skills.   Getting the feeling that my friend will have a tough time either way.


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