Said that I would throw up a new topic and try to lend a hand to anyone who so needs it, rather than the filling the jobs thread with a bunch of waffle on my part. If anyone has any info on the expo last weekend - or queries about Canadian employers, I might be able to help. I've been over here (Calgary) for 5 years in June - came over originally with the USIT U35 open work permit, and working in the construction industry, quickly realized there was fu*k all left back home jobs wise. Couple of points from my experience on the Canadian Immigration front. 1.) If you qualify for the USIT U35 fu*king go for it, there is NO easier way to stay in the country for 12 months and get an open work permit. Once you are in, start the residency procedure and bobs your uncle. 2.) Be very very very wary of 'Professional Immigration Specialists' that will try to sell you lines of crap at expos. They will gladly take a few hundred euros (or more) to apply for work permits etc. which you are perfectly capable of doing yourself. They have no more pull with Canadian Immigration than you do, fact. Over the last 5 years I have done all my own work permit extensions and permanent residency applications - yeah its a pain in the arse, but anyone can do it. There is a wealth of information on the web, don't let someone take your hard earned money for something that just takes a bit of effort. 3.) Remember that any company that sponsors you, basically has you by the balls - something that they will probably fail to mention in the expo. Because your work permit is directly linked to your employer, if you quit, or are fired, there is a possibility of you being kicked out of the country. You cannot just 'find' another job, there needs to be an LMO (labor market opinion) and work permit application done, all which can take up to 3 months or more. That's why the USIT 'open' work permit is great, you can take any job you want as it is not linked to a single employer. 4.) Football kicks off at 8 on a Saturday morning. If anyone has any questions just let me know, unfortunately over the last 5 years I have been through it all with Canadian Immigration, the bureaucracy has (and continues to) me pulling my hair out at times, but, you do whatcha gotta do. I'm expecting my permanent residency (application is 2 years and counting) in the next 6 months, its been a long fu*king road, but its worth it in the long run. Get the residency - then two years later take the citizenship test, and no matter what happens, or how long you leave for, you always have the right to return.
I presume the U35 permit is for under 35's,is there any opportunities for over 35's to head out there?
The link below from the Canadian Immigration website is very good - its a quick multi-selection survey to see which type of application would apply to you. The USIT / IEC programme is specifically for 18-35, which is a bit of shame, it makes things so easy. http://www.cic.gc.ca/app/ctcvac/english/qc100
THIS Im glad you decided to stay in Canada after taking our advice on here imagine where you would be now, its brilliant that you now can give some advice to potential immigrants. Hope you can help them out.
Was up at the expo on Sunday and am seriously thinking about doing a 1 year working holiday. Where abouts would be the best places to go as regards jobs / lifestyle?
If we are talking about a one year working holiday I personally speaking wouldn’t look further than Vancouver – really beautiful city, climate is pretty much the same as Ireland, a load of Irish about there as well. To live long term though I wouldn’t be so sure, property prices are astoundingly high, you would find it very hard to ever get your foot on the ladder so to speak. Calgary works for us, loads of work, Rockies are only an hour and a bit away with Banff National Park etc. – loads to do in the summer and winter. Don’t be minding what people tell you about the cold either, you get used to it. Saskatchewan though is a whole different kettle of fish, they may be championing it in the expo’s, but Calgary is about as uncivilized as I would go, no point being stuck in the back arse of nowhere just for the sake of a job in my opinion.
Jaysus yeah I remember that conversation - not going to lie, its not all Bank Holidays every month and frolicking in the snow, especially with a newborn & being so far away from family, but you do what you do. No regrets to be honest.
This, is a traditional irish CV ok when applying for jobs or is there a total different lay-out to theres?thanks
You use a canadian style "resume" google it. I'm heading to Canada in June, got my visa through the IEC... avoid USIT... rip off artists
Cheers,myself and the missus to be are just researching and(hopefully) start to apply!how long were ya waiting?
Fair fu*ks lad - I was not aware that you could do the IEC program on your own steam, when I did the U35 program 5 years doing it through USIT was the only option available. If people can save a few hundred euro and do it themselves avoiding USIT then I am all for it.
Our CV and their resume is the exact same thing lad - just change the title and you will be grand. Obviously just gear your experience towards the type of job you are applying for.
