Is migrating to Canada good option for Software professional

[NitinGupta]

Hi All,

I am having 10 years of exp in software field and currently working as Software Manager. I am planning to start my process for Canada immigration(with my family) under Express entry(I have evaluated my profile on the cic site and i am eligible for Express entry program).

Before applying i want to understand following things:
1. Want is the current situation of Canadian software market
2. How easy to get a job from outside Canada post getting my Visa.
3. Which state is best for searching the software job.

I have gone through couple of posts available on the site but either they are very old one or i am not able to search the correct posts...

Thanks in advance.

 

[Baljas]

Hi All,

I am having 10 years of exp in software field and currently working as Software Manager. I am planning to start my process for Canada immigration(with my family) under Express entry(I have evaluated my profile on the cic site and i am eligible for Express entry program).

Before applying i want to understand following things:
1. Want is the current situation of Canadian software market
2. How easy to get a job from outside Canada post getting my Visa.
3. Which state is best for searching the software job.

I have gone through couple of posts available on the site but either they are very old one or i am not able to search the correct posts...

Thanks in advance.

hello. i am not in the software industry and i dont think so you can find someone relevant to the industry here, but you might . my personal experience i was travelling from London to Toronto and i met this guy who was travelling to Ottawa Canada sitting beside me in the plane and he was a software engineer. he told me IT in Canada is not bad if you get into a good software company but USA tops IT industry if compared to Canada . i also know couple software engineers here and they are doing fine . so its your wish if you want to move here and start a new life.
good luck

 

[Empirical]

Ask yourself if you have ever heard of any big, international Canadian Tech company.

Yes, there is an IT market here, and yes, you WILL find a job. In my home country there is a much more vibrant Tech scene that pays better.

Overall, as a software developer, you are highly unlikely to improve on your current financial situation by moving to Canada (I guess nominally you'll earn more money, but your purchasing power will be inferior compared to India (I suspect). There are many reasons to live in Canada (safety, clean air, scenery etc) but money is hardly ever one.

 

[number411]

Most Canadian citizens move to work in US because of the benefit offered to them by NAFTA, a TN visa: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/a-tn-visa-the-us-from-mexico-canada-who-qualifies.html

This benefits PRs in two ways. First, it opens up Canadian IT vacancies when citizen employees vacate their positions. Second, after 4 years, a PR can become a citizen and leverage the TN visa to work for a US employer directly. I believe there are plenty of opportunities for IT because of proximity to US, and this is a big advantage compared to Australia or NZ that don't have such big market like US nearby.

 

[scylla]

Most Canadian citizens move to work in US because of the benefit offered to them by NAFTA, a TN visa: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/a-tn-visa-the-us-from-mexico-canada-who-qualifies.html

Most Canadian citizens do not move to work in the US. Most remain in Canada. A very small minority move to the US.

 

[kensplanet]

I am a software professional, and I got a job 1 month after my landing.

1. Want is the current situation of Canadian software market
- It's pretty good. You will definitely get a call from a lot of consultancies as soon as you upload your profile on job portals. Though, you will have to settle for any designation initially.

2. How easy to get a job from outside Canada post getting my Visa.
- Even after getting a Visa, getting a job from outside is difficult. You have to be physically present in Canada for better chances. I find no reason why that's not possible.

3. Which state is best for searching the software job.
- I think Toronto and the GTA area will be the best in your case. Even Montreal is good, though I can't vouch for that. And after that, Vancuover.

 

[number411]

Most Canadian citizens move to work in US because of the benefit offered to them by NAFTA, a TN visa: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/a-tn-visa-the-us-from-mexico-canada-who-qualifies.html

This benefits PRs in two ways. First, it opens up Canadian IT vacancies when citizen employees vacate their positions. Second, after 4 years, a PR can become a citizen and leverage the TN visa to work for a US employer directly. I believe there are plenty of opportunities for IT because of proximity to US, and this is a big advantage compared to Australia or NZ that don't have such big market like US nearby.

Most Canadian citizens do not move to work in the US. Most remain in Canada. A very small minority move to the US.

Well, scylla, when you quote my sentence like that without context, it looks right. And of course, it is, if we look at it quantitatively and factually, independent of IT and other contexts. Most canadian citizens don't move to US, of course!

But what I meant was in comparison with countries like AU or NZ, that doesn't have a market like US beside it, and compared to our origin countries that don't have a visa like TN on offer to citizens, moving to the US in search of jobs is much easier for Canadian citizens who are in the IT industry and jobless and looking for prospects in US.

My source of this opinion is my ex-manager, who is a Canadian citizen by birth, caucasian and who moved to the US. I heard from him that of his cohorts from university, a majority of them who are ambitious and wanted better prospects in IT are in the US. You are a senior member of the forum who has better and richer sources than me, so please correct if I have a wrong opinion based on a single source.

