Hi,
Does anybody have any experience they'd like to share about going IT Consulting in Canada - especially in Vancouver?

Is there a good market? Are you treated reasonably well by employers and staff? Are the pay rates good?

I'm coming over in about a month on a working holiday visa. I'm vaguely thinking about grabbing a short contract before seeing if I can find a permanent employer. (I'm a software engineer with 7 years experience (most recently in java) in very large corporates).

Thanks in advance for anything you have to share.

I've been a contract programmer and sometimes pimp in Canada since 1986. In that time I've known half a dozen people who gave up contracts in Toronto to try their luck in Vancouver. They all came back when their money ran out. The only computer person I know who did make it work had to take a permanent job which meant a big drop in the family's standard of living; his wife didn't work here but had to there.

I'm don't think there are "large corporate"s in Vancouver. There might be some Java work but I suggest that, if you like the west coast and want a contract, California or Washington would be a better destination.

I'm not in IT so have no idea on your skill set. Those I know in the industry work for the following:

HSBC - have a big IT centre in Burnaby (http://cahsbc.myvurv.com/MAIN/career...&szCategory=75),

EA games - they have offices downtown, and then a huge campus in Burnaby that does all the development stuff

Accenture - do a lot of IT outsourcing

I've been in consulting for 5 years - I used to work for Accenture in the UK, and now work for Sierra Systems (who are based in Vancouver) out of their Halifax (NS) office.

When I moved earlier this year I took about a 35% salary hit, but now receive a better bonus and better healthcare benefits (health/dental etc, spousal coverage included). This is partially balanced by the sh**ty 3 weeks holiday, but that's good for Canada!

Regarding contracting, in Nova Scotia short term contract work is available, but it's not like the gravy-train of contracting in the UK! I know quite a few folk who are financially better off now that they're in permanent work.

So far, I like working for Sierra (see the separate post on Canada's Top 100 employers for more objective measures http://www.canadastop100.com/) - way better life/work balance and altogether friendlier atmosphere than back in London. They do have offices in both Victoria and Vancouver, but I think most of the work is in specialist stuff in government/healthcare. If on the other hand you know JCAPS or HL7, then give me a PM!