suziequ

What should we do

Hubby isnt keen on the idea of going through the immigration process and arriving in Canada without a job.

So the best option for us is for him to get a job and go on a Temp Work Visa.

So .........

How did you get your job before you went to Canada.

Did you submit your resume to companies and wait? Did you go through an agency? Did you make a trip to Canada and visit the companies.

We dont really know what to do for the best really, submit the forms and wait or try the Temp Work Visa route first.

Sue

dbd33

It was a long time ago but I had a demand skill and a Canadian firm came looking for such people in London; they dealt with immigration procedures. A couple of years ago I hired someone from abroad, he applied using our letter of offer as evidence of employablility and arrived ok. I recently heard a piece on the radio about a firm on the praries recruiting lorry drivers in the midlands, it was a bit of a piss take, "do they know there's winter out there?" but it shows that it's not unusually for firms to import people having demand skills.

I'd search the web for jobs in your field, monster.ca is one site but there are doubtless specialised ones by trade.

Jingle

Hi Sue - my hubby is just the same! We applied a year ago but he is getting really concerned about not getting a job when we eventually land. Although I am the main applicant I am a little more philosophical ...

However because hubby is so nervous I revamped my c.v. into the obligatory two page resume and showed it to a couple of City Managers (I am a local authority manager) who were over here at the Sandown exhibition. They gave me some valuable feedback, which I used to improve the resume. I also took their advice and did not e-mail the resume to my targetted companies/local authorities but used good old fashioned snail mail. Only sent them out last week so have no idea what the response will be!

We are off to Calgary again in October so in the next few weeks I will contact those people I have written to and hopefully arrange some informal meetings when I am over there.

Good luck! Jen

suziequ

Hi

Any idea why they suggested snail mail as apposed to e -mail?

I am sitting here trawling the web looking for jobs, but as most people say, most jobs are not advertised.

Good luck

Sue

Jingle

Hi Sue - They felt that most people are inundated with e-mails (I know I am!) and if there is as attachment, e.g. a resume, they either open it on screen and glance at it or don't bother to even open it or send it to print (which may not work because of layout and format) and then forget about it or ......... Anyway they felt that a well presented and laid out resume on good quality paper landing on their desk would receive the attention it deserved. Not sure about the logic but I'll try anything once!!

My personal opinion FWIW is that sites like Monster and Workopolis must receive hundreds/thousands of resumes online and I am not convinced that it is the most effective way of marketing yourself. I guess it may depend on what line of work you are in.

IMHO if you can afford it you should make the application (from what I hear CHC are now quoting 24 months after application before you hear anything :scared: ). You can still hunt for jobs whilst the application is going through.

Where are you heading for? Have you done any recce trips yet?

Jen

suziequ

we are hoping to head for Eastern Toronto area.

No we havent been on a rekkie yet, Hubby is self employed and works away during the week, so we dont really get much time to organise anything.

We have lived abroad before (South Africa) so kind of know what to expect.

Hubby is a Systems Engineer in Pharmaceuticals. Not many jobs about.

I wonder if sending a fax has the same effect as snail mail.


Sue

SAW 04

Hi Sue,

In our experience there is no substitute for getting out there and networking. There is always someone who knows someone with a job opportunity.
We arrive in NB in 8 weeks having recieved a job offer over breakfast in our B&B!
Bearing in mind the current 24 month quoted wait time, if your serious submit the application now as the wait time will only continue to rise.

Good luck

Steve & Penny

suziequ

Can you still go down the Temp Visa route if your application is submitted?

Sue

fatlad

I went on a resarch trip in August and managed two job offers. I applied for PR Visa in May 04 and obtained tempory work permit in Jan 05 Waiting to sell the house ( under offer ) and hope to be in Burlington by June/July 05. Hope this answers some of your questions.

suziequ

Thanks for that fatlad. That has helped.

Did you make appointments before you went or did you just turn up on spec and ask to speak to somebody?

What work are you in?

Sue

MikeUK

Twice searched the web...

Applied for the job's via e-mail..

Flew over once for the interview, the second time did the interview via video conference...


for those trying to apply before you leave, check out prospective employers web sites, many now ask you to post your resume on their webs sites rather than have to go to advertise on workopolis etc saving on advertising costs and you always get people who already want to work for you

fatlad

Introduction from a friend for one job ( it would not have got HRDC clearance ) Advert on web ( HRDC approval after 10 weeks ) As for the work,
Mechanical fitter/Firefighter it,s a long story but its my original trade as a mechanical fitter that i,m applying under and have job offer for.

scimdarren

Hi

A good way is to set a date for a Canada visit, email 100's of resumes to potential employers, referring to the date you are in town, and 'willing to meet'.

D

kleinluka

I knew somebody at the company I work at who passed my portfolio on to the boss and they interviewed me via the phone twice and once via video conference. After that I got the job offer and we started the work permit application process.

suziequ

Think we may do this, hubby has applied for a job that has been advertised for nearly 3 months on a company website, we havent heard back from the company but maybe his resume hasnt even been forwarded to the correct department.

It is soul destroying when they dont even acnowlege receipt of your resume.

Sue