gallagherdayle96

Hi, Iv'e been really interested in working in Canada for a while now, and have been really interested in nova Scotia. I would like to work there and see what its like. I was wondering if any expats lived there or Canadians and what they think of the place in terms of lifestyle, climate ect.

I'm 19 and have been applying for jobs in Canada hoping to get an interview or to just hear something back for a while now. But Iv'e had no look so far. I'd be willing to do anything just to get a chance to experience it there. Anyway iv'e got two weeks off work in January and am seriously in considering getting a flight there and doing a bit of exploring and asking around.

Former Lancastrian

Your best and easiest way by far is applying for the IEC working holiday which can be found by reading this link.
International Experience Canada – travel and work in Canada

There are limited spots and they quickly go within minutes.
Start checking around December as it can vary when the spots open.

dbd33

NS is lovely. To visit. It's a bitch to find work there partly because there are so many universities and so many graduates that employers can ask for multiple degrees for a shop manager's job.

If you wanna go then good luck but that's not an easy path.

AdrianR

I second what dbd33 says.

The Maritimes is not a great place for employment opportunities - I was in Halifax for 2 years, just above minimum wage ($11/hr). There's lots of grunt work but you'd better be special if you want to compete with the local graduates.

Not only that, NS is teeming with Newfies - also looking for work.

And read the Wiki here on the whys and wherefores of finding work from a distance - it's not a solid approach.

christmasoompa

You won't have done, if you've only been applying for jobs online. Particularly as (I'm guessing from your age) you won't have a degree or much work experience.

Have a read of the Job Hunting section of the Wiki to understand why applying for jobs online is very unlikely to result in anything unless you have very specialist skills.

Definitely the best idea. Again, the Job Hunting section of the Wiki has info on how to make the most of a recce trip so that you hopefully stand the best chance of receiving a job offer from an employer prepared to sponsor a LMIA.

However, as you're only 19, I think getting any employer to pay $1000, go through the paperwork and hassle of a LMIA app, and wait for you, is unlikely, so I'd also recommend you look at the IEC visa route, as that will be your quickest and easiest way over by a mile.

Is there any reason you've chosen NS particularly? It's an unusual choice for a young guy, so I wondered if there was something (or someone!) specific drawing you to that province?

Best of luck.

gallagherdayle96

Hi thanks for all the replies, and yes iv'e been looking into a working holiday in Canada, but its not open for 2016 yet. And once it is, I hear your chances of getting a place are slim as the places go within minutes. Id still apply for it and hope for the best, but I'd still like to find other ways of working there, if its possible.


And christmasoompa Your right I don't have a degree or anything as I'm only 19, I literally finished my high school education and went straight into work, as university wasn't something for me. After seeing close families experience of university that's what put me off. From paying of the loan for a good chunk of your life, and then completing your degree and not being able to find work in the field you studied, and ending up In a completely different job.

Too me life experience would be more Important ,being able to say I've lived in such a country, Iv'e worked in such a country, travelled here and there. And when I'm older look back on my life and be glad that I had travelled to some amazing places.

And the reason for picking nova Scotia was, just because of its distance from the UK, It being the closest in terms of catching a flight and landing there within 7 hours. It has some nice wildlife, from lakes, to the national parks and also just the whole look of the place, makes me want to see what its like. Obviously I hear its not one of the richest places in Canada but still that doesn't put me off.

I know there are ways of finding work in another country, it will never be easy getting it but I know its possible. A close friend of mine had a brother who quit his job here in the UK, caught a flight over the new York, literally knocked on doors for jobs, and with him having the gift of the gab landed himself a job. And now three years later he works in a bank, and has a better life than what he had here in the UK. So it's stories like this that give me a little bit of inspiration, and just knowing that in some ways it can be possible. But yeah I will have a look at the job hunting section of the wiki, thanks.

christmasoompa

Realistically though, the IEC (even with limited spaces and the visas going within minutes) is going to be much easier for you than any other visa route. I just can't see any employer being prepared to spend the $1000, do all the paperwork and wait months for you without any specialist skills and/or post-secondary education. Sorry.

So I'd definitely advise the IEC as the best visa option for you, if you're on the ball then you should get a space.

Fair enough, but just be aware that a degree is considered the minimum amount of education required for a lot of jobs in Canada, even something like an admin assistant.

