How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Hi:

Please share your experiences on how you got your job in Canada. While many have talked about it in different threads, it would be nice to have all the experiences talked about under one major thread. Your answers will help so many get advices/tips/hints.

Thank you in advance,

Yasmina

PS: i cannot start sharing my experience because I am still a student. My husband cannot share his experience either because he has been trying hard to get a job since he moved to BC 9 months ago, but in vain despite his UK and French education and despite his management experience (over 10 years) with an international company in London.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I saw an advert in a magazine late one night October 2005 when my shift finished. Made a phone call the next day. Took a written test in Birmingham the next day. Came to Canada the following Feb 2006 for tests and interviews etc..Got the job offer June 2006..Got PNP by Xmas and emigrated July this year.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I met a chap by the name of Cristopher 2 days after I landed. He introduced me to Shirley and Claire, they were to be my 'girls'.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

My OH met his now employer at an Emigrate Now show in the UK. Three months later we were here working for him - I say we - I mean OH. I just spend my time like I am on holiday..... :)

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

So your a pimp ?

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Thanks AmyDavid, Pompeyboy and steve 666 for your replies. Your experiences were brilliant. Good for you.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

No, that's dbd. The 'girls' are dogs. My job is to take them for walks twice a day. See, that taught you not to jump to conclusions.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

<pedant mode> Do you mean "So you're a pimp?" </pedant mode>

I got my job here by being in the right (wrong) place at the wrong (right) time.

Hope that helps.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

OH found a nursing job with ease from within the UK. I landed in Calgary with no job arranged, applied for about 15 jobs within a week. Most were "I'll do anything manual jobs", just to get Canadian experience and a wage. None replied. Two were matched to my skills and experience and came with a reasonable / comparable wage to my UK previous position, but I didn't hold out much hope. Two weeks later both offered an interview. Two days later both offered me a job, and I chose what I considered to be the one with most potential for growth. I made the right decision, was promoted within 6 months, and am happy.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I was buying a lottery ticket online when I decided to look at the careers section, the rest is history as they say.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

You won the lottery!!!??

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Arrived in Canada on 28th November, was up in Whistler where we're staying on 1st December, applied for job from local paper on 3rd, had interview on 4th, was offered the job on the 5th! Currently training!

Zoe M. x

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Hey, it was 11.16pm when I posted that.... I can be forgiven a little grammar error.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

You work for the BC Lottery Corps ?

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I didn't come here as a pimp but as a computer programmer. I then evolved.

The moment had come to try abroad, abroad quickly. The trade paper had adverts for jobs in various countries. Australia looked to be a long way away, if it didn't work how would we afford to come back? The US wanted weeks to arrange a visa. I hadn't previously thought of Canada but seeing the ad, I thought "Canada! Brilliant they speak French there." and so the woman who spoke French and German (but not English beyond yes, no, BacardiCoke) and I moved to Toronto.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

So basically you were on the run? Presumably from a woman. (Or irate husband?)

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

For me.....

'Friend saw job advertised locally sent to me. Applied. Interviewed by phone then flown over for face to face. Offered job, PR came through a month or so later, moved over, worked for a year, got made redundant, got another job. Still here!'

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

There was a woman involved somehow, yes. In my youth my actions were governed by my dick.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Emigrated to Canada under the "following my loins" programme.

Did almost zip for the next two years. On a trip back to the UK in late 2002 I met up for a beer with an old mate. Been working for him ever since.

I've never had a T4 and probably never will.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Yes, I'm a 'follow my loins' immigrant as well of course. Mrs AX persauded me to move somewhere I'd never heard of other than some vague knowledge of fish or lack of it.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

A few carefully placed speculative CV emails, telling prospective employers how much money I could make for them (I sell advertising).

I am nearly there with the move, just need to sell the house and we fly.

Thinking about it though, as we are moving to St John's area of Newfoundland, where is just a huge skills shortage (I'm told), I think it was relatively easy, as it would seem that not many folks emigrate to NL!

Chris.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Yes I do.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

A friend was at the bakery counter at the local Dominion and noticed the help wanted ad the same day I noticed one in Music World, handed in a resume to both, did the interviews on the spot, got two phone calls within a day of each other and had two part-time jobs to tide me over. Recruiters are also a good way in for first-time jobs over here.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

According to that recent statcan thingy, German is the fifth most common language in Canada (after English, French, "Chinese" and Italian).

Who knew?

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Where are you living? I find it incredible that someone who is qualified and experienced has been out of work for 9 months. There must be more to this ...

