Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

My sentiments exactly.
Even people from the Maritimes are used as 'cheap labour' here in Toronto.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Canadian jobs go to Canadian citizens, it's as simple as that.
Even job agencies have admitted it.
The only way you're gonna get a job here is by knowing/sleeping with the manager etc. or having such a rare, specialist occupation that they can't
refuse.
Come to Canada by all means, it's worth it just for the hot summers, but
make sure you have a job before you arrive. Otherwise you'll be up sh*t creek without a paddle. Guaranteed.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

I know from personal experience that that is simply not the case. I completely changed careers here at one point and the job was unadvertised, I had been laid off, applied for everything even remotely related to my field, but nothing. I was in Sears and bumped into a guy I worked with for less than 6 months , he was a "nodding aquaintence"...not close at all. He suggested I had nothing to lose in applying as a quality engineer at the place he now works (I had zero specific quality experience, although as a general engineer it had come up occasionaly), and after I got the job ($55k) he said that it was nothing to do with him, they had basically asked him about 2 questions about me, and he didnt even get the customary "finders fee". Your in canada now and have to play by the canadian rules.

Sure its easier to come here with a job lined up, but I know plenty of brits who came with nothing and are perfectly happy here now.

Can do attitude is everything here, you go in expecting to lose, and you will. Stop feeling so goddamn sorry for yourself and get out there and chase those jobs. Its not completely canadas fault, hell, your posting here is dragging me down and I wouldnt hire you!

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Utter Bollocks..........

The jobs just like anywhere go to those best qualified to do them, the fact most immigrants make is not realising they have little of no knowledge of the local working methods, unions issues, expected standards, or even supplier base…etc..etc..
So unfortunately you’ll need to be higher up the skill ladder to compensate for the lack of inside working knowledge…. Once you have this then you can become more competitive in the job market. But until then you lack one basic skill set and will have to deal with it..

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Oh please!
It's got nothing to do with feeling sorry for myself. What tripe.
I chase jobs, ring agencies everyday, follow up etc. Still nothing.
I never had problems finding work in the UK, so I find it difficult to believe the fact I'm an immigrant has got no bearing on the fact I cannot find work. :rolleyes:
If you hadn't noticed there are plenty of other people in the same boat as me.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Maybe you need to take a look at what is preventing you from getting a job.

I'd concede that to get ahead you probably have to be better than your Canadian counterparts, but one thing I've noticed is that a good attitude goes a long way in promoting job success.

What you should do is take a long hard look at what you have to offer in the jobs you are applying to. Are you tailoring your application to each job you apply for, or are you just applying with little thought. In my experience recruiting, none tailored applications end up right at the bottom of the pile.

Have you made contact with any of the organisations that could help you with your resume and letter of applications. IIRC the HRDC provides assistance in this area?

Take all the help you can find in landing that job offer...

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Sea Creature your experiences are exactly that YOURS. in the office I work in there are more immigrants that 2nd generation Canadians.

The problem I have found is that you can't always tell "Canadians" from Immigrants. I have met people who you ask when did you arrive in Canada and it turns out their great-Grandparents where the first in their family.

Because of the cultural gathering, for want of a better example "China Townism" you may in certain areas of the largest country in the world find your the wrong local culture to get contacts/foot in the door.


First thing we admitted on arriving in Canada was how the hell are we going to pick the right area to live from England. So we better be prepared to move again and again. So far we haven't my job pays the bills I don't have a great one and haven't applied for anywhere else in 5 years. So my fault not a great job. But guess what I happier at home and the kids are happy at school.

So don't like the few square miles of your part of a canada. then move somewhere else.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Seacreature - Okay, some people have difficulties getting jobs in Canada but that can happen over here too. My DH doesn't have a degree but 20+ years of experience in I.T. and has been turned down by employers in the past because he doesn't have a degree. When I went back to work after 9 years at home with 2 kids, it took me a year to get a simple office job (doing inputting) and only then I suspect because my friend knew my boss. I also went back to college to update my computer skills, which enable me to move up and get the better job I'm in at the moment, but even that is funded on a yearly contract basis.

My DH would obviously much rather have a job to go to when we arrive but it might not turn out like that. I do agree with you though about the networking and that we're working on.

I hope things get better for you over there :)

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Thank you.
I've given up on trying to get a job in IT.
I have a degree and 10 years experience in IT support, but it seems to be completely worthless over here, no Canadian Experience again.
Incidentally in Britain I got every job I ever applied for.

