Acquiring a range of so-called soft skills could assist those looking for job opportunities in Canada's engineering sector.

This is according to an article for the Calgary Herald, in which Shaun Polczer stated that professionals in the field should develop such talents in addition to technical skills.

He noted the immigrant workers can often find that securing a job, adjusting to a new culture and settling into a different way of life are harder than mathematical calculations for engineering professionals.

So, Mr Polczer suggests that in order to ensure they end up doing the jobs they are trained for, immigrant engineers should ensure they develop their job search and interviewing skills.

Around 20,000 skilled worker visas are issued by Canada each year and applicants for engineering jobs in the country should have an offer of employment or a minimum of one year's professional work experience, certification from a professional association and English or French language abilities.

The Canadian national statistics agency recently reported that the number of people out of work in the country was 16.6 per cent lower than in June 2009.

Posted by Fiona Summers