magicangmoh said:
Hello ! I wanted to find out if locals in Toronto do care or not about which program you come from as a PR. I connected via linkedin to a couple of local headhunters / search executives agent. And one came back to me by stating that : local HRs knows about the different PR scheme for new comers. She told me about a "french mobilite" scheme or program that was implemented last year. In short it looks like government overall encourages ON companies to hire French speaking pple without to prove that a local canadian cannot do the job instead. I believe it is something to protect local workers vs immigrants like we have in may countries : priority first to locals, immigrants 2nd. But with this french mobilite thingy, employers dont need to prove that.
So local HR are aware of what OINP FSSW program is about and what it means : basically you have higher French requirements than the normal PR. As for the experience, headhunters look for senior / experienced profile - so being bilingual and OINP FSSW does add "weight" to your profile for HR. In short they dont need to ensure you speak French, they just plainly know it by your immigration profile.
Finally she also advised me to fly by for interviews - as Canadians dont look much into VideoConference for recruitment. However you can still try to book the interviews before booking your ticket - most likely my case as my family will follow later (although I still dont know if for the 1st arrival, we need the full family or just me...another question but later on for our PR journey).
Based on this feedback, my wife and I decided to apply for PNP and not just ITA. To be fair, it kinda makes sense that PNP "should" be faster than main stream ITA. After all, few people get nominations though specific streams, whereas if you got ITA, you will be shoulder/shoulder to 3,000 applicants. The only "issue" is the 1500 CAD...but when a problem can be solved by money, it is not a problem anymore !
Hope it helps to understand our decision. I check everyday my online status for OINP - no change since sunday : application submitted.
I will track the progress as we dont have much history on online application for OINP FSSW since they only started end Jan 2017.
Thanks again to all for your feedbacks and personal stories. It does help to read you all !
Cheers
Ok let me do some highlights and corrections.
1. Mobilite Francophone is a new program for temporary working visa. Here it how it works:
- you need valid job offer from Canadian employer
- you need to prove that you use French regulary (either you are from French speaking country or you have your TEF with CBL 7+ in all skills
- in exchange you can get temporary work visa (for the length of your contract) and your employers does not have to get LMIA for you first.
- and French language does not even have to be condition for your job offer as such.
- also as this is so called Canada interest and if you get your working visa for more than 2 years and you have already worked under such visa for at least year, you can cash those 50 bonus points for CRS.
So that is reason why Headhunters are so French interested. Just because LMIA is not needed anymore.
2. Once you get your PR cards and SIN number, nobody is even slightest interested how you got it as long as you have it. Because if you are PR you are stability for them.
If they want something specific for work, you just need to prove it (ECA and Education, IELTS, TEF, Job references....).
3. Interviews why not, if you can book some in advance. However be aware, that you will need first 1 to 2 weeks just to get basics done (landing, SIN, new city orientation, appartment, other minor arrangements...). Plus the reaction for foreign address and phone number is such, that they will not look at your CV (unless you go through headhunter).
And my personal experience with mobilite Francophone:
I went to a job fair with my CV stating French and English and hand it over to several headhunters. None of them replied me or anything.
I had even spoken with New Brunswick (at that time I was still not sure with Ontario nomination). And the very same thing. They have never bother to reply me back.
And I have used that Mobilite francophone explained in my motivation letter when I was applying for some positions online, but of course not a hint of any answer.
So that gives me a good idea that unless I am there on the spot with my SIN in the hand my chances to be hired are purely theoretical.