Canadian Resume Guide An effective resume is essentially a marketing document wherein you are the product. Studies show that employers spend no more than 20 seconds glancing over each resume they receive. Your resume should present a well-organized profile of your qualifications, work experience, education, achievements and overall career objectives. What's more, it's vital that the information you present be visually appealing, consistently formatted, and error-free. Your resume may need to be altered for Canadian employers. Canadian employers typically expect to see the following information in a resume: 1. Contact Information Be sure to include your name, current home address, telephone numbers including area codes, and your personal email address. 2. Professional/Career Objective Your professional/career objective is basically your resume's opening statement. It defines the field or position for which you are applying. It's important that your career objective be clear, concise, and customized to the job you are applying for. 3. Education This section of your resume should detail your academic background beginning with your most recent degree. The standard format lists your college or university followed by your degree, major and graduation date. 4. Experience Your career/job experience is what most employers pay particular attention to. Recent graduates with no working experience should include any part-time employment as well as summer jobs, volunteer work and internships. This section should list company names, location and employer for whom you have worked in a logical and consistent manner. It is also advisable that you include a bulleted "job responsibilities list" that outlines your particular job functions and achievements for every job you specify. Remember to include the names and locations of organizations for which you have worked, your position/title, and dates. 5. Qualifications or Skills It is advisable to include a section, which briefly states any skills and qualifications that relate to your professional objective in a bulleted format. Examples include: Knowledge of Microsoft office, the Internet and all associated applications. 6. Honors and Activities Some resumes also contain a section that summarizes any honors and/or activities that demonstrate strong academic abilities, i.e., honorary societies, scholarships, and/or extra-curricular activities. Employers pay attention to how a candidate's personality and personal tastes/lifestyle fits in with the company's corporate culture and vision. Any material you include that casts you as a balanced, well-rounded individual may in fact endear you to a potential employer. 7. References You may choose to include your references or simply state, "References are available upon request" or something to that effect at the bottom of your resume. However, if you do choose to include references be sure that the people you list can still be contacted at the telephone numbers you give. Moreover, if you feel that a potential employer may call your references be sure to advise the people you’ve listed that they may receive a call from a potential employer. Resume Writing Tips: Spell-check your document! Make sure that punctuation, grammar, and spelling are error-free. Include a customized cover letter with your resume. A cover letter is your chance to express why you believe you're the best person for the job. You may also use this format to effectively communicate your "professional disposition". Remember to address your cover letter to the employer/manager and include the company name as well. Include "action words". Action words are terms that describe your job functions such as: Achieved, acquired, addressed, analyzed, centralized, coordinated, created, demonstrated, designed, eliminated, enforced, implemented, improved, maintained, managed, organized, oversaw, performed, reorganized, reviewed, selected, supervised, surveyed, trained. Avoid using paragraphs or long sentences. The bullet style -- use of an action word followed by an account of the action you performed -- enables you to include a lot of information about your work-related duties, responsibilities and achievements in as condensed a form as possible. If posting your resume online, it is generally advisable to do the following: Left justify the entire document Use a standard font, size 10-14 only Avoid boldface, underlined or italicized print Avoid parentheses, graphics, shading, tabs and hard returns
Following up on the advice from This, Canada has a lot to offer for those looking to make a quality life. Work opportunities are abundant in the Western part of the country, and Canadians are very open to newcomers. Education and certifications (trades) are a must when breaking into the job market and the Irish are well received by the locals, as Canada has deep Celtic bloodlines. When filling out your application if you have worked for a multi-national corp., even something like McDonalds is of value if you are looking for work in hospitality for example, as is a Canadian reference work or personal. I live in Vancouver and the cost of housing is quite expensive and might be out of the reach for most, but renting is affordable and the quality of life here is fantastic, beaches, mountains, etc... great food/produce choices, very cosmopolitan and there is an Irish presence, we even have a St. Patrick's Day parade! There is also a Liverpool Reds pub downtown and the nightlife is excellent. Wherever you choose it will take some time to get established, but you won't regret making the move!
My waiting times were... Application sent (using UPS) on the 22nd of December Notice of Receipt - 12th January Accepted - Payment Requested - 13th January IEC Eligible - 20th January Asked if I needed a medical - 26th January Visa Approved - 9th February If you need any help, just ask
Vancouver's economy has remained strong through recent recessions...the housing sector, tourism/hospitality and finance/business all do well here and there are always opportunities for tradesmen... difficulty for most when moving here is this province is highly unionized and requires one to be a union member to access the good paying jobs. Currently we have many public sector employees reaching retirement age and there will be openings in the future. Getting settled and established does take time, but if one wants to set down roots the effort is rewarding.
Currently IT and customer service opportunities are good as the business/finance and hospitality/tourism sectors are strong...social work positions are mostly governmental and are unionized, so it would take some time to establish connections required to get one of those jobs.
My sister just finished her masters in pyschology and I am trying to get her out here, always loads of jobs in Social Work if the qualifications can be transferable. I assume that is for your missus, as for the IT sector, I had a quick look but to be honest there are so many variations of roles in IT I got lost very quickly. Have a quick gander yourself on www.monster.ca lad. I would say that generally speaking oppurtunities in IT would probably be better suited to Vancouver or Toronto, Calgary is better served for construction and oil & gas.