Finding a job in Canada

[Softdev00]

Hi,

I'm graduate student from University of Applied Science with bachelor degree of information technology. I'm very passion Java software developer. Unfortunately I don't have any commercial experience from the field but instead I have gained my experience by doing it as hobby and of course by studying software development at University.

I have bad situation in Finland, since I have been searching for a job for one year and when I get interview possibility the answer from there is always "Sorry we won't continue with you due to lack of commercial experience.". How in the world I can get any commercial experience when I don't get a chance to work in any software development company?

I have been working very hard last year to grow as professional software developer as I can and thus I have done my projects which, enhancing my skills, developing and designing own desktop and web applications.

I'm very tired of searching for a job here in Finland. I was thinking to start searching for a job in Canada.

My questions are follows:
1. How I should start my journey on searching for a job in Canada (my first steps)?
2. Should I apply first for Visa and then search for a job?
3. Is it difficult to find software development job from Canada?

I don't know yet any good Canadian job listing website, if somebody knows please let me know.

I appreciate any help regarding this issue. I really want to move on and start my career and I'm ready to immigrate to Canada permanently as long as I get the job from there.

Thank you

 

[scylla]

1. Apply for jobs through reputable job web sites such as monster.ca, the Canadian Job Bank and workopolis.ca
2. You must find an employer and job before you can apply for a work permit. Also, the employer must obtain an approved LMO before you can apply for a work permit.
3. It's going to be extremely difficult with no job experience.

 

[Softdev00]

1. Apply for jobs through reputable job web sites such as monster.ca, the Canadian Job Bank and workopolis.ca
2. You must find an employer and job before you can apply for a work permit. Also, the employer must obtain an approved LMO before you can apply for a work permit.
3. It's going to be extremely difficult with no job experience.

Thank you Scylla for your reply. It really helped very much. I have few question though. First of all what does LMO stand for and what it means? Secondly would it be better to go with software development training possibility and after it try to apply from the same company permanent job?

 

[scylla]

LMO = labour market opinion. To be approved for an LMO, your employer must prove they advertised the job and were unable to find a Canadian to hire for the role. Pretty difficult to prove for most IT related roles since there are so many qualified Canadians. More LMO information here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employers/lmo-basics.asp

Unfortunately I don't understand your second question.

 

[Softdev00]

I meant with my second question this way:

I search for an employer to make training contract instead of full time job. Once that training period is over, let say for 6 months then I ask from employer possibility to work full time. Wouldn't that be better way?

 

[scylla]

I meant with my second question this way:

I search for an employer to make training contract instead of full time job. Once that training period is over, let say for 6 months then I ask from employer possibility to work full time. Wouldn't that be better way?

I'm not sure what you mean by training contract. Do you mean a period of time when you work for free for the employer and receive training from the employer? If so, this is still classified as work and the employer will still need to obtain an approved LMO even if you're not being paid. So no - I don't think this will be better. I think it will be just as difficult if not more difficult.

 

[Softdev00]

I'm not sure what you mean by training contract. Do you mean a period of time when you work for free for the employer and receive training from the employer? If so, this is still classified as work and the employer will still need to obtain an approved LMO even if you're not being paid. So no - I don't think this will be better. I think it will be just as difficult if not more difficult.

So it seems I have very low chances to get a job in Canada. Because this is the case then the only option I have is to try to find internship here.

 

[itsmyid]

Hi,

I'm graduate student from University of Applied Science with bachelor degree of information technology. I'm very passion Java software developer. Unfortunately I don't have any commercial experience from the field but instead I have gained my experience by doing it as hobby and of course by studying software development at University.

I have bad situation in Finland, since I have been searching for a job for one year and when I get interview possibility the answer from there is always "Sorry we won't continue with you due to lack of commercial experience.". How in the world I can get any commercial experience when I don't get a chance to work in any software development company?

I have been working very hard last year to grow as professional software developer as I can and thus I have done my projects which, enhancing my skills, developing and designing own desktop and web applications.

I'm very tired of searching for a job here in Finland. I was thinking to start searching for a job in Canada.

My questions are follows:
1. How I should start my journey on searching for a job in Canada (my first steps)?
2. Should I apply first for Visa and then search for a job?
3. Is it difficult to find software development job from Canada?

I don't know yet any good Canadian job listing website, if somebody knows please let me know.

I appreciate any help regarding this issue. I really want to move on and start my career and I'm ready to immigrate to Canada permanently as long as I get the job from there.

