Starting Life in CANADA - Tips & Stories

[supergodesschai]

I think it depends, some are lucky and so talented that they get jobs even with little experience but most companies require at least 3-5 years of work experience especially since you didn't get your education here. How many years have you been working? If you have a lot of experience and really good at what you do then it'll be easier for you to get a job. If not, there are "JSW" or job search programs that could help/assist you in finding a job. It's different from an agency because they really prepare you for a job like workshops on how to make Canadian style resumes, how to answer interviews, job laws, networking since most jobs in Canada are not advertised, they can provide you references and so much more which could really help you if you don't know how or where to start. 

Thanks so much girls for all your responses! it really helps alot.
Ive been working in IT for 6 years and I guess i'll try my luck first in getting a job  by the way, ill be attending a CIIP seminar which they said is an integration seminar in the canadian workforce. guess this should help a lot as well 

[allredndizzy]

No problem, I hope we all get a good job (me included hehe!) preferably on our respective fields. Goodluck to all!

[stylista]

Gusto ko sana mag-backread kaya lang tinatamad ako. hehe And I apologize because I can't share the stories on how my mom did so me and my brother got here in Canada. Wala talaga akong alam. But it all started when my mom sponsored us and moved here (in Edmonton) over 5 years ago, I was 20 y/o old. Three days after we came, my mom took me to Grant MacEwan College to take a course and start going to school right away. It was mid-September at that time kaya 2 weeks behind na ko but the school still acccepted me after I passed the test and meet all the requirements. I was not able to get a student loan too dahil bago pa lang ako sa Canada kaya my mom shouldered all the expenses which if you ask me eh pareho lang ng tuition fee if you study in ADMU or DLSU. My brother didnt get accepted in the university because of his age (17 at that time) kahit college na sya when we were in Pinas kase dito 18 y/o highschool pa lang. So he was re-assessed and decided to stay in Grade 12 and just took some upgrading subjects for college courses. Oh btw, I didn't take any ESL (English as a Second Language) course. I don't why other Filipinos have to take that. After, I finished my course and got a certificate, I didnt get a job right away. Well I was not really eager to work at that time and my mom was the one handing out my resumes to some companies. Na-bored din ako and none of the companies hired me. Maybe because I have no work experience even when I was in the Philippines. I started working at Mcdonalds for a while. As I was working there, I got a call from this company. I quit my job at Mcdo and since then I have been working at this company as a Records Clerk for over 3 years. My brother landed a great job at Alberta Gaming and Liquor after graduating at NAIT with a course of Electronics Engineering. My mom has two part-time jobs. She works as a nursing attendant during the day and at the school at night.

Eto muna first part ng buhay namin..Next time na yung iba and if you have any questions just ask me wag lang about agencies and the processing to get here. Wala akong alam dyan. hehe

[stylista]

So far I like it here. My whole family are in here too with my relatives and lola. As for IT jobs madami din. actually sa work ko merong ganyang position. where are u in manitoba?

[stylista]

Kaya nga di ako homesick ever. Right now Im on my mat leave until next summer...so sa day care lang baby mo?

[stylista]

No. My baby will be 6 months old on the 18th. One year maternity leave ko eh.

[chuzzle]

Hello sisses I just discovered this thread and I got addicted to it instantly. My mom keeps on insisting for me to migrate to Canada na. Its for my own good daw chenes. I am only 24 years old and been working for 2 years. I also go to Graduate school.

It is advisable to send the IELTS results with the application or just wait for the consul to ask for the documents needed?

Actually, ayoko na ren magtake ng IELTS kasi super mahal. Can I just write a letter stating that the medium I use both at work and in school is English?

The daughter of my mom's friends applied alone. She's only 25 and migrated na after 2 years. Bakit ganun? Mas mabilis ba pag single?

[allredndizzy]

^yes you can do just that. Not take the IELTS, I mean. Aside from your letter, it's better if you get a certification from both your work and school that the medium used is in english. It's more believable if you have that. My mom used to be a professor in college and like what I said, she just submitted a letter (from herself) indicating that she speaks good english because... etc. and also the certification from the school. She didn't want the burden of having to study and stress out over an exam that's why she did that hehe! Smart woman 'coz now we're here. Oh and yeah, not all have the same "waiting time." When we attended the seminar for those about to go to Canada, some said they just waited for 1-2 years while we waited for 5 years!

[stylista]

Why do you have to take IELTS? I never took it even when I went to school here.

[allredndizzy]

^sis, isa kase yan sa mga requirements pag nag-aapply pa lang pero may option nga na wag mag-take basta may mga documents ka na mapapakita na lagi mong ginagamit ang english.

[stylista]

OIC..none in my family took it kase.

[chuzzle]

thanks sis allredndizzy.

I will think about filling out the application probably in January. hehe after all of the festivities.

[crimsoncheeks]

Hay, nagsnow na finally dito sa Vancouver. Shucks, ang ginaw na talaga.  I really hate the weather here.

[Princess Anne]

^baligtad tayo, i love snow, feeling ko snow princess ako pag naglalakad ako sa snow hahhaha. Wag lang sana maging katulad nong last year na overflowing yung snow.

[stylista]

i like snow but hate the cold weather.

[piggyxoxo]

Hmmmmmm some tips:

- bring lot's of warm clothes :-)

- go to an employment resource centre for resume help, interview tips etc.

-Have reference letters or work references from supervisors, this is important especially if you want to work with an agency or for a financial institution.

-Network within and outside of the Filipino community.

- Upgrade your skills even if it's through a resource centre. For people new to the country, I usually call people who show initiative and ambition through their resumes even if they have no Canadian experience.

- go to an agency to get help with job placements.  Please note that for most companies, you will need Canadian experience (2+ yrs). However, if you're really good (comm. skills especially for admin/clerical jobs) you're a pretty much a shoo in. Presentation is a must so your resume has to be perfect and you're appearance must be very polished.

-Call me if you live in Toronto! If you have banking experience and if you're interested in temp work. Please note that you will need 2 references from past supervisors (reference letters with the company logo is good). Please contact me only after you have moved here and once you have your SIN # set up. 416-343-9112.

Thank you and happy hunting!

[piggyxoxo]

Oh and just my 2 cents on I.T jobs. I did some I.T recruiting earlier this year and basically the agency is mainly concerned with communication skills and if you can pass the basic skills screening test. Once you're past the HR people the company will test your skills. My fiance does his own hiring for the I.T company that he works for. He told me that if he sees resumes from people educated/grew up in China or India he does not even bother calling them because their communications skills are so terrible for the most part. He said that masters and phds don't mean anything if you can't speak english and pass the basic skills test.

[chockulit]

^Sis, how about for medical transcriptionists?  Is it still in demand in Canada?  I am also planning to take up the licensure examinations in Canada for physical therapists, but I do not have any hospital experience, what I have is just volunteer work in the clinics.  Is it necessary for physical therapists to have hospital experience from your country of origin?

[piggyxoxo]

^ I am not sure. You'll have to do some research. Maybe statscan?  My agency does does not really staff for that type of occupation. In Jan 2009 we might secure a contract recruiting for medical positions (i.e doctors, nurses etc.) and we're looking into recruiting from overseas if staffing locally becomes an issue. Everything is still in the works but we'll see. Send me a pm early next year.

Thanks!

[allredndizzy]

^sis, you're company might recruit from overseas... meaning hindi kailangang certified dito sa canada? Kung sakali magtatanggap kaya kayo ng nandito na?