Starting Life in CANADA - Tips & Stories

[jhandee]

yup pray lang mga sis may awa ang dyos. Ang ate ko nga stress na kasi nag double actually triple ang expenses nya , simula dumating family ko dun , sya pa nagpapa gatas dun sa 1 yr old ko na niece kaya ayan, nahihirapan talaga sya.

[paloma]

sis poppy nagtetext speak yung post ko Quality Assurance ako.

[sarsingkit]

what i learned sa employment skills training that i attended was to improve on the resume lalo na pag bagong dating. kasi syempre sa resume pa lang screened ka na agad so make sure na relevant yung resume mo sa trabaho na aapplyan. hindi ata uso dito yung send ka lang ng send ng resume na pare-pareho naman ang laman. tapos if looking ka for work sa entry level or blue collared, better to down grade the skills you put sa resume. i was on the training with a girl from india, IT field din sya with 2 masters. it was suggested to her to remove the masters degree kung sa tim hortons lang naman din sy mag-aapply kasi nga naman hindi sya talaga tatanggapin. at they take volunteering as canadian work experience. so pwede magpart time plus volunteer on your chosen field. at syempre tyagaan talaga sa paghanap ng work and network with people.

goodluck mga sis. very resilient naman tayong mga pinoy kaya kahit anong situation, kayang kaya

[poppyjml]

yeah, mahirap nga sa big cities dahil sa competition. Dito kasi sa Alberta, mas madali kasi hindi ganon kadami yung locals na IT with the specific skills na hinahanap nung mga companies.

suggestion lang...ginawa ko rin kasi to nung nag-j-job hunting ako, look for a list of companies in your specific city tapos isa isahin niyo yung website nila. tapos kahit wala kayong makitang current opening na pede kayo, subscribe lang kayo dun sa site and create a job alert...para every time na magpost sila ng opening eh ma-email sa inyo. that's how i got my first and second job eh. try niyo rin check out and subscribe sa site ng city ninyo  - ex. city of calgary job website

tapos sa resume niyo, like what sarsingkit said, dapat hindi generic....dapat relevant dun sa position na inaaplayan niyo. sa resume, make use of terminologies na specific dun sa job opening. kadalasan kasi gumagamit sila ng software na nag-c-check nung mga resumes for specific terminologies na relevant dun sa job. Pag walang ganong match, hindi ka na macoconsider or hindi na ifoforward nung system yung resume mo sa isang taong pedeng magreview non.

[paloma]

Hello sisses! Inupdate ko na resume ko may pang IT ako and may pang blue collar. Pero di ko ginagawa yung specific dapat sa job posting hehe, guilty ako. Sinabi din yan nun nagcheck nun resume nun job fair, moving forward i'll apply that.

Yung general resume ko naman nilagay ko lang position and company name then yung length of stay ko sa company. Binawasan ko din work experience ko, tinira ko lang 3 out of 6. Or palagay nyo mga sis burahin ko na kaya lahat? TIA!

[tabbru]

My husband, who worked in California for more than 7 years and is a registered professional engineer there, thought that it would be easy for him to find a job in Edmonton. Kasi nga may North American experience siya. But it took him 4 months din to find an engineering job. Nag-start siya as geotechnical technologist lang muna. Pero ngayon, ok na siya. Maganda na ang work niya at mas malaki ang sweldo. Lalabas na rin ang license niya as a professional engineer in Edmonton.

Marami rin siyang inaplayan dati na di nagresponse. Siguro kasi nga wala siyang Canadian experience dati. Natetempt na nga rin siya magblue collar job kasi bored na bored na siya (by the way, he went to Edmonton solo, with no relatives nor friends) pero siyempre pride ang naghihinder sa kanya. Saka marami pa naman siyang baong dollars than time (haha!).

It will be my turn to migrate next year and I am scared na mahirapan din akong makahanap ng work for the lack of Canadian experience. Although lucky siguro ako kasi pwede naman akong di magwork dahil nga nandun naman asawa ko. Pero siyempre mabuburyo naman ako lalo na at wala pa kaming anak.

I am also thinking kung ano ang ilalagay ko sa resume ko. Parang wala akong specific skills na appropriate sa Canada haha! I used to be a college professor in UP tapos ngayon I am managing our family business. Di ko tuloy alam gagawin ko para maging specific sa job posting ang resume ko.

I want a clerical / admin job. Marami naman akong nababrowse na hiring on those positions kaso nga baka di ako mapansin dahil bagong migrate.

Oh well, bahala na. Hirap mag-start ng panibagong buhay dun sa Canada lalo na at maganda rin ang life/career mo sa Pinas.

Pero tama ang isang sis natin, phase lang ito. This too shall pass hehe.

[sarsingkit]

@sis paloma, you dont need to copy the job posting per se pero yun nga tweak yung resume na may experience ka in the field or skills na required. ok lang to delete some work experience pero assess mo muna kung ao yung mga idedelete mo. kahit kasi manager ka sa tin and it may look big time here, it will show na you have the skills in making decisions, handling people etc which you can easily transfer and relate to any job or situation. yung education ang medyo intimidating kasi sa resume. check ka sa internet ng kinds of resume. i know its a tedious job and parang balik college ka learning all these basic skills pero makakatulong sya sayo.

and of course, here in canada, pictures and personal info ay hindi nilalagay resume. shock na shock nga mga canadians pag kinukwentuhan namin na ultimo weight and height eh nilalagay sa resume sa atin. hehe.

[mylabmax]

Hi sisses! I agree, mahirap na humanap ng work dito. I just landed a month ago, until now wala pa akong work. Actually nakakaramdam na ko ng frustration, naiiyak na ko sa paghahanap ng trabaho. IT ako sa Pinas and ok ang income ko dun, I was petitioned by my sister.

Yung IT jobs na inaapplyan ko dito halos di pansinin application ko, siguro nasa 50 or more IT job openings na nasendan ko pero tatlo lang tumawag sakin. Yung isa pinaasa lang ako, ni hindi ako nainterview nun nagfollow up ako may nakuha na daw. Yung isa naman tumawag lang after din nun wala na. Yung isa naphone int ako pero wala bagsak siguro ako kaya di nadin nagparamdam.

Andami ko nadin naapplyan na agencies, lahat ng mabalitaan kong job fairs pinupuntahan ko, pati office admin jobs nag apply na din ako at pati mall nilibot ko para magwalk in sa pagsasubmit ng resume pero wala padin ako work till now.

May isang tumawag sakin receptionist job ang sabi hintayin ang phone int, ayun lumipas na ilang araw wala naman tumawag tapos nun nagfollow up ako may nakuha na daw. May isa pa receptionist din kaya lang ang byahe nasa 3hrs ata one way pa lang. Talo na sa oras pati sa sweldo.

At ang pinakamasaklap at nagpapababa ng self esteem ko, pati application ko sa mcdonalds hindi ko naipasa. Pinay ang manager na nag interview sakin at banat nya agad sakin overqualified ako, how come daw na engineer ako sa pinas then dito crew ang inaapplyan ko. Haaaaay para namang di sya dumaan sa ganyang phase na any survival job eh ok lang sakin. So di ko na tuloy mawari san ako mag aapply kasi pag IT gusto nila may canadian work experience or nagtetake ka ng short courses dito (napakamahal naman mag aral dito) tapos pag blue collar naman over qualified agad sasabihin sayo.

Sabi nila maiksi pa daw ang 1month, yung iba months or years bago nakakuha nun job na gusto talaga nila. Swerte lang nun iba na ambilis nakakuha work tapos same field pa ng work nila sa Pinas. Sana naman swertihin na din ako kahit anong trabaho ok lang sakin, di naman ako choosy. Tyaga at dasal, sana maovercome ko yung phase na to. Sorry mga sis ang haba na ata ng post ko. Medyo naffrustrate lang talaga ako sa paghahanap.

Hi sis, were on the same boat.  Still looking for our first job here.  Saan ka ba sa Canada?

[Princess Anne]

paloma, taga san ka ba sa canada? It's true na kelangan mo talaga ng short courses para ma-upgrade yung skills mo, and at the same time para ma build din yung confidence mo.  I was like you few years back. Dentist ako sa pilipinas, then pagdating dito, like you, kahit stock girl lang ng Winners di ako matanggap. I even looked for dental assisting jobs but wala akong luck. It was very frustrating, and nakakababa ng self esteem. Nong time pa na yun, mataas pa yung pride ko na kaya ko maghanap ng work by myself. But dumating yung time na I swallowed my pride, and asked around. Sa pinoys ako usually lumalapit, asking baka may kakilala until may nakapagpasok saken sa isang clinic as a dental assistant/ receptionist.

Now I quit this job after almost 6 yrs, kasi gusto ko na mag upgrade from dental assisting to being a  dental hygienist. Would you believe I have to go back to "highschool level" to finish some credits, para lang makapasok ako sa dental hygiene program?  eh ang tanda ko na,  but that's how it works here, so tyaga and patience lang. Gusto ko shempre pagdating ng time, I know na may naaccomplish ako dito sa canada di ba? So while you still can.. try mo mag aral ulit. I'm sure bata ka pa. There's a lot of short courses na binibigay ang government so take advantage of that. You may be eligible for loan and bursary too.  Don't lose hope!

for the gtalkers na kakamigrate lang, I would really suggest na mag take kayo ng short courses as soon as magland kayo dito sa canada. I used to screen the CVs of the applicants sa dati kong work. Ang una talaga tinitingnan is kung nag graduate ka sa canada, whether it's a 6 month course, a 2 month course or whatever, basta in line sa inaapplyan mo then you're on the right track. And it's easier na ipasa sa employment agency yung CV nyo pag nag tapos ka ng certain course. Very helpful ang agencies dito, they will call you as soon as makakita sila ng available job for you. 

[mylabmax]

Hi Princess Anne,

San ka sa Canada?  Favor naman mga sis.  Baka may alam kayong any vacancy na office related in Toronto.  Pa PM naman po.  Almost 3 months na kami and we tried agencies and employment councilors pero up to now wala pa din.  Thanks

[lonelymiss28]

^hirap maghanap ng office work here dahil ang tindi ng cometition, and totoong pag may kakilala ka malaki ang chance na makawork ka sa office. may pilipinong nag-apply sa office ng asawa ko and CPA sya sa pinas pero ni interview di sya nagka chance at kahit pinaka mababang position sa office papatulan na nya but yung daugther ko kinausap lang ng asawa ko manager ng HR, and that week nakapasok at may posisyon agad sa office (IT engineering assistant), at highschool grad lang sya...unfair noh!

[mylabmax]

^hirap maghanap ng office work here dahil ang tindi ng cometition, and totoong pag may kakilala ka malaki ang chance na makawork ka sa office. may pilipinong nag-apply sa office ng asawa ko and CPA sya sa pinas pero ni interview di sya nagka chance at kahit pinaka mababang position sa office papatulan na nya but yung daugther ko kinausap lang ng asawa ko manager ng HR, and that week nakapasok at may posisyon agad sa office (IT engineering assistant), at highschool grad lang sya...unfair noh!

I know sis.  CPA din ako sa PH pero kinalimutan ko na yun.  We're trying to expand our network physically and online.  We have accepted that fact and thats the name of the game here.  Were just learning how to play it the hard way.

We have revised and sent countless resumes and cover letters and mahirap talaga.  Minsan nakakasawa pero bawal masiraan ng loob. 

We will be enrolling sa winter semester to upgrade our skills pero we just want to start sana on ANY office work.  We have set a timeline up to when before we apply for survival jobs.

Baka lang may makabasa dito na pwede makatulong.  Toronto po kami. 

[rics]

^actually sis, landing an office job for a new immigrant without any canadian experience is very tough. and that is a reality. if there is someone who will be willing to help you get an office job, thats well and good. but most of the time, it doesnt happen.

im on the process of job hunting also. i have been here quite a while already ha, and yet, despite countless sent resumes, i have yet to score an office job position, not to mention to even get an interview.

since you have plans of going to school this winter, try applying for retail jobs instead, atleast itong ganitong trabaho, kahit paano, medyo mas madali to get. since the holiday is fast approaching, there are a lot of stores naghihire for the season.

ganyan din ako nung una, i dont want to settle for blue collar work. thinking that i have a degree, i have work experience, pero pag dating dito, balewala pala yon. i have tried diff work that is not related to what i did back home. syempre ma-ppride din ako that i only wanted an office job, but in reality, its something na medyo mataas and mahirap abutin considering how things go here.

i suggest you go for blue collar work muna. get a feel of how canadians work, go to school, then apply for an office position.

[Princess Anne]

^ I totally agree with rics. Pag nakapagregister ka na sa school, in you case for winter semester, "sometimes" mas madali to find a job. I quoted sometimes kasi minsan din mahirap, but compared to before, nong kakarating mo lang, you'll have an edge to where you were before. Before an employer points out na you're overqualified sa job na yun, they'll consider you pa din, since you're studying kasi.MOST employers are very accommodating sa students. # 1 reason is nakakakuha sila ng tax credit, and #2 mababa lang usually yung kaya nila ipasweldo. But it doesn't matter, pag nakita nila how you work, they'll keep you and tataasan nila yung sweldo mo.

mylabmax, sa Montreal, Quebec ako sis.

[sarsingkit]

also, Canadians take volunteering as work experience. so if others have spare time pa naman, pwede magvolunteer. marami usually ang volunteering sa government, mas maganda ilagay yun sa resume. sometimes, the reason din kasi that employers look for Canadian workplace experience is that they want to see one person's attitude sa workplace. punctual ka ba, nakikipagtsismisan ka ba, pag badtrip ka ba sa officemate mo kinoconfront mo or if may problem ka sa management eh very vocal ka about it. things like that. technical skills naman kasi are very transferable. kung CPA ka, halos parepareho naman ang skills needed like if marunong ka sa SAP, simply accounting, Excel, Access. ang technical skills madaling matutunan pero yung culture sa workplace mahirap. kaya most employers look for canadian work experience. kaya ok din ang volunteering kasi at least may mailalagay ka na reference na nasa Canada.

at syempre if pinalad makaabot sa interview, be extra assertive. Filipinos are known to be passive at nagsasabi ng mga personal na bagay sa interview na hindi naman daw relevant sa job so dapat iwasan yun

[paloma]

Hello mga sis! Just want to share the good news. After 5 weeks of depressing and frustrating job hunting, hundreds of resumes submitted to company sites & several job sites, numerous job fairs i've attended, a failed interview as a crew at mcdonalds with a Pinay manager (which really made me cry), walked-in applications at each stall and shop at the mall just to drop my resume... Finally, I got a job offer for a quality assurance position (the job I really love). God is really really good. Thank GOD. I am so grateful to Him.

Sa mga sis na nagbigay ng tips, advices at same experiences, maraming salamat mga sis sa tulong. All your inputs are very much appreciated. Sa mga sis na still on job hunting mode, tyaga lang mga sis and dasal and naniniwala ako in God's perfect time talaga ibibigay nya satin more than what we ask for.

Sa mga sis na nag ask san ako, sa Ontario ko mga sis. Btw, may job offer din ako as sales associate sa vaughan mills. Mga sis na malapit dun, try nyo mag walk in, sinuyod ko vaughan mills sa 40-50 resumes na naipasa ko dun meron naman mga tumawag. Try nyo din mga sis. Yun Software Tester position naman agency nagpasok sakin. Godbless us all mga sis!

[lonelymiss28]

congrats sis!

[poppyjml]

^^congrats sis paloma! sa mga naghahanap pa ng work, yes, tiyaga lang talaga at dasal.
close to 1 month rin bago ako nakahanap ng work. yung iba ko namang kilala, umabot pa ng 6 months.

[jhandee]

congrat sis Paloma. God is good Sana maka hanap na rin ng work ang father at sister ko. Yung father ko nag apply as janitor sa isang mall, hindi nya kinaya naawa talaga kami sa kanya. kasi senior na father ko hindi na nga sya dapat mag work kaso naiinip sa house kaya kahit anong work gusto na pasukan.

[paloma]

sis lonely, poppy and jhandee maraming salamat mga sis! God is good all the time!

sis jhandee san ba kayo? If sa ontario kayo and malapit sa vaughan, patry mo sa kanya mag walk in sa vaughan mills na mall. Nagwalk in ako dun, kahit papano may mga tumawag sakin for interview kahit na wala ako retail experience. And yun nga may job offer din ako nakuha dun as sales assoc. mabilis lang din 1 day processing. Sis may mga neighbors kaming pinoy, mga senior na din. Parang pampalipas oras nila para di mainip and extra income nadin, nagbabantay ng mga kids habang nasa bahay nila. Yung kakilala ko, instead na sa day care nya enroll anak nya habang nasa work sya, pinapabantayan na lang nya sa neighbor nila na pinoy din. Baka mas ok un para sa dad mo.