Scribble

So, first of all, I have Permanent Residence status but I speak English and only lower intermediate at French.
I have 10+ years experience in IT but am not getting much in the way of responses to jobs I have applied for in Montreal - am slightly worried it's a language thing or the fact that now that many French people are immigrating to Quebec that they will get picked for interviews instead. I would have thought I might at least get an interested call or email but nothing!

Maybe I should apply to Toronto as an experiment to see if I get responses?

Tigger1

It's probably the French thing, we have an office in Montreal and although everyone can speak English their preference is in French. Quebec is a funny province and although Montreal is slightly more open to non French speakers as far as hiring goes I think you'll find the preference is someone that can speak French.

Scribble

Depends on skill differences I guess. I have intermediate French just the same as a lot of francophones only have intermediate English.
You'd think I'd at least get a call to see if they might be interested?

lounan

Having lived their for over 7 years its a Quebecois thing !!!

neilcumming

Try Winnipeg,the weathers lovely there (I've heard)

Tigger1

Quebec is a law unto it's self that's for sure! The only thing I could suggest is maybe some networking? getting to meet potential hiring managers might help also working on your French in general. Good luck!

montreal mike

montreal mike

montreal mike

Do that for Toronto

Do not hold your breath for Montreal

To be brutally frank I think it is a complete waste of time

Shirtback

It's (mainly) the language (French) thing.

(Unless you have highly specialized skills, in specific domains, it's not going to happen.)

The market is flooded with local recent graduates. French immigrants are moaning about discrimination & heading West - & have been for several years now.

Montreal is a wonderful city, & Qc a fascinating province ;-) However, both extremely hard for unilingual immigrants. I came to Qc 17 yrs ago on the strength of being bilingual (EMT, FRench native speaker level, & I still found it hard); in the last few years, the job market has narrowed considerably, & I'm starting to think about moving on.

SB

CKMaddAll

It's actually -4*C as I type... positively boiling! New Years Eve was -30*C

jandro

Having intermediate French acquired abroad probably isn't going to cut it for many Quebec employers. Ideally they like you to speak with a Quebecois accent. I suspect even having an English name might put your application to the bottom of the pile.

As soon as I graduated from university I immediately left Montreal for Toronto. It was a great place to be a student but as an anglophone from outside the province I didn't think there were many opportunities for me.

Ben W Bell

Applying for jobs is generally not how IT jobs work in Canada anymore. You need to get a strong resume through as many agencies as possible. Generally these days agencies match people to jobs they need to fill, you don't find jobs for people. It's kinda the reverse of what it used to be.

neilcumming

Lovely! Im not missing the winter here in Mexico,returning to the Peg in april ,hopefully I wont turn to ice departing the airplane!

Shirtback

My *personal* experience suggest this isn't quite true. Ymmv.

(Much) better than intermediate French is usually necessary. But in the city, if you are willing to try, the willing goes a long way.

Speaking French with an English accent goes down very well, much better than speaking it with a French-from-France accent.

It is possible to get good jobs in Mtl without good French, if you know people, get referrals, network, network, network!

If Montreal is your goal : Think laterally; i.e. Look for Anglo (rest-of-Canada, US, overseas) companies there, & try for jobs with them not directly in your chosen field. What can *you* offer that a local may not be able to?

I know several non-French speakers, & basic French speakers who have reasonably good to excellent jobs in Mtl. Heck, I know people who have been in Qc for 40 years who have no French at all & who have lucrative & enjoyable careers :-)

Disclaimers : I don't work in Mtl, I'm rural ;-) I've been in Qc for 17 years, & am unemployed for the 1st time & finding it difficult to find a decent job. I'm bilingual, & was when I came here. I am good at "blagging"/spinning a good line ;-) When I first arrived in Qc, employers were more interested that I spoke good English than my proficiency in French!! This has now changed with significant improvement in young Quebeckers' ability in English.

PM me if you'd like more specific info; I feel the above is turning into a diatribe ;-) but I *do* have a particular employer in mind which may be interesting on the IT front.