Indigenous Career Pathways
Build your next career step with practical guidance for searching, applying and preparing for work across Canada. These resources are designed with First Nations, Métis and Inuit job seekers in mind and are available to anyone seeking clear employment information.
Use the guides below to search by an ordinary job title and location, prepare a clear resume, get ready for interviews, explore training and protect your personal information while applying.
Find work by title and location
Start with the kind of work you want and the place where you can realistically work. Search with an ordinary title such as carpenter, cook, administrative assistant, health care aide or warehouse worker, then add a city, province or territory. You do not need to know a National Occupational Classification code to begin a normal job search.
Employers sometimes use different titles for similar work. If one search produces few results, try a related title, remove unnecessary filters or gradually expand the location to nearby communities.
Prepare a resume that reflects your experience
A useful resume explains what you can do and how your experience relates to the position. Include relevant paid work, education, training, licences, certifications and technical skills. Community, volunteer, caregiving, cultural, seasonal or land- and water-based experience may also demonstrate useful skills when it genuinely belongs to you and relates to the work.
Describe your responsibilities and accomplishments clearly. Organizing a community activity may demonstrate planning and teamwork. Supporting a youth program may show communication and leadership. Practical seasonal work may demonstrate safety awareness, reliability and problem-solving. Use specific examples rather than general claims.
Get ready for interviews and employer communication
Review the advertisement before an interview and prepare examples showing how you handled responsibilities, solved problems or worked with other people. Confirm the interview time, format and contact person. If the interview is online, test your device, internet connection, camera and microphone in advance.
You can also prepare questions about the duties, schedule, supervision, training, work location, transportation, housing or relocation. A clear interview should help both you and the employer decide whether the position is suitable.
Explore training apprenticeships and employment support
Training may help you enter a trade, obtain a required certificate, strengthen workplace skills or prepare for a different occupation. Indigenous employment-service organizations operate in communities across Canada and may provide career counselling, training referrals, apprenticeship support, resume assistance and other services. Available programs differ by organization and location, so confirm current eligibility and services directly with the provider.
Find service-delivery organizations through the Government of Canada Indigenous Skills and Employment Training directory.
Search and apply safely
Research an unfamiliar employer before applying. Confirm its official website and contact information independently. Never pay to view a job, submit an application, attend an interview or receive a job offer.
Be cautious when someone guarantees employment, offers unusually high pay for very little work, requests gift cards or cryptocurrency, sends a cheque and asks you to return money, or asks for banking information or sensitive identification during an initial application. Report suspicious advertisements using the Job ID and page link.
Decide how you want to handle self identification
Whether you choose to identify yourself as First Nations, Métis or Inuit in an application is a personal decision. If an employer invites voluntary self-identification, read how the information will be used, whether answering is optional and how the information will be protected. Ask questions if the purpose is unclear.
Do not send a status card, treaty card, Social Insurance Number, banking information or other sensitive identification merely to submit an initial application. If documentation is legitimately required later, verify the employer and ask why it is needed and how it will be protected.