Can someone please help !!! We've just moved to Ontario and are finding it a little hard to get a job. Employers and agencies keep asking if we have Canadian experience. Can anyone explain were we can get this from or if we can buy it from anywhere also is this Canadian experience any different from experience gained in any other countries.. Please help !!!

Potential Career Challenges-Canada : British Expat Wiki

Workplace Adaptation-Canada : British Expat Wiki

HTH.

Ash in Toronto I am afraid to say the same attitude exists in Australia too, just something you will have to 'roll' with and as you stay longer then of course you eventfully become 'experienced' in their eyes......as a friend of mine once said when asked what Australian experience did he have of building houses his reply was 'what do you build from the roof down or something'?

What do you have to offer an employer that is more valuable to them than someone who has had Canadian experience?

Edited to add: If the answer to the above is nothing then your work around is to be referred to the employer by somone they know and trust. Try this wiki article as well http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Networking-Canada

Im wondering how a UK trained window cleaner would fair in Canada without that vital Canadian experience.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) believes that asking for Canadian experience can result in discrimination. Employers and regulatory bodies should always have to show why Canadian experience is needed.

“Canadian experience” is not a good way to tell if you have the rights skills or experience to do a job. Employers should ask about all of your previous work – where you got your experience should not matter."

Asking about Canadian experience could be a way to find out about your race, ancestry, colour, place of origin or ethnic origin. The Human Rights Code says employers must not put out a job ad, use an application form, or ask a job applicant questions to find out about what are called “prohibited grounds of discrimination” in the Code.

During a job interview, employers should not ask you where you got your experience. They should consider all of your work experience, in any country. Employers should only ask specifically about “Canadian” experience if they can show it is really needed to do the job (that it is a “legitimate requirement”) and that providing “accommodation” would cause “undue hardship.”

Removing the "Canadian experience" barrier (brochure) | Ontario Human Rights Commission

If you've got a trade try to pick up any work related to your field, even if it's just a one-off job from Kijiji. If you work for a decent person who see's you working well don't be afraid to ask them to be a referee.

What you really need is Canadian references, think of this when you're doing grunt work.

They're so obsessed with references here it can be a real challenge to start, especially with the time difference and all.

Also think "personal" references, anyone you get along with and become friends with can be a personal referee.

As a last resort you could always consider bending the truth a little.

Good luck