Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Hello everyone!
My husband and I moved to Calgary at the start of September as permanent residents. My husband is an IT professional (data analysis, change management, IT transformation, project lead, etc.) with 6+ years experience. Before our move, my husband was applying to jobs from the UK; however, he did not receive any responses - we were informed by Canadians that this was because he did not have a Canadian phone number, our permanent residency was not confirmed, and he did not have a Canadian address on his CV (basically, no-one was willing to take a risk on him until he was in the country). Since being in the country, he has had some success getting interviews via personal networking, but he is having no luck getting interviews via the traditional application route. We appreciate that the Canadian job market works different than the UK (and a lot of jobs are actually filled via the networking route). However, we are quite surprised by his lack of success, and wonder what he is 'doing wrong' because every Canadian who has reviewed his CV (including C-level executives at large Canadian companies and recruitment consultants) and was willing to give him feedback has told him that he has a very impressive CV, and there are A LOT of IT jobs being advertised that he fits the bill for. However, the problem seems to be that he is not getting past the HR department in the first instance - for example, he applied for a job at a large telecoms company, but never heard back. A few weeks later, he made a connection with a C-level exec within the company, who was really impressed with his CV and experience (and they also seemed to like him on a personal level), so the C-level exec put my husband forward for an interview for the job that HR previously dismissed him for and he did very well at the interview (unfortunately, a week after the interview, the telecoms company pulled the job that they were recruiting for, so we are back to square one...). Some things that we have thought of as reasons for why my husband has been having little success job hunting are:
Thanks a lot! |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Has he read our wiki on job hunting? "No Canadian experience" is very common. Many companies use software to pan through applications - if yours doesn't have the key words they are looking for it will go to one side or in the bin. I presume he has Canadianised his resume? Canada is the land of 'pieces of paper' a lot of the time they only seem interested if you have the required piece of paper (certificate/diploma), even if you have years of experience in doing those tasks - they want proof that you can do it, not just your word.
The experience he has from the UK will count for little in Canada unless he is in a niche profession. It's a case of 'network, network, network' too.. https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...Hunting-Canada Do look into newcomer services - there's sometimes programs that can assist in placements (so you can get that 'Canadian experience' - or options to take courses / help with converting qualifications. https://www.immigrantservicescalgary...oyment-support https://www.alberta.ca/work-in-alberta.aspx http://www.directionsforimmigrants.c...strategies.htm Lots of links to mentoring programs (network, network, network) https://www.google.ca/search?q=mento...cr%3DcountryCA Some useful tips: https://www.monster.ca/career-advice...-experience-ca Good luck :fingerscrossed: |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Yes, we have read all the relevant Wikis when he first started applying, and we have been told that there is nothing wrong with his CV (and he has been tailoring his CV and cover letter for each application). So, on paper, he is doing everything right, as far as we are aware (and have been told by Canadians).
We have looked at immigrant services, but did not find them particularly useful, as they seem more tailored to people who lack English language skills, and my husband's qualifications do not need converting (as his is not a regulated profession, and our qualifications have already been assessed as part of the permanent residence application). We are working on the Canadian experience thing - we have recently joined the Board of our local community organisation, so hopefully that will improve his CV in that respect. Will look into mentoring as well. In the meantime, would be interesting in hearing from other people (preferably in the IT sector) about how they managed to secure their first job in Canada! In addition, if anyone knows of anyone who is looking for an IT project manager, change manager, or business analyst, then let us know, so my husband can put his CV forward (in addition to the roughly 100+ applications he has submitted already). |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Calgary may be another world from Southern Ontario but I doubt it. Here most IT people have gained their qualifications and experience abroad. It's routine to interview people who are in other countries and engage them on the basis of their arrival on a specific date (I've lost count of the number of people who accepted offers and then didn't turn up because they found a way to go to the US instead).. Everyone has a tale of a new person turning up without a coat because he or she didn't know that it's cold in Canada; they were interviewed, they arrived, it was a whirlwind. I do think it's better to use a .com email address and a Canadian phone number rather than a .co.uk and 011+ one but the important thing is to be able to state "able to legally work in Canada" or similar on your resume, not particularly to be physically here.
. I would guess that the problem is twofold: - lack of fashionable skills on the resume; does it say GuideWire, Agile, Cloud, LEAN, Snowflake? - looking for a permanent job. Contracts are easier, the client is only committing to a week's worth of money and will do that quite casually. There's no HR involvement. Permanent jobs are very often offered first to contractors already on site. |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
I read a fascinating article on Bored Panda yesterday regarding a person who was frustrated by the standard of a new employee and challenged HR as to why a particular applicant, who they knew of, hadn’t made it through to the interview stage. It turned out that the HR department had introduced screening software which asked a pile of random questions, which applicants had to answer quickly, and only those deemed acceptable by this measure made it through to the next stage. The applicant in question, although well qualified and experienced, obviously hadn’t - so the original person, and their department head with many years experience, also went through the test and scored extremely badly. HR however insisted that their software was highly accurate and that they wouldn’t pass on applicants who had failed � ���� Not much help, I know, but may explain some responses. |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
I have just started doing the hiring for our department (24x7 IT Operations) here in Kamloops and I can tell you for a fact, HR are brutal when it comes to filtering out the weeds.
