I am an Architectural Technologist with nearly 7 years practice experience, I have a BSc in Architectural Technology and I'm looking for relevant work in Canada, does anyone know of any firms that can help me with this?

Also where does Architecture fit into the 'Skilled Workers' immigration program? the fields seem pretty broad.

Thanks,

Rob

Hi Rob, and welcome to the forum.

Architects/Architectural Technologists are not one of the occupations in demand (that qualify for a Skilled Worker visa without arranged employment), so if you want to apply as a Skilled Worker, you'll first need a job offer approved by HRSDC.

Have a read of the Wiki (on blue bar at top of page) to understand the various visas available, and hopefully others will be along to answer your questions relating to architects jobs. The Job Hunting section of the Wiki will also be well worth you reading.

Thanks, I've already done the points thing, got 75/100 (let down by my not working in Canada before and my French being comparable to my ability to fly). As I understand it I will now need pre-arranged employment to have a chance.

So again, if anyone has any employment resources within the architectural sector they would be most welcome. I want to get out of this bloody country!

You will probably find the same problems exist in Canada - much better to move for a genuine love of a country rather than the perceived negatives of the one you've left behind IMO.

Might be worth having a read of the Moving Back to the UK forum which will help you understand why Canada isn't for some people.

Hope the Job Hunting section of the Wiki helps you understand the process in Canada too, can't think of any architects on the forum off the top of my head but fingers crossed somebody may be able to suggest something for you.

Whereabouts are you hoping to head to in Canada?

This is quite a recent consideration for me, I'm still putting out the feelers and gathering information so I have no definate destination in mind at the moment.

For over a year now I've been getting more and more disenfranchised with Britain and where it's headed. I think a spell working abroad would definately do me some good.

That's good, especially if you have to find a job first as you can cast your net far and wide and give yourself the best chance of getting that all important job offer.

I wish you the best of luck with it, hope the forum helps, people on here are great so I'm sure you'll get any questions answered along the way.

P.S. Have you just made the word 'disenfranchised' up?!?

Hah! I hadn't until you mentioned it, I've heard it used in that capacity before but never knew what it meant- unless I was thinking of something else...

It's a perfectly good word, it's just that it means to lose the right to vote.

He meant disenchanted I would think.

And just in case IainK reads this, welcome to the forum.

Leaving Liverpool will probably help you

Hi Rob,

Have you looked at the Construction Manager category (NOC code 0711) which is on the list of 38 Occupations in demand?

As its been stated in the past, it's not what your job title is, but more the duties you perform. If you can prove that you do many of the main duties listed under this category then you can apply using this code. My wife's title was Civil Engineer but she performs many of the duties listed under Construction Manager and we have just activated our PR using this NOC code.

Hope the above helps,

Cheers

Guessed that he meant disenchanted, but didn't know that disenfranchised was a word. I shall now try and use it daily as my word of the day. Ta muchly!

Hi Rob,
Welcome to the forum. Wonder if we can help atall. We have just returned back from a recce trip where my husband secured a job as a Senior architect with a company in Halifax. Nova scotia.

We started our hunt a good few months ago, and my OH (rob too) started firstly emailing companies from one side of Canada to the other. We were not sure where we wanted to live then. Bascally, the only replies we got were from companies in NS and NB. They were all 'sort of interested' in principle, but were unwilling to arrange any interviews etc untill we were actually there and they could see him in the flesh so to speak. Once there, he managed to arrange 5 interviews in 5 days. Not bad eh?

Anyway, the impression we got from the companies, was that the recession has not hit architecture too hard in the maritimes, and things are still ticking along there. I think the companies in the big cities are suffering more. It is of course easier to recruit a canadian in a big city anyway. Not sure if you know about the LMO process, but basically, your company has to prove that they have tried to fill the existing vacancy by a local or PR person and were unable to do so, before they can offer you the job. As chrismasoompa said, architecture is not on 'the list' so a job offer is the route you have to go.
If I were you and you are really serious, I would start phoning round some prospective companies. You might find lke us, that your choices of places to live are dictated entirely on the few jobs available. We were luckiy that we loved the maritimes when we got there. We have a family etc, so although it's quiet it suits us, but imagine it would not be for all.

Forgot, to say..... we actually found it hard to locate architecture jobs initially, as all the IT crowd seem to call themselves architects and this was all that was coming up on the search. We tried to find a search category that covered architect with little success. Our search in the end, was literally looking up every practice in each area individually and contacting them in person. The jobs that Rob applied for through the advertising sites never ever got back to us.....!
Anyway... I wish you luck with this. I suppose you have a lot to think about and much work ahead of you.

If we can help at all, please contact us. Once you have sent a few posts, you can use the PM facility and I can get Rob to answer any of your queries. Our experience is a bit limited to Nova scotia, but it is a starter for 10!!
I seem to remember that we asked some architecture questions when first joined, but doesn't seem to be many around....so ask away
Lori x

I thought that would be the closest to what I do but doesn't fit exactly- I'll just have to carpet-bomb practices with CVs and portfolios until someone gives me an offer and LMO

Thanks for the help and advice, I'll do the email carpet-bombing and call up the more likely ones / those that respond. Thanks for the location info- I'll start at the Maritimes and work from there. I know what you mean about the IT sector thing, I noticed this when I was looking last night

I will get Rob to pass on the names of companies that had some vacancies when he gets back from work. I know at least one had several at different levels.