Is It A Good Idea To Stay In Your Home Country While Applying For Canadian Jobs (PGWP)?

[TacticalPolarBird]

I'm facing a dillema right now. I have a work permit however I do not have a NOC 0, A or B job. I have a blue collar job though but I don't think it qualifies for PR.

I'm wondering if I should go to my home country and apply for jobs in Canada from over there? Is that a good idea? Has anyone else in this forum done that? How did it go? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Some people have told me its not a good idea to leave Canada because when you apply for jobs, companies will prefer candidates who are physically present in Canada. Is this true?

I know for a lot of in-person roles, there will be an in-person interview involved. But do they make exceptions for candidates who are outside?

I feel like I'm wasting time here. I should be dedicating all my time to job hunting and working on my portfolio instead of spending time working a blue collar job.

 

[Taran D]

I'm facing a dillema right now. I have a work permit however I do not have a NOC 0, A or B job. I have a blue collar job though but I don't think it qualifies for PR.

I'm wondering if I should go to my home country and apply for jobs in Canada from over there? Is that a good idea? Has anyone else in this forum done that? How did it go? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Some people have told me its not a good idea to leave Canada because when you apply for jobs, companies will prefer candidates who are physically present in Canada. Is this true?

I know for a lot of in-person roles, there will be an in-person interview involved. But do they make exceptions for candidates who are outside?

I feel like I'm wasting time here. I should be dedicating all my time to job hunting and working on my portfolio instead of spending time working a blue collar job.

Yes its true. This is lot time consuming method so companies prefer a employee who can start at the earliest. The work can't wait nor can employers. Take for instance being you giving an interview in the office of the employer with the benefit of having a status, being in the country and ready to start the job and the other candidate overseas and the visa process will take a while, who will employer prefer? They won't keep the job vacant or bussiness, would they.
So its best to job hunt while in Canada.

 

[moscatojuices]

I'd throw your resume in the bin if I didn't see a Canadian address on it, or automatically disqualify you if you told me you were a Canadian PR/work permit holder and living overseas. The only exceptions to this would be very high demand, high-skilled jobs like doctors, nurses, engineers etc.

 

[scylla]

Agree with the other posts. Far better if you are physically in Canada.

 

[TacticalPolarBird]

Yes its true. This is lot time consuming method so companies prefer a employee who can start at the earliest. The work can't wait nor can employers. Take for instance being you giving an interview in the office of the employer with the benefit of having a status, being in the country and ready to start the job and the other candidate overseas and the visa process will take a while, who will employer prefer? They won't keep the job vacant or bussiness, would they.
So its best to job hunt while in Canada.

But I have a TRV so I can immediately fly in. Couldn't I tell the employer that? If they select me, I can come within 2 or 3 days.

 

[TacticalPolarBird]

or automatically disqualify you if you told me you were a Canadian PR/work permit holder and living overseas.

But what difference does it make if the candidate is able to fly to Canada within 2 or 3 days? Most jobs start at least a 1 week after the offer is given right?

 

[YVR123]

Can you stay in Canada and not work full time? Assign some block of time each week for job search and preparation?
You didn't mention why you think you can stop working if you leave Canada vs working blue collar jobs inside Canada.

 

[moscatojuices]

But what difference does it make if the candidate is able to fly to Canada within 2 or 3 days? Most jobs start at least a 1 week after the offer is given right?

I don't think you understand this from my point of view. What guarantee do I have that you will actually fly in 1 week? And then you'll need time off to find your accommodation etc, which would become my problem as well. I am personally very picky with candidates too, so I would find it very strange why you're living overseas (sounds a little desperate tbh) when you have a work visa. If you're a Canadian PR or work permit holder, isn't it in your best interest to live here??????

No thanks, you wouldn't be worth my time in a situation where I get many good quality applicants. I don't need the headache of someone living overseas and to base busienss decisions on promises. Again, the exception would be where I have no choice - high demand fields with very few applicants.

