Pipe dreams? (Immigrant stories)

[eagleeye_a]

Apologies if this isn't the correct part of the forum to post this, but here goes...

Brief background:
I am well qualified with accredited degrees from the US and Australia, with ~8 years of work experience in those countries. I decided to throw my hat into the expressentry pool in December last year, got all my documents in order, and got an ITA in February. I've been holding off on applying, because it(Canada) just seemed too good to be true from most of the official information. My biggest concern (which is true anytime I move to different countries(which I enjoy doing)), is not being able to find employment and draining my savings.

Observations:
I came across this thread(and many others), in which several articles were posted which contained Canadian immigrant stories and some research around it.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/canadas-immigrants-diary-challenges-faced-by-new-immigrants-t188286.0.html

I got in touch with some old friends who had moved to Canada over the past couple of decades(mid-way in their careers), and they confirmed a lot of the negativity/hardships of having to start at the very bottom because no qualification or experience from outside Canada is "recognized". What was surprising to me, was that they said that they wouldn't have made the decision to move, if given a second chance. That made me pause to reconsider.

I'm not sure how to reconcile the fact that, the two very-different pictures painted, are of the same country.

I was really eager to move to Canada, to start a new life, and maybe even for the first time put down roots, buy a house, etc... but if that means starting from square one (working in "survival jobs", which I had done at the start of my working life), where none of my qualifications and experience count for anything, I'm not sure that's a trade-off I'm willing to make at this point in my life. The bar to get PR in Canada is not "low", specifically for the skilled workers program, but it seems like many of the people who pass the immigration hurdle have to settle with "survival jobs".

The general impression, i get, is that, unless you have a job ready and waiting for you, in your specific field, it might be prudent to reevaluate your expectations vs the reality.

I don't want to seem overly negative or cautious, or to dissuade anyone from moving to Canada. Just be cautious and research the situation "on the ground" to get a clearer idea of what to expect, and then make your decision.

I'm wondering what those of you currently in Canada think about the above as well. Is it accurate? Am I way off the mark?

Cheers

 

[Canadream2017]

Well, I know for sure that an experience from US or Australia is treated differently. If you can have strong references from those couple of jobs, try send your resume to some openings in Canada and see how it goes.

You mentioned that you have friends in Canada, so perhaps use their connection for your advantage. In Canada, Employees' referrals are #1 top methods for recruiters to find candidates.

 

[ladybug8888]

I will repeat something that was already said in this forum. If you have something to lose (good job, family, friend etc.), then Canada is not an option.

I have decided to move to Canada because my husband was always dreaming about Canada and living here. I gave up a good job, family and friends. Now I'm struggeling to get good job. Of course I can go to tim hortons etc, and get paid minimum wage but it is a pain in ... because you will get nowhere with that kind of job. Now I'm working to requalify myself for early childhood educator, because I have some background in it but already at the beginning I was told that without canadian experience, even if I will get my certificate base on my studies, no one will employe me. So now I'm volountiering and hoping that this will open at least this little door for me

In general it's hard time for newcommers because of the cirsis, especially in Alberta. We have planty of canadian people with canadian degrees, lots of certificates, struggeling as well, so I understand that I'm at the end of the line and kind of accept it.

On the other hand if you will find your way to make your living here, then I still think that Canada is a really good place to live. And it will be as long as we - immigrants will appreciate this awsome culture and accept it as ours as well.

 

[21Goose]

As with everything in life, this depends a lot on your personal circumstances. I know people who easily got jobs, and I know people who struggled. There's a healthy dose of luck involved as well - you never know when opportunity comes knocking.

In general, moving to a new country is always a gamble. You really don't know till you get there how it's going to be. I went to the US for grad school shortly after the downturn, when jobs were hard to find. I did get a good job though, and have been here for 7 years now. Was I lucky? Sure, but I also maximized my chances by doing everything that was in my power - things like topping my grad school, for example. Luck happens, but you have to make it easier for luck to happen to you.

The fact is, if you're seriously looking to emigrate, you're probably not happy with where you are right now. I agree that it's easier to move with a job, and if you don't have one, you have to be prepared to struggle. And maybe you won't be successful - the universe isn't fair, and things happen. Everyone's personal calculus is different, as is your level of risk tolerance. I know that if I was married with children, my risk tolerance would be much lower that it currently is.

I agree that you need to make a decision after carefully thinking through all the various possibilities. We are all highly skilled economic migrants, so it's unlikely that we're moving to escape war, famine, etc - things that are truly terrifying and what refugees the world over deal with. They have little to no choice - they are fleeing for their lives.

Immigrating is difficult, but the rewards are often disproportionately large, especially for the next generation. There are countless examples of immigrants in the US doing menial jobs - even qualified immigrants like doctors, engineers, and lawyers work in manual labor as their qualifications are not recognized. Their children, however, often go on to do extremely well as they get the work ethic and the drive to succeed. As a parent, you've probably done your job.

I'm hoping to move to Canada this year, and I'm lucky to have a job that will move with me. Still, I stay up at night sometimes wondering how life will change. And when I do, I think of one of my favorite sayings, one that has stood me in good stead so far in my life.

Per aspera ad astra!

(Through hardship, to the stars!)

 

[cmoncanada]

Apologies if this isn't the correct part of the forum to post this, but here goes...

Brief background:
I am well qualified with accredited degrees from the US and Australia, with ~8 years of work experience in those countries. I decided to throw my hat into the expressentry pool in December last year, got all my documents in order, and got an ITA in February. I've been holding off on applying, because it(Canada) just seemed too good to be true from most of the official information. My biggest concern (which is true anytime I move to different countries(which I enjoy doing)), is not being able to find employment and draining my savings.

Observations:
I came across this thread(and many others), in which several articles were posted which contained Canadian immigrant stories and some research around it. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/canadas-immigrants-diary-challenges-faced-by-new-immigrants-t188286.0.html

I got in touch with some old friends who had moved to Canada over the past couple of decades(mid-way in their careers), and they confirmed a lot of the negativity/hardships of having to start at the very bottom because no qualification or experience from outside Canada is "recognized". What was surprising to me, was that they said that they wouldn't have made the decision to move, if given a second chance. That made me pause to reconsider.

I'm not sure how to reconcile the fact that, the two very-different pictures painted, are of the same country.

I was really eager to move to Canada, to start a new life, and maybe even for the first time put down roots, buy a house, etc... but if that means starting from square one (working in "survival jobs", which I had done at the start of my working life), where none of my qualifications and experience count for anything, I'm not sure that's a trade-off I'm willing to make at this point in my life. The bar to get PR in Canada is not "low", specifically for the skilled workers program, but it seems like many of the people who pass the immigration hurdle have to settle with "survival jobs".

The general impression, i get, is that, unless you have a job ready and waiting for you, in your specific field, it might be prudent to reevaluate your expectations vs the reality.

I don't want to seem overly negative or cautious, or to dissuade anyone from moving to Canada. Just be cautious and research the situation "on the ground" to get a clearer idea of what to expect, and then make your decision.

I'm wondering what those of you currently in Canada think about the above as well. Is it accurate? Am I way off the mark?

Cheers

You said you enjoy moving to different countries and this is a thing you've done in the past. So you should know that moving to a new country is a hard thing sometimes. People here don't know you. Sometimes, they don't know the companies you worked for or the schools you attended.

Finding a job in Canada is much more about who you know, about networking. What I see from some people is that they come to Canada expecting that they will find the airport full of employers waiting for them. Or maybe they believe that they will get the same kind of nice job they have in their home-country without knowing anyone. Those are delusional people. That doesn't exist.

You can be lucky enough to arrive here and in the first months find a nice job - but you will probably need great English Skills and some technical skills no one here has.

When you say "but it seems like many of the people who pass the immigration hurdle have to settle with "survival jobs"" - this sounds like being lazy to me. You just settle for a survival job if you want to. If you are willing to improve your English (in case it's not your mother tongue), improve your skills... you won't need to settle for a survival job.

In my home country, I used to be a manager in a multinational company. With my level of study, I would never be such thing here. People here study much more for everything. And then again, if you are willing to study more, you won't need to settle for a survival job.

Wanna come to Canada and get a nice job? It might take time, and you need to be prepared to study more, to be open to meet new people, and to improve your language skills.

 

[monavy]

Apologies if this isn't the correct part of the forum to post this, but here goes...

Brief background:
I am well qualified with accredited degrees from the US and Australia, with ~8 years of work experience in those countries. I decided to throw my hat into the expressentry pool in December last year, got all my documents in order, and got an ITA in February. I've been holding off on applying, because it(Canada) just seemed too good to be true from most of the official information. My biggest concern (which is true anytime I move to different countries(which I enjoy doing)), is not being able to find employment and draining my savings.

Observations:
I came across this thread(and many others), in which several articles were posted which contained Canadian immigrant stories and some research around it. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/canadas-immigrants-diary-challenges-faced-by-new-immigrants-t188286.0.html

I got in touch with some old friends who had moved to Canada over the past couple of decades(mid-way in their careers), and they confirmed a lot of the negativity/hardships of having to start at the very bottom because no qualification or experience from outside Canada is "recognized". What was surprising to me, was that they said that they wouldn't have made the decision to move, if given a second chance. That made me pause to reconsider.

I'm not sure how to reconcile the fact that, the two very-different pictures painted, are of the same country.

I was really eager to move to Canada, to start a new life, and maybe even for the first time put down roots, buy a house, etc... but if that means starting from square one (working in "survival jobs", which I had done at the start of my working life), where none of my qualifications and experience count for anything, I'm not sure that's a trade-off I'm willing to make at this point in my life. The bar to get PR in Canada is not "low", specifically for the skilled workers program, but it seems like many of the people who pass the immigration hurdle have to settle with "survival jobs".

The general impression, i get, is that, unless you have a job ready and waiting for you, in your specific field, it might be prudent to reevaluate your expectations vs the reality.

I don't want to seem overly negative or cautious, or to dissuade anyone from moving to Canada. Just be cautious and research the situation "on the ground" to get a clearer idea of what to expect, and then make your decision.

I'm wondering what those of you currently in Canada think about the above as well. Is it accurate? Am I way off the mark?

Cheers

What field of work do u have experience in? and at what level?

 

[astralsource]

Cant be worse than Croatia. lol.

 

[mf4361]

It is true that qualifications and experiences from other countries don't get recognized in Canada well. US and Oz is probably a better group than others. Employers values domestic (especially in the industrial/technical field) because of regulations and work environment in Canada doesn't really apply to other countries. Some even values local experiences, so people with experience in the same province gets an advantage

When you come to a new country, you are expected to start from the bottom regardless. The country and people doesn't owe you anything. Many immigrants come to Canada with no money ended up decently. And why limit yourself to a single profession?

 

[eagleeye_a]

As with everything in life, this depends a lot on your personal circumstances. I know people who easily got jobs, and I know people who struggled. There's a healthy dose of luck involved as well - you never know when opportunity comes knocking.

In general, moving to a new country is always a gamble. You really don't know till you get there how it's going to be. I went to the US for grad school shortly after the downturn, when jobs were hard to find. I did get a good job though, and have been here for 7 years now. Was I lucky? Sure, but I also maximized my chances by doing everything that was in my power - things like topping my grad school, for example. Luck happens, but you have to make it easier for luck to happen to you.

The fact is, if you're seriously looking to emigrate, you're probably not happy with where you are right now. I agree that it's easier to move with a job, and if you don't have one, you have to be prepared to struggle. And maybe you won't be successful - the universe isn't fair, and things happen. Everyone's personal calculus is different, as is your level of risk tolerance. I know that if I was married with children, my risk tolerance would be much lower that it currently is.

I agree that you need to make a decision after carefully thinking through all the various possibilities. We are all highly skilled economic migrants, so it's unlikely that we're moving to escape war, famine, etc - things that are truly terrifying and what refugees the world over deal with. They have little to no choice - they are fleeing for their lives.

Immigrating is difficult, but the rewards are often disproportionately large, especially for the next generation. There are countless examples of immigrants in the US doing menial jobs - even qualified immigrants like doctors, engineers, and lawyers work in manual labor as their qualifications are not recognized. Their children, however, often go on to do extremely well as they get the work ethic and the drive to succeed. As a parent, you've probably done your job.

I'm hoping to move to Canada this year, and I'm lucky to have a job that will move with me. Still, I stay up at night sometimes wondering how life will change. And when I do, I think of one of my favorite sayings, one that has stood me in good stead so far in my life.

Per aspera ad astra!

(Through hardship, to the stars!)

Totally agree with everything you said. Luck does play a factor, as does a person's disposition to risk. Not to mention whether or not you have a family (i don't, which is why i like moving and living in different places). Kudos to having a job ready, which I reckon, is the right way to successfully move.

My main intent with this thread is to highlight, to anyone considering moving, the differences presented by official media/sources and the reality on the ground, which could be every different depending on where one is in their career, their profession, job-in-hand and where they move to.

Like I said I have moved before(and enjoy it), but having gone through the rigors of starting from bottom, and eventually getting into my field of work and gaining experience. I don't think I am ready to throw all that away just because my qualification & experience doesn't have the word "Canadian" in front of it. Which means, I do not want to pay to get "re-qualified" in Canada(time&money) in order to get an entry-level job, etc.... From what i've read, people go through their savings trying to get work in their field (rent, living expenses, etc), which is why they turn to the "survival jobs" as a last resort.

Of course, if I was in my early 20s, none of this would be an issue. But seeing as how many of the people going through(at no small expense) the skilled workers program have qualifications and experience, just make sure you know what you're getting into. IMHO

@cmoncanada Agreed, most people seem to have the impression it's "easy" and jobs are plentiful. That impression is probably not true of any place. And i'm sure there are success stories in Canada (as with any place). I just think the "real" situation might not be presented correctly to prospective immigrants.

 

[fatani]

Apologies if this isn't the correct part of the forum to post this, but here goes...

Brief background:
I am well qualified with accredited degrees from the US and Australia, with ~8 years of work experience in those countries. I decided to throw my hat into the expressentry pool in December last year, got all my documents in order, and got an ITA in February. I've been holding off on applying, because it(Canada) just seemed too good to be true from most of the official information. My biggest concern (which is true anytime I move to different countries(which I enjoy doing)), is not being able to find employment and draining my savings.

Observations:
I came across this thread(and many others), in which several articles were posted which contained Canadian immigrant stories and some research around it. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/canadas-immigrants-diary-challenges-faced-by-new-immigrants-t188286.0.html

I got in touch with some old friends who had moved to Canada over the past couple of decades(mid-way in their careers), and they confirmed a lot of the negativity/hardships of having to start at the very bottom because no qualification or experience from outside Canada is "recognized". What was surprising to me, was that they said that they wouldn't have made the decision to move, if given a second chance. That made me pause to reconsider.

I'm not sure how to reconcile the fact that, the two very-different pictures painted, are of the same country.

I was really eager to move to Canada, to start a new life, and maybe even for the first time put down roots, buy a house, etc... but if that means starting from square one (working in "survival jobs", which I had done at the start of my working life), where none of my qualifications and experience count for anything, I'm not sure that's a trade-off I'm willing to make at this point in my life. The bar to get PR in Canada is not "low", specifically for the skilled workers program, but it seems like many of the people who pass the immigration hurdle have to settle with "survival jobs".

The general impression, i get, is that, unless you have a job ready and waiting for you, in your specific field, it might be prudent to reevaluate your expectations vs the reality.

I don't want to seem overly negative or cautious, or to dissuade anyone from moving to Canada. Just be cautious and research the situation "on the ground" to get a clearer idea of what to expect, and then make your decision.

I'm wondering what those of you currently in Canada think about the above as well. Is it accurate? Am I way off the mark?

Cheers

I hope that you should have cancelled your application by now.

 

[foodie69]

I'm wondering what those of you currently in Canada think about the above as well. Is it accurate? Am I way off the mark?

There is only one person to convince doing it..and that is yourself. You want change in life, go ahead and do it. You want status quo, stay. Ask 10 people here Canada, they will have 20 opinions.
I left my home country 17 years ago and never looked back. I left a secure job, a nice house, several cars, 7 weeks of vacation a year. Why? Because I could and life taught me a lesson, you cannot eat money or buy happiness.

Canada is a wonderful country, I have a fantastic life, all I need to be happy is right outside my door.

 

[mtc1992]

I moved to canada in june 2015 as a ignorant 23 year old, with no friends, no job, no savings and really no prospects. I left behind a career too.

It took me about 4 months to get a career job, find a decent long term place and make good friends, I haven't looked back since.

 

[DEEPCUR]

As with everything in life, this depends a lot on your personal circumstances. I know people who easily got jobs, and I know people who struggled. There's a healthy dose of luck involved as well - you never know when opportunity comes knocking.

In general, moving to a new country is always a gamble. You really don't know till you get there how it's going to be. I went to the US for grad school shortly after the downturn, when jobs were hard to find. I did get a good job though, and have been here for 7 years now. Was I lucky? Sure, but I also maximized my chances by doing everything that was in my power - things like topping my grad school, for example. Luck happens, but you have to make it easier for luck to happen to you.

The fact is, if you're seriously looking to emigrate, you're probably not happy with where you are right now. I agree that it's easier to move with a job, and if you don't have one, you have to be prepared to struggle. And maybe you won't be successful - the universe isn't fair, and things happen. Everyone's personal calculus is different, as is your level of risk tolerance. I know that if I was married with children, my risk tolerance would be much lower that it currently is.

I agree that you need to make a decision after carefully thinking through all the various possibilities. We are all highly skilled economic migrants, so it's unlikely that we're moving to escape war, famine, etc - things that are truly terrifying and what refugees the world over deal with. They have little to no choice - they are fleeing for their lives.

Immigrating is difficult, but the rewards are often disproportionately large, especially for the next generation. There are countless examples of immigrants in the US doing menial jobs - even qualified immigrants like doctors, engineers, and lawyers work in manual labor as their qualifications are not recognized. Their children, however, often go on to do extremely well as they get the work ethic and the drive to succeed. As a parent, you've probably done your job.

I'm hoping to move to Canada this year, and I'm lucky to have a job that will move with me. Still, I stay up at night sometimes wondering how life will change. And when I do, I think of one of my favorite sayings, one that has stood me in good stead so far in my life.

Per aspera ad astra!

(Through hardship, to the stars!)

Just curious on seeing your NOC.. do you work in advertisement/PR relation profession in US? Haven't met anyone outside tech or engineering fields in US. So thought of checking!

 

[21Goose]

Corporate Marketing. Not precisely advertising/PR

 

[Wolverine17]

At least you guys can work as soon as you can find a job,unfortunately i will have to take exams and maybe go for 2 years of college program in order to qualify and work there