halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Aug 16th 2010, 5:38 pm
#16
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,139
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
moved here july 1st with so much confidence and hope for the future.gave up good jobs and a nice house in the uk too.moved here with job agencies and people saying you can easily get a job with your experience.partner has applied for job after job and if they do ring you back and give you an interview you never here back from them again ,always having to chase them.ive even applied for a job shelf stacking that i can walk into in the uk ,got an interview and then nothing.what do you have to do to get a job.we cant carry on like this for much longer as we can only afford to use so much money trying before we have to decide whats next.do we call it quits say we tried and go back to the uk? at least we would get dole and help with rent there.did anybody else find it difficult to get employment here? we even did a test visit in june trying job agenices etc all said you will have no problem with work just come in when you arrive.now we are here its a different story-they dont bother to answerthe phone or get back to you
its so frustrating all we want to do is get jobs and settle down here.never knew it would be this hard though.we are seriously thinking of going back tothe uk now!
its so frustrating all we want to do is get jobs and settle down here.never knew it would be this hard though.we are seriously thinking of going back tothe uk now!
Also different is the attitude towards work, IMO. That shelf stacking job "that i can walk into in the uk" will be targeted by high school kids and every other person out there who needs work. Just because it is not highly skilled work does not mean that you are entitled to it. Many people come onto this board with, IMO, the attitude that they will "just take some office job to get by". That's not good enough in Canada, you have to prove that you have the skills and experience for the job, that you are not going to leave as soon as something 'better' comes along, that you have something to actually offer the company.
Good luck and stick with it.
Aug 16th 2010, 6:12 pm
#17
Bon Vivant
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 2,956
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Spot on with both of these. Canada is what it is, like it or not. It is what it is however due to immigration and the contribution immigrants have made. Come here to make a contribution and it can be rewarding, come here, complain and do nothing is a recipe for failure.
When we hire staff, qualifications are important, however attitude is everything, even the most qualified candidate with the wrong attitude won't get hired. Our hiring decisions are made not only by management, but with input from other staff. When you speak to anyone at an organisation, you never know how much influence they may have in the hiring decision.
When we hire staff, qualifications are important, however attitude is everything, even the most qualified candidate with the wrong attitude won't get hired. Our hiring decisions are made not only by management, but with input from other staff. When you speak to anyone at an organisation, you never know how much influence they may have in the hiring decision.
Attitude is the most important thing. If yours is one of arrogance and that we are 20 years behind the times and you project that to prospective employers it will very likely be a frosty Friday in July before you get a position.
Good luck though and I hope you find something soon.
Aug 16th 2010, 6:32 pm
#18
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Being unemployed with no end in site is a depressing thing to go through. It may only be six week so far, but when you are in that situation, burning through what money you may have, it's tough to see where the positives are.
Though it is only six weeks - and there is some good advice in this thread (JonboyE's in particular)
Aug 16th 2010, 6:34 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
While the recent posts above contain good advice, I do find it a little unfair for recently arrived immigrants to be routinely told that it is their attitude that sucks rather than that of Canadian employers.
Yes, I know the whole "when in Rome, etc." is what immigrants have to put up with, but the blame is not solely their`s. Canadian hiring practices are dire and are unlikely to change if newly arrived immigrants are expected to doff their caps and conform. I am amazed at the arrogance shown in the local press when employers complain about their inability to recruit staff, particularly in the boom times.
Yes, I know the whole "when in Rome, etc." is what immigrants have to put up with, but the blame is not solely their`s. Canadian hiring practices are dire and are unlikely to change if newly arrived immigrants are expected to doff their caps and conform. I am amazed at the arrogance shown in the local press when employers complain about their inability to recruit staff, particularly in the boom times.
Last edited by Almost Canadian; Aug 16th 2010 at 6:51 pm.
Aug 16th 2010, 6:34 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Because it's the way things are done doesn't make it not rude. It's disheartening and depressing to put effort in and hear nothing back. I think it's an appalling way to treat people. Still, that's the way it is.
The OP is obviously feeling it as the stream of consciousness style of the writing is just them venting their misery. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are arrogant or have too lofty expectations when applying for jobs.
Being unemployed with no end in site is a depressing thing to go through. It may only be six week so far, but when you are in that situation, burning through what money you may have, it's tough to see where the positives are.
Though it is only six weeks - and there is some good advice in this thread (JonboyE's in particular)
The OP is obviously feeling it as the stream of consciousness style of the writing is just them venting their misery. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are arrogant or have too lofty expectations when applying for jobs.