Your best option is to quit or lower hours in your current job so you can reinvest it in finding a job you want, subject to your finances.

 

[scylla]

But what difference does it make if the candidate is able to fly to Canada within 2 or 3 days? Most jobs start at least a 1 week after the offer is given right?

How will you handle in person interviews? Last minute plane tickets are extremely expensive.

You asked if being outside of Canada will put you at a disadvantage. It will. It would be better to be in Canada.

Ultimately your choice what you do.

 

[Taran D]

But I have a TRV so I can immediately fly in. Couldn't I tell the employer that? If they select me, I can come within 2 or 3 days.

How about the days you take off finding your accommodation? What is the possibility that you get the tickets in the time limit given? Did you expect to get TRV in a short period of time with the strike going on?
Honestly saying I don't think the employers even look at the emails once they see an overseas address even though you promise to be back. I suspect they hardly look at the emails.

 

[TacticalPolarBird]

Can you stay in Canada and not work full time? Assign some block of time each week for job search and preparation?
You didn't mention why you think you can stop working if you leave Canada vs working blue collar jobs inside Canada.

In my home country, I can save money by staying with family. But over here, I have to earn for rent and expenses. I'm not sure if I can decide how many hours to work, its my boss who ultimately decides.

 

[TacticalPolarBird]

I don't think you understand this from my point of view. What guarantee do I have that you will actually fly in 1 week? And then you'll need time off to find your accommodation etc, which would become my problem as well. I am personally very picky with candidates too, so I would find it very strange why you're living overseas (sounds a little desperate tbh) when you have a work visa. If you're a Canadian PR or work permit holder, isn't it in your best interest to live here??????

No thanks, you wouldn't be worth my time in a situation where I get many good quality applicants. I don't need the headache of someone living overseas and to base busienss decisions on promises. Again, the exception would be where I have no choice - high demand fields with very few applicants.

Your best option is to quit or lower hours in your current job so you can reinvest it in finding a job you want, subject to your finances.

Well the thing is, I don't have work experience or an extensive portfolio. I'm hoping to get into software engineering or web development. The way I see it is I have a limited time frame to find a job. So I should use that time to apply to jobs and build a portfolio (because those are the only 2 things which I can see helping me finding a job).

If I had PR, then that time pressure would not be there.

 

[TacticalPolarBird]

How will you handle in person interviews? Last minute plane tickets are extremely expensive.

In cases like this, don't most companies do a virtual interview?

 

[scylla]

In cases like this, don't most companies do a virtual interview?

Many companies have returned to in-office or hybrid models and are no longer fully WFH. Some may be willing to allow a virtual interview but others won't.

My team is doing in-person interviews again for Canadian roles (this started last year). If someone is outside of Canada, I would tell them to let me know once they are back in Canada. If the position is still open once they are back in Canada and we haven't hired anyone else, we will interview them then.

Long story short, you may lose out on opportunities if you tell people you're not available for in-person interviews.

Once again, you'll be best positioned to secure a role if you are physically in Canada. But again, entirely your call what you do.

 

[YVR123]

In my home country, I can save money by staying with family. But over here, I have to earn for rent and expenses. I'm not sure if I can decide how many hours to work, its my boss who ultimately decides.

It's your decision then.

If working that blue collar job that doesn't allow you to take time off is the only way you can afford to stay in Canada, then is working here your goal? If getting PR is your goal, then doing what you are doing now is not working towards that goal.

If going home will allow you to find a related job in Canada, go do it.
BUT you have heard from all of us, your chance of getting an interview is lower if you are remote and only have a tempoary work permit. (hopefully, it's a 3 years permit) If there are a lot of people available for the job, the local ones always get picked first.

Ideally, you get a more casual job that will help to pay your expense in Canada and allocate time to do your job search.

Also you need to account into the cost of air tickets both ways. Anyway, good luck.