For me, I decided to start looking for work one Monday. I saw an advert in the paper on Wednesday and faxed off my resume. First interview that Saturday, second interview next Wednesday, and started work the following Monday.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Die wussten? indeed.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I don't, not in the least.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Hi Yasmina

It took me 2 months to find a job. Initially I turn offers down that were too low i.e 30% of my previous UK salary. First job was 50% of my previous UK salary.

I just got on the internet and contacted companies by phone to see what vacancies or opportunities. Had meetings with different people. Spend weeks driving all over Alberta( at my own cost) to find work.

Your husband may find he looking too high to start if companies in BC will not value his UK management experience. Its not like when I returned to the UK that my Canadian management experience was of value and seen as an asset having overseas experience.

Unfortunately I found that in the late 1990's they asked for Canadian experience, so I had to gain experience in Canada to move back up the career ladder. Not sure if this is still the case out West.

Is your husband trying to network? Does he attend professional events in BC?

Once your husband get on the job ladder I believe he find it easier to progress to his level of competence.

Post on this forum what work your husband is looking for. There are enough Ex-pats who could give him decent advice.

I found you had to have thick skin and keep on going, even if you have knock backs until he finds a job.

Regards

Hudd

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Mr Y-C-D got his job through an online advert he saw while waiting for our PR visa (skilled worker) to be processed. Landed here on a WP and 9 months later were PRs. :thumbsup:

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Having applied online I joined the temping pool at a localish university. Got a three week assignment. Finally left there after 5 years! Also, during that time managed to help 6 people with their first 'foot in door' jobs :)

If you have secretarial skills when you come over check out the job postings for the big firms, municipalities and universities/colleges as they often give temp staff benefits after 6 months (and hey, you are getting that elusive Canadian experience :)

Clare

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Kijiji Ad.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I actually contacted a recruiter through Facebook. She then passed it to her boss who in turn got in touch. I am now working for that company.

I would highly recommend Facebook or linked-in

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Wow, and I thought Facebook was just about Zombies and poking... :D

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I know,
It actually infuriates me at times, but it is a great resource for networking when it comes to jobs.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I got my formal re-hire offer for my current job through facebook

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I got my first job through Monster.ca where the Govt. agency advertised...went down for 2 interviews and then got a Job. Well, it is a sad story I didn't stick to that monotonous job and moved on to private consulting...

In GTA, I think it is still the WWW remain a good source of Jobs.... My wife also got the job through internet postings...

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I was pretty shocked actually; the first company I sent my resume to (at the beginning of December) called me in for an interview last week, said straight after the interview that they expected to make me an offer and offered me a job this afternoon. The only issue is that I have to get a security clearance, but I'm hoping that won't be a problem since it's not a Top Secret one that requires a full background check and vetting.

Which was good, because of all the companies I know of here that was my first choice, and I was going to see what happened with them before applying elsewhere. But that means the total length of my job hunt was roughly two and a half weeks and one interview, mostly spent doing other things :).

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

I got mine from craigslist, faxed resume, next day interview, offered job straightaway.

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

Workopolis... After 8 months of search and 2 months from the first call. [I don't count some temp things doing in meantime.]

Re: How did you get your first job in Canada?
 

We'd been really job hunting for about a week, spending whole days trolling through job sites. OH had been offered a job in Ottawa, but he was feeling that Ottawa wasn't the place for us, so he turned it down (I agreed).

I was starting to go through the phone book and then going to websites of any company advertising as software/computing (I was a software tester), and if the websites didn't look like they were put together by a 3 year old I'd apply directly through the website.

I was branching the search outwards, moving out to the Kitchener/Waterloo area, and had an interview for a company in Kitchener on the Monday. I got a call on the Tuesday about an interview in Cambridge (and booked a second interview for the first place for the Friday), which I went to on the Wednesday. I loved the company the minute I walked in the door. The interview went well, and the woman who was to be my boss phoned me at 8pm that night (after her kids had gone to sleep) to offer me the job, at a higher salary than expected.

In the meantime, my OH had been hitting the jobsites hard, and had had 2 interviews for a company in Mississauga. He got offered a job on the same day I did, starting the following Wednesday.

So...we each had a job lined up, so what do you do before starting a new job? Go out and buy a new house and a second car of course!

Turns out OH's job was at a horrible company with a wretched little man who believed that his staff should work 24/7 with minimal benefits and no overtime. OH was miserable and wanted out. Some (minor) strings were pulled by me, and he managed to get a job at my company (the string pulling was me giving his resume to my boss's boss and saying "you know that role you were thinking about in 2007? How about starting with this guy about now?". He interviewed over sushi, was offered the position and has now been there for a couple of months, so technically although the position was also advertised on Monster, and they interviewed 2 internal candidates, it was achieved by networking.