Hi,

I am trying to secure work in BC (although would consider almost anywhere in Canada). My principle experience is as SQL database administrator, qualified to MCTS, 3 years experience as dba, many more in more general IT support roles.

I do not qualify under the FSW scheme, so require a job offer in order to emigrate. How should I approach this ? I have tried applying for jobs, I have tried following up with telephone calls, but at the minute I am getting brushed off. I appreciate that priority will be given to Canadian applicants, but how could I raise my profile ? Do I need to travel to Canada & apply to jobs whilst visiting ?

Neil.

Welcome to BE Neil,

It aint easy (dont need to tell you that), especially in the current economic climate

There is a lot of advice here...start with the first couple of links at the top I guess...

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Catego...Hunting-Canada


The short answer is network. The long answer is network network network!

It can be done, if you are offering something that is desired. I did it from the UK and was flown over by two different companies. So as Ian says, it is possible.

As Tangram says, really you need something to offer....

As I see it, there's two ways :-

a) Have something specialist to offer and I mean quite niche, SQL DBA probably isn't specialised enough I'm afraid - try and work some angles to get into a niche market.

b) Move to a company in the UK that is a multi-national with a presence in Canada and then get an intra-company transfer.

I took option b.

Unfortunately, both still need a fair amount of luck to pull off....

Almost 5 years after moving back to Canada I got an IT infrastructure job from an internal reference at work. My colleague who as worked here for many years says it's hard to find this kind of work without a reference. I think it would be hard even if you're in Vancouver but have few contacts. There just aren't a lot of big enterprise employers in sectors like government, banking, NHS etc like in SE England. It doesn't mean you shouldn't try though.

I am in the same boat, just keep at it.

I have just recently landed Jan 2010 as a PR in Calgary and finding the Canadian IT job market rather hard going.

In the midst of a global recession and major economic contraction its going to be hard anyway, but I think most of the major economies this year may end up losing full time jobs - and cost centers like IT are likely to get hit.

I have also found that companies will just sit on vacancies and do absolutely nothing even though they have posted vacancies - so much for the HR and recruitment depts & firms doing a professional job.

I've applied for about 12 really good fit jobs - I got 2 replies saying although my experience is impressive I'm not exactly what they are looking for? (-err yeah right, I'm actually picky what I apply for anyway as I don't like wasting my time or theirs!) and the others are still being posted/advertised???

What I also find astonishing is how bad the IT recruitment firms are. I started out trying to network and all I would get is checkout the website, go online and even when I did no response back.

Ive also applied directly to firms and its like a black-hole. You go through the bother of going through the system of applying and filling all of it out and never hear back - and yes the job is still being advertised.

All you can do is keep going and hope somebody wakes up and gives you an opportunity and overlook the fact you are not a Canadian Citizen, may be over qualified and from a minority background, know possibly more than they know and are not really after their job.

I'm actually now starting another business soon so it may be my ticket out of the IT market fingers crossed after 15 years I fancy a change as well!

Good luck to you all!

APC - I havent had experience of job hunting in Canada but from reading the wiki here it doesnt sound like your expereinces with IT recruiters in Canada are anything different to those looking for jobs in other sectors.

From what I understand it can take an age to get back to you (if they ever do - which is a norm, and nothing to take personally) and you should do things like follow up your application with a phone call, etc. I'd always do that if I were rejected in any case - it's always good to get feedback whether its positive or negative.

At least the last few months got you into your new business start up. You might never have made the change if things had run smoothly. All the best!

I am having the same experience but I am applying for these positions from the UK. I though it was because I was applying from abroad but it look like it isn't.

My Parents did say they were really slow over there

Ill probably keep trying until the end of may and leave it for a year too see if it picks up.

I hope you get your self sort APC, I know what its like my parents went through it all.

Its something Im dreading to be honest. The mix of applying from the UK directly, using agencies, other networking is one thing but having to cold call, call to follow up an application is something very foreign to me - Im not usually very comfortable on the phone but Im dealing with it.

There was another recent thread where someone mentioned that they basically tailored their cv and covering letter for each and every role they applied for. They would add things like "I feel I can add to product/sercive x and y as I am qualified in.....", that sort of thing and they scored jobs very quickly - though Im not saying it was purely down to the cv and letter!!!

It all depends on the industry you are job hunting in and supply and demand of labour but I think a bespoke cv/letter is such a small easy thing to do that could get you noticed.

Hello All,

I landed as a PR at the end of June last year. We were in Toronto for 4 weeks on our landing trip and then returned to the UK. I have been looking for a job ever since. I am also in IT (Software Development).

I finally do have a job offer that I have accepted and I'm now waiting for a background check and paperwork before it's all confirmed.

I've learnt quite a bit during my job hunt and want to pass on some tips:

• A resume with a UK address and/or phone number will most likely not be read. Location is used as the first filter and most employers want "local" candidates only.
• Use LinkedIn to connect with people in Canada
• Use monster.ca and workopolis.com to search for vacancies (I thought workopolis had more/better vacancies)
• Update your monster.ca resume/profile at least once a month - keeps you at the top of search results
• Use craigslist to search for vacancies
• If you are still in the UK and have friends/family in Canada, use a Canadian address on your resume.
• If you are still in the UK, get a local Canadian phone number that is forwarded to your UK number - see www.tollfreeforwarding.com (costs approx $25 a month, but made a big difference for me)
• Try and speak to real people - phone about vacancies when possible.
• When writing a cover letter, take your time and tailor it to that company and vacancy. It needs to be a direct response to the vacancy listing.
• Most of all, keep going. There will be several setbacks and you may get depressed/upset, but keep plugging away.

Now a few bits about the offer that I have got at the moment (feeling superstitious about saying too much in case it all goes wrong!):

• I applied for the position in September 2009.
• Heard nothing until December 2009 - told I was on the shortlist.
• January 2010 - got an email to say they want to arrange a telephone interview
• February 2010 had the telephone interview.
• February 2010 told they think I would be better suited to another position.
• March 2010 had another telephone interview
• March 2010 they flew me down for an onsite interview
• March 2010 told me that I am the preferred candidate, but need to wait for my package to be "approved"
• April 2010 received a verbal offer over the phone which I accepted.
• April 2010 background screening process started
• April 2010 waiting for paperwork to arrive.....

The main point I want to make about this is that I applied for a position in September 2009 and got a job offer in April 2010! Things will happen when they happen, but you have to keep going. The right position and employer is out there.

Sorry for the mega long post! I think there are more "tips" to add, but that's what I can think of at the moment.

abaddon

That is an excellent post thanks.

I am currently an IT Technician and I have a software back ground. I was thinking of attempting Software dev jobs because I see a lot more of them and through I would have more luck.

Would seem its just as difficult to get into.

Figures crossed for you

Great post Abaddon with some top tips. Im in accountancy but your suggestions are equally as applicable to any profession really.

I managed to secure a Software Developer (.net) job from the UK (actually got offered 2 but turned one down) and the process was actually very quick for me but I suppose it depends on where you are looking to move to in Canada? I applied for the job in Dec 07, had 3 phone interview in January, got offered the job start of Feb 08 and started work end of March 08 by getting a TWP.
I don't think I changed my CV much for applying for positions, just made the covering letter specific for the job and also explained the possible immigration options in order for me to be able to work in Canada.

Nice one.