Hilda Effiong Bassey, also known as Hilda Baci, is a multi-talented individual from Nigeria born on September 20, 1996. She’s known for her excellent skills as a chef, restaurant owner, and actress. Hilda made headlines worldwide when she set a new Guinness World Record for the longest marathon cooking time in May 2023, cooking non-stop for 93 hours and 11 minutes.
Hilda Baci is also a chef and she knows how important it is to support people who want to become chefs. She’s offering an amazing chance for people: free cooking scholarships in Canada that also help with your visa. This is for anyone who’s excited to learn more about being a chef.
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Because Hilda Baci loves cooking so much, she believes in the power of education and learning by doing. Her goal with these scholarships is to give future chefs the chances, skills, and experience they need to do well in cooking. She’s inviting people who are ready to learn everything about cooking and what it’s like to study this in Canada.
Why Canada Needs More Cooks
Canada is a great place for people looking to move from other countries. It has a good economy, life is nice there, and there are lots of jobs. This is why chefs and cooks are interested in going to Canada for work and to live there.
The restaurant business in Canada is growing fast. There are lots of restaurants and cafes that need good cooks and chefs. Experts think that by 2028, there will be more than 140,000 new jobs in this industry. With many chefs retiring, immigrants have a big chance to fill these positions.
If you’re good at cooking, you might be able to get a work visa for Canada if you have a job offer. Let’s see how you can improve your chances of success.
Checking Your Cooking Skills and Qualifications
Employers in Canada are looking for cooks who have:
- Cooking school degrees, certificates, or diplomas
- At least 3 years of work experience as a cook in a restaurant
- Knowledge of special cooking skills and food types that the job asks for
- Good English or French speaking skills
Think about your cooking experience, skills, and how well you speak the language. See if there’s anything you need to get better at or any qualifications you need to get.
It’s important that your cooking qualifications are accepted in Canada. Programs like World Education Services can check your qualifications and say if they’re equal to Canadian standards. You can show this to employers in Canada.
Choosing the Best Places in Canada for Cooking Jobs
Some parts of Canada need foreign cooks more than others. When looking for jobs, focus on provinces and cities with the most restaurants:
- Ontario – Places like Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, and Kitchener
- British Columbia – Cities like Vancouver and Victoria
- Quebec – Places like Montreal
- Alberta – Cities like Calgary and Edmonton
These places are also good for new people moving to Canada because they have different cultures and make it easier to fit in.
Look for areas where other immigrants live, so you can find things like special grocery stores, places to pray, and communities that follow your cooking culture.
How to Find Cooking Jobs with Visa Sponsorship
Look for cooking jobs where the employer will help you with the work permit and visa. You need to be persistent and have a good plan.
- Make profiles on Canadian job websites and show off your cooking skills. Get email updates when new cooking jobs are listed.
- Talk to groups that help immigrants to connect with employers who are happy to hire people from other countries.
- Think about doing short cooking internships or training programs in Canada to make yourself more appealing to employers.
- Go to events in Canada about moving there and cooking to meet people who might want to hire you.
- If you have family in Canada, ask them to help you by sharing your resume with their contacts.
- Contact companies in Canada that find employees for restaurants and hotels.
Getting a visa sponsorship from the start makes it a lot easier to move to Canada. Remember that this might take some time.
Understanding How to Immigrate for the Job
When you get a job offer for cooking that qualifies, your employer in Canada can ask the government to let you come work there as a foreign worker.
If they say yes, you get a temporary work permit. You can work for that employer for up to three years, and you can renew it too.
In the future, if you speak the language well enough and have lived in Canada for some time, you can apply to live there forever through a system called Express Entry.
To get your visa approved, it’s important to know that you will need to go through medical tests and get police clearance certificates. It may take about four to eight months to process your work permit.
What to Expect When Working as a Cook in Canada
If you get the chance to move to Canada for a cooking job, here’s what life might look like for you:
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- You should earn a salary that is on par with what cooks usually earn in Canada. The minimum wage is different in each province but is usually between $12 to $15 CAD per hour.
- Rent can be quite expensive, especially in big cities like Vancouver and Toronto. Living with others can help you save money, so plan your budget with this in mind.
