Success Stories

Let me share my (Alok - alok.sarma@gmail.com) experience of coming to Canada as an immigrant. I landed on 25-Jul-05 from Detroit, USA and my family came on Dec’ 2005 after I got a job and settled down. I had gone through real tough time for at least 2 months, but I am now perfectly settled down and looking for family business, franchise and other opportunities. I got job in Deloitte multinational within 3 weeks after giving 5 rounds of interview. Also, I had offer in Royal Bank of Canada, and various other good offers happened in same 3 weeks. I joined with same salary which I was getting in USA, and a very good job with full comfort which I never had in my last 15 years working in all big giant companies in IT located in Mumbai and USA. I am now able to go back at home after 8 hours and no more weekend spending in office work. I am also allowed to work from home if needed.

Today, after long time after tightening all the loose ends of settlement, I thought to write my success story in Canadian Desi. I could have avoided doing this, but realized that it is my duty to write here. Let me admit that the site really changed my life and helped me to prepare my roadmap and laid the path of success. The examples of numerous events of failures, going back to your country, quit Canada etc. really put me on my toes. Those risks haunted me and gave me more strength for the last 2 years and helped me to really do a very good planning to combat those risks, well in advance. You name it and I can tell you what I did best. I was really shocking and frustrated reading these stories, but let me tell you those are all facts, really true. I realized that and felt every inches of it after landing here in Canada. Here are some example of tips I got in Canadian Desi e.g. getting rental/shared house, getting PR Card when you come through Detroit, Car Insurance, Transport, Health Card queue, finding recruiters’ contact, where to hunt, food, opening bank account, dress, keeping various flavors of your resume, etiquette in interviews, so on and so forth.

One day I thought, let me see the best practices, success stories and I found few of those but analyzed carefully. But the tips were solid in those nicely described emails and I sincerely appreciate it.

This site might help all those who have already nurtured their dream and took there bold steps to come here. Again, I really admire this site. It gives you the real experience. I wish all the new comers should feel the duty and obligation to write here and enrich this site to pave the way to people like us opting to immigrate.

I am a computer professional with Data Warehouse, Cognos, Data Modeling and little web skills with 15 years of experience. After applying to come to Canada from USA, I started making human network with leads in Canada, did job market search, skills in demand study, resume building, interview preparation spending nights and nights without sleep. I aim was not to go back to India and slog in office cubicle for 14 hrs, 6 days a week. Even, I did few US based certifications, spent money to know the hot skills, made inventory of all recruiters and operators in job market, evaluation of rental house, web portal search etc., did whatever it takes to catch up the skills required in Canadian market which is similar to USA top notch. You need to be on top of technology, labor or anything latest happening in your area. This is a high tech country with sound economy and surplus trade. You need to work hard to know the Canadian market before you land and get fully prepared for interview. This will save your savings after you land.

Interviewers prefer face to face talk. You must have two solid references preferable whom you are reporting. There are lots of fine techniques which I learnt across. You must change your resume and have different flavors of your resume based on role needed. It doesn’t mean you fabricate but change the presentation the way interviewer would like to see. Don’t expect easy interview, the companies and recruiters are very serious and if you work hard you will get it. During first 3 weeks, when I was hunting for jobs in computer, I also tried other jobs like Security Officer, retail, and those were easy. To survive here is easy.

There are numerous dedicated government organization to help the immigrants. Immigration settlement is a big issue in Canada, and it can topple a government if not handled properly. If you show interest, and willing to work, and open minded, you can do well in Canada. Now I am in midst of thousands of immigrants hearing their experiences. Few people returns though who cannot change their mindset, or reduce their hang ups and not able to change themselves and absorb the culture shock. It is a different world. You need to accept the challenges, and these challenges are not uncommon. If you go to USA or other westernized country for the first time you will face the same thing. Example, you need to be expert in driving, you need to be open to various types of foods and culture, ready to change your English accent, mix with people etc. You need to understand when you immigrate anywhere in the world, it is a great risk, things will not be bed of roses. Immigration was never smooth, it was more tough before us. You have to have lots of courage, contingency plan, safety money and solid Plan B. I sent my family to India for six months and came alone here. That was my plan B. As I got job real quick, my family came here, unless my plan B was to go back. I was ready to do any job, and then slowly go to my line i.e. in Computer.

What I found here that there are thousands of labor jobs, odd jobs, job from home, small business etc. It is nice to see all people here work hard. Most of the people in Toronto are immigrants. The older ones are now nicely established, well educated and rich. I met people China, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Cuba, Fiji, Ethiopia, Russia, England, USA, Taiwan, you name a country and some one is there.

One common thing I found all across. When I asked all my immigrant friends why they choose Canada, and all said something in common which is interesting and I came for the same reason too. They said to give better education to their next generation, to maintain a decent peaceful quality life, not to face fundamental problems which they faced in their countries e.g. not water in the morning, no electricity, political problem, bandh, terrorism, horrible transport commuting system, workplace exploitation etc.

At least you get lot of odd jobs to survive which you might not find in other countries. In this western world all type of jobs are respectable. I have many good friends who are mechanical engineer, chartered accountant and they did not find job here, and now they own a very high profile restaurant, and they are indeed very happy. As Canada is high tech country, it needs people with latest skill set and education relevant to this world. This country needs large number of immigrants, but they also need skills presentable or convertible to their skill sets as per market demand. Government is working towards such recognition process. I heard lot of immigrants who did odd jobs, saved money and then did some diploma, degrees and now earning a lot. It takes time, perfect planning and acumen. Don’t expect everything will be in your favor, rules are different, cultures too. Accept the challenge otherwise you will have no choice but go back to you country.

