Is it true that Employers in Alberta are more open to hiring IEPs?

[emamabd]

Hello All,

I'm interested to hear the opinion of immigrants who are living in Alberta, is it true that Employers in Alberta are more "open" to hiring Internationally Educated Professionals (i.e. compared to Ontario for instance)?.

I'm preparing for my second landing and i'm quite confused whether to fly to Toronto or move to Calgary/Edmonton....however my aim
is to get a professional job in IT/Telecom. Ontario seems to have many programs for helping newcomers, but on the other hand many
websites "claim" that Alberta recognizes foreign education and experience.

Looking forward to hear from your experiences

 

[WillLeaveOnceIGetPassport]

I do not have personal experience with Alberta but two of the friends of my colleague in Montreal moved to Alberta After struggling here and got jobs in their fields with no local education or contacts. Both are construction engineers from Cameroon. I doubt they became engineers though - I think they are working at technician level (which is better than frying hamburgers or cleaning floors, obviously).

The downside is that Alberta has ridiculously expensive accommodation and unpleasant weather

Hello All,

I'm interested to hear the opinion of immigrants who are living in Alberta, is it true that Employers in Alberta are more "open" to hiring Internationally Educated Professionals (i.e. compared to Ontario for instance)?.

I'm preparing for my second landing and i'm quite confused whether to fly to Toronto or move to Calgary/Edmonton....however my aim
is to get a professional job in IT/Telecom. Ontario seems to have many programs for helping newcomers, but on the other hand many
websites "claim" that Alberta recognizes foreign education and experience.

Looking forward to hear from your experiences

 

[emamabd]

I do not have personal experience with Alberta but two of the friends of my colleague in Montreal moved to Alberta After struggling here and got jobs in their fields with no local education or contacts. Both are construction engineers from Cameroon. I doubt they became engineers though - I think they are working at technician level (which is better than frying hamburgers or cleaning floors, obviously).

The downside is that Alberta has ridiculously expensive accommodation and unpleasant weather

Sounds interesting, obviously to be in a small position related to one's professional field is better than being totally disconnected.

Accommodation in alberta seems as expensive as Toronto, no difference in this regard, also many websites claim that wages are
higher in Alberta - and unemployment rates are lower than most other provinces.

With regards to weather ... that would be a secondary thing to worry about for a jobless new/or returning immigrant...i've
experienced winter in Toronto and its very tough there as well

Looking forward to hear more experiences about Alberta,

 

[WillLeaveOnceIGetPassport]

My senegalese ex colleague who moved from Montreal to Sasketchewan also found a job in own field - mech engineering, with foreign degrees. So far the only few cases from my experience where people managed to get professional jobs correspond to Sasketchewan and Alberta. It is obvious that as immigrants we have mostly two ways to get jobs 1) work in fields where white canadians do not want to work 2) work in provinces where white canadians do not want to work. Otherwise employing immigrants would make no economical sense, and I cannot be fooled here by western self-proclaimed illusions about free labour market and invisible market hand.

I am personally reluctant to move there. First, I am not enthusiastic about weather. It is +15 now in Montreal and everybody wearing summer jackets, while both sasketchewan and alberta are already in deep snow. Second, these provinces do not have such good public transportation system as Montreal - standing at -56C at a bus station in the middle of nowhere is not exciting. Finally, the cost of living is so high that almost all increment of wages will be consumed by rent and groceries - I am paying 540 cad for a one bed flat close to downtown Montreal, all bills included and recently renovated. In Alberta I will be paying 1500 CAD for a retired tiny studio which is not even enough to fit my two unpacked suitcases (which I do not unpack because I am prepared to return home at any time).

 

[emamabd]

My senegalese ex colleague who moved from Montreal to Sasketchewan also found a job in own field - mech engineering, with foreign degrees. So far the only few cases from my experience where people managed to get professional jobs correspond to Sasketchewan and Alberta. It is obvious that as immigrants we have mostly two ways to get jobs 1) work in fields where white canadians do not want to work 2) work in provinces where white canadians do not want to work. Otherwise employing immigrants would make no economical sense,

I guess it would be fine to move there for a year or 2 for the purpose of getting Canadian experience and then later move to a better province - if its true that they are open to hiring IEPs.

 

[WillLeaveOnceIGetPassport]

True, however Canada is very province specific. Meaning if you have experience in Alberta, at Quebec interviews you will nevertheless inevitably hear questions "avez-vous une experience Quebecoise"? This is especially true for professions with legal content, e.g. Accounting (different taxation in different provinces)

I guess it would be fine to move there for a year or 2 for the purpose of getting Canadian experience and then later move to a better province - if its true that they are open to hiring IEPs.