- You can use public transport to get around. It’s good and you might not need to buy a car, especially if you live in a big city.
- Remember to fill out all the necessary tax documents. If you work in Canada, you have to pay income tax.
- In Canadian kitchens, you are expected to do different tasks at once. Be ready to handle various cooking jobs at the same time.
- Cooking jobs can be physically demanding. You’ll be on your feet for long hours, so you’ll need good physical stamina.
- In most places, even in Quebec, English is the main language used at work. It’s important to understand and speak it well.
With the right preparation and effort, you can make your dream of cooking in Canada come true. Ask a lawyer who knows about immigration for advice and get your paperwork ready. If you love cooking, Canada could become your new home. Good luck!
Steps for Cooks to Get a Canadian Work Visa
Canada is a popular place for people looking to move to a new country, thanks to its many job opportunities and great quality of life. As the food industry in Canada grows quickly, cooks are needed all over the country.
If you’re a cook and meet the immigration rules of Canada, you can get a visa that your employer sponsors. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Get Your Cooking Qualifications Checked
It’s really important to have your cooking diplomas or degrees assessed. An authorized group can give you an Educational Credential Assessment to do this.
This will prove that your qualifications are real and show if they are equal to Canadian standards. Canadian employers take these assessments very seriously.
2. Look for Jobs that are in Demand
Search for job openings carefully to find ones that match your skills and where employers are looking for cooks from outside Canada. Big cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal are good places to look for work since there are lots of jobs there. Use LinkedIn to network with others in your field.
Meeting Language Requirements
Canada has clear rules about language skills for cooks coming from other countries. You need to show you can speak English or French well by passing tests like IELTS or TEF Canada.
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Try to get scores between CLB 5-8. Consider taking language classes if you need to improve.
1. Update Your Skills If Needed
If your assessment shows that you need to learn more, you might have to take extra training or apprenticeship programs in Canada.
This will show employers that you are working to get better and want to fit into the Canadian job market.
2. Get a Job Offer that Qualifies
It’s important to get a job offer in writing from a Canadian employer who is ready to sponsor you. The job offer should clearly state your job duties, pay, hours, benefits, and so on.
With this job offer, your employer can apply for an LMIA and then ask for a temporary work permit for you from the immigration authorities.
Complete Your Visa Application
After you get your LMIA approved, you need to get all the other documents ready for your work visa, like education records, police certificates, health check reports, and proof that you have enough money for living expenses.
If the process seems complicated, consider getting help from an immigration lawyer. Be patient because getting a work visa for Canada might take several months.
If you’re a cook with the right experience and qualifications, start planning now so that you can make your goal of working in Canada a success.
Tips for Cooks Looking for Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in Canada
With the food industry booming in Canada, getting a work permit through an employer-sponsored visa is possible. Here are some tips to help you be successful:
- Improve your resume – Update your resume to show off skills that Canadian employers are looking for in cooks. Include your experience with different types of cuisine, technical skills, any management experience you have, and how well you speak English.
- Go to job events in Canada – Meet employers face-to-face at trade shows, food festivals, and other big events in cities around Canada.
- Try a short internship in Canada – Taking part in apprenticeships or other work programs with Canadian restaurants or hotels can help you make connections and show that you are ready to adapt.
- Apply in areas that need more staff – Sometimes, places like smaller communities or certain provinces might have a hard time finding cooks from within Canada. These places might offer better chances for you to get a visa.
- Get recognized as a cook – Having certifications like Red Seal or others recognized in different provinces can convince employers that you meet good cooking standards.
- Work on any missing skills now – If your skills assessment shows you need to improve in certain areas, start working on those skills even before you apply to immigrate. This shows you are determined and serious.
- Use recruitment firms – These firms work closely with employers and can help match your resume to job openings that come with a visa.
- Show that you can adapt – Knowing how to cook food from different cultures can be a big plus, as Canada’s population is very diverse.
- Check out provincial immigration options – Some provinces have their own programs that can make it easier for cooks to move to Canada if they are willing to work in areas that really need them.
Good preparation is key for cooks who want to move to Canada. Be smart about your job search, and you’ll find great opportunities waiting for you.
