Come to Canada and starve!
Mar 22nd 2005, 2:43 pm
#16
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by Glaswegian
Take a tip ... don't rush into buying a house until you're sure you know where you want live ... by that I don't mean you'll be planning to head back the UK with your tail between your legs ... Canada is a big place and you may have to move around to find the right opportunities and living environment 
It can result in two scenarios. If you are focussed on a specific kind of job then you follow the work and live wherever the job takes you and adjust accordingly. If you focus on a specific lifestyle and location then take whatever job you can get in the location. Getting the ideal job in the ideal location is more difficult.
Mar 22nd 2005, 2:54 pm
#17
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by Airseir
Guess I am just palin daft - but yes I am selling my house, quiting my job etc and moving lock stock and Barrel over there. 100% reason? no. If I only went for known outcomes in my job we would never have moved forward so I am used to taking educated and calculated risks. This is going to be the biggest one I have taken in my personal life and I accept that it may be tough. I hope the safty net of over $200,000 should help me long enough to get some burger flipping job although I now favour the table waiting. Some of us sad risk takers hope that we have what it takes, prepared and flexible in our appraoch and full of the attitude that if some make a success of it we probably can. the final part is that I would rather fail trying than sit here in my later years wondering what it would have been like.
I once quit my full time permanent job that was happily paying the mortguage and left me a little for leisure to change trades, less money and struggling to pay the mortguage, after 6 months the job was advertised nationally as a permanent position and I faced unemployment, but I stuck it out got the job and was a lot better off in the long run. - yes perhaps I used up my luck card - perhaps I may get lucky again. The scariest thing is that if I fail there is no comming back because I couldnt afford to buy my house now at its market value so wont be able to come back to what I leave.
"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth."
"The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live."
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
I may be completly barking but I am acting for myself and may eat humble pie later on - but I will have lived and experienced a little more. so far I have been a tyre and exhaust fitter, warehouse bod, painter and decorator, science technician, graphic artist, Semi-professional photographer, I.T. technician, IT and Computing Lecturer, college Manager, Programmer, and now a systems Development Manager. My spare sallary never increased I just eat better food, drink better beers and wines, have a more expensive car and a bigger house.
I once quit my full time permanent job that was happily paying the mortguage and left me a little for leisure to change trades, less money and struggling to pay the mortguage, after 6 months the job was advertised nationally as a permanent position and I faced unemployment, but I stuck it out got the job and was a lot better off in the long run. - yes perhaps I used up my luck card - perhaps I may get lucky again. The scariest thing is that if I fail there is no comming back because I couldnt afford to buy my house now at its market value so wont be able to come back to what I leave.
"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth."
"The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live."
"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."
I may be completly barking but I am acting for myself and may eat humble pie later on - but I will have lived and experienced a little more. so far I have been a tyre and exhaust fitter, warehouse bod, painter and decorator, science technician, graphic artist, Semi-professional photographer, I.T. technician, IT and Computing Lecturer, college Manager, Programmer, and now a systems Development Manager. My spare sallary never increased I just eat better food, drink better beers and wines, have a more expensive car and a bigger house.
Mar 22nd 2005, 2:58 pm
#18
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by Gaz&Paula
I am in a very lucky position when we get around to emigrating with my service pension.
At current rates, we will have the equivalent of just over CDN$100000 with CDN$22000 per annum pension (Approx CDN$1800 per month) which is UK index linked.
Personally, I believe this is a massive safety net. Although 22K isn't a massive amount, it will mean we don't starve. And if I get promoted before my time is up, I'm looking at a 30% increase on both figures.
Our main reasons for wishing to emigrate to Canada are the open spaces and slower way of life. Not to get the big house, big car etc.
And, after doing what I've been doing for the past 18 years or so, I think stacking shelves in a supermarket may suit me fine. (I did it at College anyway.)
At current rates, we will have the equivalent of just over CDN$100000 with CDN$22000 per annum pension (Approx CDN$1800 per month) which is UK index linked.
Personally, I believe this is a massive safety net. Although 22K isn't a massive amount, it will mean we don't starve. And if I get promoted before my time is up, I'm looking at a 30% increase on both figures.
