Firstly, I would like to thank the forum for creating a platform to bring all the like minded people on the same page.Without the insights of this forum Canadian immigration wouldn't have been possible at all.
I'm going to be a bit descriptive in this thread. So I apologize if this looks like an essay. But this is really going to be my experience(things I felt,believed) put together in words.
If you're reading my posts you might have know my timeline(if not refer my signature). I'm an IT Networking professional who came to Canada with high hopes & expectation to this great country on Feb 15th 2019. I must say , honestly it has not failed my expectations even one bit so far!
I started my job search right after I landed i.e on Feb 18th 2019(Monday). I posted my resume on 2 websites(indeed,monster). I updated my LinkedIn profile as actively looking for a job and connected with around 200+ recruiters who I got through my mutual friends & from job postings(where the recruiter name is mentioned). I also closely followed few more websites(careerbuilder.ca,workopolis.com,teksystems.com,roberthalf.ca,randstad.ca). These are companies who REALLY have the potential to pitch candidate's resume to recruiters directly.
I didn't compromise on one thing in my job search which is focused search of jobs matching my skills & experience. There was 0% deviation in that , for example, I focused only Network Engineer/Administrator/Analyst/Lead jobs and avoided IT/Systems administrator/Active Directory administrator kinds of jobs(what I'm trying to say here is search only for a job which you have experience in your home country & not similarly relevant jobs).
The most important thing I did was to prepare an excel sheet with the jobs which the recruiters have responded to your job application or they have contacted you for an opportunity. I kept it really simple, it had around 5 to 6 columns , Company name,recruiter name,contact details(email/phone),job type(contract/full-time),latest update on that job. I constantly update the comments column with the latest update.It is a key thing because if you're applying for more number of jobs you will tend to forget an interview schedule.
Usually the time-line of any job ranges from as less as 3 weeks to 2 months. Initially the recruiter will shortlist your resume and will ask you to alter it according to the job description.Its very important in Canada to tailor your resume according to the job requirement. Please don't mistake this step and lie on your resume. Tailoring actually means that you need to modify the roles & responsibilities you have performed in the way the company mentions it in the Job description.Once this step is done , the recruiter then submits your tailored resume to the hiring company & its manager. This is when the wait starts for you. Companies usually take as less as 1 week upto a month(sometimes) to respond to the recruiter. If they don't respond even after a month you can assume that they have moved on. WAIT does't really mean you need to wait to hear from that particular job. You can(should) apply for similar jobs and try to connect with recruiters. Once the company short-lists your resume they will let the recruiter know. The recruiter will call you to check for your availability for an interview. Usually there will be 2 to 3 rounds. Many companies do the first round via phone/skype/webex and then call you for a face 2 face if they like you. No company will hire you without seeing you face 2 face. Usually interviews will be completed in 2 weeks time. If they like you in the first round they will call you for the second round in the following week. Once you complete that too, they will let the recruiter know that you've been selected if they like you over the other candidates.Here another wait begins.
From the time they say that you're selected to getting an offer letter it may take upto 2 weeks.The immediate question that comes to your mind in this scenario might be whether to wait this 2 weeks or continue with any scheduled interviews. My advice would be to proceed with the latter as it is safe to attend interviews. I had a company that verbally confirmed that I got selected and at the last minute they backed off saying that they had internally selected a candidate. It was really frustrating and I had learnt a lesson. So until you have an offer letter in your mailbox keep giving interviews.
In the same way, once you receive an offer STOP giving any interviews as , it might not be a good idea to do so.Canadian job market is really small and its not advisable to say no to any employer after they send you the offer letter.It would appear that you have wasted the company's time as well as yours.I had the habit of highlighting the rows of my excel sheet with 3 colours. Red for unsuccessful jobs,yellow for the ones that I'm waiting for and green for the potential job offers.
OK I will stop here! This is just my experience & applies only to IT job seach. I will let you guys to debate,ask questions & update the thread with more insights.
I'm going to be a bit descriptive in this thread. So I apologize if this looks like an essay. But this is really going to be my experience(things I felt,believed) put together in words.
If you're reading my posts you might have know my timeline(if not refer my signature). I'm an IT Networking professional who came to Canada with high hopes & expectation to this great country on Feb 15th 2019. I must say , honestly it has not failed my expectations even one bit so far!
I started my job search right after I landed i.e on Feb 18th 2019(Monday). I posted my resume on 2 websites(indeed,monster). I updated my LinkedIn profile as actively looking for a job and connected with around 200+ recruiters who I got through my mutual friends & from job postings(where the recruiter name is mentioned). I also closely followed few more websites(careerbuilder.ca,workopolis.com,teksystems.com,roberthalf.ca,randstad.ca). These are companies who REALLY have the potential to pitch candidate's resume to recruiters directly.
I didn't compromise on one thing in my job search which is focused search of jobs matching my skills & experience. There was 0% deviation in that , for example, I focused only Network Engineer/Administrator/Analyst/Lead jobs and avoided IT/Systems administrator/Active Directory administrator kinds of jobs(what I'm trying to say here is search only for a job which you have experience in your home country & not similarly relevant jobs).
The most important thing I did was to prepare an excel sheet with the jobs which the recruiters have responded to your job application or they have contacted you for an opportunity. I kept it really simple, it had around 5 to 6 columns , Company name,recruiter name,contact details(email/phone),job type(contract/full-time),latest update on that job. I constantly update the comments column with the latest update.It is a key thing because if you're applying for more number of jobs you will tend to forget an interview schedule.
Usually the time-line of any job ranges from as less as 3 weeks to 2 months. Initially the recruiter will shortlist your resume and will ask you to alter it according to the job description.Its very important in Canada to tailor your resume according to the job requirement. Please don't mistake this step and lie on your resume. Tailoring actually means that you need to modify the roles & responsibilities you have performed in the way the company mentions it in the Job description.Once this step is done , the recruiter then submits your tailored resume to the hiring company & its manager. This is when the wait starts for you. Companies usually take as less as 1 week upto a month(sometimes) to respond to the recruiter. If they don't respond even after a month you can assume that they have moved on. WAIT does't really mean you need to wait to hear from that particular job. You can(should) apply for similar jobs and try to connect with recruiters. Once the company short-lists your resume they will let the recruiter know. The recruiter will call you to check for your availability for an interview. Usually there will be 2 to 3 rounds. Many companies do the first round via phone/skype/webex and then call you for a face 2 face if they like you. No company will hire you without seeing you face 2 face. Usually interviews will be completed in 2 weeks time. If they like you in the first round they will call you for the second round in the following week. Once you complete that too, they will let the recruiter know that you've been selected if they like you over the other candidates.Here another wait begins.
From the time they say that you're selected to getting an offer letter it may take upto 2 weeks.The immediate question that comes to your mind in this scenario might be whether to wait this 2 weeks or continue with any scheduled interviews. My advice would be to proceed with the latter as it is safe to attend interviews. I had a company that verbally confirmed that I got selected and at the last minute they backed off saying that they had internally selected a candidate. It was really frustrating and I had learnt a lesson. So until you have an offer letter in your mailbox keep giving interviews.
In the same way, once you receive an offer STOP giving any interviews as , it might not be a good idea to do so.Canadian job market is really small and its not advisable to say no to any employer after they send you the offer letter.It would appear that you have wasted the company's time as well as yours.I had the habit of highlighting the rows of my excel sheet with 3 colours. Red for unsuccessful jobs,yellow for the ones that I'm waiting for and green for the potential job offers.
OK I will stop here! This is just my experience & applies only to IT job seach. I will let you guys to debate,ask questions & update the thread with more insights.