I'm now looking for a job in retail, hopefully I'll have more luck in that department. I'm rather annoid at having to search for a minimum wage post
having previously earned over 30K in Leeds, but needs must.
At least it'll get me out of the house.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Sorry... this has little or nothing to do with "Canadian experience” and a lot to do with I.T. jobs in Canada being heavily over subscribed …. relatively few jobs.. with thousands of applicants…

You have to remember the US has being offering a green card bribe for years to attract thousands of the best third world IT techies to work in their software houses.. then just casting them aside once their work visas are up….. well Canada welcomes these people with open arms… so in terms of competition your not just up against Canadians but also the pick of the crop from around the world all fired up with fresh US experiance, thus making this one extremely tough job market to get into

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

NO, I'm afraid! A lot others are experiencing the same problems, not only in finding professional jobs, but also when applying for min wage positions. The competition is high and hard to get those jobs as well.

"knowledge of the local working methods, unions issues, expected standards, or even supplier base" shouldn't be a legitimate barrier, because a local (fresh out of school) applicant won't have those either, but they have less problem being hired.

Actually we have "taken a look at what is preventing you from getting a job" several times, since moving here. And the only thing you can see is being a new immigrant. I have co-workers who have moved from BC and have difficulty finding professional jobs. If you haven't been there yourself, if you admit having an accent hasn't help you to get a date, and you have not looked for a job here yourself, it's not fair to patronise people by sending them to "the organisations that could help you with your resume and letter of applications". I've been to those courses. they are for people who have no idea what a resume is.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Please remember = 'being a new immigrant' = likely to move again SOON.

Who would you hire someone who has just moved into the province or some one with local roots? Most companies go for the latter why saves on turn over. So you have to show something more to commit a long term picture than just off the boat.

My two IT Support jobs came from contacts I made from people I had meet when researching Winnipeg (B&B Landlady) and the workers from the 1st firm when it went bust.. Both interviews asked why Winnipeg? Why not elsewhere in Canada? What is going to keep you here...... Even the IBM phone interview when still in IBM UK asked Why Winnipeg? what is here?

So Why did you choose where you want to live? What is going to keep you there? what makes a company want to invest time in YOU?

Tell them about your research where your committed to making a go of it there.

As we all know a UK degree in a country full of graduates with multiple Majors and degrees isn't all that thrilling. So mention it and move on as quick as possible.

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

ok, guys! let me step into the fray here once and for all, then i will gladly shut up and keep my peace till the next time, reason being, as many of you may know, that i am leaving canada tomorrow for the uk----woooohoooo!!!
i've been reading most of the posts on this thread and thought i would let you have my ha' penny's worth too! in answer to seacreature and wcicitzen's comments here--look guys, if you had bothered to do even a modicum of research before jumping ship from the uk, you just couldnt have not known that IT is most heavily oversubscribed both here and the usa!! in fact, many senior people think its had it---kaput! although we all need IT now, its no longer an urgently needed skill. so its no good crying over your beer that you havent found jobs in IT--you should have known! and its NOT canada's fault (there you go; i'm actually backing canada for once, so i'm not such a moaning ol' bum, see!). i got a job in my field within 4 weeks of landing, and it was a good job. so i hear you say "what the hell are you leaving for then?". well, as all and sundry here will know, it just didnt click with us here, for a variety of reasons. one thing i wish i did know when i took on the job, and that is that you can actually negotiate your contract here, unlike the uk, so if i wanted 3 weeks hols instead of 2, i could have asked for it. god knows, if i had had 3 weeks hols a year, who knows, we may have stayed!! anyway, IAINK summed it up pretty well here--good on yer, mate!! he is right--stop bloody moaning and look up for gods sake--thats half the battle. if you think its THAT bad here, then get moving and get the hell outta this place, but stop moaning and putting other more positive people off!! i'm ok, i'm flying outta this place tomorrow and couldnt care less anymore (unless of course i have to come back here again, god forbid!!). so, to all on here and the moving back to uk forum--goodbye and may your god go with you, till we meet up again from the uk......!!!!!! :)

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

Have a safe trip back to the UK Julius. You tried it, but it didn't work out for you.

Cheers for the tip on contract negotiation re. holidays. Will pass that onto my hubby :)

I'm not saying anymore as I seem to have put my foot in it several times today on this forum .........

Re: Ask yourself why you're moving here!!
 

This is completely untrue! I got a professional job here after I landed and I'm not a Canadian citizen (hopefully soon though)!

Maybe employers aren't as sure of your qualifications as Canadian qualifications, but that's why you have to go that little bit further. If you think you can just sit back and expect employers to come running to you, forget it!!

It's true that alot of jobs are found through networking in Canada. You might not know anyone to begin with....so perhaps get a job with a temping agency, talk to some of the people that work at your temp job, they are all potential job leads!

If you really feel that your qualifications are holding you back, then maybe take a one year diploma with a co-op or work experience placement. This is pretty much guarateed to get you Canadian experience, a job and a bunch of contacts/friends.