FSW's: If you can still afford it, don't get a survival job!

[clubcanada]

I quite agree with buliwyf - for people with a business/IT background and with management experience. In this case survival jobs are wasted time and just show a poor preparation - regardless where you are in Canada. If you do it right, you bring enough money to cover your first year that you don't need a survival job and you start setting up your network. During this time you concentrate to get into your field by shaping your CV, application tactics, maintain your relationship to potential recruiters, employers, etc. - This is more than a full-time job if you do it right!
As a recruiter I can understand if someone who just has come to Canada is unemployed and is still looking for a job or still getting settled. I would have a hard time to hire someone for an experienced office/management job who currently works as a burger flipper, though. It would make me suspicious why he's doing it. (No, to me it doesn't show willingness to work hard. It shows someone misjudged his immigration and underestimated the complexity or entire situation.). Frankly, I wouldn't even bring this up in my CV... - Again, this all refers to people who held management positions back in their home countries...

 

[on-hold]

I quite agree with buliwyf - for people with a business/IT background and with management experience. In this case survival jobs are wasted time and just show a poor preparation - regardless where you are in Canada. If you do it right, you bring enough money to cover your first year that you don't need a survival job and you start setting up your network. During this time you concentrate to get into your field by shaping your CV, application tactics, maintain your relationship to potential recruiters, employers, etc. - This is more than a full-time job if you do it right!
As a recruiter I can understand if someone who just has come to Canada is unemployed and is still looking for a job or still getting settled. I would have a hard time to hire someone for an experienced office/management job who currently works as a burger flipper, though. It would make me suspicious why he's doing it. (No, to me it doesn't show willingness to work hard. It shows someone misjudged his immigration and underestimated the complexity or entire situation.). Frankly, I wouldn't even bring this up in my CV... - Again, this all refers to people who held management positions back in their home countries...

I really don't like this post -- this idea that a competent and skilled individual will only look like one thing, and not another, and that there is no acceptable reason if they don't. It disparages honest work, it discounts the fact that plans will go wrong, and it assumes that everyone immigrates to Canada from a position of strength. At it's heart, it suggests that the poster is so insecure that they are afraid to evaluate a person by their education and skills, but by their suit and shoes. Each to their own, I guess.

 

[clubcanada]

I really don't like this post -- this idea that a competent and skilled individual will only look like one thing, and not another, and that there is no acceptable reason if they don't.

First of all, it's not about like or dislike my post - it's my opinion and also my experience! Also, it's not about HARD WORK it's about doing the RIGHT WORK. You will see that successful job hunting in a new country is a full-time job. When you immigrate, do it the smart way. My experience is that it pays out to focus on the application, networking and settlement instead of making $2.50 / hr at TH. But this strategy is not suitable for everybody and it depends on your background and attitude.

It disparages honest work, it discounts the fact that plans will go wrong

Ouch, as an employer I indeed would have a problem with plans going south - especially if he/she is in charge of plannings and budgets...
But the thing is not about doing a mistake, it's about dealing with the consequences. And for me clearly the focus should be on job hunting in a professional manner. See it as an investment that will pay out, when done right...

 

[on-hold]

First of all, it's not about like or dislike my post - it's my opinion and also my experience! Also, it's not about HARD WORK it's about doing the RIGHT WORK. You will see that successful job hunting in a new country is a full-time job. When you immigrate, do it the smart way. My experience is that it pays out to focus on the application, networking and settlement instead of making $2.50 / hr at TH. But this strategy is not suitable for everybody and it depends on your background and attitude.

Ouch, as an employer I indeed would have a problem with plans going south - especially if he/she is in charge of plannings and budgets...
But the thing is not about doing a mistake, it's about dealing with the consequences. And for me clearly the focus should be on job hunting in a professional manner. See it as an investment that will pay out, when done right...

I see -- so, the resume from an IT professional from Syria who arrives here with no money and no foot in the door goes in the trash? It's clearly his fault that his country fell apart and he had to escape with his family and a pressing need for money. He didn't do the RIGHT WORK or immigrate the 'smart way'.

You have a trait common to poor managers -- you look at results without considering inputs. Not everyone is arriving in Canada with the same foundation beneath them, and that can conceal great differences in aptitude and ability. You will not see the skilled people who don't look like your idea of skilled. Also, for some reason you confuse 'job hunting in a professional manner' with 'working' -- there's an excellent chance that many of the people you've hired have, in fact, been working at survival jobs, and simply disguised their resume proficiently. Everyone gets the work force they select for . . .

