You have twelve minutes. A recruiter you have never met opens a video call, glances at your resume and says, "So, tell me about yourself." In the next room, or the next breakout window, another candidate is waiting. That is speed-jobbing: a recruitment event where employers and candidates meet in a series of short, back-to-back interviews, like speed dating for jobs.
For French-speaking and bilingual newcomers outside Quebec, the main ones are run by the francophone economic development network. In British Columbia, the Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique (SDECB) calls its Speed-Jobbing its flagship recruitment event. RDÉE Canada runs a National Speed-Jobbing, a free, fully virtual week that in October 2025 offered 15-minute interviews with employers across Canada, Quebec excluded. Formats and dates change from one edition to the next, so check the organizer's page before you prepare.
Before the event: do your homework
Research the employers
Speed-jobbing events usually match candidates and employers in advance, based on your profile and their hiring needs. As soon as you know which employers you will meet, research each company: its website, what it sells or does, its recent news on LinkedIn and the career paths of people who work there. Write down two questions for each one, for example: "What does a typical first month look like for someone in this role?" or "Which of your teams works mostly in French?" Our list of questions to ask in a coffee interview works well here too.
Update your resume
Your resume is the document the recruiter will look at while you talk, so make sure it follows Canadian resume standards: no photo, no date of birth, achievements rather than duties, two pages at most. Have someone proofread it. If one employer on your list is a particularly good match, prepare a version targeted to that job. If the event is in person, bring printed copies; if it is online, have a PDF ready to send.
Prepare a short pitch, in both languages
With ten to fifteen minutes per interview, you can't afford a five-minute introduction. Prepare an elevator pitch of about 45 seconds that says who you are, what you have done and what kind of role you want in Canada. Because these events bring together bilingual candidates and employers, practise it in French and in English: the recruiter may switch languages to check your level.
A simple structure works: "I'm a supply chain analyst with six years of experience in the automotive industry in France. I arrived in Vancouver in March with an open work permit, and I'm looking for a logistics or procurement role where my French is an asset." Then stop and let the recruiter ask questions. Canadian recruiters expect you to talk about your achievements confidently, with numbers where you have them. To hear how your pitch lands in both languages before the event, a Job Boost interview practice session gives you 30 minutes with one of our experts.
Get your setup ready
Recent editions have been online, so treat it like any video interview: test the platform, your camera and your microphone the day before, choose a quiet room with a neutral background, and dress as you would for an in-person interview in your field. If the event is in person, plan your route and arrive early.
During the event: stay focused
Keep your notes on each employer next to you and read them again just before each interview. The rhythm is fast, so take a breath between rounds.
In each interview, aim for three things: introduce yourself, show that you know the company, and agree on a next step. If the role is a good fit, ask directly: "What would be the next step in your process?" If it isn't, you can still say: "This role isn't quite my profile, but do you know of other teams or companies looking for someone with my background?" Recruiters know each other, and a polite, well-prepared candidate gets referred.
After each interview, write down a few notes: the recruiter's name, what you discussed and what was agreed. By the fifth conversation, you won't remember who said what.
After the event: follow up within 24 hours
Send each recruiter a short thank-you email the same day or the next morning, and mention something specific from your conversation so they can place you. If a second interview was mentioned, confirm the date in that email. Write it in the language you spoke with that recruiter. An example to adapt:
Subject: Thank you for our conversation at Speed-Jobbing
Hello [Name],
Thank you for our 15-minute interview this morning at Speed-Jobbing. I enjoyed hearing about [specific detail, such as the opening of your new warehouse in Surrey], and I'm very interested in the [Position] role. As discussed, I've attached my resume. I'm available for a follow-up conversation [days and times], Pacific time.
Best regards,
[Your full name]
[Phone number]
Our guide to writing follow-up emails has more templates for the weeks that follow.
Then connect on LinkedIn with the people you met, with a one-line note: "Thank you for our conversation at Speed-Jobbing on Thursday. I enjoyed learning about your logistics team."
Twelve minutes is short, but it is enough when you have rehearsed. If you want to practise answering under time pressure before the next edition, book a mock interview with our team, in English or in French.
