hiamu said:
Hi Sahej Kapoor,
You've mentioned that you've landed in June 09, Would you be kind enough to share your experience so far? Which city have you chosen? About me a dentist by profession, working as a corporate trainer.
Looking forward for your interaction,
Cheers,
Hiamu
Hi Hiamu,
I first came to Canada in 2004 as an International student and then completed my studies and went back to India to live there for a year. In the meantime I applied for the PR status and I was lucky enought to get it in a year and I landed as immigrant in september 2007.
My opinion about Canada is mixed. As a student life is all good and merry. You are not actually taking any responsibility except for studies, but as soon as you are in the job market you are hit with the bomb.
Right now I am working with an immigration consultant in Vancouver. My first job was at a technology store as a cashier, I could not believe myself, an MBA from a Canadian University working as a cashier for minimum wages. Well, we had to survive, pay bills so anything was ok.
Then I moved on to a call center then tried really hard to get into banking and managed to get a job in a good bank as CSR. But again I felt there was some discrimination, hidden but yes it was there.
Since beginning I had wanted to pursue a career in immigration, so finally I applied for this job some year and a half ago and I was lucky to get it. My boss is an Indian and he owns one of the oldest and successful immigration consultancies in Vancouver (I will not mention the name). We work like a family here and it actually feels really nice to be able to help people and process their cases. I think my personal experience has helped me bring success to a lot of other people’s lives and when I feel like I am a part of someone’s dream coming true, it really makes me feel proud.
Well, this was about me. Frankly speaking about Canada, it is hard to come and settle here in a whole new country with a fresh start. My advise to all is DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPECTATIOS. Do not expect to find a job first of all (considering the economy), if you do, do not expect it to be in your own field. Some people may just get lucky but another truth is Try really hard to enhance yourself as per the regulations and requirements of this country. Do not try to adjust but rather adapt to the customs and life and I believe that you will do just fine.
People on the western Canada are very hospitable, I have heard that people from the east are a little harsh comparatively but again I cannot say if this right. My experience in Toronto was neutral. I think life there is really fast and people do not have time for each other expect for their social circle. Again same thing is in all big cities, even in India too, right?
Canada is really beautiful, especially Vancouver, the world’s most livable city and surrounded with beauty everywhere. Toronto is more like Delhi, plains while Vancouver is more of a mountain region. What is strange is even though Toronto is flat area it gets more snow and is colder in winters like -30, but Vancouver hardly gets below -3. This year not even a week’s snow in Vancouver while eastern Canada was under snow piles.
So I think if you work hard and are ready for the challenges, you will definitely survive. A lot of our clients complain about not finding jobs matching their fields, and all we advsie them is to try and get their credentials evaluated and then just try to fix up what’s missing and make yourself better and sellable.
So the bottom line is determination will make you succeed in Canada and I wish good luck to all in this forum. I really enjoy reading it and incorporating some of the things in my work here.
Oh, BTW I had applied for my brother in law under 0111 and I had sent his application to Sydney in November, 2009. I just received his file number today.
But I am still waiting to get anything for my sister –in –law. I hope she gets her passport soon.
My opin
