Well I haven't been on here for a while, as I have been REALLY busy, for reasons I will explain, so thought I would give everyone an update on my situation......as its changed quite radically in a relatively short space of time. As some of you may know I moved to Canada June 2009 and since then have been looking desparately for work, I have been pushing almost 100 applications for jobs since Ive been here - for those that dont know I am a mechanical engineering draughtsman.

I was starting to get very despondant, I have been survivng on 3 shifts a week working in a bar, it was keeping the wolf from the door, but I was far from living a life, barely exisitng as I have probably mentioned before, living in a room in a house, no car, no money to do anything with, no real goal to focus on, not really any light at the end of the tunnel etc...I also think because of this situation, it was emphasising how much I was missing close friends and family - infact desparatly misssing them. I moved here on my own so I also think that has a part to play in the situation in the fact that there is no one here to really confide in or chat things over.

In the back of my mind I was thinking that if things didnt improve on the job scene by the time I had got to the 1 year point in Canada (June 2010) I would have to consider my options.....which may have meant going back to the UK. So with this in mind and many of my thoughts starting to turn that way......I decided to plan a visit back to the UK for two weeks to catch up with familiar faces and take time out, a sort of recharge my baterries and try and get myself back on track and justify the reason why I came to Canada in the first place, (or the $800 cure as some have called it - but thats another story!) - at least give me renewed energy to fight on and give it my all up until the 1 year mark at least, so the flight was booked.

I had had a previous conversation with a company about a possible job a couple of weeks before I was due to visit the UK........... so a couple of days before I was due to fly out, I thought Id send them an email reminding them I was going to be out of the country, I then got a reply asking me in for an interview! this was the day before my departure! and this job was in Peterborough I was living in Cambridge with no car! I can tell you it was one big stressful rush trying to arrange all that - manic! particulary considering the fact I was working a shift at the bar the night before!, anyway I went for the interview the day before I was due to fly, and.......... following the interview they offered me the position there and then!! unbelieveable after all that time! talk about things all happening at once! its like the proverbial buses coming along! So armed with that fantastic news I went for my two week holiday in the UK, which was great to catch up with my family and close friends, altho very very hectic trying to fit everything and everyone in, good times but not relaxing!

On my return to Canada I had it all to do, somewhere new to live in Peterborough and I had to buy a car to get there!....whilst working my notice at the bar in Cambridge, I had two weeks to do this.....another big manic rush! I managed to do that somehow, and im now into my third week in the new job.....I have got a very steep learning curve infront of me....a mountain to climb, but I think it will all be worth it, its seems an extremly good company to work for, a very big corporate company where I feel I can gain a great deal career wise, and I feel will certainly justify me being in Canada away from my family and friends that I do really miss. I really dont think I would have been fortunate enough to get a job as promising as this in the UK, im not saying jobs like this arnt around in the UK, (but think there may be less of them) but its weather I would have been driven enough to get it - thats the other part to the story, I moved to Canada for a number of reasons, the most common reason that many people do, - I didnt like the way the UK was going, and I was struggling afford a decent standard of living, secondly I have been drawn by the lifestyle Canada offers for sometime....space less crowds and the great out doors with the best backyard in the world!, and thirdly to step way out side my comfort zone....not something I have ever liked doing, but you can find you can achieve much more when you do this.....you are forced to do things you would never normally do, and finally I felt life is too short to spend it one place for all of it.....the world is a big place who knows what else you could achieve out there...

So to everyone out there who is still trying to get work here in Canada.....keep trying, its just real unfortunate timing being in the middle of an economic recession, I have spoke to so many Canadians who said, things were never like this, work has been pretty easy to come by, and it will improve again, and I believe that, so if it is really what you want, and its your dream, think of all the effort, the trouble, the goodbyes and all of what you gave up to come here.......as things can literally change over night/ in a day...thats exactly what happened to me, ive been here in Canada for 9months, now my life here and my assessment of it is all is about to begin.....

Cheers

Paul

Glad it all worked out for you in the end

Congratulations, and Good luck with it all!

Good stuff. Well done.

Great stuff. Well done. All the best for a bright future in your new job.

Hi Paul

Glad everything is working out for you. I know what you mean about missing family, i have not made the move yet, because of this. I had a massive panic attack the other day and this was about moving so far from my family. I still want to move to Canada, but am struggling with this part of the process. However, like you said above, life is too short and sometimes you have to give it a go and step out of your comfort zone and take a chance, which is what i am trying to do.

I am glad things have worked out for you. Good luck

Em

It is a vital point that Paul has made. It is hard to find jobs at the moment and I think this can put people off moving to Canada.

But for some of us that are not moving for a year or so, things could change a great deal.

I will be moving to Canada on my own sometime next year. Having PR and some financial support I hope to survive for a little bit while looking for a new job. I guess I will be giving up everything I have achieved in UK so far. UK and its people gave me as a foreigner a chance, shelter and a very decent job. My great hope is in getting the same if not more in Canada. All the best Paul

Kind regards,
Tom

Great positive post - am really glad you stuck with it & have come out ok.

Good luck with the new job.

Bali

Emmjay, have you thought of moving to Thorpe Willoughby or Wressle? They're both nice areas . Then visit Canada for holidays twice a year.

Delighted for you Paul, many congrats on the new job

I am so pleased for you Paul. Congratulations on your new job.

I am so happy to read your post. We got our PR status in 2007 but we have not been able to move at all. After waiting for such a long time for this to happen we gave up and sold our previous house to buy the present one. Before we knew it the world was taken over by the awful recession and since then we are trying to sell this house without any luck. we can't go till this house is sold and it is 2010 now. My husband is looking for a job over there but has not had any luck so far. I feel so depressed and just don't know what to do. Can't rent this house and leave with no job, besides renting it is not all that easy either in current economic situation and besides we need take some money with us to go to Canada. I am so fed up I wish I knew what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions?

PS we bought our present house because we did not think we will get the PR and our lives were on hold for since 1998. I am just so fed up now.

Good Luck Paul, I'm glad you have finaly found a job commensuarate with your skills and experience, it really can make a world of difference!

Congratulations on the job and best of luck for the future