Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Hey,

We're a couple who moved to Vancouver over a month ago and still no prospects of a job so we've decided to move to Calgary instead.

Can anyone shed some light on the job situation there in say office, admin type employment as the employers seem to drag their heels a lot when it comes to a simple yes or no answer.Can get quite irritating!:(

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Have you given Vancouver long enough? I think a month is not very long to check out the job market. Have you had any help from an employment centre (like the YMCA)?

Whilst I am Ottawa based I have friends in Van and they said it took a few months to line something up.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Well I have been applying for jobs constantly since we got here, like 15+ applications per day! I'm just really sick of it at this stage and just want a job.Vancouver is a nice city but can't afford to stay here another month till we have nothing at all.

I've applied to 4 agencies whom I've been into as well and it was a total waste of time.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Just thought you'd be starting back at square one if you move.

I do agree agencies are a waste. I was more thinking that I am still on the hunt for a job after nearly 4 months.

Did u understand my thing about the employment centre? Have you been to some of the workshops etc? In Ottawa there is a scheme called Job Match Network for foreign qualified professionals. Have you heard of similar out there?

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

No I can't say I have heard of it. Any good? I just need to start making money fast, the pressure is on! What's the job front like in Ottawa?

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I would have a look for a YMCA employment centre:

http://www.ywcavan.org/content/Vanco...ment_needs/175

Pop in and have a chat with them. They can refer you to an YMCA Employment Advisor who can help with things like resume review, interview coaching and they also know of other schemes. It is free.

Ottawa has a lot of jobs advertised, I am in defence so I have a few hurdles that I am addressing which should open more opportunities.

I take it you are looking at things like Job Bank and registered with Monster and linkedin etc.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Cool never heard of it before, yep there the ones I've been on.We're gonna move anyway seeing as Calgary's tax is much lower & cost of living in cheaper from what I've seen on the web.

I've added a few porkies to my cv so that might help too hee hee!

Are you living in Ottawa long? Roll on the summer and nice weather!

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Office/Administration type of employment isn't exactly skilled work. There are probably plenty of applications for such jobs so employers have lots of choices.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Mazianne

It took me nearly 5 months to find a job in Calgary, that is with over 300+ resumes sent out. Take it from me it's no easier here.

Good luck :fingerscrossed:

The Ross Family

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Mazianne

If you want I could email you the YMCA resume and covering letter guides......just send me a private message. (I cant remember how many posts you have to make till the PM is functional, if you cant send one reply to this post a couple of times).

Also if you want I could peer review your resume, cant guarentee to offer any magic but I know the whole job hunt is frustrating and it is easy to take your eye off the resume. If I look back at my resume I sent out between our recce trip/landing, I have learnt so much since then.

Both offers are in good faith and I wont be offended if you tell me to "oh go do one".

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

What sort of qualifications do you have (minus the porkies on your resume)?

My parents are currently looking for an admin/secretary for their home renovations business in Calgary.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

You might be much better off making a targeted approach rather than blanket applications.

Sending unsolicited resumes rarely works. Most go in the bin unread. If you respond to an advert our resume will be alongside 20 or 30 others - most will have Canadian experience. What makes yours stand out? You have to give the employer a convincing reason to ask you for an interview. Wanting a job just because you need some money isn't going to get you an interview.

Instead of just sending resumes or replying to adverts you should identify what companies you want to work for, and/or who have a need for your skills and experience, and make contact with the decision makers in those companies.

Look at the job hunting section of the wiki. There is plenty of very good advice there.

Edit to add: embellishing your resume a bit is fair game. But remember that in an interview you are likely to be asked about the things you claim to have done. Being caught out in a lie will kill your prospects stone dead.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Of course, answering a telephone, using a photocopier/fax, typing letters in Canada is so much different to the rest of the world.;)

The remainder of your advice is very good, but this demonstrates that you have bought into Canadian practices way too much:p

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

My background is Insurance but can't use my exams over here ( they don't carry them over)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I think he's just being realistic about it in all honesty. Canadians do tend to feel more comfortable hiring people who have previously worked in Canada, and I think this may be because Canadians tend to be a bit more narrow-minded in their way of thinking.

