I’ve been reading through posts from fellow international grads who’ve completed their studies and are still struggling to land a NOC 0, A, or B job. It’s not uncommon, but it’s also not inevitable. A lot of the frustration seems to come from not realizing how much the choice of program affects post-graduation opportunities.

I’ve started looking back at the programs I considered before applying. It’s eye-opening how few of them had clear pathways to in-demand jobs. For example, some programs claim to lead to 'career-ready' roles, but when you check the actual NOC codes and employer demand in specific cities, the numbers don’t add up.

The IRCC list for Express Entry eligibility in 2026 includes fields like healthcare, STEM, trades, and education — but that doesn’t mean every program in those fields is equally valuable. Some may lack co-op, local employer connections, or even accreditation. So the real question is: how do we assess a program’s job potential before enrolling?

Has anyone here done a deep dive into the actual NOC job availability in their field? How much did you consider the city’s job market or co-op placement rates when choosing your program? If you could go back, would you pick a program with better job outcomes even if it meant more challenging coursework?

Curious to hear your stories — what did you learn after graduation that you wish you’d known earlier?