I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
Nov 17th 2015, 9:23 am
#16
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
I hear this but my daughter has a job in Vancouver, a government job, and her husband has a job. Neither of them are from Vancouver so they're a bit lacking in connections and they cannot have obtained their positions through knowing people. My understanding is that they're paid less than they would be "in a big city" but work less too; for example he's expected to bill 1700 hours rather than the 2400 expected in NYC. (1700 seems quite enough to me).
As it goes, I read here about connections being critical in Toronto but everywhere I've worked there have been people from all over the world; few of them can belong to a Toronto old school tie network. Yes, firms will give jobs to people who are connected (and have no relevant skills) but IME that's only about a quarter of positions - the rest are awarded through a degree of competition.
As it goes, I read here about connections being critical in Toronto but everywhere I've worked there have been people from all over the world; few of them can belong to a Toronto old school tie network. Yes, firms will give jobs to people who are connected (and have no relevant skills) but IME that's only about a quarter of positions - the rest are awarded through a degree of competition.
If the wage is high enough 1700 hrs/yr worked wouldn't be bad, 34 hour a week average, but to do that one need a fairly high wage to get away with that and survive in Vancouver. Lots of people work double that and still don't bring in 40k a year after taxes/deductions.
*I used 50 weeks of work per year assuming people don't work all 52 weeks paid, due to illness, time taken off for doctors etc.*
Nov 17th 2015, 10:36 am
#17
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
If the wage is high enough 1700 hrs/yr worked wouldn't be bad, 34 hour a week average, but to do that one need a fairly high wage to get away with that and survive in Vancouver. Lots of people work double that and still don't bring in 40k a year after taxes/deductions.
*I used 50 weeks of work per year assuming people don't work all 52 weeks paid, due to illness, time taken off for doctors etc.*
*I used 50 weeks of work per year assuming people don't work all 52 weeks paid, due to illness, time taken off for doctors etc.*
Nov 17th 2015, 10:42 am
#18
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
If the wage is high enough 1700 hrs/yr worked wouldn't be bad, 34 hour a week average, but to do that one need a fairly high wage to get away with that and survive in Vancouver. Lots of people work double that and still don't bring in 40k a year after taxes/deductions.
*I used 50 weeks of work per year assuming people don't work all 52 weeks paid, due to illness, time taken off for doctors etc.*
*I used 50 weeks of work per year assuming people don't work all 52 weeks paid, due to illness, time taken off for doctors etc.*
Nov 17th 2015, 12:38 pm
#21
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 14,227
Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
Unless you work for the government, Vancouver wages are pretty shit for the most part. I wouldn't want to be looking for work here that's for sure.
Nov 17th 2015, 1:53 pm
#22
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
BC in general is a pretty crummy place wage wise in my experience, Squamish is a bit better pay wise then Vancouver, but not by much. Hard place BC can be if not a government employee......
Last edited by scrubbedexpat091; Nov 17th 2015 at 1:59 pm.
Nov 17th 2015, 4:47 pm
#23
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
I hear this but my daughter has a job in Vancouver, a government job, and her husband has a job. Neither of them are from Vancouver so they're a bit lacking in connections and they cannot have obtained their positions through knowing people. My understanding is that they're paid less than they would be "in a big city" but work less too; for example he's expected to bill 1700 hours rather than the 2400 expected in NYC. (1700 seems quite enough to me).
As it goes, I read here about connections being critical in Toronto but everywhere I've worked there have been people from all over the world; few of them can belong to a Toronto old school tie network. Yes, firms will give jobs to people who are connected (and have no relevant skills) but IME that's only about a quarter of positions - the rest are awarded through a degree of competition.
As it goes, I read here about connections being critical in Toronto but everywhere I've worked there have been people from all over the world; few of them can belong to a Toronto old school tie network. Yes, firms will give jobs to people who are connected (and have no relevant skills) but IME that's only about a quarter of positions - the rest are awarded through a degree of competition.
*mostly anyway
Nov 17th 2015, 4:47 pm
#24
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
and it can months to find one of those jobs with depressed wages.
I knew someone at a previous job who had a part time at the licquor store. During his 'vacations' he would work full time at the licquor store.
I knew someone at a previous job who had a part time at the licquor store. During his 'vacations' he would work full time at the licquor store.
Nov 17th 2015, 4:49 pm
#25
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
There's not that many HQ's here and more people looking for work. That is the problem with Canada. It is not really the gateway to anything significant unless you like dog sledding or snow boarding.
If you're a major European company you will aspire to have an office in NYC.
If you are a major American company you'll probably put an office in London (English speaking with EU access).
No one realistically targets Toronto unless they have a job that involves a repeatable process that the cheaper labour can do vs paying a decent wage in NYC.
We do have a banking/finance presence and that is where I make some money from currently but outside of that there really isn't much else here.
The challenge for the outsider in Toronto is that people don't recognise the companies that you've worked for. They have a preference of candidates who have come through career paths similar to their own. That leads to favouritism and working with people referred from those environments.
I'm quietly searching for a decent job ongoing and when I speak to people from the US they are more focused on skills and knowledge. When I speak to people in Canada it's all about resume history at certain places and what my contacts look like. I much prefer the former as it means I'd be working with like minded people.
If you're a major European company you will aspire to have an office in NYC.
If you are a major American company you'll probably put an office in London (English speaking with EU access).
No one realistically targets Toronto unless they have a job that involves a repeatable process that the cheaper labour can do vs paying a decent wage in NYC.
We do have a banking/finance presence and that is where I make some money from currently but outside of that there really isn't much else here.
The challenge for the outsider in Toronto is that people don't recognise the companies that you've worked for. They have a preference of candidates who have come through career paths similar to their own. That leads to favouritism and working with people referred from those environments.
I'm quietly searching for a decent job ongoing and when I speak to people from the US they are more focused on skills and knowledge. When I speak to people in Canada it's all about resume history at certain places and what my contacts look like. I much prefer the former as it means I'd be working with like minded people.
Thank you James!
This is exactly my experience. In other countries, my skills are appreciated and desired - as is. Here, it's how much are you a 'proven entity' in CANADA, who do you know, how much can you smile and talk nicely
Hence trying to figure out how to make a living in this country - leave or not. Anyway good luck in your job search
Nov 17th 2015, 5:11 pm
#27
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
Will depend on position, but in my experience yes. I apply to a fair amount I am qualified for based on their job postings, but I never hear anything. I keep applying as I have for years, but I don't take those postings seriously and more of a may as well try as you never know, but I doubt I will ever actually get an interview.
Nov 17th 2015, 5:31 pm
#28
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
Yes. I've worked for the government on a couple of occasions. The time between when you apply and are offered a job can be months. In one case I drove over 100km back and forth for tests and interviews and was informed over four months later I was not successful. This wasn't a high level job either.
Nov 17th 2015, 5:39 pm
#29
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Re: I hate the job mkt here in Vancouver
Yes. I've worked for the government on a couple of occasions. The time between when you apply and are offered a job can be months. In one case I drove over 100km back and forth for tests and interviews and was informed over four months later I was not successful. This wasn't a high level job either.
