DavieH86

Hi there
my family and I are wanting to move to Canada. We seem to have a few options for Express entry but I would like to find out a bit more info if anyone can help.
I am 32 and my wife is 29, our kids are 8 and 10. A little about me, I am an experienced supervisor in civils and utilities. I am an experienced excavator operator working on machines up to 50t. I have experience in water main installs, drainage works, concreting and asphalt works. I am also a retained firefighter of 8 years with the Scottish fire service which I serve my local community. I posses an SVQ level 2 in plant ops, and an SVQ level 3 construction supervisor, I also have a few other certificates.
my wife is a qualified hairdresser she has an SVQ level 2 in hairdressing, however she has not been working in hairdressing for a few years due to working part time to be around for the kids.
I have been told I qualify under the skills trades programmes, however i cant find any info about if I need to do a skills test or not. Could I do the Canadian equivalent of an excavator test and other basic site tests to help ? Trying to get a job offer has been near impossible with no companies getting back to me as I dont have a Visa.
I will be applying under NOC code 7302 contractors and supervisors in construction.
Has anyone got any advice they could through our way for the best way to go about this. I have done a lot of research but my head is fried with finding out our best way to do this.

Many thanks again

christmasoompa

Hi, and welcome to BE.

You need to have either provincial certification (essentially a skills test), or a job offer, to qualify under the FST program. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...ed-trades.html

No, it's quite specific. You'll need to work out the requirements for the province you want to move to, it usually involves an exam and proving you've got a certain amount of experience. Note that hairdressing is also a regulated trade, so if your wife does want to work there, she'll need to do similar.

If you did want to go down the job offer route, then have you been out there to job hunt in person? That's really the only way to get a job offer in Canada (even if you do have a visa), as it's all about personal contact there so you need to pick up the phone at the very least, and ideally go and network in person. The Job Hunting section of the Wiki has loads of good info about the hiring culture there which is worth a look.

What are you scoring on the CRS (bearing in mind your education won't count for points as it's vocational)? That may help you decide whether to go down the job offer route or the provincial certification route.

Coppyboy5

Do you know where and how to get a job offer? Do I have to contact a specific enterprise first or there are job agencies?

christmasoompa

There are employment agencies, but it's usually best to contact potential employers directly. Most agencies won't bother with somebody that needs sponsorship when they have plenty of Canadians to choose from, unless you have specialist skills of course.

If you do need a job offer to get a visa (not everybody does), then have a read of the Job Hunting section of the Wiki, and it may be best starting your own thread giving your experience and qualifications, so that those in a similar industry can advise you better.

Good luck.

Coppyboy5

Thank you so much for the advice, I hope I can find a suitable offer for me.

christmasoompa

Again, depends really. You've got to think of it from an employers point of view - do you have something worth them spending $1000, going through lots of paperwork and hassle, and waiting months for you, versus a Canadian that can start quickly for free?

Check first that you do need a job offer, as if you can get a visa without one it'll be much easier to convince an employer to hire you when you're already work authorised. But do start your own thread if you have any questions about that.

Best of luck.