My expriences so far ... first two days in Toronto!!!

[CharlotteJ]

hahahahaha ;D you are funny. If I start a business, my rule number one will be: ONLY the CEO hires and fires, She is the only one in charge of hiring staff and will be reviewing all résumés personally.

No kidding! I will be the only one to do this and I want to interview the staff personally with an HR employeer or the recruiter next to me in the room and NO behavioral event interviewing because that is just 'fake". I want to get to know the new employee and for him/her to see the face behind the brand etc.

But that is a dream ... anyway ...

I had my first day at work today, as a temp, in a big skyscraper, downtown, among thousands of other people and at work on a busy department of a VERY famous Canadian company and I thought I was going to receive training for a full day, but hey, no, after 3 hours, the administrative assistant told me: now I am going home, cause I am flying to Florida for my holiday! = it is a temp job for just a week, no longer, but at least I can add the experience to my résumé and show the future employers that I have administrative experience and so no body can blame me of not having enough Canadian experience.

It was so odd to get used to the new office rules and work place culture and all and believe me, there is one and one should know that, learn that, get used to that and being an European, means: don't be too kind and don't spoil anybody and don't expect anybody to be kind to you although I admit that all employees, like 60 of them on our floor are all kind to me and even those I thought they are weird or won't like to talk, are fun and friendly but you need to break the ice first yourself! I work as receptionist, so I see all of them.

Also the cubicals, I need to get used to them. In NL we don't have them, so it is not that common and looks weird to sit in a cubical and work without facing anybody else, but it does offer privacy and one can focus much more on her / his work. So I like them after all.

I had one hour of lunch break but I couldn't use it and eat lunch or drink tea/coffee, as I had to rush me to a job interview a block farther west of our office and I had a wonderfully positive interview there too, but what a difference in culture at work, from a big company with thousands of employee's, to a small company inside another skyscraper, but a very prestigious one, where suddenly the women were wearing trendy fashionable clothing, with über modern furniture, colors and music and a pretty receptionist with a lovely big wide smile who immediately recognized me when stepping out of the elevator and said "hi Charlotte". ;D Gosh I like that ... so I hope they will hire me so I can sit there and do the same because I am like that myself and I will even stand up and open the door for the guest knowing myself to welcome them inside.

...

While at work, I received another phone call, offering me a job at a Call Center where I have to be able to speak Dutch. It was funny that the recruiter was trying to really examine if I am capable of speaking Dutch, while she is looking at my résumé so I thought you know what, I better speak Dutch to her and see if she understands me and no, off course not, but she was "convinced" that I am Dutch. lol ;D

So another appointment is set and made and I will be there in a few days to see if I can get that one job which pays very well, 20$ an hour in fact.

...

Oh btw... let's go to another topic of mine. BF and I went to this IT recruitment agency and they were telling him that he has to set up his résumé asap according to their standards and gave him a lot of ideas and helped him during the conversation to understand how to do it etc and told him that they have plenty of job opportunities for him anywhere in and around GTA but also Nationwide and so he is asked to fix up his r'é and forward it to the recruiter agent by Sunday. BF was upset and thought he was going to be talking about a job but not about his r'é, but I told him that off course they first check that but I myself think that if they didn't want to invest in him, knowing the lay-out of his resume really sucks right now and is oh so Dutch, lacking objectives, achievements, summary of tasks etc, why would have they invited him in the first place? Such agencies only invite you for an interview and take time to speak to you in that way, only if they know what they are doing and why? because they have job assignments.

They told him that his first job assignments will be offering him between 50K to 65K a year and after a year upgrading his skills if he does so and is willing to do so and improving his language skills and off course, the rule number one, having acquired Canadian job expertise, then he can reckon on 100K and up a year which is nice, because I can lean back and enjoy life a bit, while I am studying and working part time.

...

OH btw, to all of you, this very first real job assignment I got, is via ManPower! I met with them and I met with this lovely great French recruiter who works for them and she really took time like the French or Dutch do to speak with me, get to know me and discuss my abilities and availibilities and all with me and so I am now working on a temp job for her and am sure, once I have thorough and done with this assignment, they will have many more pouring in and help me to get a new job assignment. At least I hope so.

...

Anyway ... I am tired, I had an extremely busy week this week, having my bf and doggy coming over on Monday, doggy that is kind of acting weird as he suffers jetlag and doesn't like this condo that is small and dark and cold, but he immediately got used to wearing shoes. I put him his new shoes on and he refused to walk, so I used a magic word that scares him to death and makes him run around like crazy " Vaccum cleaner" so he started to run around the small condo and yep, got used to them! easyyyyy

Then on Tuesday and Wednesday I had my interviews onging, BF had an interview, meeting up with friends and all that and also finishing a few more online assessments for Adecco, ManPower, Kellyservices with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook and just imagine the lack of sleep and all and I am just looking like a worn out woman. and tomorrow back to the college for a second day of all day event lessons and all to obtain my leadership and communication certificate.

...

So, I wish you all a very happy weekend and may you enjoy it and for me, sleep, food and peace on my mind.

And whenever you do hesitate, pray like I do. I use these magical words:

Dear God, our devine creator, please walk through my house and take away all my worries and illness. And please watch over my family and friends and take way the illness. Thank you God. AMEN!

Happy Chinese New Year to all of you, my year of Rabbit started with 6 job offers, 3 new job interviews and a new temp job assignment and the encounter with a wonderful French woman who gave me the job so I have the foot in the door and go from there.

God Bless YOU ALL

 

[CharlotteJ]

A bit of an update from here again

I am working as a temp for the Bank of Nova Scotia and although my assignment will be short lived, yet I am learning a lot and I should admit that they have a very positive friendly respectful attitude and approach towards new immigrants like me and I like it to be there and surely very proud of being part of their family, even though it is for a very short and limited time.

It is funny though ... I always loved their building, their headquarters and the whole Plaza is, was and will be in my eyes the most beautiful one of all downtown. Today, at lunch, I went downstairs and was walking among the hundreds of people in the food courts and also in the aula's and when I looked up, it was just simply " breathtakingly" beautiful. This majestic skyscraper with its shiny bright redish colour, was smiling at me!

Yes, no joke, the ragged and tapered architecture, looks as if it is smiling when you look up.

I had issues with CIBC, al I admit they are a good bank too, but it was really like I have said earlier, the Scotiabank that immediately accepted me and helped me to START RIGHT!

And obviously, not only their "StartRight" package was what I needed to start building a healthy credit history in Canada that also offers me the many fantastic opportunities to buy a car or a home if I want to in near future, using their help and being a new immigrant, but also to now have and experience my very first administrative job in Canada that will not be forgotten or simply ignored by future employers and yes, then agian, now I know why.

The employee's are easy-going, professionals but in a fun way and allow one to be who he or she is and do what he or she can do the best.

In the meantime, I am starting to receive more phone calls and Emails from prospectus employers and hopefully, someday sooner or later I will land a good job.

.

I had a job interview with an American law firm downtown, but although I did have a very positive feeling about it, yet again, I don't know why they did reject my candidacy!? :-[ I called them and asked for a reason, but they didn't give me a clear answer. So I was a bit upset and still am as I kind of have the feeling why but hey, perhaps it was not supposed to be mine. Right?

It is their loss .. not mine. ;D

That I ended up working as a temp for Scotiabank is also quite bizzar given the fact that I was not the candidate that recruitment agency has introduced to them, but apparently, neither I nor the supervisor knew that the first candidate didn't show up or was commited enough to a short term assignment and so the recruitment agency asked me if I would want to go there and I said yes and call it destiny, fate or simply a bit of luck, I am now there and can at least acquire a bit of that most wanted and most desired and hopelessly urgently needed Canadian job experience in a field in which I am the best and let's hope it will work out in my favor too sooner or later.

I had applied for a job at BMO but they did't proceed with me, also RBC didn't and well, at least I am now proud to be working for the best one and the only one that is worth "tons and tons of precious Gold" and yes, if I had gold and had to trust it into the hands of any bank in Canada, you bet I will do that with them, because they at least didn't send me back home and accepted me and let me do my work and be there.

I can only Thank them and am glad that I did choose for their StartRight package that is especially designed for new immigrants like me and that if a new employer checks me on my credit history or else, will see that I am all clear and have a good record or else I wouldn't be able to be there at all. Right?

...

My hubby is now also looking for a job. He is receiving a few options offered by recruiters but believe me, it is tiring me out. I am not only focused on my own life, but since he is an IT prof. and most IT profs like him do not pay attention to the very small details as the font of a letter, the capital letters or end notes etc, I have to always double check all his steps and gosh, it drives me crazy!

It took me all Sunday to fix up his résumé accordingly and so it is clear for an employer or recruiter what he has been doing aside of all the codes or terminology in his expertise! Yep, I better put it on my résumé: "Personal Assistant and Secretary to my husband since 2000"!

But so far so good ... I found him, YES I FOUND HIM, a Call Center job which actually was meant to be mine, as I am bi-lingual, but having the temp assignment with Scotiabank, I couldn't start this week, so I asked if he could replace me (the CC needs people who speak Dutch!), so he is now working a few hours in the week and make a bit of money. Not much, but at least we can pay his bread and peanut butter!

The company wants me to help them with the job, but it is located in a far far far away land north of Markham and I have to be working there in the midnight, due to time zone difference between Europe and North America! I got no car, so I had to say no.

But guess what, I don't like flying, but find a job as Flight Attendant! ... can you believe that?????? : how come?? Ah well ... I had to reject that. I rather take a boat instead of an airplane. So, don't think I am going to smile and be happy during any flight!

Anyway ... all is well and I keep going on, keep trying, don't give up and stay positive.

At least I have tried.

Hubby was shocked tonight once he returned from the supermarket. He was complaining that the prices are so high here and yes, I had told him that a pack of Milk is much more expensive here than in NL, also one pays double for bread than in NL, but on the other hand at least you don't pay 42% of your monthly income on taxes and can keep more than 2/3rd of it to yourself in Canada, so no wonder why all food is more expensive here, because you can keep more of your income after tax to yourself.

Anyway ...

That was my update .... and I still have not found a house doctor!

So difficult to find one here in downtown. Do I have to network for one too? like for a job? :-X :-\ :'(

 

[jckdry]

Look at how ridiculous price we pay in Canada compared to US (I'm comparing to Ohio price with canada, sales tax is 5.5%)

1) 3 toppings large pizza in pizza hut: $10+tax in US and $20.69 + tax in Ontario
2) beer and wine: half price in US
3) subway sandwich: currently $5 for a foot long (promotion for the month of Feb) in US, $8.99 + tax in Canada
4) hockey skates, gloves and sticks (some of them are made in Canada), way cheaper in US when on clearance
5) cell phone service (no roaming charge in US), 35 cents/min long distance charge once you're a hour drive away from your home
6) internet usage, no cap in US for usage while in Canada, Rogers will charge extra after 60G/month, $ or 2 per GB
7) electronic, building materials, power tools and cars are generally 30-50% lower in US

the list goes on and on. Every time I'm in US , I load up my luggage. I'm sick and tired of Canadian government and retailers ripping me off.

 

[CharlotteJ]

true, Canada is more expensive than US and it is not US.

The offset market in US is WAY bigger than the offset market in Canada, that is why the prices are fairly cheaper in USA than here and why living standards are higher there, like in Europe, but at least cheaper than Europe because then again, the offset market in Europe is something between Canada and USA.

If you want to make any long distance calls, buy a so called " CiCi" card at the closest Post Office. You pay like 20$ for a CiCi card and you can receive up to 900minutes and regardless of what kind of wireless contract you have, you can easily save up on your phone costs. Try it, it is a good deal.

If you want to buy a car or anything as such, try to network too and that being said, I for example was talking to a man from Pakistan the other day and he appeared to have lots of good friends who run dealerships and can come up with a fair price for a good used car.

Why? they have to compete with larger bigger dealers in the hands of as they call it " Whites" and they too are all immigrants and need to root in and so that way, they want to keep you as a loyal customer and offer you therefore better prices and besides, when it comes to recyling, people in many so called third world countires know how valuable things as such are and most people in such countries know how to fix things, build things and don't waste time and energy on something they can't buy after all brand new.

That means if you buy a used car from one as such, at least you know the car is really looked at well and maintained well too.

Not that so called " White" dealers aren't good, sure they are, but if you want to find a good and inexpensive deal, try such options too.

Anyway ...

Yes, food is very expensive here ... and no wonder, it was mentioned in the newspapers today, in the Globe and Mail today, that Canada has lost its reputation as a food producing nation. So, no wonder why food is so expensive here.

 

[CBI]

Hi Charlottej,

FYI

http://www.peelhaltonjobfair.ca/index.html

 

[CharlotteJ]

Thank you CBI ... very good information to share with everybody.

I have a good news!

I got a JOB! yeahhhhhh I real ONE! ... am going to sign the contract on Monday and as I am going to do so, Home Depot is still very interested in me and has invited me for the second interview as well as ManPower which is my current employer and I am oh so thankful for the job assignment they gave me at Scotiabank (The workplace culture there is truly the best. I was telling them that while working as seasonal at The Bay store and each time I saw customers paying or using their Scotia bank cards, I made a comment about how grateful I am to their excellent service, the personal touch, the fact they immediately offered me a good credit card and many more options and above all, the fact then you also get a so called Scene card, that allows you to earn points upon each purchase you make with your credit card and 1 point for each $5 your spend using your Scotia Debit Card, which you can redeem for movies, CD's, DVD's and also free tickets to movies etc and they loved it. They really appreciated the fact I have been so happy with their bank and such a loyal customer and yep, why not!

One of the employee's there called me the best ambassador he has seen for a long time and most of them are sure I someday will end up working for them, but I don't know myself as it is so difficult to get a job in the banking business if you don't have the right degree's, diploma's and study! I might only end up working there as administrative assistant which isn't bad either.

I have learned a lot during a 1,5 job assignment at the office and am more confident now and feel less being a stranger or an Alien in this city and yes, once they see you are highly qualified and commited, they do take you serious too and off course, everybody works hard here in this country and if not so, they end up on the streets!

So, what I did to celebrate my "achievement" and having found a job, was to immediately treat my hubby and I to a movie redeeming some of thousands of points I had gained in the past few months on my Scene card and we enjoyed a lovely movie and pop corn and all. Other banks should really learn from Scotia!

Oh ManPower has another assignment for me, a one year contract job at a large company and as administrative assistant, but I got a job in a luxuary hotel!

So, hopefully, soon when hubby finds a job, we can move out and find us a larger place to live closer to my work so I can avoid the busy subway during rush hours.

HE had his first job interview yesterday and he did really screw it up. He was told to write down the solutions to questions he was asked as an Oracle DBA specialist and he didn't know they will give him a piece of paper and a pen to do so! and So, he didn't do a good job and was rejected while he knew all the answers, most IT people like him do suffer a certain level of Authism and they can only sit in front of a computer and focus on one thing at a time and in such situation, they totally lose control and lose focus and I am now so afraid that he can't find a job at all here in Canada due to the fact he is so used to the system in the Netherlands and all his life been spoiled like a baby!

So, I found him a job at a Call Center so he can start practicing and improving his language skills and speaking up! ... communication is really important here and the Dutch mostly do not speak at all at work and if they do, it won't be about work, but gossip mainly and all happens electronically through email with regards to work and now he is facing the difficulty of a country when people of all colour, race, culture and all are together and need to communicate with thoroughly and that is something he doesn't. It takes me such effort to at times hear what he has done or said or what actions he has taken to finish a job or anything because he simply doesn't tell me anything. So frustrating, so yep, Canada is a good place for him to grow up!

But I did send the company a letter and described the situation and now they are going to give him a second chance.

Who knows!

Anyway ...

I got a job! ... it won't be my last one, but sure in the hospitality industry where I feel right at home and where I can grow and develop my skills and go far! which means: I achieved another goal: ... changing direction!



I wish you all luck and sure I will keep updating you from time to time. My journey is just started! ;D

 

[caribgrl55]

Super congratulations Charlotte!! I knew something would come up sometime! I'm glad you had the patience, even in your lowest time when you were losing hope. I'm really happy for you. I definitely would like to see where you go in the future.

 

[BCguy]

Look at how ridiculous price we pay in Canada compared to US (I'm comparing to Ohio price with canada, sales tax is 5.5%)

1) 3 toppings large pizza in pizza hut: $10+tax in US and $20.69 + tax in Ontario
2) beer and wine: half price in US
3) subway sandwich: currently $5 for a foot long (promotion for the month of Feb) in US, $8.99 + tax in Canada
4) hockey skates, gloves and sticks (some of them are made in Canada), way cheaper in US when on clearance
5) cell phone service (no roaming charge in US), 35 cents/min long distance charge once you're a hour drive away from your home
6) internet usage, no cap in US for usage while in Canada, Rogers will charge extra after 60G/month, $ or 2 per GB
7) electronic, building materials, power tools and cars are generally 30-50% lower in US

the list goes on and on. Every time I'm in US , I load up my luggage. I'm sick and tired of Canadian government and retailers ripping me off.

How about when you get hospitalized in America???Please compare

 

[CharlotteJ]

Thank you Caribgirl .. I am glad too and gosh, it was such an exhale!

Now I have to find me a house doctor! Still got none.

 

[cono_sur]

Now I have to find me a house doctor! Still got none.

House doctor?

This might help you find a family doctor: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/ms/healthcareconnect/public/default.aspx

 

[mot]

Congrats CharlotteJ. Your path will continue to shine brighter and brighter. All the best in your new job.

 

[ultimate_mr_universe]

Wonderful Charlotte! Wishing you many success in your new journey....I am sure this would definitely change your overall perspective towards Canadian job market.The saying "better to be late than never" perfectly fits in your case and I am glad that you have actually done it and eventually given me hope to start my journey one day.

 

[VisaApprovalSent]

Hi CharlotteJ,

So absorbing to read about your ups and downs in a new country, atleast one of you has a job now...and I'm sure your experiences will help your hubby in getting one too.Btw ,could you tell me the name of the IT recruiter /firm where he appeared for the Oracle DBA test. Many Thanks

 

[CarlyB]

Congratulations Charlotte!!!!! I am so happy to hear that you have got a job!!!! Your journey continues to inspire me....and has the very worthwile message that it won't happen overnight...but it will happen!!!!! Anyway I am glad your bf and your doggie are here to celebrate with you So congratulations once again!!!

 

[CharlotteJ]

Thank you so much all ... I am glad too, I actually am rejecting other job offers now and sending the emails with "thank you" note, but honestly, after having worked at Scotiabank and having seen the friendly and fun culture there and the people and above all, the most beautiful gift I was given today to go to the 64th floor and marvel at the amazing views from these floor to ceiling windows, I now only want to work for Scotiabank.

They are the best! Totally ...