I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Dec 14th 2017, 3:06 pm
#16
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
You've got a good level of starting funds and are well educated.
My only query is I'd further research Ottawa. It's quite a small place and in my opinion known more for government jobs than tech jobs.
Vancouver or the Toronto-Kitchener/Waterloo area will probably have more tech jobs.
I'll wrap up by saying Ottawa might have cheaper real estate and a better commute than the latter too but in my experience it's a pretty dull city.
Best of luck.
My only query is I'd further research Ottawa. It's quite a small place and in my opinion known more for government jobs than tech jobs.
Vancouver or the Toronto-Kitchener/Waterloo area will probably have more tech jobs.
I'll wrap up by saying Ottawa might have cheaper real estate and a better commute than the latter too but in my experience it's a pretty dull city.
Best of luck.
Finally - definitely don't want a dull city! Can't have any excuse for the wife to want to return to the UK haha!
Dec 14th 2017, 3:08 pm
#17
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Two things to be aware of for Ottawa:
1. A lot of Ottawa jobs will require French, while this may not affect you directly in IT it might affect your partner. Government jobs require you to be at minimum PR and more often a Citizen.
2. If you haven't visited Ottawa in the winter then you really need to do that before you jump in. I love it here but we're in the -30s today with windchill.
1. A lot of Ottawa jobs will require French, while this may not affect you directly in IT it might affect your partner. Government jobs require you to be at minimum PR and more often a Citizen.
2. If you haven't visited Ottawa in the winter then you really need to do that before you jump in. I love it here but we're in the -30s today with windchill.
Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!
Dec 14th 2017, 3:36 pm
#18
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Location: SW Ontario
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Not sure if you've considered the Atlantic Provinces, but as a 'foot in the door' you may want to look at this post. http://britishexpats.com/forum/canad...ancies-899238/
Dec 14th 2017, 4:12 pm
#19
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Location: St Catharines, Ontario From Bournemouth UK
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Look on Indeed https://ca.indeed.com/Software-Tester-jobs-in-Ontario for software test roles in Ontario
Dec 15th 2017, 12:16 pm
#20
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Thank you for your reply Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!
Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!https://ca.indeed.com/High-Tech-jobs-in-Kanata,-ON
Help wanted: Ottawa tech companies recruiting to fill thousands of jobs - Ottawa - CBC News
Not sure where the french part came in. French proficiency is really only a big deal in white collar jobs in the federal government sector. Retail jobs often ask for french proficiency.
Dec 15th 2017, 12:50 pm
#21
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Joined: Jul 2005
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Posts: 10,129
Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
There are tech/software companies in Ottawa & environs. My B-i-L is a software engineer for a US based defense/aerospace company. I'm aware of two fairly large players in the tech sector I work in (Satellite Comms) in the area as well. Whether there is more work to be had in Kitchener Waterloo is a good question. As others have suggested, I'd find a job first within certain boundaries of where you think you'd prepared to live & then decided exactly where you are going to live from there.
Dec 15th 2017, 3:48 pm
#22
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: SW Calgary
Posts: 776
Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
- IEC visa
- Moved to Calgary
- Got a permanent job in IT
- Employer helped me apply for the AINP (Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program)
- During AINP processing, applied for a temporary work permit (tied to sponsoring employer) when my IEC expired
- Got the AINP, got an open work permit
- With the AINP, applied for PR
- Got PR, applied for Citizenship
- Became a citizen, bought a canoe
Dec 15th 2017, 6:24 pm
#23
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
My route here was as follows:
- IEC visa
- Moved to Calgary
- Got a permanent job in IT
- Employer helped me apply for the AINP (Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program)
- During AINP processing, applied for a temporary work permit (tied to sponsoring employer) when my IEC expired
- Got the AINP, got an open work permit
- With the AINP, applied for PR
- Got PR, applied for Citizenship
- Became a citizen, bought a canoe
Dec 15th 2017, 6:28 pm
#24
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
That suggests that a contract, if it lasted a year, would do the trick. Is there anyone here who could confirm that, what is essentially casual labour in a skilled position, is good enough for CEC?
