A bit sensitive are you!!
Never mind hey

Your experiences really are going to depend on the types you have to mix with. If you spend the bulk of your work and social time with educated professionals, you're going to have a pleasant time. If you spend the bulk of your time with illiterate retards you're going to get some grief. What about the great British racist going on about bloody Albanians? Working on the docks in Vancouver is going to yield a different experience from working in a library in Adelaide, isn't it?

I'm not sure entire nations can be dismissed because someone ends up working with some dicks or gets a hard time in the local shops.

I totally agree with the previous post on this.

I can't dismiss a total country or make sweeping statements on racism.

The only reason that I got my present job is because it is a British company operating in Australia and the boss is British and not Australian, he was prepared to look beyond where I was born and more into previous experience and transferable skills.

But, to be fair, if a school Headmaster can make jingoistic and xenophobic remarks then really you should start to feel a little uncomfortable in your host country. We live in middle class suburbia and my wife is of Chinese heritage and there is nothing more symbolic of the inherent fear of the Australian than the influx of the Asian/Oriental. Add this to the Pommie b*stard syndrome and quite frankly mate you have picked the wrong country.

On the Aussie side of things, they are trying to protect the indigenous labour force by resisting skilled migrants entering the market at the same level they held in their original country. This is seen when the you have British ex Police Inspectors now operating as beat Constables.
Maybe they shouldn't have sent local government employees over to encourage the Brits into South Australia, as they didn't consult the companies that they were recruiting for.
I personally didn't arrive here to take a position in a fast food chain

What is 'behind' is your notion that you ought to depend on your employer to give you what you want... times have changed.

A point well made. Luckily in Canada my only experience so far has been nothing but welcoming and I can be British without fear of some accusation relating to former colonial behaviour

Hi Ron

Check out the Canada forums though - if you think Australia makes skilled workers go to bottom of the deck, the attitude is institutionalised in Canada. The Canadian policy of not recognising foreign qualifications and experience is well known, so look out.

Also, Canadians are very different from Australians. Aussies tend to "tell it like it is" and this can offend more introverted Brits, whereas Canadians are generally much less forward. In other words they seem more polite. But seeming polite doesn't mean they are actually inherently more polite. They just know how to be polite to strangers, something the Brits and Aussies are not so good at.

Also, when you get to Canada your annual leave may well get cut in half as well, so brace for impact.

Still, good luck in the transition and I hope you settle well there.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanks very much for this. Obviously the problem lies with my expectations.
I should curtail them and accept the inevitable. My position in Aus is a 2 week on 2 week off rota and would imagine this to be similar in Canada (maybe I am in for another shock )

Thanks again.

Don't believe they hype Ron. Unfortunately Tableleg likes to generalize when it comes to Canada V Australia. Check it out for yourself, not everyone only gets 2 days holiday a year
Good luck.

good point and it's certainly not generally the case here in Alberta. The recruitment market is so tough that employers are being more innovative and more sensible about the whole compensation package. The variable elements of compensation are moving up the agenda e.g. holiday, flex days, health cover etc.

As for recognising qualifications, my experience is that with many companies proving that you can do the job to the standard required is good enough. I met some engineers from Warsaw and Ukraine recently and only today a payroll specialist from Columbia.

opportunities exist