We had a position listed on our corporate website and linked-in and 37 people applied for it. Out of those 37: 11 were not legally entitled to work in Canada (mostly people applying from India & Philippines, but there was one Brit from Southampton) 8 were on work visas 7 were asking way too much money and living on the other side of the country 6 were not qualified (I mean really under qualified) That left us 5 people to do a phone interview with. 3 were a definite no no The other 2 we called in for a face to face interview 1 was terrible at answering questions and wouldn't have been a good fit. 1 was OK, but not great. We are going to repost the job and go through it all over again...FML |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
I would try more networking- seems tome its not what you know but who you know- Not to make you too despondent though, my hubby and I came in 2002 and he just "retired" never working for the industry he was originally "points" for. Yes and it was IT.
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Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Not to be a bit of a downer, but outside of PEI, and NB, Alberta currently has the highest unemployment, and Calgary is way higher than Edmonton, so whilst it has its appeal, you are also fighting uphill with a lot of large corporations jumping ship from Cow town, and heading south of the border,
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Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
I can write pages on this and I'm sure to get flamed,
my background, IT / Telco 20 years, major companies in the UK, despite a resume revamp, and getting a CCNA here, it was and still is hell, I've found here it is PURE networking, not what you can do or what your resume is, it WHO you know, your resume has to have good keywords for there bots to search and NO you won't get past the HR. You need 1> Canadian expereince 2> A Entry Level job 3> a shed load of luck Get on Linked In also Indeed firing resumes left right and center generally wont work MOST IT companies are all outsourced and through agencies, sign UP with a tech agency and start from there, go to open house shows and job shws BUT if you do NOT have any Canadian experience, your pretty much stuffed. After I got a Factory job as a tester, Agencies started ringing me. You are an unknown quantity with no references and NO-ONE has the time to reach out to the UK You have to change your mindset from CV to RESUME and convert everything into Canadianese you also have to tailor Resumes to each job offer. Also things work strange here, you can send a Resume and not hear anything for ages, but then if you get a call and don't jump on it it will be gone in as little as a couple of hours. IT is the worst possible vocation, you are competing with outsourcing and a MASSIVE influx of Asian's with the same or better skillsets And the Big companies are outsourcing to India etc. I won't lie to you, it's a hard slog. I landed 9 years ago, 1st year I was off work on my "mat leave" LOL Got my first factory job the next year, and now in a Servicedesk for the past 7 years. Back home I was a Senior Technical Voice & Network Engineer for a global company I'm banging heads with spotty 18 year olds. NOW... that said other people will run you there positive expereinces and I'm sure there are, but I'm not the only one in my shoes Also the older you are the harder it is. I may be coming off as a bit Salty, but what is it they say "“To paraphrase Oedipus, Hamlet, Lear, and all those guys, "I wish I had known this some time ago.”"
Originally Posted by Calanteli
(Post 12766882)
Since being in the country, he has had some success getting interviews via personal networking, but he is having no luck getting interviews via the traditional application route. We appreciate that the Canadian job market works different than the UK (and a lot of jobs are actually filled via the networking route). However, we are quite surprised by his lack of success, and wonder what he is 'doing wrong' because every Canadian who has reviewed his CV (including C-level executives at large Canadian companies and recruitment consultants) and was willing to give him feedback has told him that he has a very impressive CV, and there are A LOT of IT jobs being advertised that he fits the bill for. However, the problem seems to be that he is not getting past the HR department in the first instance - for example, he applied for a job at a large telecoms company, but never heard back. A few weeks later, he made a connection with a C-level exec within the company, who was really impressed with his CV and experience (and they also seemed to like him on a personal level), so the C-level exec put my husband forward for an interview for the job that HR previously dismissed him for and he did very well at the interview (unfortunately, a week after the interview, the telecoms company pulled the job that they were recruiting for, so we are back to square one...).
