Hello again guys!

I'm trying to work out how this networking lark works in Canada. I've been looking at Facebook for a while and they have groups in certain cities I'm interested in for networking...?

Is it the best way to get a job? How do you know which groups or types of groups will benefit the most? Are they easy to come across?

It's not something I do here in the UK, apart from a quarterly lunch in the town for Women in Business... I go more for a gossip with my mate than any useful networking as I find it quite shallow.

Would be interested in learning more about networking and how it operates in Canada....

Bandit!

Networking is a big thing in Canada if you want to get a job, it is not what you know it's who you know. A lot of jobs are by word of mouth, so if you know have a friend or know someone's uncle your in, best person for the job is low down the order. Also be prepared to do informational interviews, this is basically cold calling someone and finding out as much information about a job as possible. Make sure you bring all your certificates with you because they love them, you need a bit of paper for everything, but you must have them re-assessed because only Canadian bits of paper count. Depending where you will be settling will depend on what tactics you use.

I have not used Facebook for networking, but my son, who is in his mid twenties, is really into it. He doesn't use it to network for his day career, which is IT. He uses it to connect with old school friends and to communicate with people who share his interest in music (he's a part-time disc jockey).

The Early To Rise ezine (electronic magazine), which is devoted to health, wealth and success, recently recommended three business-oriented networks. They are:

• LinkedIn
  
• Ryze
  
• Tribe

I have registered with the above mentioned networks, but haven't been active in them yet.

I have found Early To Rise to be an inspirational source of information. You can sign up for free daily emails. They do flog stuff in their emails. But, even if you confine yourself to the free material, you can get loads of tips. I'm not saying that ETR would address your immediate question about networking. It's just a good overall source of information about improving your life.

I second what Chivers52 said. I have answered your question by providing you with links to Internet networking groups. But I think you should still pick up the phone and talk to people.

If you have not already done so, you should read the entire series of articles in the BE Wiki about job hunting in Canada.

Hope that helps.

Hi

Thanks for your reply. I guess I will need to very proactive when I do my recce in January, but I'm also trying to establish contacts in advance of that so I have a really well thought out trip, and get the most from it.

So - My university degree should be taken? Should I have employers references with me too? I'm Canadian already which is very helpful on convincing potential employers I can stay in the country!!!

Bandit!

I've registered with Linked In but thats more about friends and former colleagues in UK being on it rather than neccessarily any belief that it will do me much good in Canada. I would consider Facebook (Or 'Facecrack' as some call it) to be more social than professional networking. I also think I'm too old to really appreciate it!

Job hunting networking is more about talking to / meeting people. I'm sure there's good stuff in the wiki but the essence is making a contact even for an informal chat, and getting that contact to recommend someone else you might talk to and so on. Plus the out of work side in terms of meeting through social activies, classes, sports etc. It really is who you know. All a bit alien to us Brits but one must learn to adapt!

Hi there!

I'm on face (crack) book for social things in the UK already, it was there I found some mention of 'networking events' in Canada. I don't think Facebook is a tool to use on a professional level - although I could be wrong.

I see more and more, it's about actually meeting people face to face, something not doable from the UK really, but something I need to focus on, on a Recce. I dont however want to waste time, as I'll only probably be in each city for 5 or so days - the laid back attitude I'm learning about may mean that networking isn't going to work in my favour ?

Geez - it's all so new and exciting!!!

Thank you all for putting up with my questions too -

Bandit!

Out of curiosity(& PM me if you don't want to share this with all) what do you do or want to do in Canada & where? The first stage of networking could be through an existing BE poster who might have some contacts!

I'm looking to move to either Vancouver or Calgary - as yet undecided. Originally I'm from Montreal, however I want to be on the west coast now, and also my french is pretty much non existant. I will however be taking lessons when I get to Canada as I really regret loosing a 2nd language.

Career wise, I'm on number 2! I was an Office / Facilities Manager in London for 7 years, and although I really enjoyed it, I'm not a qualified engineer! I'd be happy to do things like that again (If you know the South Bank Centre / Royal Festival Hall - I worked there! All grade 1 listed and very tricky to do anything for fear of upsetting the 'listing').

Now I'm a Recruitment Consultant (Temporary / Contract placements). Again, something I really enjoy, however I'm not a stereotypical sales person, so dont want to be in a hard sales / target driven environment. I'm successful however and would look to work in an agency again, or in-house!

I've had a few PM's from people, and hopefully I can call on BE members in the 2 cities to provide guidance when i do my Recce!

Thanks!
Bandit.

Hi there,

For Vancouver, they have a few things. There's Vancouver Board of Trade (though you have to pay a membership fee), one of my colleagues goes quite a bit & it can be very useful, also there's Minglers www.minglers.ca, which is all business networking.

Good luck!

Having now lived in Canada for 15 months networking is the way to go - at least thats what we've found

More than half the people I know in Toronto I know through GU, so I'd have to say that's a good networking site for the aging and downwardly mobile.

Well that pretty much sums me up.

Hi there...

sorry to sound a bit dim (not difficult LOL), but what is GU???

Thanks
B

Guardian Unlimited. It's the Guardian's talkboard. dbd posts there. I think Novocastrian also does. I used to (I met dbd through it; he met his current missus through it).

I signed up for GU the other day. Which boards would you recommend using?