No, a job offer is not mandatory for the FSWP. However, having a valid Canadian job offer can significantly boost your CRS score by an additional 50 or 200 points, making you more competitive in the pool of applicants.
Your work experience must be relevant to an occupation listed in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A, or B. You'll need at least one year of continuous, paid work experience in this NOC level within the last 10 years.
There are several ways to improve your CRS score:
Enhance your language skills: Aim for a higher Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score in English or French.
Pursue higher education: A Canadian degree or diploma, or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign education, can add points.
Gain additional skilled work experience: More experience, especially in high-demand NOC categories, can be beneficial.
Consider Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Some provinces offer additional points through their PNP streams aligned with FSWP.
While both programs lead to permanent residency, FSWP has a separate pool of applicants and point system. This can be an advantage if your CRS score might not be high enough for the more competitive Express Entry pool. However, FSWP doesn't benefit from potential job offer points or additional points offered by some Provincial Nominee Programs.