Marketing Jobs in Canada: Give Yourself the Best Chance of Success

If you’re looking for marketing jobs in Canada, you’ve come to the right place. Especially if you’re a recent newcomer or finalising your move to Canada.

The three main markets for marketing jobs in Canada are in the country’s three biggest cities: Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. These three cities are home to some of the largest marketing agencies and companies in the entire country, and offer a range of marketing roles for the right candidate. So, whether you’re looking for an opportunity as a marketing manager, social media expert or search engine optimization (SEO) specialist, there will almost certainly be a range of positions that meet your skill-set in Canada.

That’s the good news for marketing professionals or recent graduates in Canada. The bad news is that the field is littered with competitive candidates so if you want to stand out from the crowd then you will need to be as prepared as possible.

Does your marketing resume read something like this?

Tasked with the management of all social media channels and marketing content for the advertising company I worked for.

If so, it’s time to turn your resume into a document that shines. To do that, make it speak in terms of situations faced, actions taken, and what those actions achieved for the company in terms of KPIs. Here we go:

I created engaging content to increase brand awareness of our company across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. By implementing a detailed social media schedule, I was able to target our branded content to the audience that was most receptive to it. As a result, the company’s social media traffic and engagement metrics increased by 55% in one year.

Doesn’t this look more like a marketing specialist, ready to solve problems for a Canadian business? Now, please don’t copy the above example into your resume. Instead, review every single bullet point of your resume and re-evaluate it according to this formula:

Problem/Situation >> Action taken >> Results/Achievement

Then make the necessary changes (and believe us when we say those changes are necessary).

2. Create a Cover Letter That Shines

Are you using the same cover letter for every single application?If so, it might be time to upgrade your cover letter into something that grabs attention. Here’s what you can do:

• Personalize it for each job
• Show genuine interest in the company and the job
• Clearly highlight how your experience matches what they’re looking for using their job description.

Your cover letter is not just a summary of your resume—it’s your chance to tell your story, explain why you want the job, and what makes you a great fit. As a newcomer, it’s also a great place to briefly address your situation (e.g., lack of Canadian experience) while focusing on the value and skills you bring.

💡 Tip: Start strong with a line that grabs attention. Instead of saying, “I am writing to apply for…”, try something like:

“As a digital marketing specialist with 5+ years of international experience, I was excited to discover this opportunity with [Company Name].”

Taking the time to tailor your cover letter shows employers that you’re serious, professional, and genuinely interested in them—and that can make all the difference.

By following the previous steps, you should expect to land an interview for a marketing opening sooner rather than later. When you do, it’s important to make sure that you’re as prepared as possible. To achieve this goal we recommend that you follow these top five tips:

1. Be concise with your answers. Highlight your achievements but don’t ramble. Use your resume as a reference point.
2. Ensure that you research the company you are interviewing for thoroughly. Show the manager or hiring manager that you’ve undertaken the necessary research about the company, but don’t show off.
3. When you’re asked “why do you want to work for us?”, make sure you don’t talk about what you want. First, talk about their needs.
4. When it comes time to list the attractive and unattractive aspects of the job description, list three or more attractive factors (for example: exciting opportunity, salary, remote working opportunities) and only one minor unattractive factor.
5. Refer to past experiences that show you’ve had success in solving previous employer problems that may be similar to those of the prospective employer.

These are just some of the tips that will help you ace an interview.

First things first, as soon as you arrive — or better still, a week or two before you arrive — use Google, LinkedIn, and business directories from the city you hope to set up base in and come up with a list of companies in these or related fields.

Come up with a short, concise email that really sells your skill set and experience level. You don’t necessarily need to send your resume at this point. Don’t go into too much detail but see if they would be willing to meet you for a coffee to discuss how the marketing industry in Montreal for example, works.

Many marketing professionals know how hard the job market can be and may be willing to help you out or at least provide some invaluable tips on the jobs market in their city, province or more broadly in Canada. This could give you a foot in the door to give them a call later that week following up on your email.

Keep in mind that this person most likely won’t have a position available at that exact time, but they may know someone who does or have something coming up in the future. Also, remember that finding the right marketing job in Canada may take time so be patient and don’t lose heart if you haven’t sourced your dream job right away.

If you are on a working visa and you want to be up front about the duration of the visa dates it is a good idea to explain that you are able to extend this. Make it clear that you see your career developing in Canada. Companies are naturally wary about hiring you if you may need to leave in a few months.

As we move into 2026, digital marketing is still one of the most important areas in the Canadian job market. The need for digital marketing professionals is growing, with job postings going up by 11.56% in the last year. This shows that digital marketing is strong, even when other industries are slowing down. Companies in many areas like retail, healthcare, finance, and real estate are investing more in digital strategies to reach people online. Some of the biggest areas of growth are SEO, social media marketing, content creation, and email automation. Local SEO is also becoming more important as businesses want to reach customers in their own cities or regions.

At the same time, new technologies are changing the way digital marketing works. Tools that use artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are helping marketers work faster and more effectively—for example, with content creation and managing campaigns. Platforms like ChatGPT, Jasper, and HubSpot allow marketing teams to create more personalized experiences for their audience. Also, the demand for bilingual content is growing, especially in Quebec and other bilingual areas, because companies want to connect with different language groups. These changes mean that digital marketers need to keep learning and improving their skills to stay up to date and competitive.

There are many quick and efficient options available to marketing specialists when it comes to moving to Canada, particularly younger professionals with some work experience, strong English or French ability, and a high level of education. Workers in marketing often score particularly well for their education when it comes to immigration to Canada.

The smoothest  immigration pathway might be through the Express Entry system, but other options are available, most notably through the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). Successful Express Entry applicants can be living and working in Canada in just a few months — a far cry from the months or years of waiting you might face if attempting to work in the United States. More to the point: Canada also provides clear pathways to permanent residence, plus work and study permits for family members from the get-go!

