Recruiting Differently: Targeting Talent Already Here
Some individuals already have work experience in Quebec, but their administrative situation prevents them from staying in their original job. These profiles may include:
- Workers under maintained status (formerly "implied status"): they applied to renew their work permit before it expired and are allowed to keep working under the same conditions while awaiting a decision from IRCC.
- Individuals whose permits have expired and are seeking to regularize their status with the right support.
- Skilled, French-speaking or well-integrated foreign workers who lost their jobs because their employer couldn’t renew their work permit.
- Visitors with refugee claimant status (awaiting permanent residency) who may be eligible to work under certain conditions.
- Newcomers holding open work permits, including those linked to the permits of a skilled worker spouse or international student.
Local Recruitment Events
Job fairs, employment expos, speed jobbing, recruitment workshops, open houses, and roundtable discussions are excellent opportunities to meet these candidates who are ready to work here and now — no relocation delays.
Retention: Keeping Existing Talent Through Recruitment Events
With new immigration rules, reduced quotas, and unpredictable timelines, every skilled employee already in place becomes a strategic resource worth protecting. This applies both to local talent and workers from immigration backgrounds.
Recruitment Events: An Underused Retention Tool
Job fairs, internal career days, participatory workshops, and collective recognition activities help:
- Engage current teams by involving them in organizing, hosting, or representing the company.
- Highlight internal talent by offering them tangible visibility, which is often underestimated.
- Encourage knowledge transfer through natural mentoring, with experienced employees guiding juniors.
- Foster pride and belonging — essential for retention, especially among foreign workers.
- Create space for dialogue to express needs, break isolation, and adjust internal practices.
- Capture powerful moments during events to share internally: these spontaneous photos celebrate people and strengthen team cohesion.
Conclusion
More than just a recruitment lever, well-planned events strengthen team cohesion and shine a spotlight on the talent already present. They foster recognition, engagement, and a sense of belonging — essential pillars for building a strong, resilient team.
In a context where every individual counts, these initiatives provide a concrete path to mobilize the present... and confidently build the future.