I was certainly that way, but living in the UK for the last 9 years has changed that! :)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

With your Insurance background have you tried Insurance companies and brokers?
most brokers and companies will talk to english/british people because they think everyone has worked in Lloyds!!! both Van and Calgary have large insurance industries.
What qualifications do you have from the UK. Although they do not carry over employers do recognise them as ACII and CIP are well known.
i work for Aon in calgary, i dont believe we have any vacancies at the moment but try our website www.aon.com.
i can also let you know the names of the brokers and companies in calgary and the companies based in van.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

One thing some of the people who immigrate to Canada do wrong is apply only for one type of job. If you need money, you're competing with all the other immigrants who are in the same boat as you are.

Driving home from work in the NE there are at least two factories I see looking for general labour.

You should consider doing anything you can just to get some money coming in.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I have applied for a few via Agencies but no joy with them!

I am from Ireland and have done 3 of the required 6 so far, they are called CIP at home & here but have been told they are non transferable but I have the principals of insurance and 5 years experience in auto / property behind it.

Yes I know AON we have them in Dublin also! That would be great & if you hear of any vacancies going before they are advertised let me know!

Thanks a mil!:)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Hi,

I just put down that I have a B.A in Business Studies just to see if it made a difference if I had a degree!

Are your parents still looking for a secretary? I would defo be interested but not in Calgary till the 29th March.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I was picky at the start but now i don't mind at all.Factory work would be super.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

re: Canadian experience

My second ever job in Canada was as a recruitment consultant.

One day I asked my boss why the hell employers always asked for Canadian experience.

He said to me, "Because it costs more money to check overseas experience and while a company is vetting a foreigner they get them for cheap."

So while it may be unfair, it's also understandable to a certain extent.

On the bright side, I have noticed that Brits, once hired, don't generally tend to stay at the bottom of the pile very long.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

The other big difference in companies attitude to recruitment of a Expat is based largly on experience....

I have had an interview in that when they realised I was a PR and not Citizen they said "Oh I am not sure we can hire you....". I was able to ask why then address those issues. They told me I got the job then never came through with it.....I do wonder if this was a factor.

My last interview was with a company who had just hired a Brit PR and they asked me if I had trouble obtaining police certificate from the UK like their other employee.....they were familiar with the issues associated with hiring a brit but knew they could be worked out.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Haven't caught up with them just lately but will ask next time I speak to them & let u know.

In the meantime, anyone can feel free to check them out: www.corefront.ca

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Thank You!:)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Very true! Brits are generally very hard workers and well educated.

Interesting about the Canadian experience thing, makes sense though I guess.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Mazianne, I am horrified by your posting. I knew that the work market had slumped everywhere, but somehow, had not imagined things were so bad. This really gives me the terrors. Is there nothing in BC? The last time I was in Calgary, admittedly nearly two years ago, every shop/office and outlet were looking for workers. I had thought that I may be able to pick up work reasonably easily, bearing in mind that I'm really not fussy about what I do, and will happily turn my hand to anything from secretarial to cleaning via a factory production line.

Are the agencies not at all helpful? Have you tried cold calling many of the HR departments of large companies near you?

I sincerely wish you the best of luck, don't lose heart, it can be most dispiriting.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Hey Millie,

Don't get me wrong there are jobs but my travel colleagues and I are finding it very hard to pick up work after almost 2 months of constant applying to places.I have spoken to quite a few people & they said whatever about getting work in Vancouver you stand more of a chance getting in Calgary at half the time.Like I said this city is so expensive and you end up spending more when your doing nothing. I have literally stayed in my apartment the last month trying not to spend, only thing I do is stuff thats free like walking Stanley park, going to lynn canyon, walk around the city thats about it! It's pretty shit!

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

In small business I see it more of w "people like us" issue. This is equally as common in the UK as it is in Canada.