 

[mrbeachman]

As a recruiter

nuff said

 

[clubcanada]

I see -- so, the resume from an IT professional from Syria who arrives here with no money and no foot in the door goes in the trash? It's clearly his fault that his country fell apart and he had to escape with his family and a pressing need for money. He didn't do the RIGHT WORK or immigrate the 'smart way'.

Are we talking about immigrants on basis of skilled worker PR or refugees? I'm referring to the first group and this group is intended to bring enough funds to cover the first 12-18 months! Someone who arrives as a refugee is a complete different story and requires a complete different approach. Please don't mix up things here!
BTW: The possession of funds is as we all know a mandatory prerequisite as part of the application process. I have heard that there are some folks who have gotten their PR under false pretense as they never owned the funds (but borrowed the money for short term just to pull a bank statement)...

You have a trait common to poor managers -- you look at results without considering inputs.

This statement is quite polemic but the second part goes in the right direction: Welcome to capitalism!

Not everyone is arriving in Canada with the same foundation beneath them, and that can conceal great differences in aptitude and ability.

Absolutely correct. This is why I clearly stated that the advise given is suitable for a specific group of people.

You will not see the skilled people who don't look like your idea of skilled. Also, for some reason you confuse 'job hunting in a professional manner' with 'working' -- there's an excellent chance that many of the people you've hired have, in fact, been working at survival jobs, and simply disguised their resume proficiently. Everyone gets the work force they select for . . .

I'm not sure whether you get my point: Let me phrase it this way: Your day has 24 hours. Deduct 8-10 hours for sleeping, eating, regeneration, groceries, etc and the rest then for work/job hunting, settlement, etc. which will take between 12- 14 hours/day. If you're new to a country you will need a lot of time to make yourself familiar with your environment and to get 'the rules'. You simply don't have the time to do anything else than applying for a job, get settled and build up your relationships.

To cut it short: If you believe to make it through a survival job and it makes you happy - go for it. For me it would have been the wrong approach and I successfully landed a job in my field through focusing on job hunting. Taking a survival job would have been wasted time and money. But again, I'm talking about my background and once again, the approach is not suitable for everyone. I only can advise newcomers to not fool yourself and bring enough money to cover at least the first year, otherwise you might experience a very tough time during your first years!

 

[katerina74]

maybe cause i am new at the "find a job to Canada" procedure, i cannot understand something: when you are talking about survival jobs, do you mean that you moved to Canada as visitors, searched for a survival job - lets say waiter at a restaurant- waited for lmo and WP (which means 3-4 months unemployed) and then start working? and then start looking for a real job? I mean that actually someone has to have a lot of money to go to canada, and be there unemployed for 3-4 months... please explain this to me, cause really i think i miss something here...

 

[on-hold]

maybe cause i am new at the "find a job to Canada" procedure, i cannot understand something: when you are talking about survival jobs, do you mean that you moved to Canada as visitors, searched for a survival job - lets say waiter at a restaurant- waited for lmo and WP (which means 3-4 months unemployed) and then start working? and then start looking for a real job? I mean that actually someone has to have a lot of money to go to canada, and be there unemployed for 3-4 months... please explain this to me, cause really i think i miss something here...

The debate is whether a skilled immigrant, who has the right to work in Canada, should find a crummy job immediately (i.e. survival job) or instead devote themselves to looking for a professional job full-time. Some think the former, some think the latter, but it has nothing to do with technical immigration issues.

 

[buliwyf]

maybe cause i am new at the "find a job to Canada" procedure, i cannot understand something: when you are talking about survival jobs, do you mean that you moved to Canada as visitors, searched for a survival job - lets say waiter at a restaurant- waited for lmo and WP (which means 3-4 months unemployed) and then start working? and then start looking for a real job? I mean that actually someone has to have a lot of money to go to canada, and be there unemployed for 3-4 months... please explain this to me, cause really i think i miss something here...

We're talking about immigrants under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, which the Canadian government requires to bring a specific amount of money with them:

1 person = $11,115
1 person + 1 dependent = $13,837
1 person + 2 dependents = $17,011
1 person + 3 dependents = $20,654
and so on...

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/funds.asp

on-hold is correct, we are debating whether one should jump right in and earn $1,300/month right after landing, or devote time trying to find a higher paying job at the expense of earning 0 in the meantime

 

[emamabd]

on-hold is correct, we are debating whether one should jump right in and earn $1,300/month right after landing, or devote time trying to find a higher paying job at the expense of earning 0 in the meantime

I have been viewing the replies back and forth in this topic....its quite interesting,

In my opinion the answer would be : it depends on each person's financial situation -

- if one has "only" the minimum amount required by CIC - then that would hardly be enough to survive for 6 months without having a job...in that situation it would not make sense to dedicate more than 3 months for a professional job search - and look for a survival job after 3 months if you see nothing coming down the line.

- But if someone can afford 12 - 24 months living expenses without having a job - then it would surely make no sense for him to look for a survival job at first - he can dedicate a maximum of 12 months for a professional job search and can also do bridging courses/ volunteering/internship in the meantime. If after 12 months no successful result, then better get a survival job and continue the job search in parallel

This is only a highlevel plan, but in reality it has to be dynamic ofcourse....as a new immigrant with each day passing - you get more information, meet more people - those new "fresh" inputs can help you to plan better and modify your job search strategy..etc.

 

[NN74]

It depends upon case to case - if you can afford to survive without survival job then (in my opinion) you shouldn't go for it.

Simply because after the survival job you would n't find time to look for a job at all! I know at least 7 cases who are IT professionals and somehow upon (bad advise) got hooked up with Tim Horton and till now after 1 year, they are there, as not finding time to look for their field jobs!

I have been viewing the replies back and forth in this topic....its quite interesting,

In my opinion the answer would be : it depends on each person's financial situation -

- if one has "only" the minimum amount required by CIC - then that would hardly be enough to survive for 6 months without having a job...in that situation it would not make sense to dedicate more than 3 months for a professional job search - and look for a survival job after 3 months if you see nothing coming down the line.

- But if someone can afford 12 - 24 months living expenses without having a job - then it would surely make no sense for him to look for a survival job at first - he can dedicate a maximum of 12 months for a professional job search and can also do bridging courses/ volunteering/internship in the meantime. If after 12 months no successful result, then better get a survival job and continue the job search in parallel

This is only a highlevel plan, but in reality it has to be dynamic ofcourse....as a new immigrant with each day passing - you get more information, meet more people - those new "fresh" inputs can help you to plan better and modify your job search strategy..etc.

 

[mrbeachman]

I agree and disagree with op because every person is different. One thing is a fact, though. Jobs in Canada are hard to come by. Even survival jobs. I agree that "mass submission of a generic resume WILL NOT WORK". This is the best advice ever.

Here are some ideas....

If you are going to go by OP advice and spend a year looking for a job full time, you better invest this time and energy opening your own business. I can guarantee you that you will be better off in the long run as long as you have a decent plan which you should after spending a year researching the market.

Another option would be (this is what I did) to get a low paying, survival job in a small company and learn. Learn ins and outs of how company operates and copy the exact same thing and add your little flavour to the mix.

 

[clubcanada]

If you are going to go by OP advice and spend a year looking for a job full time, you better invest this time and energy opening your own business.

I guess no one is planning to send out applications for a year. It's more that it can take to this much time - sometimes even longer. Therefore, it's not about either applying for jobs or starting a business. In addition, apart from startup capital starting a business requires more than just time and energy and it's by far not suitable for everybody...

 

[mrbeachman]

I did not need any start up capital to open my own business. Like I said, get a job in small company and research ins and outs. I can't say what I do as it would be a competition for me.

I understand there may be need for some capital in which case Canada has a lot of programs including small business financing programs for start ups.

 

[NetMecca]

Personally I am not that big a fan of the survival job idea, though I think it very much depends on your personal situation, and whether or not you have the financial ability to keep yourself going. No doubt for most the usual initial period of landing in a country will prove stressful and challenging, both on a personal and financial level.

If you have a choice, I would go for gold, all the time. Search for the job you want, and go get it. Realise that the immigration programs were designed to bring people to Canada that are needed in Canada. As such I believe a job will be there if you are willing to do it.

When it comes to licensing for particular professions, this could be time consuming, but here is a thought. For most of these you are able to complete the prerequisites before landing (or get pretty close anyway). So while you are getting yourself set up, start pursuing those already (before you leave your home country). Speak to professional organizations and provincial authorities and find out if this is possible for you. This will significantly reduce the stress and financial burden after arrival.

The same applies for finding a job. If you have permanent residence, you have legal status to work, and so there is no reason why a Canadian employer cannot hire you. Even if you are not in Canada at the time.

I was able to find a suitable job, in two months (without status) over the phone. This made it possible for me to come and apply on PNP after I arrived. I realise this is not simple, but my success is proof that it could be done. (and I do not by any means have significant qualifications - no degrees either)

There may be some practical considerations, like interviews may be required (in person), but if you have legal status, this should not be a major problem.

It is a great place to live, and I am very happy in Canada (after more than 4 years here).

Good luck to you all.

Cheers