I am a mechanical engineer having migrated to Canada on 12th of September 2003. I was working in the field of industrial sales in India and have an experience of over 9 years in selling of variety of equipments such as special purpose tools, heavy duty hand tools, equipments and a varied range of items.

I have started to look for a job in Canada in the field of sales, when I realized that here sales is categorized into two - inside sales and outside sales. For a new immigrant it would be very difficult to get a job in outside sales. Although I do not rule out the possibility, the chances for a new immigrant in inside sales are better compared to outside sales.

If any members to this site have a clue that can help in getting a job I would be obliged. I am requesting as under
1. Does anyone have any leadsthat can help me to apply to a particular place.
2. Any resource I should search in particular to find the job in my field.
3. Any agencies that specialize in industrial sales jobs.
4. Does anyone have a simillar experience, or is with a related profile who can advise me on the job hunt.

Any trivial information would be useful. So pals, do pen in your thoughts and I would be glad to receive all the information you could give.

Vishal

This website has info on temp agencies. You may apply at all the agencies. You may succeed in getting inside sales job. Industrial sales seems little difficult. Lack of "canadian experience" will be barrier. Basically, while doing inside sales, you will be making cold calls to customers which is similar to telemarketing. It is a bit annoying as at times people get nasty over the phone. But some find it better than a factory job.

nehavishal
I was exactly in your boat when I came in 97.
Same experience.
I learnt French and joined a company in inside sales for computer components. It was a cakewalk afterwards
Do NOT send resume to temp agencies. You will RUIN your chances.
First of all look for opening in the star, I suggest try for a job first in bank call centres or computer tech support positions. Then move into indl sales. No one is going to offer to a position straight in indl sales.
If you do see a job with some temp ageny or in the paper, alter your resume to mention EXACTLY same experience as demanded in the job description. And once again do not fax resumes to everyone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
DIE HARD !

Thankyou for your detailed reply. I really did think that there would be someone with my profile who can share his experience.

Lately I have been thinking about learning French and believe it may help. However can you please explain your reservation on sending resumes to temp agencies. I believe that I need to find work of any sort to survive here and after 1 1/2 months of job search, since it may take long to find work in my field, I should apply at a temp agency. Just today I visited HCR personnel - a temp agency and gave the test there and registered with them. I am supposed to attend an orientation with them on 6th Nov, 2003. After coming home I saw your mail.

What I could not understand is how my chances are affected by sending resume to temp agency.

I have applied against few openings in Star and seem they are really good.

Can you guide me where I should be looking to find a job in computer tech support positions. I came across one agency who are looking for people for inbound call centre positions. In case you are aware of a list of agencies specializing in call centre positions, please provide.

Almost everyone I spoke with, suggested of altering the resume as it fits the position. I have therefor prepared about 7 different resumes.

Please do let me know of your apprehensions of faxing resumes to temp agencies.

Thanks


Vishal

Quote:

---

Orginally posted by nehavishal


Can you guide me where I should be looking to find a job in computer tech support positions. I came across one agency who are looking for people for inbound call centre positions. In case you are aware of a list of agencies specializing in call centre positions, please provide.

---

I will keep it very brief and to the point.
It is very difficult to obtain a outside sales job in Canada for someone who has recently migrated.
The next option is inside sales. Again this is almost impossible so far as tech sales jobs are concerned. Even though your sales experience may exactly match what is being is asked for, you wont even get an interview call.
So how to get the foot in the door?
The first line of attack should be directed at call centres in banks or tech support jobs. Bank jobs as well as tech support jobs are usually advertised in newspapers by temp agencies. Sometimes these are advertised directly as well.
First of all create 3 or 4 multiple resumes.
Remove all references to India or previous experiences except mentioning names of companies provided these names are multinational.
Make sure the resume to fit 100% with other Canadian resumes you see on internet.
Make sure to learn the local lingo, how to sound on the phone, how to speak SLOWLY and clearly with minimal accent etc.
Start with lousy, demoralizing telemarketing jobs. You will learn a lot there, make some new friends and gain Canadian experience in call centre environment. Such jobs are dime a dozen. Make sure to mention them as first job on your resume and stretch the experince backwards. So if another jobs demands 1 year, say you have been working for aabout a year.
Bank jobs require good typing speed and sometimes you need to take a small test. Make sure you know computers applications and typing well.
When you see an opening, do a cut and paste of job requirements into your resume as previous experience, thus stating that you have EXACTLY same experience as is being demanded. THIS is the key.........offer exactly what is being asked. Otherwise you will never get a call. Of course you MUST be able to perform in case you get the job so be careful what you are about to bite.
When you do get a call, speak very slowly and with confidence. Make sure to practice on the phone BEFORE you make or accept such calls. You only get one chance.
Now the question...why not send resume to everyone?
When resume is sent to a temp agency or a company, the HR people scan it and put in database with their comments. So if you were found to be lacking or overqualified, it will be tagged to your resume From now onwards, every time someone comes across an opening and your resume, they will read those comments and a la puebelle….French for garbage can! This will last for months till your resume stays with them.
I have seen many cases where the temp agency will advertise a job that matches what you have. But won’t call you although they have your resume in their database ….understand why
Besides the person going thru the resumes does not REALLY understand how intelligent or versatile you are. So if you do not mention exactly what is being asked for in the job responsibilities, your chances are zero. Stupid but that’s the way things work in automated software.
Tech support jobs do require some in depth knowledge of computers so that’s another ball game.
I suggest you to try first in computer sales…..that’s what I started with. Let me know if you wanna know more about this or have any other questions.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
DIE HARD !

Well after about 5 months of looking around, I finally got a job in Inside sales with a decent company and a decent pay.

Indeed perseverance and grace of God was on my side.

Best of luck to all desis.