An employer needs certain skills but they also want people who will fit into the organization without unnecessary disruption. People who understand the social interactions that make the team work.

In the UK an employer with an upper middle class background will tend to employ people from the same background to work in the office. Not necessarily through any notion of prejudice, just that it is easier. An oik is seen as a bigger risk.

In Canada small business owners tend to prefer to employ people with Canadian experience. Not necessarily through any notion of prejudice, just that it is easier. An FOTB is seen as a bigger risk.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

"White people"?? Oik? FOTB??

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I'm not sure what an FOTB is? but.... I have had heaps of experience in life, and offices, and have been at the end of the 'people like us' syndrome here in France till I could burst. I am more than, pretty fluent, have worked at my son's school, as a volunteer and have given my time freely for years. Last year when my husband lost his job, I realised that I would never be accepted. I had thought a was part of the community, quite wrongly.

Mazianne, don't get down. It's bloody depressing. I've just gone through a whole heap of that. The problem is you get fed up and then it just gets worse, all of your enthusiasm evaporates. You've moved there and that's taken a huge amount of effort and energy. You will get through this bit, it's just yet another bloody hurdle to be jumped over. Hang on in, and explore the possibility of Calgary. Best of luck.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Fresh Off The Boat;)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

No intention to mention colour. I don't know where that stray w came from.

Oik = uneducated working class - usually called a chav these days.

FOTB = fresh off the boat.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Very good advice.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

'and I think this may be because Canadians tend to be a bit more narrow-minded in their way of thinking. '


Yes, totally agree with that statement.


From experience I can say that Edmonton and Calgary job markets are good at the moment. Found employment from the UK in Edmonton in 2009, and in the same year received an offer from Calgary. After my first contract finished, moved straight to another permanent job with a different company. My wife too.
My current boss tried hiring for a post last year, and two candidates turned the offer down cause they had found something better elsewhere. Albertans really tend to be a bit averse to foreigners though. I don't think they understand why we are here. I don't want to create false expectations, but I think that if you have good qualifications it should not be hard to find a job in AB. Edmonton may not be a city of your dreams, but if work is your priority probably worth giving a go.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Hi

I work for RSA Insurance as a claims manager, we have offices in Van and Calgary, they are very open to people from the UK, my boss is actually from the Irish business, I am in nova scotia, but we regularly have postings across the country, is you background in underwriting or claims, I am claims girl:D
I started the Canadian CIP course whilst still in the UK and are finishing them off here, being paid for by the company(as long as you pass!).
Send me your resume if you like, can pass it on to the relevant area.

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

Have been in calgary 16 yrs/ Job market is pretty boyant. Get on the web and just type in yr field of work you're seeking. Be warned, there are two economies in Calgary. Those in the Oil & Gas industry (and normally highly paid), and the rest of us with a big void between. Lots of good employment agencies in Calgary- but some can be specialised- so you need to do your homework. One other warning. We may not pay HST - but there are lots of hidden taxes in the way of user fees. and fresh food is VERY expensive compared to Vancouver & Toronto, as so little grows here. Starter 3 bed homes go for around $300k + in the burbs. 1 bed condo can be rented for under 1500/mth
hope this helps yu

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I would be happy getting anything from $15 dollars per hour and if I got more it's a bonus in comparison to the wages people offer in Vancouver-($8)!I have an interview with an agency next week so we'll see how good they are.User fees? I'm looking at a basement to rent & it's only $300 per month excl bills in downtown.Buying property is the last thing on my mind!:)

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

#300/month, the place must be a rat hole. My two daughters each paid on average $600 mth for a one room batchelor paid, and when sharing with other girls when at the Univ, around 400/mth, Try Boardwalk, they rent apts, condos & townhouse. Been recent deaths in basement suites due owners not having any sprinkers etc,

Re: Advice on Calgary in general?
 

I think $600 is reasonable in comparison to what we paid in b.c @ $1k.We're going to be sharing, having our own place is too expensive!Shit, that's not good!:ohmy: