Ray of hope - FSW - 1

[AstronomyNut]

Oh having a bit of a break to explore would be great for you.

I hope you're right! Not that I want it to be hard for any of us. I've got about 3.5 years of experience behind me, plus my Master's. I'm hoping that works in my favor. I have no issue with selling myself and representing myself well in person, but I'm concerned about even being able to get interviews in southern Ontario. That's the biggest challenge/concern. Especially in this economic climate, but even before Covid. Maybe I'm blowing it out of proportion, haha! What do you think?

A friend of mine worked at a major bank in downtown Toronto on a contract. His contract wasn't renewed this time around and he was not hired as a full time employee (though the bank said they would initially). It took him about a month to find two offers, one of which he accepted this week. This friend is also a recent immigrant and work expierence in a major company before coming here. Before the bank contract, he did have to work at a call center and drive uber for a couple of months but he landed contract in about a year since he came.

I guess what I am trying to say is, despite the pandemic, people are still being hired and not everything is doom and gloom. I am sure you'll do find once you land. Treat applying for jobs as a job and think of the first few interviews as practice.

 

[AstronomyNut]

Also, my account just received a ghost update I think. I submitted my profile yesterday and got my score in about 5 minutes. Not sure what this ghost update means?

 

[ZAtoCD]

3-5 years of experience is really the sweet spot, from what I've heard from my acquaintances there. You probably won't need to take a step down in terms of seniority with that experience. While those with 6+ would probably need to settle for maybe one rung lower in the ladder when they 'restart' their career in Canada. So from that perspective, I think you are in a good zone.

As for location, you really should focus on GTA as much as possible. No matter how much one might want to live away from the madness in Toronto, it's still the most sensible thing to do to try find your first job in that area. It will be much faster than finding a job elsewhere, especially in a non-tech profession. Why don't you try reach out to a few companies couple of months before your expected PPR date? Try Indeed and other portals to get an understanding of the type of jobs you could target, and use LinkedIn to reach out to employers.. Even if it's unlikely that you'd close anything before you reach Canada, it could give you good information and insights.

I think those of us in similar professions in this forum can also be of valuable help once we land there as well.

Awesome, thank you so much!

A friend of mine worked at a major bank in downtown Toronto on a contract. His contract wasn't renewed this time around and he was not hired as a full time employee (though the bank said they would initially). It took him about a month to find two offers, one of which he accepted this week. This friend is also a recent immigrant and work expierence in a major company before coming here. Before the bank contract, he did have to work at a call center and drive uber for a couple of months but he landed contract in about a year since he came.

I guess what I am trying to say is, despite the pandemic, people are still being hired and not everything is doom and gloom. I am sure you'll do find once you land. Treat applying for jobs as a job and think of the first few interviews as practice.

That's good that he managed to settle in. Do you know what job he was doing specifically?

 

[joconstantine]

Also, my account just received a ghost update I think. I submitted my profile yesterday and got my score in about 5 minutes. Not sure what this ghost update means?

It only meant, you are now officially in the pool.

 

[kolkata2019]

What do you think about job prospects generally though? I keep reading about how hard the economy has been hit. I wonder how easy things are for newcomers now vs before COVID.

I am registered on the job sites and prospects seem okay to me. My role is that of a writer. So I even got a call through job bank. Unfortunately the interview was scheduled at 1 AM my time so kinda groggily went through it and never made it.

 

[kolkata2019]

I think we should just organize a meet up all of us once we all land there. And then we can keep up this trail and motivate each other to carry on

 

[AstronomyNut]

Awesome, thank you so much!

That's good that he managed to settle in. Do you know what job he was doing specifically?

He's had multiple careers/jobs effectively since he started working. He initially worked in marketing for a microfinance bank and then again in marketing for a tobacco company. In Canada, he worked as a business analyst. His job was to talk to the developers and deliver the requirements.

Yes, I am happy for him as well. So if he can do it, you can as well certainly. Not to mention, tech - particularaly software tech is widely considered here to be more employable.

 

[ZAtoCD]

I am registered on the job sites and prospects seem okay to me. My role is that of a writer. So I even got a call through job bank. Unfortunately the interview was scheduled at 1 AM my time so kinda groggily went through it and never made it.

Great to hear you got an interview like that! And they were fine with your not being in Canada yet?

I think we should just organize a meet up all of us once we all land there. And then we can keep up this trail and motivate each other to carry on

Sounds good to me! We're all going to Ontario?

He's had multiple careers/jobs effectively since he started working. He initially worked in marketing for a microfinance bank and then again in marketing for a tobacco company. In Canada, he worked as a business analyst. His job was to talk to the developers and deliver the requirements.

Yes, I am happy for him as well. So if he can do it, you can as well certainly. Not to mention, tech - particularaly software tech is widely considered here to be more employable.

That is reassuring. Is he living in Toronto?

 

[Komkom]

What do you think about job prospects generally though? I keep reading about how hard the economy has been hit. I wonder how easy things are for newcomers now vs before COVID.

HelloZatoCD

My African brother from South Africa.I have been to south Africa twice and I love how well planned the country is as opposed to *closes mouth*...If you do not mind me asking is securing a better future one of the reasons why you want to migrate like some of us from Africa???

 

[AstronomyNut]

That is reassuring. Is he living in Toronto?

Yes.

 

[kolkata2019]

Great to hear you got an interview like that! And they were fine with your not being in Canada yet?

Sounds good to me! We're all going to Ontario?

That is reassuring. Is he living in Toronto?

Am going to Toronto.

 

[ZAtoCD]

HelloZatoCD

My African brother from South Africa.I have been to south Africa twice and I love how well planned the country is as opposed to *closes mouth*...If you do not mind me asking is securing a better future one of the reasons why you want to migrate like some of us from Africa???

Hello! How are you doing? Yes, indeed. Securing a safer, more developed future with greater career opportunities is definitely a strong reason why I'm doing this. I assume for many of us.

Great to hear that you've enjoyed your time here. Did you come to Cape Town?

Based on your name, I'm guessing you're from Nigeria?

Yes.

And they don't mind the cost of living?

Am going to Toronto.

I'll see you there bro!

 

[AstronomyNut]

And they don't mind the cost of living?

haha - he does, he's a penny pincher. It was actually a little funny - he moved to downtown Toronto in March in the hope that his commute would be a 2 minute walk. That very week Canada shut down everything and he has since worked from home. Still make fun of him for that!

I think he just really want to expierence downtown Toronto. The expierence just turned out to be something else. At least he can see CN tower from his window.

 

[ZAtoCD]

haha - he does, he's a penny pincher. It was actually a little funny - he moved to downtown Toronto in March in the hope that his commute would be a 2 minute walk. That very week Canada shut down everything and he has since worked from home. Still make fun of him for that!

I think he just really want to expierence downtown Toronto. The expierence just turned out to be something else. At least he can see CN tower from his window.

Oh my word! Shame! Is he living alone? That must be so expensive. I assume his commute was super long before he moved?

 

[AstronomyNut]

Oh my word! Shame! Is he living alone? That must be so expensive. I assume his commute was super long before he moved?

His commute was fine. He took the Go train for 20-30 minutes which is a short commute by North American standards.

No, he has a wife and is not as fun anymore. haha I'm kidding.