How do I get a job offer from Canada? Im in the UK.

[danandlouisa]

Hi, can anyone advise?

I need a job offer to qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades entry.

This is the only thing really halting our application!

I am a fully qualified carpenter. It is hard in this field of work to get an employer to offer you the required 1 year of full time employment, wait an undisclosed period of time, and assist with the application!

If I was a Hydrogeologist (like a mate of mine) on $100k a year, they would wait (as they did for a very long time) for the visa to go through as it is niche, and you are a valuable and hard to find asset to the company. I'm afraid carpentry doesn't match up in that respect for a company to commit!

My question is, how do I go about securing a concrete job offer in this field? Craigslist Vancouver has many jobs listed, but most require people to start immediately or very soon etc etc. Where else could I go for a better choice of jobs for immigrants?

 

[danandlouisa]

Can anyone advise please?

 

[ashconnor]

Unlikely you will get a job offer without being in Canada.

Look at it from an employers point of view. They hire you and then...they wait. It takes months for a Federal Skilled Workers visa to approved and even then it might not be. I don't know many jobs in any industry that would sit around whilst this is going on.

However if you are from the UK and a British citizen and are under 35 then you qualify for the IEC workers holiday visa.

Get one of them, get over to Canada and get yourself a job. Once you've done this apply for the FSW visa from within the country.

 

[scylla]

However if you are from the UK and a British citizen and are under 35 then you qualify for the IEC workers holiday visa.

I believe the age limit for the UK is 30 (not 35).

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/united_kingdom-royaume_uni/experience_canada_experience/index.aspx

 

[ashconnor]

I believe the age limit for the UK is 30 (not 35).

You are correct. It appears to be 35 for other countries.

 

[danandlouisa]

Its almost a pointless system to expect a job lined up out of the country! Its a visa designed for people who already have a job opportunity, who then do a visa just as a formality really.

I am not in a big company where a boss says "is anyone interested in a post coming up in xxxxxxx?" Im a self employed guy starting from scratch.

This system does not encourage skilled trades to come at all, as a very difficult challenge is expected. Nearly everywhere, especially Vancouver is wanting lots more Carpenters due to the localised growth in construction etc. I'm ready to fill that gap, but it is being made almost impossible.

Its a shame.

 

[scylla]

This system does not encourage skilled trades to come at all, as a very difficult challenge is expected. Nearly everywhere, especially Vancouver is wanting lots more Carpenters due to the localised growth in construction etc. I'm ready to fill that gap, but it is being made almost impossible.

I don't know anything about the industry. However if there's such a shortage then it should be relatively easy for you to find an employer who will work with you to obtain a temporary work permit (the work permit can eventually lead to PR). First the employer will have to obtain an approved Labour Market Opinion and as part of this process prove that no Canadian could be found for the role (which should be relatively easy if there's a shortage). Once you have an approved LMO and a job offer, you can then fly to Canada and obtain a work permit at immigration. The LMO will take a couple of months, but if there's a true shortage, employers should be willing to go through this process and deal with the waiting times. If employers aren't willing to wait or go through the LMO process, then this will indicate that there really isn't a shortage of Canadian workers in this field (even if there looks like there is from the outside). I wouldn't bother looking for jobs in Toronto since construction here has slowed down (I thought the same was true of Vancouver but could very well be wrong since I don't live there).

 

[danandlouisa]

Hi ,

I am 31, so the option of a short term visa to get there first is not an option.

 

[scylla]

Hi ,

I am 31, so the option of a short term visa to get there first is not an option.

I don't understand why this isn't an option (unless you're chosing not to consider this options). If you're 31 - then yes, you're too old to qualify for a working holiday visa. However there is no age restriction for temporary work permits.

 

[Pippin]

If you are a UK citizen why not come for a visit and do some cold calls to job sites and try to get a job offer that way? You will still need a work permit before you can work. The employer must still prove they cannot find a PR or Canadian to fill the position and obtain an LMO, but having a face to face discussion might be helpful to you. The truly unfortunate people are the ones who require a temporary visa to enter Canada before they even START! Good luck.

 

[danandlouisa]

HI Scylla,

I wasn't clear, I apologize.

I understand I do not need a visa to go as a visitor from the UK.

If I arrive for a visit without a job, then apply for jobs and am offered one, what do I do then?

 

[Pippin]

See Scylla's reply no. 6

 

[scylla]

HI Scylla,

I wasn't clear, I apologize.

I understand I do not need a visa to go as a visitor from the UK.

If I arrive for a visit without a job, then apply for jobs and am offered one, what do I do then?

(1) Employer gets an approved LMO - LMO processing time is around 2 months. (2) You go to the border (Canada / US land boarder) and get a work permit.

The work permit step is very easy for you because you hold a visa exempt passport.

 

[danandlouisa]

Thank you so much. I apologize for needing it spelled out in plain English! I have found all this a bit overwhelming.

Kind regards,

Dan.