Job Hunting in Canada
 

Hello everyone

Could I ask your opinion's on this matter plz?, I am 6 months into my PR app do you think I am wasting my time & effort in trying to secure a job in Canada now or should I wait until I get there ?.

(I'm an Electrical/Mechanical Engineer)

All suggestions greatly received.

Regards

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

I think it depends, everyone's experience is different.

I haven't put in my PR application yet, but I was offered a great job when I was over in Canada in September. The whole process, from meeting the headhunter to nailing the job took less than a fortnight, but then I was over there on holiday.

My ex who is a mechanical design engineer working for Pratt & Whitney in Montreal was offered a job when they came over here looking for engineers. He got the job on the spot, without visiting Quebec once.

Other people have had less success. I looked for work because I didn't fancy putting my life on hold for two years while I waited for PR to come through. On reflection I would say that I emailed about 20-30 different companies looking for work, and only got any form of response from 3.

My personal advice is, it's worth a try, it might not get you anywhere, but then you never know what can happen...

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

I'm sure it doesn't hurt to start looking, but you are likely to get a limited response from simply sending off emails/CV's I think. If you do send them off, you might follow it up witha phone call and try to actually speak to somebody..... ask if they received your email and if there might be any opportunities coming up, or if they know anyone else who might be interested in you if they can't help....that sort of thing.

If you can get out there on a "research trip", let people know you are coming and arrange as many formal or informal meetings as you can. Face to face contacts have a lot more impact, and they have to know you are really serious about wanting to move there and find work, not just fishing idly.

If someone likes you enough you might persuade them to nominate you on a Provincial Nominee programme(PNP), in which case you can get in much faster! Simply having a firm offer of a job gives you lots of brownie points, but realistically, if it's going to take 18 months to 2 years, who is going to offer you a job eh?

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

What I should have added to this is that both P & W and the company I'm going to work for were prepared to sponsor me for a HRDC validated temporary work visa. So you can come and work here while doing the PR shuffle....

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Many Thanks for your advice....I'll get there 1 day somehow :D

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Sarah: my partner and I are waiting for our PRs to come through before we leave the UK. I had it in my mind that we would have to wait for them before being able to get work and settle. Having read this, it seems that we could leave before the PR arrives. We have a week holiday in Vancouver booked for spring next year. Are you saying that I could use part of that time to look for work, and if I get offered and accept a position, I could return to Canada after the vacation and work there on a different kind of visa whilst the PR application continues to goes on?

are there any catches to doing this? any restrictions etc?

thx

Chris

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

I don't think so, you just have to satisfy the CHC that if you do not get PR, and your visa expires that you will leave the country.

I'm applying for PR when I land, or maybe a year afterwards, as this makes things a bit easier....

Lots of UK people go to Canada on work visas and then settle. I also know people who are working in Canada on HRDC validated visas that they got after they submitted their PR application.

HTH

Sarah

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

If anything the fact that you have lived in canada for a while, have a job, and want to make it a permenent situation makes the application a formality.

The major catch is getting the job/ work permit in the first place.

Iain

(ex work permit, then PR, now Citizen)

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Maybe one of you could help me- don't mean to hijack your thread! I'm applying for a masters program and as we understand it, that means my hubby is entitled to work while I'm studying as a temp resident. So if his job likes him and gets him a permanent work permit, we would then be eligible to apply for PR?

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Chris, definitely start scouting out for jobs when you get here - it has worked for so many people I know (especially those in specialised engineering or medical areas...) :)

Also as Foley4 said a couple of weeks back, networking is the way to go (in fact that whole thread had some darn good advice!)

Clare

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Can it work that you start your own business before getting PR or would you need a work visa to do this?

Re: Job Hunting in Canada
 

Hi Spec,

Definately start looking asap. Hubby and I have been really lucky I admit, but our story started with a ton of e-mails sent off to companies just to get an idea of the recruitment situation in a particular area of work. Nothing heavy, just a sort of survey type of approach. We were overwhelmed with the responses we received. Some were just, wishing us well and hoping all worked out, and others were more happy to enter into e-mail correspondence. In the end we had 3 companies, all in Toronto who were extremely friendly, and made us take a serious research trip last Spring. Even when we went over we made another couple of contacts through Brits we bumped into in Supermarkets!!! (You guys in Canada are so friendly - can't imagine it happening in the Uk.)

Anyhow, cut a long story short, we set up casual meetings with all 3 companies, and 2 of them said they would have no trouble finding us work when we came over and the third company went further... To the tune of 'what can we do to help you'. We came out of there not quite believing what had happened. Of course we had taken Cv's, example work material etc. just in case, but it had never been earmarked as an interview. The upshot is that we are now obtaining a work permit, hubby is trialing the job in the new year, and we'll hopefully go over as a family next Summer - all being well.

So our experience is, go softly, keep it friendly, and you never know your luck! Oh, and talk to everyone - even in the supermarkets!!

;)