Hi,
I had a completely different experience. Never went through any conventional prescribed methods. Let me introduce myself as an accountant from Kerala having experience only in medium sized enterprises. I have only average communication skills in English. Even my initial application I did not take any help from any agency and did all the submission on my own. I was actually not serious of coming and hence took all the process very lightly. I applied in 2010 June and did not hear any thing from the consulate till 2013 Sept. Actually I had no hope of getting the visa. But to my surprise I received my medicals in Sept 2013 and i left India for Toronto on December 19th.
I had received thousands of advices in India of how to face challenges in Canada. I was asked to change my Resume to a two page resume from the 4 pages I had, was asked to network as much as possible, attend job fairs, take up survival jobs so that my finances do not leak, get license as a security guard etc, have an affordable accommodation etc etc etc.. The list is endless. Too many advises for my liking.
Now i did not come with a huge reservoir of financial reserves with me, but bought the prescribed funds as was required. I had a simple logic, this fund that i bought is for me to live and spend in Canada till I find a job. Now i am having a 5 member family including me and three kids. I came alone in December and planned to bring my wife and kids in April. I took one of the best condo apartments in Mississauga, near square one. Since I did not have a credit history I had to pay 3 months rent as deposit which was to be adjusted for the last 3 months in 2014 and 1 month for December and that itself was 8000$. I had no issues although 8000$ from the 23625 i bought were spent. Then spent more for the furnishing of the apartment. The apartment is great with lots of facilities and worth the money paid. Due to the comforts available i was not at all home sick.
Now i started applying for the jobs with my 4 page resume which people said is not Canadian standards. I had no network or friends here. But one thing I had was GODs grace and blessings. Within the first month i got my first interview and got selected in my profession as a bookkeeper. The job location was far from my home and i had to travel 2 hours to Markham in the winter to reach there. It was a small jewellery company and the boss was an Indian with the typical Indian behavior. He made me work till 9 pm and even called me on Saturdays or Sundays. It was a perm job with monthly salary. January end, got my first paycheck in Canada and tendered my first resignation here. I decided that I will not again work in an Indian running the show. February 2014 I had a great time resting at home and doing nothing. In the night time I sent a few applications. Again by Grace of God, within 23 days of my leaving the first job, I got my second interview. This time also in my profession and one of the best Canadian Companies. I got the job and joined from March 2nd and till date I am working here in Weston Foods Inc. The job is great. The environment is superb. Every one is friendly and I just luv working here now. Every body is appreciative and encouraging. I am working in the branch office in Central Accounting Department at Etobicoke and it is just a 20 minutes drive from my home in traffic.
Let me be very precise in saying that I am just an average accountant(with no professional designations) from a small town in Kerala and yes there are many people I have met here who are professionally qualified and still stuck up in survival jobs. I consider myself to be blessed and very lucky t o be in such a position here today. I practically did not have any struggle. My family came in April. Kids joined school. Every thing is going smooth for the time being.
What I meant to say from my small story is that this Local Canadian experience is all bull*censored word*. Yes you have to be good in interviews. And you should of course know how to convey your messages in plain simple English. For my interview for the post of accounting, I was given many scenarios in which they wanted to know how i would react to that situation. Most of the questions asked were behavioural and few from my discipline. I just performed well. But let me again vouch for the fact that I did not give any heed to those innumerable advises i was given from friends, families and other Indians whom i met here. I just did the basics right. You might have to apply for 100 jobs a week to get a single call. But make that single call count by performing to your maximum ability. Be tension free. Don't jump into survival jobs if you have the required funds to survive in this country for at least a year. Put all your efforts in getting into your profession first. The economy is booming and there are a lot of jobs available. Once you are in the system the next job hunting is very easy. Now a days I receive call from other companies most of the weeks. However I prefer to give my 100% to the company which gave me such a fine break.
