📍 Editor’s Note
👋 Hey there,
Officially in the second month of 2026, and seeing as it’s the month of love, I’m wondering how we can spread all that good feeling! The best way I can think of doing so is to put you on to some serious game; so that’s what’s up this week!
Word on the street is that you may be treating that "quick chat" with a recruiter like it doesn't matter. Meanwhile, your resume is dying in someone's inbox before it ever reaches the hiring manager.
Meanwhile, international students are discovering after they arrive that their province won't cover basic healthcare for 12 months. There’s also a job fair that could fast-track your move to Canada, and skilled workers in certain sectors are getting work permits approved in weeks while everyone else waits months.
That’s a lot to take into consideration, but we’ve got you covered with all you need to know. Let’s begin.
— Dami
🎯 The One Thing You Need to Read This Week
That Recruiter Call? It's Your Actual First Interview
Stop me if this sounds familiar: You get a call from a recruiter. You think it's just a quick screening. You wing it. Then... crickets.
Here's what actually happened: You just failed your first interview and didn't even know it was happening.
Gaurav Valani built a $72 million staffing agency and has coached 875+ people into roles at companies they actually wanted to work for. His diagnosis? Most candidates are tanking their chances in the first 15 minutes.
"Recruiters don't just forward resumes," he explains. "They submit your resume with a summary explaining why they believe you're a strong fit. What you say on that call is what gets repeated to the hiring manager."
What strong candidates do differently:
They ask about the hiring manager's working style before they meet them
They offer to send a written summary of why they're a fit (recruiters love this)
They use the "Did, Learned, Achieved" framework instead of rambling through their entire career history
They come prepared with 10 strategic questions that unlock insider intel
The recruiter call isn't gatekeeping. It's intelligence gathering. And most people are walking in blind.
🚨 Before You Accept That Study Offer
Your Province Will Determine Your Healthcare—And Some Are Setting You Up to Fail
Choosing between two universities? Here's what nobody puts in the glossy brochures: where you study completely changes your access to healthcare. And the differences are brutal.
Province-by-province reality:
Saskatchewan: Free comprehensive public coverage from day one
Nova Scotia: 12-month waiting period before you can see a doctor
Ontario: Zero public coverage, $792/year minimum for private insurance
Manitoba: Private insurance only, $1,200+ annually
British Columbia: $75/month plus a 3-month waiting period
A new report from the Canadian Health Coalition and Madhu Verma Migrant Justice Centre just dropped the receipts. Some students are paying thousands more. Others are waiting months for basic care. Many have no idea what happens to coverage after graduation.
If you're deciding between programs right now, this isn't a nice-to-know. It's a need-to-know before you commit.
💼 Actually Useful This Week
Newfoundland Wants to Hire You (Virtually)
February 11, 6-10 PM GMT — The Newfoundland and Labrador government is running a virtual job fair for foreign workers who want to move to Canada.
Upload your resume. Connect with hiring employers. Get info sessions on PNP streams and what life actually looks like in the province.
They're specifically looking for:
Social workers
K-12 teachers (English/French)
Aviation professionals
Healthcare workers
Early childhood educators
Construction trades
Hospitality and food service
Even if you don't land something during the event, employers keep your resume all year and can reach out later.
One catch: to immigrate through Newfoundland's PNP, you'll need a minimum one-year job offer from an in-province employer. This event can help you get it.
These Work Permits Are Getting Fast-Tracked
Plot twist: Canada is quietly prioritizing certain work permit applications for faster processing. If you're applying for an employer-specific work permit in healthcare or agriculture/agri-food, then the stars are in line for you.
Healthcare roles getting priority:
Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, LPNs
GPs, specialists, physician assistants
Pharmacists, respiratory therapists
Medical lab technologists, radiation techs
Paramedics, nurse aides
Agriculture/agri-food roles:
Butchers, meat cutters
Farm supervisors, livestock workers
Fish and seafood plant workers
Food processing labourers
How it works: You don't apply for priority processing separately. It's triggered automatically if your NOC code matches the priority list and you're applying for an employer-specific permit (LMIA-based, Francophone Mobility, or IEC).
Bonus: Many of these occupations also qualify for category-based Express Entry selection, meaning lower CRS score requirements for PR invitations.
🏠 Housing Reality Check
Why a 2-Bedroom Might Actually Save You Money
Counterintuitive, right? Bigger apartment, higher rent. But here's the math newcomers are missing:
Split a 2-bedroom in Toronto ($2,034) with a roommate = $1,017 each Rent a 1-bedroom alone in Toronto = way more than $1,017
Plus you get:
Home office space (crucial if you're working remote/hybrid)
Room for visiting family or temporary household changes
Storage that actually makes sense
Flexibility to stay longer without needing to move again
Average 2-bedroom rents in 2026:
Vancouver: $2,363
Toronto: $2,034
Calgary: $1,914
Ottawa: $1,926
Halifax: $1,826
Edmonton: $1,603
London: $1,651
The sweet spot? Mid-sized cities with lower rents and sharing costs strategically. For many newcomers, this creates housing stability without destroying the budget.
📣 Here's what I want you to do this week:
If you're job searching—treat every recruiter call like the interview it actually is. Prepare questions. Send that follow-up summary.
If you're choosing where to study, check the healthcare coverage before you accept the offer. Not after.
If you're in a priority occupation, ensure your NOC code is correct on your work permit application so you receive fast-track processing.
That's all it takes.
Got a question or stuck on something? Don’t be a stranger. Send a message right away!
See you next Sunday,
The New Local Team