Silverkat

Canada a struggle for many newcomers :

http://yahoo.workopolis.com/yahoo.as...=yahoo&lang=EN

Even if this article relates to immigrants from countries such as China, India, etc, how many of you have suffered from the lack of Canadian work experience when job hunting for a post on a parr with your current job ?

If you landed without a job, how long did it take you to get a job at your level ?

cov-canuck

No noticeable impact on the hiring. It was never asked...although I can't comment if it prevented people from contacting us in the first place (due to the obvious).

It took us about 1 week of full-time job hunting before we both landed jobs in our field. My position was on par and paid more, OH's position was slightly higher than his previous one but paid a little less. OH moved to my company after a year and is now earning more than he did, I've been promoted twice and am now in a higher position than in the UK, and earning considerably more.

charlie1

Been here 2 years have been promoted 4 times and am now only 1 (maybe 2) positions behind where I was in the UK

Mikey B

Landed without a job, got one 4 weeks after looking in my industry. the accent and European experience is a plus from what I have found, sets you out from the crowd and defo a step above the Chinese and Indian immigrants. I think that article is true - they do seem to have a harder time of it but when you can hardly speak English and make little effort to improve that fact and virtually none to integrate into Canadian society how can you expect to do well in an English/French speaking country?

Cookie

OH came over on a WP (telecommunications). His (Dartmouth based) company had never hired a foreign national before so it was a big step for them. We had an immigration consultant who guided them through the process, which we think was a huge plus for us. Although really keen, the company was hesitant about asking him over from Scotland for an interview. However, we bit the bullet and told them we were coming over on a 5 day trip. He was instantly offered an interview and on the big day was offered the job on the spot. They have since hired another Brit (you know who you are ).

Here in my town of 10,000, I initally struggled find a job because a lot of vacancies are word of mouth. After a couple of months I landed up working p/t in an office for a friend but have recently moved on to a change of career as a Support Worker. In order to get an interview for my career change I had to get several people to mention my name and say that I had handed in my resume. It worked Since working for them they also offered me a p/t job in their head office - so I now work 2 p/t jobs for the same organisation. Best of both worlds for me

I know for a fact that both the Dignans were offered jobs in their line of work within 2 weeks of arriving in New Glasgow (December 2007). Julie through her skills and Mike through not only his skills but definitely through contacts.

gotoronto

I think responses to such threads are sometimes very misleading to prospective immigrants. Some posters make it seem that life is so easy - because they managed to get their jobs within a couple of weeks - sometimes even better paid than back home. Others make it seem really hard.

The only way that responses will give a more accurate picture of struggle vs no struggle is by elaborating and supplying at least information on:

a. The field they work in
b. The province they moved to
c. Whether they had any Canadian work experience and/or qualifications before starting the job hunt

My husband is in IT support. It took him 6 weeks to land a job in Toronto, no Canadian experience. It was the only job he was interviewed for, but he is doing late shift work and is overqualified for the position with his experience.

I am a UK qualified lawyer I have been searching for work for 2 months. I have a Canadian degree and some Canadian work experience (2 months, 6 years ago). I am not even looking for a job at my level, as I am not allowed to practice here until I requalify - but the only things that I am being considered for are legal assistant type jobs - and I am not qualified for those, as I can only type 40 words per minute. An agency thought I was snobbish not to go for a $30,000 a year position if it would come up. Maybe I am - but if that's all I earn, hubby and I can't afford to live here!

If I manage to requalify here, by the way, it will take me at least until 2012 to be back at the level I was at in the UK.

Canada can be wonderful for some newcomers and a struggle for others. We also have not had luck on our side - as we had some unexpected huge expenses which have diminished our landing funds - i.e. dental work which is hugely expensive here until you land a job with benefits.

I just wished that when such questions were asked, people would provide a little more background rather than making things seem so easy/hard by just giving the time it took them to find a job.

JonboyE

I landed a job 5 weeks after I landed but only one week after I started looking seriously. I offered to start at a bargain basement salary, which seemed to overcome any nerves about employing a foreigner. After 6 months I was back on an appropriate "Canadian" salary.

I listen to a discussion on CBC radio about this report on the way home last night. It went on to study integration rates by measuring immigrant unemployment/underemployment rates against Canadian born rates. The rate of integration varied by country of origin and province of residence. Quebec was the hardest nut to crack. The study found that 10 years after immigrating there was no difference between new and born Canadians.

This seems to make sense. It takes time to learn a language so you can communicate fluently. Some people go back to school to Canadianize their qualifications or do vocational training. Many people take a step backwards in seniority to get their foot in the door.

We Brits have it relatively easy as we almost speak the language, our education institutions are generally well respected, and we have advanced, first world working experience.

JonboyE

a. I am an accountant/business manager with a background in manufacturing and distribution.
b. BC. Vancouver area.
c. None. Back to night school to get a Canadian accounting designation.

As I said above, I took a big discount on salary to get my first job. I was aware of the potential "Canadian experience" issue so I took a pragmatic view that it was better to be gaining that experience at a modest salary than sitting at home earning, and gaining, nothing.

Cookie

Mr Y was Telecoms in UK Oil and Gas (29 years experience, including 10 years in Royal Signals) - no Canadian experience. Definite reduction in wages compared to offshore salary but still gets a pretty good wage here and especially so for our local area.

I previously worked in publications (14 years). Came here did some p/t general office work and was taught some basic accounting - no Canadian experience. Change of career to Support Worker (training) in Mental Health field - no previous experience other than I was a volunteer visitor back in the UK 10 years ago. Support work pays more than my office job.

It's hard to compare UK wages with Canadian wages as its not as simple as using the exchange rate. Just for interest, here are the minimum wage details from both UK and Canada.

Minimum wage in UK is detailed below:

There are three levels of minimum wage, and the rates from 1st October 2007 are:

£5.52 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older
A development rate of £4.60 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive
£3.40 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

Minimum Wage in Canada (Updated: 07/02/08)

Alberta $8.40
BC $8.00 B.C.
Manitoba $8.50
New Brunswick $7.75
Newfoundland $8.00
NWT $8.25
Nova Scotia $8.10
Nunavut $10.00
Ontario $8.75
PEI $7.75
Quebec $8.50
Saskatchewan $8.60
Yukon $8.58

I am not sure that these rates can be lowered like the UK has done for different age groups. My 17 year old son earns NS hourly min wage ($8.10) in his part-time job.

charlie1

a. I work in the hospitality/tourism industry with 25 years experience
b. Moved to NS
c. 2 years prior Canadian experience (Peterborough, Ontario)/ BSC (hons) degree in Hospitality.

Had to start at again as part time night receptionist on minimum wage due to Union rules.

Biiiiink

Omg, that means you started 6 levels below your UK job It can't have been work, what brought you to Canada?

Edit: you posted your response above whilst I was typing, ignore me

gotoronto

Charlie1 - Hats off to you. I really admire how determined you are. And thanks so much fo sharing!

ville303

My OH had a job prior to coming to Canada - I struggled and took on part time work at home- I was recommended to a company here in Kamloops and I earn more and have a better position in this company than I did in UK as a Quality Control Manager in an Internet based company- all in all it took me a year to get a job...but it worked out for me and I am extremly happy.

Silverkat

I agree Mickey B and I am reassured by the responses I got from this thread.

I have had some positive feedback from a potential employer in my field who even mentioned that I was over qualified for the post that I contacted him about. I am sure that if I had an interview in person I would have got the job which would at least have given me a foot in the door. I am prepared to take a step back in the beginning and move up through promotion.
I intend to take some vocational exams as soon as possible.

Like JonboyE said : "I took a big discount on salary to get my first job. I was aware of the potential "Canadian experience" issue so I took a pragmatic view that it was better to be gaining that experience at a modest salary than sitting at home earning, and gaining, nothing."
This confirms what I thought what I might have to do upon arrival. It's better to know and be prepared beforehand, that way you're not dissapointed with the professional side of the move to Canada. I have read posts of people that were apparently ready to move back their country of origin because they were'nt prepared.

cov-canuck

For some reason I can't edit my previous post. Anyway:

I'm a software tester/QA Analyst. OH is a network manager, but is currently working in product management/server manager. Neither of us had ANY Canadian experience whatsoever. We'd been in the country for under a month, but had only been job-hunting for a week.