For Computer professional, MBA and people in Niche skills having sound communication / English skills, to get a job is not very hard here. But for others, specially Engineers of various streams no matter from which country you come Europe, China, South America except USA, you might have to start with lower designation job, or switch the line, or do odd job and then enroll in University, finish courses and then get a job. It might be very hard for you to get a job. It depends on how much you are on top of the latest skills in your line or qualifications that Canada / USA recognize. Latest news says that 1 out of 6 people went back over a period of 20 years, and government is concerned about it.

One big problem here that most of the recruiters and companies will not give you any interview or talk to you, unless you land here and get a SIN card number or at least applied for it. You must have a status of ‘Landed Immigrant’. Only in exceptional cases, I have heard people got jobs before landing here. The percentage of such cases are less than five according to me. This is due to some strict government rule. Don’t compare the way USA recruiters recruit from Asia over phone. It is different here. They want to see the person face to face before selection. They don’t want to take chance for example after recruiting if the person doesn’t arrive, then they land up into solid problems and embarrassment. So start applying just 1 month back before landing here. Recently, I came to know about a famous recruiter who can work for you to get job lined up or even get interview when you are abroad. One Mumbai guy got a good job after working with her. This came in a news paper.

If you don’t have anybody here, and plan to come with family, then you might face nightmare and it will be impossible for you to settle down. Unless you get a job, decent rental accommodation will not be available based on my experience. You might get a basement, but will have to walk a lot and spend lot of time in commuting. Especially in Winter, it is scary.

There is lots of future here. Lot many Baby Boomers are retiring, Canada is trying to make the immigration process smoother, increasing the number of immigrants.
What I suggest, that you should look for newspaper, government statistics to get reasonably true picture instead of listening only to stray incidence. Actually both are required to get a good perspective of the whole situation.

Canada is a beautiful country. Good in sports. Good for people who likes adventure and photography. There are no basic problem of transportation, water, gas, electricity, political disturbance etc. It is a peace loving country with high computerization, high tech culture, and efficient office/bank/postal services similar to USA. Health is free, child care gives some money and there are EI benefits, RRSP retirement, $1000 to all after retirement, RESP and Education grants, free seminar coaching to new immigrants to settle down. Some Universities are comparable or better than many USA colleges, not much competition, lots of labor protection stringent rules to curb exploitation. It is a socialist country. Many newspapers, magazines are free, good mix of capitalism and communism, religious tolerance, people from all possible countries. Transport system is one of the best in the whole world.

People are good, always shows helping hand, and they will mix with you when you come. You can build your society, people around you and go to various communities and enjoy the social ceremonies.

I am liking Toronto now very much and it is slowly growing on me. There are lots of cultural outlet, music, art, fitness, and cuisines. Before landing here, I thought to go back to USA after 3 or 4 years. Now, I am finding it much more interesting due to and lots of variety in life. I might withdraw my thought to go back to USA and plan to stay here permanently.

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This is to all my friends here who showed lots of patience to read the above. You might call me anytime at 001-416-493-0764 or email me at alok.sarma@gmail.com. My tips will definitely help you to deal with all sorts of problems that you envisaged. I have all URL, website, phone numbers for recruiters, HRDC, Health card, Driver License Office, Toronto Helpline, Yellow pages, Community, Library, TTC Transports, maps etc.

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Good luck to you !! Have courage and do good planning and you will win !

Alok,

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences. It really is heartening to see that the time people volunteer isn't going to waste. Congratulations on your current success and best of luck for the future!

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One day I thought, let me see the best practices, success stories and I found few of those but analyzed carefully. But the tips were solid in those nicely described emails and I sincerely appreciate it.

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Are you there?

I have mechanism to control spam and phone calling.

People who migrate have to do a major decision in their life. It might ruin their career, money or might be immensely successful.

These email, website etc. doesn't give real feeling and is not sufficient to take decisions sometime in some cases.

Once they talk or get response through personal email id, they can thing something real happening and can decide quickly.

Once I first started with Canadian Desi, I found the same problem which I don't want other to face.

Thanks though for your suggestion.

Fair enough. This is my usual recommendation but like I said before, your call.

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Are you there?

Hi,

Many of you might have read my article below. I am getting lot of calls from people all around from various countries, asking for guidance on job market and how to settle down here. I helped them.

Some people got jobs in 3 weeks, some are not. Mixed response. Some stories are very sad and some are encouraging.

I have now settled down and a bought a house in Scarborough. Some schools are very good.

I would like to share some of my observations on labor market. If anybody knows anything further, then let me know and it will help.

My wife did 3 months course from Skills for Change, govt. organization. They have co-op programs too. The course was full time and very good with very nominal money. While doing co-op she got accounting job too in a very small company. She was doing well. Previously she was housewife for 15 years supporting me and my family. This job was OK for her and she was doing well. After 3 months one fine morning the company told her not to come from next day with any strong reason.

This same story I am hearing here and there from my of my friends. Some of them were holding very good skills, and were working in MNC companies in India, Europe etc. People gets laid off often in smals and middle range companies so that they don'y get EI benefit. I feel it is true. If anybody has any feedback let me know.


Regards

Alok Sarma