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Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
re your "CV" have a word with a friend of mine, he's ex HR and runs a Resume company, his advice is top-notch and 100%
His name is Josh at https://www.resumescanada.ca/about-us/ Say I sent you, (I get no kickbacks LOL honest) He can prime and prep you on the "Canadian" system, he opened my eyes on a lot of things. He re-vamped my British Resume and helped Canadianise my letters.etc. Here's a bit from his website on emails... small stuff but hey, ring anybells LOLOL https://www.resumescanada.ca/is-your...away-your-age/ |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Originally Posted by adrianj
(Post 12768929)
I can write pages on this and I'm sure to get flamed,
my background, IT / Telco 20 years, major companies in the UK, despite a resume revamp, and getting a CCNA here, it was and still is hell, I've found here it is PURE networking, not what you can do or what your resume is, it WHO you know, your resume has to have good keywords for there bots to search and NO you won't get past the HR. You need 1> Canadian expereince 2> A Entry Level job 3> a shed load of luck Get on Linked In also Indeed firing resumes left right and center generally wont work MOST IT companies are all outsourced and through agencies, sign UP with a tech agency and start from there, go to open house shows and job shws BUT if you do NOT have any Canadian experience, your pretty much stuffed. After I got a Factory job as a tester, Agencies started ringing me. You are an unknown quantity with no references and NO-ONE has the time to reach out to the UK You have to change your mindset from CV to RESUME and convert everything into Canadianese you also have to tailor Resumes to each job offer. Also things work strange here, you can send a Resume and not hear anything for ages, but then if you get a call and don't jump on it it will be gone in as little as a couple of hours. IT is the worst possible vocation, you are competing with outsourcing and a MASSIVE influx of Asian's with the same or better skillsets And the Big companies are outsourcing to India etc. I won't lie to you, it's a hard slog. I landed 9 years ago, 1st year I was off work on my "mat leave" LOL Got my first factory job the next year, and now in a Servicedesk for the past 7 years. Back home I was a Senior Technical Voice & Network Engineer for a global company I'm banging heads with spotty 18 year olds. NOW... that said other people will run you there positive expereinces and I'm sure there are, but I'm not the only one in my shoes Also the older you are the harder it is. I may be coming off as a bit Salty, but what is it they say "“To paraphrase Oedipus, Hamlet, Lear, and all those guys, "I wish I had known this some time ago.”" We have long said it's WHO you know not What you know - and Network, Network, Network is the way to get your foot in the door. HR using software to pick out keywords is standard.. this is why we strongly suggest people read the 'job hunting' section of the Wiki before they start looking.. particularly the part about lowering your expectations and Canadianising your resume. Yes, there are a few people who are fortunate and came over years ago when these occcupations were in demand - and they are still in demand in a few Provinces, but not all. Canada loves it's certifications / diplomas (Canadian or Internationally recognised ones, not something specific to the UK). A lot of the time any experience you have in the UK is discarded as not being relevant unless you are in a very niche profession and have been headhunted. https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Categ...Hunting-Canada Glad that things looked up for you in the end. :thumbup: On the subject of resume - please don't pay to have one created for you! There's many places you can get help for FREE - any Works Canada will help you - https://www.alberta.ca/calgary-emplo...services.aspxd there's plenty of online help available too - free - look at the wiki! https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Resume_and_Letter-Canada https://settlement.org/ontario/emplo...-style-resume/ https://www.randstad.ca/job-seeker/c...s-should-know/ https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/findajob/r...te-good-resume Links to free resume templates: https://youthjobscanada.ca/how-to-write-a-resume/ I'm not sure how Calgary is for IT.. might be worth looking at some charitable or volunteer jobs (some are paid) to get that all important "Canadian Experience" :) https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=IT+Char...tion&l=Alberta https://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/progr...rofit-careers/ |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
With all the layoffs that happened in Calgary over the last few years, IT was always the first department to go.
A few years ago, HR would receive maybe 20 applications for IT roles we needed filling. Now? They receive anywhere from 300 to 500 applications for each job posting. It's totally unmanageable, and they're only selecting the cream of the crop. That means masters degrees, professional certifications such as PMP etc. Everyone else goes straight in the trash can. When I moved here many years ago, I was forced to accept a job far more junior than my experience and education, and then work my way back up. Once you have some Canadian experience things get easier. But in the current market in Calgary, those junior roles are being swamped with applications |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
My partner and I landed in August and were in the same boat.
We both done the standard route, applying to reams of jobs online, but also invested around 50% of our time in networking. The best networking events we found were:
Maybe we were lucky, but honestly I don't believe it's as bad as everyone says! Maybe if you're a geo-engineer or something specifically oil and gas, or you're comparing to the 'boom times', but honestly i've seen plenty of IT jobs out there... |
Re: Getting past initial selection for IT jobs (Calgary)
Originally Posted by mattheww65
(Post 12770702)
My partner and I landed in August and were in the same boat.
We both done the standard route, applying to reams of jobs online, but also invested around 50% of our time in networking. The best networking events we found were:
Maybe we were lucky, but honestly I don't believe it's as bad as everyone says! Maybe if you're a geo-engineer or something specifically oil and gas, or you're comparing to the 'boom times', but honestly i've seen plenty of IT jobs out there... :D |
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