Right that's it, I've decided to get back on the emmigration trail. I abandoned it a few years ago for career/family reasons. Now the family issues are sorted and my present employer doesn't offer any long term career plans, I feel this is a great opportunity to try and live abroad. On top of which, after my trip back in the spring I'm really missing Canada!

Wish me luck, need to get the paperwork dug out whilst I have a few days off, before no doubt I have to work 60 hour weeks again!



(I'm posting this so that I can't be lazy and find other things to do with my days off! )



Edited to add anyone need a Java Dev/Lead Dev with almost 10 years experience in Finance/Biotech/Defence/Law Enforcement sectors?

Do you have a current application in process? I assume you will be/are going down the skilled worker route.

If you are starting a new application, be aware that applications are only entertained from the restricted list of 38 occupations - software developer isn't one of them, although IT Manager is. Otherwise it's the work permit route.

As bodgerx said, you are going to have to somehow spin that "Lead Dev" role into an actual IT Manager role. Depending on the type of Lead Dev role you've been doing it might involve enough management to qualify. Check out what they expect an IT Manager to do and start from there.

Oh heck, when did that come into play? I'm not a manager of any sort, and to me IT are the guys who work on the office networks etc, not those who are employed to create new software.

Looks like that scotches that avenue, I will need to try work permit route I guess, and in the current climate I doubt many of those are being issued.

I would take a good look at the manager category 0213 here

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigra...tions.asp#list

http://www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/English/...spx?val65=0213

Your team lead experience may qualify

You need to find out what an IT manager does. Many people will say you work in IT regardless of what you think it means.

People think I "work in IT" purely because i use a laptop

Buffoons

Stick a picture of a half eaten apple on it and pointedly show everyone how cool you are by using it in coffee shops. That way people will think you are a twat rather than just a nerd

People who do stuff with computers for their job are going to get called IT people by those that don't. I doubt that CHC is any different. Actually I'm surprised that they don't have a NOC code for "works with computers"

As a software developer who has developed Mac apps, I take offense to that. Although I didn't do it in a coffee shop, so I suppose that makes it ok.

If development is 'in house', the development team would typically come under the IT department - where else would they go? If software development isn't classed as a form of IT goodness knows what is.

If you had an app under the old system it is a shame you didn't continue with it and delay landing. We have seen a few posters lately that have decided to change there mind and continue with the application - some have been disappointed, others have been able to continue.

For many - IT people are those that plug cables in and support microsoft office. Developers like to see themselves apart from that.

That alone is worth some karma ... thank you (from a very late comer to the Mac world ...) J

What is it with apple fan boys (and girls).... sigh. It's just a computer - why is that some apple users 'love' them. I'm a mac owner and I can say that there really isn't anything special about them.

As far as architecture is concerned you are right - a Mac these days, with its x86 CPU is a PC. What is special about them?:

Superbly designed hardware (the 24 iMac that I'm typing this on now is a thing of beauty).
The operating system. OSX is great to look at, fast and very stable.

I think from a novice end-user point of view I don't understand why more people don't have them. I'm an IT guy, but even I like the fact that I spend way less time tinkering with my home computer then I ever did with any of my Windows or Linux machines.

Yes, they are expensive (the Apple Tax) but it isn't as if you are getting nothing for the premium.

I use my mac a lot, but the type of use it gets is limited - firefox, iPlayer, plex (which is actually a very cool app), and mameosx are the only I apps I ever actually run. I got a mac mini over a PC as the mac did everything I need and fits nicely under my tv. My only real complaint with the mac is the inability to change the size of the system font without changing the screen resolution - this is a shocking piece of functionality to be missing. Sick of squinting at menus from my sofa