80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Hi All,

Years have flown by since starting the journey of realising my dream of moving to Canada. With only 80 days to go I thought to put this post together for some much needed advice!

Firstly I will be flying out from Manchester to Toronto with Air Transat on 17th January 2020... so if any of you are on the same flight or flying a similar time get in touch ​



RESUME's Traditional Vs Creative

I have spent hours recently totally revamping my Resume and gone for a creative/professional look. I know this question has dependance on what field of work people do - I work in IT so tried to retain professionalism without being too boring! My main concern is creative Resume's not being suited to Word format - will this be an issue in Canada? I know in the UK companies use the ATS system which scans for key words which does not work well with PDF's. Be interesting to know what you all think about creative Resume's and file format.

Would anyone be willing to review my Resume? :)

Job Hunt

With only 80 days to go I have started applying for roles to at least get through the telephone interview stages whilst still in the UK and lining up face to face interviews for when I arrive. I set up a call divert Canadian number which allows recruiters to call a Canadian local number yet redirects to my UK mobile - works a dream so highly recommend! I've managed to get an interview within a week of searching but if there's anyone here with connections please do get in touch ​ I work as a Test Engineering Professional, 5 Years XP and have both technical and leadership skills. My Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/usmaanwaheed/

General Advice

ACCOMMODATION: Booked an Airbnb for the first 6 weeks and plan to look for something more long term once I have arrived. The prices seem to be on the increase in Toronto - it's savage! I have budgeted for $2k per month for a 1 bed - is this realistic? Leaning towards searching on Craigslist - is this the best website for accommodation?

HOLIDAYS: The paid leave situation is quite a contrast to the UK. In IT as we're not always customer facing are they a little more generous.. not being greedy but is 3/4 weeks too much to ask?

I know the post has been a mis match of a lot of things, but I think with 80 days to go my OCD is taking over and I'm trying to micro-plan every detail to prevent failure and having to return to the UK.

I'll also be alone and don't know anyone so if any of you are up for socials-outdoorsy wintery stuff get in touch! ​

Thanks!
Uzzy

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

We moved to Toronto in 2018 and know how challenging a move can be to a new country. I work as a Quality Assurance Test Manager for a wealth management company in downtown Toronto. I have sent you a connection request on LinkedIn and would be happy to review your resume and help you network.

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Hi Uzzy

I make the move to Calgary on 14 January so I guess I have 77 days to go! :)

I can't really help with most of your questions, but thought I'd add in my experience in these areas also.

Resume

Definitely worth taking the time to convert your UK CV to a Canadian-style resume. I found some good Canadian templates through a google search. The layout is different, focussing initially on a few headline achievements, then drilling down into work experience.

I think it does help to have a Canadian number for employers to contact you. I set up a number using Spikko and it costs c$10 per month, although you then have to pay for minutes to use it, but it isn't expensive at all. I'm yet to use it! lol

Job Hunt

Congrats on the interview. I work in Professional Services and have struggled to even get responses to job applications. I've read that the majority of vacancies in Canada are actually not advertised and tend to be filled through existing networks. So networking is going to be crucial for when I arrive. Perhaps that's the same with your sector? Having said that, I was lucky enough to stumble across a recruiter here in Scotland who has a strong connection with a Professional Services firm in Alberta and, through that, I got a telephone interview. They have fed back that they are keen and are looking into where the greatest need is in the firm so I'm optimistic.

I also tried to find Canadian-based professionals with my qualification (CTA) and reached out to the North American head of the institute. Through that I have an informal chat lined up this week with a 'big 4' recruiter.

If neither of these pans out, I aim to focus firstly on trying to meet people in my sector and have signed up to a few linkedin groups to allow me to make contact with them.

Accommodation

I'm doing the same with Airbnb. If you haven't checked it yet, Kjiji.ca is a good site for rentals (also for car hunting).

Holidays

The standard in my sector seems to be 3 weeks (with additional public holidays). So around 1 week less than in the UK. That seems to be commonplace from what I can tell. Hopefully, it's just one of these things that you get used to!

All the best with your landing and settlement. It's been years of planning and waiting for both of us, but now comes the fun part :)

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Thank you! I've accepted and sent you a message too :)

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

What a nice thing to do, good on you!

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

I got nothing to offer (IMO you're set, you just have to get in front of people who need testers and you have a strategy to achieve that). I'm up for coffee one Saturday morning near the market though, if you fancy that..

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Everything to do with job hunting:https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...Hunting-Canada
plus the links for job websites for IT
Information Technology

• Randstad Technologies
• Canada IT
• IT Careers
• IT Jobs
• Jobs I.T. World

Housing - prices have gone up even in the Hamilton. I strongly suggest you avoid Craigslist - scam artists unite on there - and read up on tenancies before you enter into one... we have a wiki on renting, https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Renting-Canada

Easy to read tenant rights, Ontario: Tenant rights and Landlord rights in Ontario | tenantrights.ca

Some rental sites:
https://www.gottarent.com
https://www.4rent.ca
https://www.viewit.ca
https://www.RentSeeker.ca
https://www.padmapper.com
https://www.rentboard.ca
https://www.point2homes.com
https://www.property.trovit.ca
https://www.kijiji.ca/b-for-rent/gta...349001l1700272
https://www.zolo.ca
https://www.realtor.ca

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Thanks everyone for such detailed replies and especially dbd33 for reviewing my Resume. Since last posting I secured myself 3 interviews, all of which have progressed to the second stage!

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

:thumbup:

Congrats on getting to the 2nd stage - well done that man!

Don't forget to read up on the job hunting link in the wiki - it has about negotiations, interviewing etc. :)
https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...Hunting-Canada

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Thank you for these kind words. That's not a view held universally.

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Well you can add me to list, I think you're a bonza bloke :) Or bonzer, if you're a posher sort of Aussie!

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

Re: 80 Days until Toronto!!!! Job/Advice/Resume Review :-)
 

The leading LFS chain in the Toronto area is "Big Al's Aquarium Services" which has franchised shops in several locations. I've had good luck with the one in Kitchener. There's one, and several other LFSs, in Brampton but Brampton is a cultural anomaly; people in Brampton only keep freshwater fish so that's all the shops have. Canada Corals in Vaughan has a good selection but it's in Vaughan, it's almost worth the $100 postage not to have to go there.

Most major US suppliers, such as BRS, ship into Canada but the delivery charges are high. Waterbox is one that does not. You may want to have items shipped to Niagara Falls NY and pick them up there.