Our first month...
Nov 15th 2009 | 5:56 am
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,324
From: Near Kingston, Ontario
Re: Our first month...
We have been here 7 years and my hubby has'nt found any work in IT- we used tolive in Almonte and he set out over 300 resumes-nothing- now he has been out of it so long he has lost a lot of his skills- we are thinking about going back to UK. If he does'nt find a job soon get out!
Well done for getting the job. We have been in Ottawa for nearly two years and my husband is still trying to find work in the IT industry. Any advice would be appreciated!
Yes, Ottawa is a lovely city. It takes time to meet people, but Ottawa is a safe place and you will make lots of friends.
We bought a house and do like the area, but wish we had waited to see where we really wanted to live, so being in the Glebe for a while is probably not a bad move.
Good luck with it all, and any advice on the IT stuff would be appreciated!
Yes, Ottawa is a lovely city. It takes time to meet people, but Ottawa is a safe place and you will make lots of friends.
We bought a house and do like the area, but wish we had waited to see where we really wanted to live, so being in the Glebe for a while is probably not a bad move.
Good luck with it all, and any advice on the IT stuff would be appreciated!
Nov 16th 2009 | 1:51 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,357
From: North
Re: Our first month...
We have been here 7 years and my hubby has'nt found any work in IT- we used tolive in Almonte and he set out over 300 resumes-nothing- now he has been out of it so long he has lost a lot of his skills- we are thinking about going back to UK. If he does'nt find a job soon get out!
Nov 16th 2009 | 1:37 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,866
From: Cochrane, Alberta
Re: Our first month...
Nov 16th 2009 | 9:23 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,157
From: back in Cambs
Re: Our first month...
We have been here 7 years and my hubby has'nt found any work in IT- we used tolive in Almonte and he set out over 300 resumes-nothing- now he has been out of it so long he has lost a lot of his skills- we are thinking about going back to UK. If he does'nt find a job soon get out!
My OH is getting jobs through for Ottawa ( IT ) as well as other areas ( not Kingston though ) i suppose it depends on what skills you have ?
We need to sell our house before we can go don't have PR yet
but his skills are LMO exempt so hope that will not put prospective employers off ?
If he can't get a job there what will he do here, there are people walking round London with there CVs on billboards trying to get work here ?
I hope something comes up soon for you
Nov 16th 2009 | 9:33 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 7,157
From: back in Cambs
Re: Our first month...
Hi
Nearly eight months on and as lot has happened, our daughter, Madeline was born in June and we are now renting our own house in The Glebe. It is such a nice neighbourhood and I think we will try and find a way to stay - the schools and facilities are fantastic and my children are so happy and settled here. It is funny as the people and kids are so friendly, even the teenagers who run the afterschool or lunch club that my son attends. It's funny as we can't walk to school or down Bank street without seeing someone who knows one of the kids, the sense of community is great here.
I would recomend The Glebe as it is central and very family orientated but it's pricey. I was told to avoid Barrhaven but I have also heard that people are happy there! Kanata is very nice but it's far out from Ottawa and can take up to an hour to commute into downtown for jobs, but if you worked in Kanata it would be ideal I guess.
I am making friends but they are mainly ex-pats, I am meeting more people through my childrens schools now which is good.
As for jobs, my OH has a job but the benefits suck! He has only taken a £3,000 pay cut from what he was on in the UK which from what I have heard is good. From what I can see there are jobs out there and being an immigrant doesn't mean a lower wage if you can do the jobs. The holidays are less than in the UK and the working hours are longer.
Hope this helps! Ottawa is a great city, not very cosmopolitan but very family orientated.
Melanie
Nearly eight months on and as lot has happened, our daughter, Madeline was born in June and we are now renting our own house in The Glebe. It is such a nice neighbourhood and I think we will try and find a way to stay - the schools and facilities are fantastic and my children are so happy and settled here. It is funny as the people and kids are so friendly, even the teenagers who run the afterschool or lunch club that my son attends. It's funny as we can't walk to school or down Bank street without seeing someone who knows one of the kids, the sense of community is great here.
I would recomend The Glebe as it is central and very family orientated but it's pricey. I was told to avoid Barrhaven but I have also heard that people are happy there! Kanata is very nice but it's far out from Ottawa and can take up to an hour to commute into downtown for jobs, but if you worked in Kanata it would be ideal I guess.
I am making friends but they are mainly ex-pats, I am meeting more people through my childrens schools now which is good.
As for jobs, my OH has a job but the benefits suck! He has only taken a £3,000 pay cut from what he was on in the UK which from what I have heard is good. From what I can see there are jobs out there and being an immigrant doesn't mean a lower wage if you can do the jobs. The holidays are less than in the UK and the working hours are longer.
Hope this helps! Ottawa is a great city, not very cosmopolitan but very family orientated.
Melanie
Congratulations on your addition, we are aiming for Ottawa or Kanata OH is IT, my OH took a 10% pay cut here in the UK early this year along with everyone else in the company made a huge differance to his pay
But we can adjust as you probably did, my main concern is the medical etc ?
Good to hear you are making friends,
We liked Ottawa stayed downtown, didn't really feel like the capital at all, as you say very family orientated,
Good luck for the future
Nov 17th 2009 | 12:47 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,324
From: Near Kingston, Ontario
Re: Our first month...
What has he been doing for 7 years ? i assume you are PR
My OH is getting jobs through for Ottawa ( IT ) as well as other areas ( not Kingston though ) i suppose it depends on what skills you have ?
We need to sell our house before we can go don't have PR yet
but his skills are LMO exempt so hope that will not put prospective employers off ?
If he can't get a job there what will he do here, there are people walking round London with there CVs on billboards trying to get work here ?
I hope something comes up soon for you
My OH is getting jobs through for Ottawa ( IT ) as well as other areas ( not Kingston though ) i suppose it depends on what skills you have ?
We need to sell our house before we can go don't have PR yet
but his skills are LMO exempt so hope that will not put prospective employers off ?
If he can't get a job there what will he do here, there are people walking round London with there CVs on billboards trying to get work here ?
I hope something comes up soon for you
maybe at least he can get help retraining in UK? CANNOT GET THAT HERE! so unhappy and frustrated!!!
we were going to move back to Poole/Bournemouth area where friends andfamily are.
Nov 17th 2009 | 12:50 am
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,324
From: Near Kingston, Ontario
Re: Our first month...
He DID work for Marconi in the UK-he had retrained and been to Bournemouth University, and had only graduated like 2 years before we came to Canada- so he was'nt really experienced before we got here. His degree incorporated software and hardware- he used to be able to do "C,Java, Html,javascript, perl" ...cannot remember them all.
Anyway suffice to say when we came to Canada/Ottawa in 2002 the high tech bubble burst and he could'nt get a look in- now he does'nt remember it that well and would like to get back in but there are so many others with more experience.
Anyway suffice to say when we came to Canada/Ottawa in 2002 the high tech bubble burst and he could'nt get a look in- now he does'nt remember it that well and would like to get back in but there are so many others with more experience.