Our main reasons for wishing to emigrate to Canada are the open spaces and slower way of life. Not to get the big house, big car etc.
And, after doing what I've been doing for the past 18 years or so, I think stacking shelves in a supermarket may suit me fine. (I did it at College anyway.)
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:05 pm
#19
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Since I came to Montreal things have been terrible. Canadians are always going on about how easy it is to work here, what lies.
I don't want to go back because I am here for uni, but I need a job and I can't wait until I've finished uni and can get away from this bloody place and go somewhere I can actually work. When I got here I wondered why there were so many homeless on the streets, I now know the answer.
I don't want to go back because I am here for uni, but I need a job and I can't wait until I've finished uni and can get away from this bloody place and go somewhere I can actually work. When I got here I wondered why there were so many homeless on the streets, I now know the answer.
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:18 pm
#20
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by Spiff
Since I came to Montreal things have been terrible. Canadians are always going on about how easy it is to work here, what lies.
I don't want to go back because I am here for uni, but I need a job and I can't wait until I've finished uni and can get away from this bloody place and go somewhere I can actually work. When I got here I wondered why there were so many homeless on the streets, I now know the answer.
I don't want to go back because I am here for uni, but I need a job and I can't wait until I've finished uni and can get away from this bloody place and go somewhere I can actually work. When I got here I wondered why there were so many homeless on the streets, I now know the answer.
Loads of people will jump down your throat and accuse you of pissing the regular posters off and being a whinger!!
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:34 pm
#21
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by seacreature
Spiff! You can't say stuff like that on here!
Loads of people will jump down your throat and accuse you of pissing the regular posters off and being a whinger!!
Loads of people will jump down your throat and accuse you of pissing the regular posters off and being a whinger!!
It might explain the difficulty in getting a job though!
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:45 pm
#22
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by flashman
It can result in two scenarios. If you are focussed on a specific kind of job then you follow the work and live wherever the job takes you and adjust accordingly. If you focus on a specific lifestyle and location then take whatever job you can get in the location. Getting the ideal job in the ideal location is more difficult.
thats our dilema
i wnat to go to regina but all the large companys which specialise in my hubbys qualifications are in ontario!
i would be happy as a waitress we are debating over the area for this one
does anyone know the employment prospects in saskatchewan?
we think maybe ontario may be better with a relative being there
as for house hunting that depends on the job prospects if we can find a job quick either before of after we go we will rent and look around but if we cant we will have to buy fairly soon as rental will be expensive
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:47 pm
#23
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by seacreature
Spiff! You can't say stuff like that on here!
Loads of people will jump down your throat and accuse you of pissing the regular posters off and being a whinger!!
Loads of people will jump down your throat and accuse you of pissing the regular posters off and being a whinger!!
Canada is far from perfect and currently the only thing keeping me here is the fact that as a Canadian Citizen (dual nationality) resident in Quebec my Uni fees are next to nothing. But what good does that do me when NOWHERE will accept any of my A-Levels etc as qualifications and i can't get a regular crappy job because my Quebecois is basic? though after a year I am finally starting to get used to the accent i have major difficulty following anyone here when they speak french.
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:51 pm
#24
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by flashman
It might explain the difficulty in getting a job though!
of course, because when I am looking for a job or with canadians i sit around and whinge about canada all the time.
Mar 22nd 2005, 3:52 pm
#25
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by flashman
It might explain the difficulty in getting a job though!
Mar 22nd 2005, 4:11 pm
#26
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Seacreature, you've mentioned before about lack of Jobs and lack of interviews for the most basic job. I don't understand how anyone can take an attitude problem from your resume, so it can only be in the style your delivering the information. Some people will not hire if you are over quailified, so dumb down the resume to level they need.
We thank you for you input in how difficult its been finding work where you are but remember you are not speaking for the Whole of Canada and for every single trade, and every other person.
Now from looking at this site it would appear people are very willing to help, give advice and information when asked direct questions.
So in an effort to help you and others can you anser these questions
Have you been to the jobcentre type places to get help with the resume writing?
In a typical day what jobs did you apply for ?
and what did you put on your resume?
Maybe just maybe somebody here can help you.