Dec 15th 2017, 6:37 pm
#25
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
It states
To qualify for the CEC through Express Entry, you must have:
at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was:
full-time OR
an equal amount in part-time
gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization
andat least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was:
full-time OR
an equal amount in part-time
gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization
Skilled work experience
To be eligible for the CEC, you need to have Canadian skilled work experience within three years of applying. According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:
Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
Your experience must be at least
12 months of full-time work
30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR
equal amount in part-time hours
Dec 15th 2017, 6:45 pm
#26
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Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Ontario
Posts: 40,018
Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...nce-class.html
It states
Skilled work experience
To be eligible for the CEC, you need to have Canadian skilled work experience within three years of applying. According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:
Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
Your experience must be at least
12 months of full-time work
30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR
equal amount in part-time hours
It states
To qualify for the CEC through Express Entry, you must have:
at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was:
full-time OR
an equal amount in part-time
gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization
andat least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was:
full-time OR
an equal amount in part-time
gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization
Skilled work experience
To be eligible for the CEC, you need to have Canadian skilled work experience within three years of applying. According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:
Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)
Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)
Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)
Your experience must be at least
12 months of full-time work
30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours), OR
equal amount in part-time hours
Dec 15th 2017, 11:39 pm
#27
Peter Darwin
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 502
Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Thank you for your reply Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!
Think i'm definitely crossing Ottawa off the list - multiple article reads seemed to have suggested Ottawa as being a tech hub which may be incorrect information I think. My French is also not great so in all truth it won't be good to restrict myself by moving to Ottawa!I have also survived quite well without French language and although you might get a handful of better opportunities come along when bilingual, most techs I have worked with don't speak much French, if any.
Plenty of government and military connected IT work here - permanent and contract. Get talking with some of the larger job agencies in Ottawa that specialise in IT and they're likely to get you something at least to start off.
Might not be easy though until you are eligible to work here. Not sure if it's still the same, but previously you could get your PR status and then leave Canada for some months back to your homeland just in case things didn't work out and you really couldn't find anything.
Yes, it's not the most exciting town and it's cripplingly cold and snowy in winter, but the people are friendly generally and it has a big town feel rather than the hostile large city atmosphere.
Dec 18th 2017, 1:50 pm
#28
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
Seems that way as long as 1 years worth of work experience was completed throughout the 2 years it would be sufficient. Think it was yourself that posted a contract may be easier as employers tend to care less about what visa you have and more about the experience for the job and eligibility to work. Think once I'm over i'll be contracting and then apply through CEC for PR.
Dec 18th 2017, 1:55 pm
#29
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Re: I've made the decision! Advice please :)
I have worked in IT in Ottawa for many years. It's called 'Silicon Valley North' as it is (or maybe not now) the largest tech area in North America outside of the original 'Silicon Valley' in California. That clears that up.
I have also survived quite well without French language and although you might get a handful of better opportunities come along when bilingual, most techs I have worked with don't speak much French, if any.
Plenty of government and military connected IT work here - permanent and contract. Get talking with some of the larger job agencies in Ottawa that specialise in IT and they're likely to get you something at least to start off.
Might not be easy though until you are eligible to work here. Not sure if it's still the same, but previously you could get your PR status and then leave Canada for some months back to your homeland just in case things didn't work out and you really couldn't find anything.
Yes, it's not the most exciting town and it's cripplingly cold and snowy in winter, but the people are friendly generally and it has a big town feel rather than the hostile large city atmosphere.
I have also survived quite well without French language and although you might get a handful of better opportunities come along when bilingual, most techs I have worked with don't speak much French, if any.
Plenty of government and military connected IT work here - permanent and contract. Get talking with some of the larger job agencies in Ottawa that specialise in IT and they're likely to get you something at least to start off.
Might not be easy though until you are eligible to work here. Not sure if it's still the same, but previously you could get your PR status and then leave Canada for some months back to your homeland just in case things didn't work out and you really couldn't find anything.
Yes, it's not the most exciting town and it's cripplingly cold and snowy in winter, but the people are friendly generally and it has a big town feel rather than the hostile large city atmosphere.