It's a lovely place, it's just an unusual place for a 19 year old lad as it's not exactly buzzing, but I'd probably have chosen somewhere like that when I was 19 too, as I was never a partier! So go for it. Don't go for the 7 hour flight though, as although that's correct, the flights are also an awful lot more expensive as there's less competition, and you'll not be able to get a flight whenever you want unlike in other more popular parts of Canada. Tbh, although flights to somewhere like Toronto are slightly longer, the fact that they're more frequent and less expensive (generally) will make flying back to the UK easier from there than NS, so it's not a reason to pick NS IMO.

Good for him, although he must have had a degree and specialist skills to be able to do that as the US is notoriously tough to get a visa for (assuming he was working there legally of course!), so that's a slightly different situation.

It absolutely can be done, but I'd just suggest you look in to the cost of living in NS and what you'll be earning as well as the visa situation. What do you do?

Good luck with it.

confused_uk

What is it you do?

gallagherdayle96

I'm a customer assistant and barista. Nothing amazing there haha, but surprisingly it pays okay for me.

christmasoompa

OK, so a LMIA's not really an option then unfortunately, but you should find work on an IEC which is good.

Salary wise, according to the Jobbank website (government stats on salary etc), the median salary for a barista in Halifax is $10.60 an hour (£5.15 roughly), to give you an idea.

Most people seem to say that cost of living in NS is a bit higher than the UK, so only you know if that would be enough to live on, but at least it would give you a starting point to do some sums with.

Do also note that it's considered an 'unskilled' job in Canada (Skill Level D), which would mean you would be very limited in terms of routes to Permanent Residency (as the usual ones such as Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, etc, are only for those in Level A, O or B jobs), so you'll need to consider that as well if you want to stay long term. If so, then either a different province (one with a stream under the PNP for Skill Level C or D workers), or working towards a more senior job, would be the way to go.

HTH a bit, good luck.

Former Lancastrian

If interested in that type of work you might be better off going to BC or Toronto because thats where most of the coffee snobs and drinkers of cappuccinos, lattes,
mochas, cafe au lait, and Americanos etc etc will gladly pay their $6 plus.

Nova Scotia tends to be a Tim Hortons double double demographic although Im sure Halifax has the odd specialty coffee shop which serves the specialty coffees.
They are usually full of students or those who think they are important dressed in business attire. It takes them 10 minutes to say exactly what they want and trying not to mix up their half milk half water whatever ir is they are ordering.

Baristas have their uses and some are quite skilled at creating pictures in the froth of a coffee but its not a skill that is in demand on the Federal Skilled Worker or Trade list to help you get PR.

There again your coffee making skills could garner the attention of many a female which could lead to the possibility of PR status should you get married or become common law.

confused_uk

There are a handful of Starbucks around, quite a few nice independent coffee houses & chains too. Local roasted coffee seems to be a bit of a thing in NS lately. Halifax is very small though so not a lot of options workwise.

Some things are more expensive than the UK, rent is pretty cheap in the city though depending on what you are looking for. Check Kijiji for an idea on rental costs.

If you come over on the IEC you could try NS & if you don't like it you can always try somewhere else, you are not tied to an area.

not2old

Its good to read that you have an adventurous spirit & trust you find a way to get where you want to be

Right, so you know the issues of getting to Canada & finding work, that the IEC is an option for you, if you hit it at the right moment.

The flight time to Halifax is almost the same as it is to Toronto 7+ hrs give or take 20 minutes.

Outside of working in the EU (Spain, Portugal, Malta) would you consider the IEC or a working holiday visa for Australia or New Zealand?

confused_uk

Depends where you fly from. London to Halifax is roughly 5.5hrs one way & 6 the other

gallagherdayle96

Hi thanks for all the replies, Iv'e had a look into the flights and think that Toronto is a good bet, flight times aren't that much different from nova Scotia and a lot more frequent too. A working holiday does seem to be the best bet, and Ill just have to wait for 2016 window to open and hope I get a place. In the meantime though, I'm off work in January for two weeks and would consider getting a flight out to Toronto too see some of the sights. I hope January is still a good time to visit even though it will be cold no doubt. I'll be travelling alone so hopefully that wont be a problem, as in chatting to people and getting around. And not2old I have considered Australia but the working holiday visa prices are a lot more than what they are for Canada, and also you need more proof of funds than what you do in Canada too.