Dear canadiandsi members
Given below is a success story of a new immigrant(one of my friend) who was a successful engineer in his field in India. It is unfortunate that his spouse was unable to work due to her illness. Hence he was the only wage earner. He had to work in non professional work to make both ends meet. Luck plays some part in establishing oneself in a new country. However it is only a small part. I know this person. Analysing his case history, I find that his main tools of success were:
(1)Steadfastness and perseverance
(2)Keeping his spirits up in face of adversity
(3)positive attitude and confidence in his ability
(4)NETWORKING: It did not stop after he tasted success. He still calls on the people that he has come to know even though they may not have anything to contribute today. He keeps his doors open for future needs.
Prepare for an interview thoroughly. Know what the employer does and what he wants. Tailor your resume and what you should say to perk up his interest.
These are all known to you. But people forget the key factors when they become panicky.

To those who are still looking for an opening: DO NOT DESPAIR. Keep on plugging. You will definitely get a break if you are steadfast and focussed.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


'My First Fifteen Months Experience After Immigrating To Canada



Canada is a beautiful country. It has got lot of feathers on its cap. Like many from developing countries, I also came to this country from India with a lot of dreams. But my purpose of coming was for the better future of my children. That does not mean that bright future can’t be built in India. Main problem there is too much of competition makes everything uncertain.



I came to Toronto as landed immigrant in April 2002. One month passed by in doing preliminary works like applying SIN card, opening of bank account, private health insurance, attending different courses conducted by different agencies regarding resume writing, cover letter writing, interview tips, employer’s list, web-site addresses, network building techniques etc. Sometime in May 2002, I started my first odd job in AMCOR @ $10.50 an hour.



My family came from India and joined me sometime in May 2002. Since my wife was having acute illness, it was not possible for her to go for earning. So the entire family was dependent on my earning only. As I was getting around $1500 a month, somehow I was managing along with the child tax benefit I used to receive from Govt. of Canada.



In mid June, I got laid off from AMCOR along with others. I felt little bit insecure, as I was the only earning member in my family. I enrolled myself with a dozen of employment agencies in Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto. Many of them offered heavy lifting jobs that I was not capable of. But when I didn’t get any odd job, one day I accepted the offer given by an employment agency in Toronto for working in a meat company. I could work there only for a day because it was a heavy lifting job in a very cold environment. My friends also advised me not to do this type of job in which I may fall sick.



In the mean time, I got my engineering and MBA degree assessed by Comparative Educational Services (CES). Simultaneously, I applied for P.Eng in PEO. I also passed the driving test and got my G2 and G driving license. I did that because many employers used to look for person with driving license and own car. Purchasing car was not financially possible. So whatever I could do, I did my best.



One day I thought that it would be better if I try to find some odd job of my own. I was walking through the roads of Toronto and asking in big shops, restaurants, gas stations etc whether they require any person for their establishments. After few days, I got an offer from Esso gas station as Sales Person @ $7.75 an hour. Since hourly rate was low, I was forced to work for 70 hours per week, i.e. 10 hours a day 7 days a week, without any overtime rate. Though the persons with whom I used to work in gas station were very good, but it was very tiring for me to work for 10 hours a day without having any weekly day of rest. Moreover, I was not getting any time left over for me at home so that I could search for job in my own profession. I found that if I continue there, I would never be able to succeed in achieving my aim. Psychologically it becomes very difficult to look for a job in your own field without doing any odd job and eating your hard- earned settlement fund. On the contrary, if one goes for odd job, he doesn’t get enough time to devote he is supposed to. To make both ends meat, I decided to apply for security companies where I thought that I would get some time for planning.



I started applying for security jobs directly. After few weeks, I received call from a security company and got selected as security guard an hour. They deployed me in an apartment building in night shift. I never approached for security posts with higher pay rate. Because my objective was to earn an amount with which I would not be satisfied and always be pinched to go for professional job, but at the same time, would be able to run my family. Since job load was less here, I could get enough time to chalk out my future plans and strategies, prepare my resume, cover-letter, interview etc. After lot of analysis, I came to a conclusion that Alberta was right place for me to get a job in my own profession. I decided to move to Calgary quitting security job. Moreover, my stake was very low – I had nothing much to lose in leaving Toronto. On top of that, with the passage of time I started becoming desperate to get a professional job. In Nov, my children were in middle of running semester in school. After finishing their semester, I moved to Calgary sometime in Feb 2003.



Purposely, I didn’t search for any odd job in Calgary because I moved there for a specific mission. I was very much focussed and aware of my objective. Somebody told me in Toronto that searching for a job is also a full time job. I found that hundred percent true when I started searching for a job in Calgary. I did the following things in Calgary:

a. Go to HRDC and Alberta Employment Center for getting their tips, advises and relevant company’s names and web-site addresses.

b. Look up Scott’s dictionary for company’s name, right official’s name, telephone number, email address etc.

c. Prepare master resume and cover letter, as best as possible in style and content and get verified by the experts. Also prepare tailor made resume and cover letter for specific cases.

d. Send forced application to all companies related to my field of expertise.

e. Make a shortlist of target companies.

f. Regularly search target and other related company’s web-site for any vacancy.

g. After sending resume to target companies, make follow up call. Try to find out the name of hiring manager, if possible.

h. Network. Talk to a known person for his tips and advice and try to get another person’s name from him.

i. Read recent magazines and journals in public library to update with the recent happenings in business.

j. Go through the economic and business section of any newspaper to have a good knowledge of macro economy and micro economy of various companies and their investment plans.

k. Get thoroughly prepared for interview.

l. Get your professional reference ready (back home).



After about four months, I got a breakthrough in one of the most prestigious companies. When I received interview call, I went through all sorts of possible questions, gathered company’s information regarding its history, present workings, current profit, stock price, strategies, future plans etc. My main strategy was to steer the interview in my favour and I prepared for that. I now have a very well paying professional job that I like.



Getting job in professional line is not the last step. It is a continuous process. I still maintain my network. In addition, I try to make new contacts whenever and wherever possible.



We all came to Canada with a lot of expectation. They are definitely legitimate because most of us are well qualified and experienced. But most of us also come at a very later age. Canadian companies don’t know much about Indian companies and our education system. That makes our job searching success more difficult to achieve. So we should be more determined and focussed. Any negative thinking shouldn’t carry us away. One thing I believe that if one thinks positive, it is most likely that he will get positive, because his attitude, behaviour, effort, thought process, body language everything would be positive.



This is my experience in Canada regarding job search. What I have achieved till now, that is all for God’s grace and lot of love, affection, good advises, moral support from my seniors, friends and well-wishers. I sincerely express my deep gratitude to all of them. I wish you good luck.'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-----------------------------------------------------------------
ani

Quote:

---

Orginally posted by ani70

Canadian companies don’t know much about Indian companies and our education system.

---

In my personal experience(which is very similar to the first post in this thread...I have done heavy lifting too...was my first job), it is very possible to get whatever you want inCanada when it comes to your career. The only way to go about it is to keep positive and keep evaluating yourself.

Anyway great post! GG I think that one should be an 'article' too.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Recommended Services- Servicedomino.com
http://www.servicedomino.com