Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10754464)

Hi. We are a married couple recently moved to Calgary on FSW1 visas 2 months ago and now have apartment, car and most if not all of the necessaries etc though we are still waiting for health cards and PR cards in the post.

We have taken advice and constructed Canadian styled "resumes" and are applying - her as an OT to Alberta Health Services and me as a Commercial/Corporate banker but not as many vacancies as you might expect (given everyone says the place is alive with jobs) and hard to get past these blasted online application systems which stink. Any suggestions? I'm going to a banking/insurance hiring fair in a week and she is going to target a specific hospital and ask to meet people.

Despite out best efforts there seems to be a bit of an arrogance about all foreign experience and qualifications being substandard - being British I'm inclined to think the opposite is true in our case but we still need to overcome it.

Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10754464)

Despite out best efforts there seems to be a bit of an arrogance about all foreign experience and qualifications being substandard - being British I'm inclined to think the opposite is true in our case but we still need to overcome it.

Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10754464)

Despite out best efforts there seems to be a bit of an arrogance about all foreign experience and qualifications being substandard - being British I'm inclined to think the opposite is true in our case but we still need to overcome it.

Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10754464)

Despite out best efforts there seems to be a bit of an arrogance about all foreign experience and qualifications being substandard - being British I'm inclined to think the opposite is true in our case but we still need to overcome it.

Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10755543)

Thanks to all re advice. Just struggling a little to gain traction.

I don't think we are arrogant as have both passed Canadian registration exams making us immediately employable and had our UK degrees assessed as Canadian equivalents at expense and in both our chosen professions it is apparent the Canadian systems are some way behind. The infrastructure here just isn't developed enough to assess and "equivalize" foreign credentials and experience as say the UK does when employing foreign doctors or other professions. We just need a few tips on how to "break though" this.

I have a recruiter contact in Toronto now helping me with my resume style and the careers fair next week should prove useful. I think its a fair point to make that a country trying to attract foreign skilled workers should engage to tell them how to make themselves employable - this is happening slowly - not least its in the interest of Canadians to fill vacancies.

Originally Posted by 99problems (Post 10767446)

This is all good advice, and if I say so, obvious. I have and am doing all of these things. My wife approached a hospital earlier this week and was treated successively rudely by 4 separate people. There is no shortage of glib advice on the subject and the short conclusion is - its not easy at all. If we "turn it around" for a minute - Calgary/Alberta is and will experience a skills shortage - they really need to engage immigrants who do have the right skills and show them how to approach the right employers.

I went to a banking jobs fair yesterday and there was a lot of positive language etc - I am suspending judgement on its effectiveness pending the results from my follow-ups.

The main difficulty is that most folks simply don't want to talk and "meet up" and can be very dismissive. We are as friendly and effusive as any immigrants knowing that its incumbent upon them to make the effort - please don't assume we have an attitude problem.

Originally Posted by Rick b

"Obvious advice" "no shortage of glib advice" "they really need tho engage immigrants"

Have you actually stopped, stepped back and realised what an arrogant twat you sound? No less than 3 people on here have tried to be diplomatic and tried to get you to think about how you are doing things - well here is the non diplomatic speel:

You come off as a self serving, need to be on a pedestal, arrogant, full of himself man. That person is not going to get hired. Full stop. You need to re-assess how you are acting, what you say to people and how you treat their help. I know many immigrants both British and beyond who have found work within a couple of weeks in Calgary. It is a far easier job market than elsewhere in Canada. And I'm saying this with both my wife and I working for major Oil and Gas Owner companies.

LinkedIn is huge here. I googled HR/recruitment and the company name and linked in the search bar. I then contacted those people and did very well. A lot of people have done the same.

If you haven't got a job in Calgary with the amount of experience you are saying you have, then re-assess your attitude.

Originally Posted by Novocastrian (Post 10767595)

Maybe short term work filling sandbags?

Who knows who'll be grateful?