We thank you for you input in how difficult its been finding work where you are but remember you are not speaking for the Whole of Canada and for every single trade, and every other person.
Now from looking at this site it would appear people are very willing to help, give advice and information when asked direct questions.
So in an effort to help you and others can you anser these questions
Have you been to the jobcentre type places to get help with the resume writing?
In a typical day what jobs did you apply for ?
and what did you put on your resume?
Maybe just maybe somebody here can help you.
Mar 22nd 2005, 4:24 pm
#27
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by _Dave_
The way UK people talk, they make it sound like getting a job in Canada is impossible.
Obviously someone in Canada has a job, because there is only a 7% unemployment rate at the moment.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Subjec...LFS/lfs-en.htm
Obviously someone in Canada has a job, because there is only a 7% unemployment rate at the moment.
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Subjec...LFS/lfs-en.htm
Don't forget - newly landed immigrants are not included in this total
Mar 22nd 2005, 4:31 pm
#28
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Oh my god what a depressing post and so many generalisations and sweeping statements its untrue!!
Mar 22nd 2005, 4:31 pm
#29
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
Originally Posted by seacreature
I'm lucky in that I have a Canadian partner who works and can support me, however I was wondering....
What do other immigrants do when they can't even land a survival job (as in my position?)
Is this the reason so many people return to the UK?
What do other immigrants do when they can't even land a survival job (as in my position?)
Is this the reason so many people return to the UK?
Sorry to join this so late - but "so many people return"... NO THEY DON"T!! Most people find jobs, are very happy with their choices and decisions and settle down. A small number do return (or even bounce between the two countries).
Personally, this was the most financially daft thing we ever did - but we stuck it out (and used up most of our savings - sigh) and we LOVE IT HERE!! Quality of life is much better, we just wished we had done things differently when we first arrived (eg way more more networking/marketing of ourselves for the jobs...)
I am now in a way more snr job here than I was in the UK (started at plankton level, and just kept being promoted) - unfortunately hubby's career has taken a backward step - but I don't hear him complain (well, not much!!
)Clare
Mar 22nd 2005, 4:45 pm
#30
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Re: Come to Canada and starve!
The problem is Canadians are so arrogant. Don't deny it. In any other country on earth they will happily accept qualifications from other countries. Goto the UK and they'll accept Canadian qualificiations no problems. But god forbid you hope they'll do the same here. I had a telemarketing job (about all that's available to a non-Canadian educated anglophone in Quebec) and can you believe one of the people I worked with had a BA and a MASTERS degree in Psychology. BUT she got her degrees while she was growing up in Indiam and guess what, they don't accept them here.
Oh, and then there's my mother who gave up on Canada because her British nursing qualifications counted for nothing over here and she had to retake her nursing exams or else only get 1/2 pay.
Despite the fact that EVERYONE I have met here tells me that in the UK our standards of qualification are higher than here no-one is ever willing to hire someone unless they were educated in Canada.
So I gave up applying to jobs where I had met the criteria and started applying for jobs that are just crap. And now I don't get them because I'm "over-qualified". MAKE UP YOUR MINDS. All I want is to work and contribute. I started off feeling very optimistic, but the more s**t I take the less I like this place and my attitude now has really shifted. I can't help now but look at Canadians as being xenophobic, controlling, unfair, fake, intolerant, and generally a bit boring. I didn't always feel like that, but after 1 year of being in and out of jobs like no tomorrow that's the way it is.
Oh, and then there's my mother who gave up on Canada because her British nursing qualifications counted for nothing over here and she had to retake her nursing exams or else only get 1/2 pay.
Despite the fact that EVERYONE I have met here tells me that in the UK our standards of qualification are higher than here no-one is ever willing to hire someone unless they were educated in Canada.
So I gave up applying to jobs where I had met the criteria and started applying for jobs that are just crap. And now I don't get them because I'm "over-qualified". MAKE UP YOUR MINDS. All I want is to work and contribute. I started off feeling very optimistic, but the more s**t I take the less I like this place and my attitude now has really shifted. I can't help now but look at Canadians as being xenophobic, controlling, unfair, fake, intolerant, and generally a bit boring. I didn't always feel like that, but after 1 year of being in and out of jobs like no tomorrow that's the way it is.