Thank you

The only way I can think of, is to apply for a degree program here. You can apply for a master's program that would take approximately 2 years to complete, during which you will have coop/internship opportunity to gain experience in the industry of your interest, and upon graduation you will have a 3-year open work permit, so you won't need LMO to work for any employer, during those 3 years you can apply for permanent residence and once you get it, you won't need any work permit anymore

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

The only way I can think of, is to apply for a degree program here. You can apply for a master's program that would take approximately 2 years to complete, during which you will have coop/internship opportunity to gain experience in the industry of your interest, and upon graduation you will have a 3-year open work permit, so you won't need LMO to work for any employer, during those 3 years you can apply for permanent residence and once you get it, you won't need any work permit anymore

This is the best answer.

 

[Softdev00]

Well that would be good opportunity because I have planned to study Master Degree and if I want to do it abroad then I need to decide now. I will make some research about studies in Canada and how much it would cost. Thank you very much for help, I really appreciate it

It seems also that Universities have high requirements from students. Especially high grades and I don't have high grades, in fact my average grade is 3 out of 5 in my degree certificate, I don't think that would be enough .

 

[walmzd]

Hi...Are you originally from Finland? From your email I believe that you moved there trying to find a job?

I found that the best way to find a job in Canada in the tech field is to have a residency status (mainly a PR), then try to find a job. It's v. difficult to find an employer who's welling to support your LMO. I tried this way for couple of years & failed. BUT when I got my PR status I found a job in Canada in no time in the tech field, but remember that you have to have the right experience. This can be verified by checking the posted jobs and you can judge if you fit or not.

By the way.... I have graduated from applied science university

Hi,

I'm graduate student from University of Applied Science with bachelor degree of information technology. I'm very passion Java software developer. Unfortunately I don't have any commercial experience from the field but instead I have gained my experience by doing it as hobby and of course by studying software development at University.

I have bad situation in Finland, since I have been searching for a job for one year and when I get interview possibility the answer from there is always "Sorry we won't continue with you due to lack of commercial experience.". How in the world I can get any commercial experience when I don't get a chance to work in any software development company?

I have been working very hard last year to grow as professional software developer as I can and thus I have done my projects which, enhancing my skills, developing and designing own desktop and web applications.

I'm very tired of searching for a job here in Finland. I was thinking to start searching for a job in Canada.

My questions are follows:
1. How I should start my journey on searching for a job in Canada (my first steps)?
2. Should I apply first for Visa and then search for a job?
3. Is it difficult to find software development job from Canada?

I don't know yet any good Canadian job listing website, if somebody knows please let me know.

I appreciate any help regarding this issue. I really want to move on and start my career and I'm ready to immigrate to Canada permanently as long as I get the job from there.

Thank you

 

[Softdev00]

Hi...Are you originally from Finland? From your email I believe that you moved there trying to find a job?

I found that the best way to find a job in Canada in the tech field is to have a residency status (mainly a PR), then try to find a job. It's v. difficult to find an employer who's welling to support your LMO. I tried this way for couple of years & failed. BUT when I got my PR status I found a job in Canada in no time in the tech field, but remember that you have to have the right experience. This can be verified by checking the posted jobs and you can judge if you fit or not.

By the way.... I have graduated from applied science university

Hi Walmzd,

Thank you very much for your post. I'm not originally from Finland but I have been living here for most of my life and I have had citizenship long time ago. I went Finnish elementary school, high school and University of Applied Science.

Can you tell me what PR stands for? I'm sorry to ask that but I'm new to this forum and I don't know what those abbreviations comes from and what they mean. I have planned to travel to Canada for few weeks maybe in summer but it depends about the situation. I wanted to get known to Canada, its people, culture and learn about work and job situation there. I have heard that Canada is one of most peaceful countries in the world according to some statistics but I have always liked Canada, its nature, houses and for some reason I just like to live in English speaking country.

When I traveled back in 2009 to Australia I had so much great time and learned lots of new things. But I'm still looking forward to immigrate to Canada or to Australia. Economy here in Finland is not good at the moment.

 

[scylla]

PR = permanent residency

 

[itsmyid]

Well that would be good opportunity because I have planned to study Master Degree and if I want to do it abroad then I need to decide now. I will make some research about studies in Canada and how much it would cost. Thank you very much for help, I really appreciate it

It seems also that Universities have high requirements from students. Especially high grades and I don't have high grades, in fact my average grade is 3 out of 5 in my degree certificate, I don't think that would be enough .

high grades would definitely help, but it's not the end of the world if your grade is not that great, there are many schools here offering programs at different requirements. You don't need to get into a top school, all you need is the channel ( the school, internship, coop, open work permit, etc.), and doesn't matter which school you go to, as long as it's legit.

 

[Softdev00]

high grades would definitely help, but it's not the end of the world if your grade is not that great, there are many schools here offering programs at different requirements. You don't need to get into a top school, all you need is the channel ( the school, internship, coop, open work permit, etc.), and doesn't matter which school you go to, as long as it's legit.

Thanks, I will definitely do some research, my wish would be studying in Ontario or Ottawa.