If Express Entry isn’t the right Canadian immigration option for your situation, there could be a good PNP fit. Provinces use these programs to nominate people for permanent residence based on local needs. Marketing professionals are generally well-positioned to immigrate to Canada through a PNP. Our PNP Live Tracker includes a tool that helps you to identify potential PNP options for you.

If you want to move to Canada sooner, there may be an opportunity to get a temporary work permit. This may be achieved through any of:

• International Experience Canada (IEC, which includes the working holiday program). This program is open to younger people from more than 30 countries. Applicants can get an open work permit (no job offer required!) for up to 12 or 24 months, depending on their citizenship.
• An Intra-Company Transfer, if your current employer also has an office or affiliate in Canada.
• With the help of an employer in Canada and a valid job offer, it may be possible to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), allowing you to get a work permit for Canada.

These are some of the most common ways for marketing professionals to immigrate to Canada, but there may be other options based on your circumstances. Visit our complete immigration guide to learn more about those.

Which marketing recruitment companies should I contact?

There are a number of marketing recruiters that operate across Canada, perhaps the most well-known in this regard is Randstad Canada. In Vancouver Smart Savvy & Associates source workers, particularly people with multiple years of experience, for media, events and marketing jobs in British Columbia but also across Canada. While in Toronto, IQ Partners are a well respected resource for jobs in a wide range of roles from SEO and market research analytics to mobile marketing and digital media.

Should I take a temporary role?

In a word, yes. Sure, you might be collecting tickets or ushering people into an event, but you may meet people who can help you find longer-term positions and it will look better on your resume to have some local events that you’ve worked on listed. In addition, Canadian experience is one thing that almost every hiring manager will ask for. Having it, even if it’s not your dream job, is definitely beneficial.

Is freelance or contract work useful for marketing jobs in Canada?

Again, yes. Even though it’s great to find a full-time position, you shouldn’t dismiss the option of contract and freelance work out of hand. Not only is freelancing a very useful way of gaining experience in a range of marketing roles, it also shows initiative that will reflect very well on your Canadian resume when it comes time to .

Email around to marketing companies and offer your services to them. Tell them what you are good at. Are you great at writing, organizing event operations or crafting press releases? Remember that every little helps when it comes to landing a marketing job in Canada. Who knows, they may have a major project that they could need help on for a few weeks and it could lead to something more permanent.

Finally, nowadays it pays to be as proficient as possible when it comes to digital marketing. Having experience on a successful social media campaign could prove invaluable to your chance of landing a marketing job in Canada.

How much do marketing jobs pay in Canada?

The answer to this question is both province and city-specific, as well as being significantly influenced by your experience. According to Randstad, entry-level marketing jobs start at around $35,000. This includes marketing jobs such as social media manager, marketing coordinator, and marketing analyst. With experience, you’ll be able to move into higher paying marketing jobs, often with a management component. You can expect starting salaries in the mid-to-high $70,000 range for these roles.

In addition, a recent report from Talent.com found that the average salary for marketing managers in Canada was above $70,000. While more experienced marketing managerial roles could earn anywhere up $100,000 per year depending on your experience, location and the position itself.

Which marketing jobs are in demand in Canada?

Given the agile nature of marketing as an industry, it should come as no great surprise that the types of marketing jobs that are in demand can change and fluctuate quite regularly. That said, in 2019 positions as marketing managers, marketing coordinators and digital marketing specialists were some of the most sought after marketing roles in Canada.

According to data from the 2019 Canadian Career Outlook report, graphic design, project manager and research assistant jobs were the three most searched-for marketing related jobs of 2018, with an average 2,400, 1,500 and 1,300 searches per month, respectively. Data analyst positions ranked fourth among the top 20, with just under 1,000 searches.

Somewhat surprisingly given the proliferation of social media platforms for almost all companies in recent years, social media jobs did not make the top-ten list in six of Canada’s ten provinces. However, when looking only at content creation marketing jobs, the role of social media manager topped all other searches in Canada, followed by SEO consultant and content writer.

Finally, with respect to the type of employment prospects those in the marketing sphere are looking for in Canada, the results are positive. According to Canadian Career Outlook there was a “noteworthy” uptick in the amount of searches for full-time employment opportunities in the marketing field, with the average increasing by 53 percent within the last three years. Meanwhile, searches for project work, internship opportunities and flexible working hours were down 17 percent, 18 percent and 21 percent respectively. These indicators point to the strength and stability of the marketing sector in Canada in 2018, and this appears to be a trend that looks set to continue moving forward.

Where should I look for marketing jobs in Canada?

As well as job sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, and the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), there are a range of marketing positions available on LinkedIn. What’s more, if you are looking for resume tips for your marketing job search in Canada then why not pay a visit to our dedicated page on the topic.

Moreover, and as we mentioned earlier, informational interviews and networking can also assist greatly when it comes to landing your dream marketing job in Canada. For some, the term networking can send shivers down the spine but really it is little more than having a conversation with someone in your chosen field and taking it from there.

Finally, exploring the hidden jobs market in Canada is a sure-fire way of increasing your chances of landing the marketing job you want in Canada. Our detailed guide on the topic should help you implement tips that work while avoiding what doesn’t.

Make sure to check out our In-demand Jobs in Canada for the latest job market trends and tips for immigration paths. If you intend on coming to Canada on an IEC work permit, then why not save yourself time and money by getting your travel insurance (which is mandatory for IEC visas) and resume arranged long before you arrive. See our guides below for more details.

• Where to buy travel insurance for Canada
• How to adapt to the resume format in Canada
• Our Working Holiday Visa in Canada guide