Sammy and Ant

Hi All,

We are looking to move to Calgary in the summer, should have Visas in passports by the end of this month.

England is full of doom and gloom at the moment- lots of companies in administration and people being made redundant.

What is it like in Canada, more particularly, the Calgary area?

I'm still 100% committed to moving, but I'm feeling a little uneasy about whether we will be able to get jobs.

Any feedback is appreciated,

Sammy & Ant
x

christmasoompa

I'm afraid the answer is that Canada is also in recession. Do a quick search of the forum and you'll find lots of similar doom and gloom stories about Canada too! Lots of people on here recently who have been in the process of getting a TWP only to find their job offer has disappeared.

If you're worried about it, why don't you try and get a job before you move? Might be worth considering anyway.

Good luck.

SambaDeAmigo

It's hard to tell how 'bad' things will be in the summer but it would be best if you can get a job offer when still in the UK, as the previous poster advised. It makes things much easier once you get here.

I check BBC news and I read about companies laying off staff almost everyday. Maybe these kind of news aren't covered by the media here in Canada but I don't see it to be as bad as in the UK right now. That's my personal opinion though.

fledermaus

There was an article in the Globe and Mail on Saturday about job losses in Canada. Maybe it's still on line.

I wouldn't leave a job now to place myself in the "last in, first out" firing position.
I would also advise that if 2 of you are coming then both need to have jobs lined up. It's very hard for the person left at home.

Getting There

Hi Sammy & Ant,

Well, first of all, congratulations for getting to the back end of the process.

It's not all doom and gloom here in Calgary and surrounds (although Alberta took a big hit on job losses in December, versus other provinces) but that said, there is some very sensible advice above. Certainly, a trip to come out and do the landling process, preceded by networking, more networking and even more networking, so that the landing trip could also be a trip where you get face time with potential employers, could be a good risk mitigation strategy. Remember, you will be a better prospect than those that a potential employer would have to consider trying to get in on a Temporary Work Permit basis. On the flip side, if your respective work areas are the sorts of things where employers can easily hire people already here today, then that's a tough one for you. What sort of work do you each do?

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

Steve_P

What he said ^^^^^^

A couple of recent news stories.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...stats-dec.html

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/st...oymentdec.html

Sammy and Ant

Thank you all for your feedback so far.

Once we get our PR, we are planning to come over for a reccie in April/May time.

We are both quite cautious, so we would not move out permanently without one of us securing a job. I earn less that Ant, so I would consider the possibility of going over first & trying to find something whilst he works in the UK.

Ant is a tax specialist/ fraud investigator/ auditor and currently works for the UK government - a secure job in these times. (We have got our PR through him) He would like a similar role in Canada, but cannot apply for such jobs until we have landed & have our SINs. I work as an Project Manager for a Market Research firm, but I have years of admin/Executive Assistant experience & would consider any secretarial/ office work.

Why do you know anyone who is hiring? (Cheeky?!)

Sammy

Getting There

Hi Sammy,

Jan came here with the same admin/Exec Asst skill set and ended up in an Office Manager's role. It's a general skill and we would imagine there were still such opportunities around (and we will keep eyes and ears open). Certainly speak to the temp agencies with a view to getting a few assignments to get a foot in the door. That will make subsequent in-company networking a whole lot easier. Ant's job - not expert there and sounds more of a tough nut to crack. Perhaps someone with more knowledge of that field will step forward with advice.

Drop us a line if there is anything we can do to make the transition easier.

E&J.

Atlantic Xpat

Without wishing to rain on your parade, such a job in Canada would likely be a Federal Govt job and generally you have to be a Canadian Citizen to stand any hope of getting one of those.

macadian

and have French?

livermanl

Quite right.

"Proof of citizenship
Sometimes you need to prove that you are a Canadian citizen. You may need to do this when you:

vote
apply for a passport
apply for certain jobs or
apply to obtain certain government entitlements."

This is a quoted from CIC...here is the link http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp

TrishP

You don't have to be a citizen for fed jobs, landed immigrant status is OK for many of the positions posted.

Atlantic Xpat

That might be what the words say but I believe in practice a PR would be at the very back of the line behind Canadian citizens of every level of competence and incompetence. At worst it would be impossible at best a drawn out process. Not so helpful if you are relying on getting this type of job upon first moving over to keep body and soul together.

TrishP

Most positions are based upon the result of sitting an exam for that department in addition to an interview. I have many friends who work in the government and have been witness to the hiring procedures - the biggest problem as a newly landed immigrant would actually be one of time as getting a fed job can take up to a year!

pgtips

I Doubt things can get any worse than in the UK, but at least in the UK you are entightled to certain benefits and housing allowance if you are unfortunate enough to lose your job.

It's tough time all over, just do as much research as you can and try and line jobs up before you go, remember nothing ventured nothing gained.