SlimJimbo

Help!! I am still awaiting on my PR Status but wanted to be a bit proactive in terms of hunting!

Can anybody point me to an agency I can possibly see about job opps within Toronto? I am going to Canada in Feb and wanted to see if anybody can give me any tips regarding agencies, etc.?

I am looking for something in Accounting? I've done a WES equivelance analysis on my degree (UK) which is pretty good I think (3.49 GPA?!! Whatever that means).

I have also enquired about my CIMA (UK) qualification which can be converted to the CMA Ontario Qualification ........BUT... I need 2 years worth of experience! (Something tells me job hunt could be a though one based on this forum!!)

Judy in Calgary

GPA = Grade Point Average (average of grades attained in all subjects during a course of study)

I think the University of Calgary's grading system is fairly typical:
To remain in, and graduate from, the Faculty of Science, just as an example, the student has to maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2.00 and a minimum grade of 2.00 in each of his/her core subjects. He/she may have no more than three course results of 1.00 or 1.30 over the period during which he/she studies towards a bachelors degree, and those results can only be in peripheral courses.

The meaning of a student's GPA differs from field to field. Some fields of study are more difficult than others. On average I would say that a GPA in the 3.50 range is considered to be very good.

Sorry, I can't provide job hunting tips for Toronto. I hope someone else will be able to help you with that.

SlimJimbo

Thanks Judy for the breakdown of the grades!! I did a BSc Economics degree!! Was a pain! but paid off in the end by the looks of it (in terms of results) but hope it works in getting a job!

SlimJimbo

Can't believe that theres not been a single response in terms of Agency contacts on Toronto!!

Oh well better get my guiter out and get some busking lessons!!

Any requsts?!!

dbd33

Actually, you need a permit for that and getting one is very difficult. It helps if you were a doctor in the old country :

http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/coupler/1002/musician.htm

Judy in Calgary

I don't know anything about these companies. Just got them from doing a Google search:
There are many more "head hunters" out there. I selected the above companies because the word "accounting" or "finance" was in their blurb.

One possible reason for the underwhelming response to your question is that, while some people do get jobs through recruitment agencies, that is not necessarily an effective way of finding a job. It is said that only 15% of vacancies are advertised. The vast majority of employment opportunities are to be found in the "underground market," which you hear about through "networking."

Even if the head hunters are willing to forward your resume (CV) to their client companies that have suitable vacancies, they will not be willing to do that until you're actually living in Canada. The only exception I can think of is if you have a specialised set of skills that cannot be found in a Canadian resident who is willing and able to do the job. In that case an employer would be willing to fast track your arrival in Canada by sponsoring you to come over on a temporary work permit. I'm no expert in this matter but, from reading this forum, I gather you can come over on a temporary work permit while you're waiting for your PR application to be processed.

However, since you need Canadian experience before you can be recognised as a Canadian CMA, I don't think you would qualify as someone who could do a job for which no willing and able Canadian was available.

But I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to line up meetings with a couple of head hunters. You may as well listen to their spin and add it to the collection of spin you acquire from other sources. Somewhere in the middle of all the B.S. there probably are a few nuggets of truth.

When you deal with head hunters, just remember one thing. They are not getting any money from you. Their client companies pay their commissions. Therefore their loyalty is to their client companies. He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Best of luck.

SlimJimbo

Thanks for that Judy in Calgary! I definitely appreciate this and will keep in mind about networking! Looks like I'm gonna have to do that a fair bit when I'm out there!