Being unemployed with no end in site is a depressing thing to go through. It may only be six week so far, but when you are in that situation, burning through what money you may have, it's tough to see where the positives are.
Though it is only six weeks - and there is some good advice in this thread (JonboyE's in particular)
Aug 16th 2010, 6:41 pm
#21
slanderer of the innocent
Joined: Dec 2008
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,695
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
I feel for the OP and am ignoring the 20 years behind crack. I think that's just frustration talking.
OP - with the job I have now, it took the company 2 months to get back to me for an interview. They never acknowledged receipt of my resume. I'd given up on it by then. My one bit of advice is don't take it personally because it really isn't. This company has turned out to be great to work for.
Good luck.
OP - with the job I have now, it took the company 2 months to get back to me for an interview. They never acknowledged receipt of my resume. I'd given up on it by then. My one bit of advice is don't take it personally because it really isn't. This company has turned out to be great to work for.
Good luck.
Aug 16th 2010, 6:56 pm
#22
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
I am amazed at the arrogance shown in the local press when employers complain about their inability to recruit staff, particularly in the boom times.
Aug 16th 2010, 7:04 pm
#23
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 12,830
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Because it's the way things are done doesn't make it not rude. It's disheartening and depressing to put effort in and hear nothing back. I think it's an appalling way to treat people. Still, that's the way it is.
The OP is obviously feeling it as the stream of consciousness style of the writing is just them venting their misery. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are arrogant or have too lofty expectations when applying for jobs.
Being unemployed with no end in site is a depressing thing to go through. It may only be six week so far, but when you are in that situation, burning through what money you may have, it's tough to see where the positives are.
Though it is only six weeks - and there is some good advice in this thread (JonboyE's in particular)
The OP is obviously feeling it as the stream of consciousness style of the writing is just them venting their misery. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are arrogant or have too lofty expectations when applying for jobs.
Being unemployed with no end in site is a depressing thing to go through. It may only be six week so far, but when you are in that situation, burning through what money you may have, it's tough to see where the positives are.
Though it is only six weeks - and there is some good advice in this thread (JonboyE's in particular)
Aug 16th 2010, 7:11 pm
#24
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
But it is only rude to us because of our experience in the UK. I don't think the average Canadian is offended because they don't expect "thanks but no thanks" letters in any case.
If we are not to get too discouraged by the job hunting process (and I agree it can be very depressing) it is better to approach it with Canadian sensibilities.
If we are not to get too discouraged by the job hunting process (and I agree it can be very depressing) it is better to approach it with Canadian sensibilities.
Aug 16th 2010, 7:13 pm
#25
Binned by Muderators
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: White Rock BC
Posts: 11,682
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
It is hard to recruit good local staff, boom times or not. We probably have no better than a 50% success rate with local labour. The good ones stay, the not so good ones are let go. There is very much a work if I want to attitude and job entitlement. This is why the foreign worker programs work so well such as SAWP which is replacing a large percentage of labour in the ag sector.
Aug 16th 2010, 7:31 pm
#26
New Scotland Girl
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 187
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Hi Kevin & John,
Don't get your hopes down, one thing that everyone has neglected to mention so far is - majority of the people are on vacation. I have been looking for work since the beginning of July after moving back to Halifax from Scotland.
From my own experience, job hunting during summer months takes longer. HR departments are very big and like to screen applicants first, so it is very likely that each step of the interview process some "essential" person is on vacation.
Please don't take it personally, I am Canadian and I am having the exact same problems as you right now. It takes patience and the job market will speed up starting in September.
Don't get your hopes down, one thing that everyone has neglected to mention so far is - majority of the people are on vacation. I have been looking for work since the beginning of July after moving back to Halifax from Scotland.
From my own experience, job hunting during summer months takes longer. HR departments are very big and like to screen applicants first, so it is very likely that each step of the interview process some "essential" person is on vacation.
Please don't take it personally, I am Canadian and I am having the exact same problems as you right now. It takes patience and the job market will speed up starting in September.
Aug 16th 2010, 7:33 pm
#27
New Scotland Girl
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 187
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Oh, another thing. Companies that usually get back to you ASAP are not the ones you want to be working for. There is a reason why they get back to you so quickly, they are desperate.
Aug 16th 2010, 7:37 pm
#28
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Aug 16th 2010, 7:40 pm
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,099
Re: halifax unsure wether to stay or go back to uk
Aug 16th 2010, 7:42 pm
#30
New Scotland Girl
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 187