 

[jamason]

Hi All,

I am having 10 years of exp in software field and currently working as Software Manager. I am planning to start my process for Canada immigration(with my family) under Express entry(I have evaluated my profile on the cic site and i am eligible for Express entry program).

Before applying i want to understand following things:
1. Want is the current situation of Canadian software market
2. How easy to get a job from outside Canada post getting my Visa.
3. Which state is best for searching the software job.

I have gone through couple of posts available on the site but either they are very old one or i am not able to search the correct posts...

Thanks in advance.

I am not sure if your question is related to getting a job offer prior to coming to Canada, then it is quite difficult. After landing, getting job as manager is difficult, but as software engineer it should be fine.

 

[scylla]

Well, scylla, when you quote my sentence like that without context, it looks right. And of course, it is, if we look at it quantitatively and factually, independent of IT and other contexts. Most canadian citizens don't move to US, of course!

But what I meant was in comparison with countries like AU or NZ, that doesn't have a market like US beside it, and compared to our origin countries that don't have a visa like TN on offer to citizens, moving to the US in search of jobs is much easier for Canadian citizens who are in the IT industry and jobless and looking for prospects in US.

My source of this opinion is my ex-manager, who is a Canadian citizen by birth, caucasian and who moved to the US. I heard from him that of his cohorts from university, a majority of them who are ambitious and wanted better prospects in IT are in the US. You are a senior member of the forum who has better and richer sources than me, so please correct if I have a wrong opinion based on a single source.

You made it sound like Canadian citizens are flooding across the borders and creating many vacancies for new immigrants. This massive flood simply isn't taking place. I was born in Canada, have more friends than I can name who are in IT (I've worked in IT myself) and can only think of one who relocated to the US.

 

[number411]

I was born in Canada, have more friends than I can name who are in IT (I've worked in IT myself) and can only think of one who relocated to the US.

This is both good to hear and not so good at the same time. Good maybe because it says there are sufficient good career prospects within Canada for IT guys so they don't have to jump across the border?

Not so good because how would new vacancies get created if people arent quitting more often? Canada isn't SFO or San Jose..

So what is your take on OPs question. I'm really eager to know what is the reality in your view?

 

[NitinGupta]

Thanks everyone to provide such detail information.
I have asked this question as Canadian gov has opened the entry for software professional after a long time (~5 yrs). and wanted to make conscious decision.

Empirical: do you have any idea of average salary of IT professional with 10 yrs of Exp (working as Manager or Lead developer)?

number411: i know it might be a good idea to search job in US post getting citizenship; but currently i am not considering that options (as i have to be in and work in Canada for 5-6 yrs).



Any other suggestions?

 

[number411]

Empirical: do you have any idea of average salary of IT professional with 10 yrs of Exp (working as Manager or Lead developer)?

number411: i know it might be a good idea to search job in US post getting citizenship; but currently i am not considering that options (as i have to be in and work in Canada for 5-6 yrs).



Any other suggestions?

You can check here, till someone replies with personal experience.

Software Engineer :https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/calgary-software-developer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM970_KO8,26.htm


IT Manager: https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/calgary-it-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM970_KO8,18.htm

 

[NitinGupta]

You can check here, till someone replies with personal experience.

Software Engineer :glassdoor.ca/Salaries/calgary-software-developer-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM970_KO8,26. htm


IT Manager: glassdoor.ca/Salaries/calgary-it-manager-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM970_KO8,18. htm

numbers given in the above links doesn't seems very promising. with these numbers i think i should stick with my current job

 

[kateg]

Hi All,

I am having 10 years of exp in software field and currently working as Software Manager. I am planning to start my process for Canada immigration(with my family) under Express entry(I have evaluated my profile on the cic site and i am eligible for Express entry program).

Before applying i want to understand following things:
1. Want is the current situation of Canadian software market
2. How easy to get a job from outside Canada post getting my Visa.
3. Which state is best for searching the software job.

I have gone through couple of posts available on the site but either they are very old one or i am not able to search the correct posts...

Thanks in advance.

The answer is "it depends". In Vancouver, software developers who are competent can get a job very quickly. It took me about 3 days. If your english is poor, and you don't have a bunch of code samples and work experience, it will be harder.

Finding a job outside Canada is very difficult. Coming to Canada and then looking is much easier.

BC and Ontario tend to be better for software jobs. If you want to get an idea of an area, use indeed.ca to search job postings.

 

[NitinGupta]

Thanks kateg for the information. I have been to VC (back in 2011) and seen the IT market there.
I am not worried about my skills but now getting concerned about the salary package i can get as per my exp.