sinope

My partner spoke to a friend of a friend last night who emigrated to Ontario 2 years ago. He has found it impossible to get work and currently commutes to Texas on a weekly basis (I kid you not). His wife is also struggling to find work. He is an oil accounts manager (or something along those lines), did a lot of research, worked all over the world, eyes were open etc.

So as Mr Sinope and I are going down the get a job and work visa and then PR route has anyone any positive stories about how they got a job in Canada while living in Britain?

(No negative stories today please )

sinope

Just want to add that he doesn't regret the move and would do it all again, he thinks Canada is brilliant for his kids etc, so don't assume that he is a quitter or moaning minnie.

gryphea

Hello

I have no idea , but this is exactly where we are at now!

We have just sent off applications and I vere from wild optomism to 'no chance' feelings. We are applying in a skills shortage profession - but we will see

I would have thought your freind of a friend would be far better off in Alberta

Gryphea

wiggs1034

[QUOTE=sinope;4353536]
So as Mr Sinope and I are going down the get a job and work visa and then PR route has anyone any positive stories about how they got a job in Canada while living in Britain?
QUOTE]

Marry a nurse . Best thing I ever did, for a number of reason...

Got the first job she applied for after deciding where she wanted to work and what she wanted to do. Could probably have walked straight into a job in most parts of Canada. And the pay is substantially better than the UK.

Of course I now need to find something, but at least we can get out there and will be able to pay the mortgage (just!)

sinope

Nurses arn't really my cup of tea, though I'm sure Mr S would think that his birthday and Christmas had all come at once.

julius smith

hi! well, here's my tuppence worth..........i dont think there's much of a chance landing a job while you are still in the uk. i tried that route and didn't even get any replies! and without blowing my own horn, i have got quite a substantial set of qualifications over the years, too, so it wasnt down to lack cred etc.
so when i decided to actually go over there (ontario), i landed a great job within 8 weeks of landing there.
it depends on how motivated you are, your networking (or lack of), the field you are experienced in etc. but dont get down -- there are jobs a plenty to be had, even if you have to scrape the barrel for a while and take a humdrum admin or clerical job.

iaink

My phone rang back in '97 to ask if I was interested in a new job that might require relocation. I wasnt even looking really and had never considered leaving the UK. The rest is history.

Of course it can happen, sometimes totally out of the blue. One persons bad experience does not mean that the same thing will happen to you.

Cookie

OH got a job thorough an advert online (workopolis, job bank, careerbeacon - can't remember which). He is in telecoms and is specialised in oil installations (lived in Aberdeen). Although this will not primarily be his line of work in NS, his other skills and years of experience fitted the bill.

If a company seems very interested in you but are not forthcoming with suggesting you attend an interview (ie they don't want to pay for flights, accommodation), do what we did and say you are planning a trip out there and see what they say. We paid our own flights etc. He got offered the job at the interview, and they have been very generous paying 2 months accommodation now that we have moved, and our fees for WP (we also had a consultant in Toronto since 2005 for our PR).

A point to note about the oil industry - although there are abundant jobs in Aberdeen within the oil industry many people chose to work in places like Nigeria, Kazakstan, Iran, Libya (on a 4-6 weeks rotation) not because they like it, but because of huge sums of money they could earn and the tax breaks they receive. The oil industry has always been like that. In the UK many people 'chase the ₤' and chose to work in hostile and dangerous parts of the world.

There is also a huge UK expat workforce in Houston too.

Atlantic Xpat

Same here in NL. There are lots of oil service companies (PSN for example) with contracts in the East Coast offshore and beyond. It's common for oilworkers to work away and come back home on rotation as you describe for Aberdeen. My nextdoor neighbour is OIM for one of the installations here. He has colleagues who commute to St. John's from Aberdeen!

Getting back to the OP's question. Yes it is possible to get a job from UK. BUT you need some skills/experience/unique selling point that makes you attractive enough to consider hiring. I got my first job in NL by applying for the right job at the right time and having skills and experience not available readily in the local market. Sounds like IainK and Tangram have done the same. Perseverence and market research are the keys.

hot wasabi peas

I'm just wondering why your oil accounts manager friend is doing in Ontario? Wouldn't Alberta be the obvious location? I'm not really sure what an oil accounts manager is, so I may be way off base here.

YYZlover

Please tell me he is collecting his frequent flyer miles or else he should be spanked!

Have met many oilers and miners at airports when I was a frequent flyer with lounge access. All with top tier status, frequently getting upgraded and commuting between Russia and Canada.

Cookie

OH worked for PSN in Aberdeen and was based offshore running the oil installation telecoms! One of our old neighbours has recently recruited workers from the maritimes to commute to Aberdeen on rotation to work offshore too.

London7

Hi!!!!
My bruv in law flew over last May, hes a painter/decorator, lined up 5 interviews (all via net and telephone from UK), got 5 offers. PNP papers submitted, had his medical, and will be here April.
It IS possible.

sinope

Thank you all for the positive replies and advice. It is good to know that it can be done and I am feeling much more optimistic now.

Piff Poff

My Hubby was offered a job whilst on a recce holiday - just by talking to someone who knew someone - he didn't even have a resume!