Hi guys,

I'm just wandering if there are any/a lot of engineering opportunities in canada, and also would a British college cert be recognised there?

At the moment i am working for the railways as a qualified design signal engineer (Mech and electrical).

Thanks in advance.

Hmm. A Batchelors or Masters Degree is not really a problem. HNDs/ HNCs, NVQs and the like are more of a minefield and might not be as easily reconised.

In terms of general "engineering" jobs, there are plenty, but railway specific ones and other niche areas (like mine) are less likely. Rail here is not a huge thing. Sure there are miles of track from East to West, but mostly its long distance freight traffic, without a lot of N/S routes, and I dont know that there is a lot of new infrastructure going in that would generate a lot of jobs.

Nothing to lose in approaching the operators here I suppose.

Generally i am not looking at rail specific anymore as i have had quite bad experiances of 'off shoring' work to india which i am sure will just follow me ut any advise on a nice clean switch?

Beats me. I guess you need to assess your transferable skills and see what might fit. Offshoring is a major threat here to, especialy if the CDN$ contines to climb relative to the US$. My company does a lot of assembly in Mexico now that used to be done in the GTA.

I was told by a very unreliable source that hair dressers are desperately needed in canada I am very wary of his mouth as he is advising a friend of mine to go over on a work permit/skilled worker using a hairdressing cert he has as a main job. obviously i don't want to say to my friend he is a liar until i find out the truth.

BTW i feel extremly stupid asking this question but is there any truth in his words?

It seems unlikely. No matter how bad the average canadian stylist might be, there are so many of them that a favourable LMO from HRDC is quite unlikely, and without that you are not going to get a work permit.

Skilled worker is unlikely too unless its a much longer apprenticeship than I give it credit for. I doubt the educational points could be got with a hairdressers qualifications.

Thank you for this.

Like I said it came from a very unreliable source as he told me that these friends of his got a visa into canada already after that sent it in may!!! Maybe they bought there way in???

Could be, Investor group, setting up a salon or something.

Might be worth checking the NOC list for more info though because I have also heard/read something similar too and was very suprised to see it listed on the Australia top 10 of jobs in demand for getting into the country some time back... I don't want to send you on a wild goose chase but it's always worth the extra search.

Also, on the engineering front check out http://www.tradesecrets.org/ and Red Seal... they might help you. HNC/D's are recognised but you may need to get a translation certificate to show their equivalency in Canada. I can't remember the place you get it done but when I do i'll post it if you need it.

Ki

I think that hairdressers are on the wanted list for Oz.

Hairdressers are in skill level B in the National Occupation Categoriesin Canada. I suppose that would make them eligible for PNP if a province had a particular shortage!

Yes your certification would most likely be recognised as the folowing:
If you have a HNC/HND you will be classified as an Engineering Technologist. If you has an ONC/D you would be classified as a Engineering Technician.

Technologist say in the oil/gas are can be better paid than having a BSc in Engineering as Technologist is generally a union position so you get OT, even better hourly rate.

Are you Incorporated or Chartered? It will only help if an expat sees your CV as your qualification would mean something to them.

I hired HND Chartered Engineers into Engineering position when I worked in Canada. All I can say there are alot of immigrant qualified engineers who can not get engineering jobs in Canada. Just take a taxi cab in Ottawa and chat to the cabbie and you will find out.

If you are young and do not mind moving around look into oil fields in Alberta for jobs.

They could do with some here too, I declare a national mullet emergency

Yes, more mullets are desperately needed. Far too many "#2s all over" are placing this national treasure at risk of extinction

Reiterating the desire not to send you on a wild goose chase - but got a trim in Montreal (not a mullet for the record ) and the gent concerned launched into his story when I told him I was looking to emigrate...

He did come over on a skilled worker app, but had french as his mother tongue. He had no end of trouble getting in due to his questionable English, but he did get in.

He told me he hated Canada anyway and appropriately enough was planning on heading to Australia as he felt his skills weren't appreciated enough...