GS1

Hi, so i landed in toronto like 3 months back. i have been looking for Project managament and even Admin roles. I have been applying on workaplois and indeed.ca. I have taken a stroll downtown toronto to every agency there plus, oakville, burlington - but have no response back from anyone. i have chased but no response.

I have even tried an organization called career edge but received no response back.

Please can someone advise which route i should go down. i have limited connections here. is a british brother or sister able to help me?

Cheers, GS1

ArthurBrit

The way I got started was through a temping agency until I found something more permanent.

jandro

You might want to go to your local library and consult the local business directories. Chose companies that interest you and try to contact the hiring manager. It is more acceptable to cold call companies here than in the UK.

There was a guy on here who mentioned he looked for senior level work in Toronto for about a year and half and almost 200 applications before giving up and returning to the UK where he got an interview straight away.

Derpmaster

Project manager and Admin of what? Software development? Construction?
My apt building is in Vancouver is full of people just arrived from Toronto... apparently nothing there

there's also the canada job bank, craigslist, or any bank http://jobs.scotiabank.com/ca/toront...anagement-jobs

Go on linkedin and find who's in charge or HR for whatever company you want to work for. PM them. That's usually how I found jobs til i worked for myself

GS1

Hi,
Ive done proejct management in construction, and even straight admin roles.

unable to find anything here. is there any agency that helps just british people?

where in canada do i need to move to get jobs such as this? happy to relocate

cheeky_monkey

what kind of Construction? and do you have any qualifications?..there is a huge gap in my mind between a construction project manager and someone who does admin

MillieF

GS1.. I think rejection, and getting bloody down about it, are pretty much par for the course. I was told that the 'average' Canadian would expect to seek new employment for about six months, here in NB, before finding work.

I started temping, and it introduced me to lots of different companies here, and it changed my attitude too. When you are getting nowhere, or feel that you are, it's dispiriting and can make you feel obsessive and desperate, which in turn makes you look it,and doesn't aid your job search. It's a vicious cycle. The temping made me realise that I am employable, and as useful, if not more so, than the average person in employment, which was a great mental boost.

I have now found work, and am feeling more settled. At three months I felt incredibly frustrated, as you. Please try temping, as it might be an excellent 'shoe in' or at least alleviate the irritation. Very, very best of luck.

GS1

Hi Millie,I have resgistered to around 50 employment agencies and received no response back.

Which agencies do i need to look at?

MillieF

Oh, heavens, we only have the one temp agency! I admit, that other people I have spoken to haven't found them helpful, but they were to me. Also, and EVERY situation is different, I Canadianised my Resume, sexless, ageless and all that stuff, and then went and temped in a couple of HR Departments, and saw lots of resumes just like mine! I then rewote it explaining that I was a hundred year old British housewife with a twelve year old son, and fluent in French and Arabic, and sent it out to three jobs and got three interviews, which was a damned sight more than I'd done previously.

Cold calling however, really does seem to be quite the norm here and I think it really takes courage, but is evidently well worth it. I don't know Toronto, and it's very different world to sleepy NB, I DO know how you feel and wished I could do something to help, It just makes one feel so low!

jandro

This would probably be illegal in Canada.

Tigger1

Take a look at your resume is it relevant to the role you're applying for? If you're in project management companies might not think your experience is relevant for admin roles. Take the time to tailor your resume to the role you're applying for.

Do some research and apply to agencies that specialise in project management you also don't say what type of PM work you do? Depending the industry you're in that may limit the roles that are out there.

Have you done any networking? That's much more the thing here than in the UK, get on LinkedIn connect with people and go to networking events (which also get posted on LinkedIn)

It does take time, when my OH got here it took him about 5 months to find a job and I have Canadian friends that it's taken 6 months plus.

Persevere and in the meantime maybe look at serving or customer service roles, go to shops and restaurants and hand in your resume?

Zoe Bell

If you are in project management do you have your PMP designation?
Let's of places look for this

Do you have a linked in profile set up
Lace it few a few keywords like " PMP" and recruiters will call you
Ok most of them will be trawling but you never know

Are you maintaining a relationship with the agencies ?
Call them every couple of days , keep them up to date with latest skills etc, volunteer work and the like

It is who you know , so start getting to know people !

shelley748

go to the local HRDC, they hold "job clubs" for newbies- they show you how to write your resume and also about networking.

Most jobs these days are filled just by the "who you know" route.

Maybe try some volunteering.

My husband gave up looking in IT, we came in 2002 when the IT bubble burst. He is now working for himself doing small home renos.

Canada is tough, dont kid yourself. It took me 10 years to get back on track with my banking career...

caleo

Hi - it can be pretty tough finding work, depending on what you do. I am a nurse waiting for CNO to sort out my qualifications - so in the meantime, been trying to find admin work. With my medical terminology and admin e perience, I didnt realise how hard it would be! Itnis all down to networking here, and being a little forward - which is no easy when you get so despondent at not getting interviews.

I was referred to www.wil.ca who are based in London, and they were fantastic. Helped with job searching, contacts, resume writing etc. they then referrred me on to https://www.skillsinternational.ca/pages/candidate. They may be able to help, but ou need to be referred to them by an employ,ent prep agency (such as WIL). If you contact them, they may be able to point you in the direction of one local to you.

I actually managed to find a job as a carer (without their help) - but the experience and information I got from them helped me to walk the interview and be offered a job on the spot.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

haggis88

we've had a project managers position open for ages because no-one wants to do the job

tells you a lot when none of the current staff want to take on the role haha