Tips on Networking – The Important Aspect of the Job Search Process for Immigrants

Networking matters a lot when you are looking for work in a new country. Not because a contact will hand you a job. Most of the people you meet will not be hiring managers at all. They are the ones who can tell you how a sector actually hires, introduce you to someone useful, or warn you off a dead end. That is harder for a newcomer who is still getting used to a different work culture and a room full of strangers. The point of networking is simple: you give something, you get something, and over time you learn how the local market works.

If you have just arrived, or you are planning to move to Canada or somewhere else, here are six practical tips that hold up in real job searches.

1. Know what you are actually asking for

Before you reach out to anyone, be clear about the job or the type of employer you want. Vague requests get vague results. Do not send your resume with a line like “let me know if anything comes up”. Busy people rarely reply to that, and you can burn a contact by wasting their time. Ask a specific question instead: how someone broke into a particular field, which companies are worth watching, or whether they would look over your resume for one role you care about.

2. Go to events to meet people, not to collect favours

Networking for its own sake does not work. Even at an event built to connect newcomers with people in their field, walking in to hand out resumes and ask for favours falls flat. Treat it as a conversation. Learn who else is in the room, let them get to know you as a person, and swap useful information both ways.

It will not always be obvious in the moment what you can do for each other. That is fine. New contacts tend to pay off later. Remember that most people there are in the same spot you are, trying to widen their own circle, so it is a good place to build a real relationship. If you put the ask ahead of the person, you will not connect with anyone well enough for them to want to help.

3. Write down everyone you already know

You probably know more people than you think. Sit down and list anyone connected to the field you want to be in. Look up old classmates and colleagues online. Add friends, acquaintances, your parents’ friends, people from previous jobs. You do not know in advance who will be the one to point you in the right direction.

4. Networking is not only about work

Meetups, workshops, and clubs are all useful for widening your circle. But if you join a group only to fish for a job, people notice, and you will not fit in. You come across as someone with a hidden agenda. Pick events that match things you actually care about. You will settle in more easily, meet people you have something in common with, and often the right work leads turn up that way too. As a bonus, you spend your evening on something you enjoy either way.

5. Build the relationship, do not just take from it

A relationship only works when it goes both ways. Reach out to people with the aim of building a connection, not extracting one. A few things that help:

• Be considerate of their time
• Be genuine rather than putting on a front
• Make one clear, specific request
• Ask for advice, not for a job

6. Use job fairs

Job fairs are a good place to meet people in your field and get your name in front of employers. Spend a few minutes with recruiters from companies or fields you care about. A short face-to-face chat and a handshake tends to stick better than an email or a phone call, so you are more likely to be remembered when a suitable role opens up.

If you apply later or follow up after the fair, that in-person meeting gives you an edge. Treat a job fair like any formal interview: dress properly, and bring several up-to-date copies of your resume.

One last thing. Networking runs both ways, so keep giving back. Send the thank-you note after you meet someone. Be polite, ask how they are doing, and once in a while share an article you think they would find useful. Small, steady effort is what keeps a contact warm.

How Cosmos Immigration helps

Cosmos Immigration is a Dubai-based consultancy working with UAE residents who are planning to move abroad. We can talk through your options, explain how a particular program works, and help you get your paperwork in order before you apply. Individual files are handled by named CICC and MARA-registered consultants. No consultant can guarantee a job offer or a visa outcome, and we will not pretend otherwise, but clear preparation and honest advice put you in a stronger position to make your own decisions.

Reviewed by the Cosmos Immigration counselling team, August 2026. [Immigration rules change; confirm current requirements on the relevant official government site before you apply.]