global_lulu

Hi everyone,

Excellent website - there is some very useful advice. I am planning on applying for residency as my partner recently moved over to Canada (Vancouver) and I wish to join him. I am 25 year old graduate and have worked in environmental/economic consultancy for a few years and am now on contract writing an environmental strategy & a biodiversity strategy for a local authority. As well as really enjoying this field of work, I earn pretty good money, but am concerned (having looked at a fair few canadian job websites) that there is just not much work in this area for someone with my experience to date (about 4 years).

I am pretty independent and love my job and am concerned that I am going to be the 'dependent girlfriend' which whilst I dont mind for a bit, I dont want forever! I want to be sure that I am not going to wholly jeopardise my career chances by applying for residency in Canada. If I stay in London I know I will do pretty well for myself. I appreciate that by the time I get residency (if, even!) I will be a year older and therefore with another years experience.

I am just wondering if anyone works in this field in Vancouver and can offer some advice? I am realistic that I wont get as much money, but I just dont want to be waitressing for 2 years (i dont mind 2 months whilst I get settled!)

If anyone my age has been through this process I would welcome your advice......

Thanks alot,
Lucy

neill

It sounds like to me that you have it pretty good at the moment -- Even in London. I have this feeling that if you move to Vancouver, aside from the cultural shock, you will perhaps feel a little 'underapreciated' and maybe even 'resentful' when you see what's on offer. If there's any way you can try and get a job in BC before you make the move it will make your bargaining position stronger and life will be so much better.

(FYI i moved to canada when i was 25 also; i came with a job -as a transfer- and i can tell you now, it's a whole better way of doing it, if you can.)

Robbie500

Try looking at www.workopolis.com and register and they will send you e-mails on a daily basis about graduate jobs. Try Calgary there are loads of jobs going for good graduatues at the moment; whether they are in your field or not I don't know but the site might help.

Thanks,

Rob.

acer rose

I don't know specifically, but I would think that your opportunities will be more limited in Vancouver than UK/Europe. But remember, you only need one job at once, it is just a case of finding it

http://www.ecoemploy.com/noindex/bypmap.html has lists of employers for each province. Sounds like you have good experience to offer BUT many of the jobs listed are for environmental engineers. A quick search of previous posts will highlight what a can of worms this particular profession can be in Canada.


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edit
Your success could also depend on whether you have a relevant degree.

I forget who exactly, but there is at least one member here who worked in environmental consultancy in Nova Scotia (?) then moved on to Ontario I think. I think there is also at least one BC based member working in the "environmental" sector who might come up with some first-hand information.

Lapsed Canuck

I would advise you to look up companies working in your area and approach them directly - perhaps take a trip over and book some appointments beforehand to meet them? You could ask about your qualifications meeting their requirements for staff but also introduce yourself so that if they have any openings, they will think of you and potentially approach you as well as the other way round. Get a good resume done beforehand - check Canadian websites for examples and take it over with you. Your field is so specialised that they may not advertise in the normal routes but also there are less people to choose from so if they have at least seen your resume and even better, met you, they are more likely to offer/tell you about work.

Good luck!

By the way, you'd probably make more money waitressing....it's one of the best paid professions in Canada. I used to make $150 a night in tips alone!

hot wasabi peas

Ditto to that! ... and tax free!

global_lulu

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all the replys. I am very grateful!

I will be signing up to workopolis/ecoemploy to see what is about. Thank you acer and robbie. In the mean time I think it is a very sensible idea to send my CV (sorry, resume....!) and try to set up some meetings on another visit - from what I have heard its about who you know and networking is therefore key. Maybe I should still waitress at first because by the sounds of it I will be much better off financially!!! $150/night is a decent salary.

This kind of system doesn't make sense to me - whilst I am not degrading waitressing where is the incentive to do other stuff if the wages dont compare?!

If anyone find out the name of the member who was working in the environmental field in NS please could you pass it on.

Thanks squillions everyone,

Lucy

Tableland

Just so you know when you're writing up the strategy, the plural of reply is "replies", not "replys".

T.

Butch Cassidy

Just so you know, there is an incorrectly placed comma in your post!

Judy in Calgary

Hello global_lulu,

You said you're a graduate. I don't know what you mean by that. If it means that you have a bachelors degree in environmental science, I would encourage you to go for your masters at some point. At least in Calgary many of the people who work in the environmental field have masters degrees (and some have PhDs). Having a masters degree really does enhance your credibility.

Another thing about doing further study is that you may be able to organise an internship, i.e., a stint of practical work experience that is arranged by the university at which you're studying.

In addition to that, governments have programs whereby they subsidise companies that employ young graduates (I forget the cut off age -- 30 if I recall correctly). At one company at which I worked, the government contributed $1,000/month to the salary of a 25-ish graduate. Now admittedly the program lasted for a year, and when the program expired the employer laid off the young woman in question. By that time, however, she had got her "toe in the door." That is, she wisely used that year to network in the industry. So, by the time she got laid off, she had quite a few contacts around town, and she was able to find another job.

I can't remember which government it was, federal or provincial, which ran the program I've mentioned. I seem to recall it was the provincial government. These sorts of things vary a lot from province to province. You have to research what's available at the federal level as well as the provincial level.

Hope that helps.

Tableland

No there isn't. But even if there were, it is a parking offence compared with the mass murder of that pluralisation. Moreover, I'm not the one earning "pretty good money" to write.

Butch Cassidy

There is according to my book of grammar!

global_lulu

To those correcting my grammar - thank you. I would normally re-read but I am in a rush!

Everyone is allowed odd mistake.......

Lucy

Tableland

Yes they are, and good luck with Canada. For whatit's worth, I think youwill be disappointed with the Canadian job market.

Regards
T.

global_lulu

Missed a 'the'!

Is that mass murder too?