Starting Life in CANADA 2: Tips and Stories

[showermist]

Mga sis, I badly need your help. I'm leaving 5 days from now. Sobrang biglaan lang kasi bigla-bigla din nagpapunta yung employer ko sa Canada. Ask ko lang, anong means of communication nyo dito sa Pinas? huhuhu! For 8 years, it'll be the first time na maghihiwalay kami ni bf. Aside from Viber, Skype and fb, ano pa ba? gusto ko kasi yung anytime of the day pwede kami kahit text man lang or chat. ano bang sim jan sa Canada? Oh myyyy

Yoyu can also download chikka text. So you dont need to buy an extra sim card and you don't need to carry another phone. You can reply via chikka too. Although they will paying P2 yata for every text they will send you. But the convenience naman is better. hehe

If you carry a smartphone and he carries one, facebook messenger or ym are as good.

[showermist]

Who are from Calgary, Alberta here?

I am planning to move out of [textspeak!]. I've been contemplating on moving to Calgary but I am scared of the weather. My cousin who just moved there few months ago is discouraging me to move! 

[sarsingkit]

kung weather lang yan, madali gawan ng paraan sis. unless na lang may sakit ka that is trigerred by cold or something. pero marami din atang job opportunities dun. the petrol industry is there. My college friend works there for Shell as accounting staff. plus of course real state is cheaper compare to [textspeak!].

Naalala ko lang. yung relative ni hubby move here in winnipeg from burnaby. nung first time nya na-experience ang snow dito around december tinanong nya kami kung kelan matutunaw ang snow because he is expecting na in 2 days or so eh matutunaw na. sabi ni MIL, "dont worry, sa april tunaw na yan" LOL

[showermist]

^You have a point there. I don't have issues with cold weather. In fact I like it. It's just that I am not used to having a lot of snow. Your friend from Burnaby is right--we expect the snow to melt in two days or so. Not months.

Career wise, I am okay here. But my husband is a chemist. And he wants to work as a chemist. He doesn't want to resort into doing menial jobs. I know for a fact that there are more opportunities for him in Calgary and honestly, so do I. I could always find another work or even ask for a transfer.

I have settled here in Vancouver. Parang wala akong courage to uproot myself again and start anew.

[peaceinsolitude]

Mga sis, I badly need your help. I'm leaving 5 days from now. Sobrang biglaan lang kasi bigla-bigla din nagpapunta yung employer ko sa Canada. Ask ko lang, anong means of communication nyo dito sa Pinas? huhuhu! For 8 years, it'll be the first time na maghihiwalay kami ni bf. Aside from Viber, Skype and fb, ano pa ba? gusto ko kasi yung anytime of the day pwede kami kahit text man lang or chat. ano bang sim jan sa Canada? Oh myyyy

Imessage

[peaceinsolitude]

May kilala po ba kayong pumunta dun only on a tourist visa? Sabi kasi may mga nagwowork dun na tourist. Isn't that illegal?

By the way I'm planning to go to Alberta via some relatives. I'm planning to take a housekeeping course here with OJT. Do you think that would help me be more employable? Sabi ng Tita ko there are openings sa Tim Hortons pero 800 ang sweldo isn't that a bit too  low?

Also I read about the Provincial Nominee Program. Where did you, and how can I get an employer directly while Im still here in the PH?

[Elle]

^ Sis I am not from Alberta ha, I'm here in Montreal, Quebec. Illegal na mag-work if you don't have work permit. They will ask for your visa status when you apply and get interviewed. Pag na-hire ka they will ask for your SIN which you can only get if you have the proper eligibility. Wag mo i-risk lalo na kung may plano ka naman talaga mag-migrate dito. Madaming opening for FCA, ask Mercan jan sa may Rob Galleria. Madaming taga-canada visa forum ang nakakuha ng sponsorship thru Mercan. And 800 is very low. If you are here on work permit you cannot work for any other employer except the one who sponsored you. Siguro you can do babysitting pag may kakilala ka ng mga Pinoy for extra money. Pero 800 is not a liveable salary here. Ang mahal mahal ng bilihin dito. Tax is so high and here in Montreal, sales tax is 15%. All over Canada naman eh mahal talaga. Only thing is social services in Canada is really good lalong lalo na ang healthcare. So isip muna Sis, carefully weigh your options. Best of luck to you!

Just an update, I already got a job! 2 months after arriving here in Montreal, thank God at nakahanap na din ako ng trabaho na in line with my career. I am in IT btw. Tyaga lang talaga and good thing kahit di ako marunong mag-French eh natanggap ako. They will get a private tutor for me para matuto ako mag-French. I'm really happy and so blessed.

[rave21lala]

i have plans of studying in canada. saan ba maganda mag-aral, vancouver , winnipeg o toronto? related sa healthcare ang course for 2 years. wala akong relatives sa canada. and saan kaya ako makakahanap agad ng employer?

[showermist]

^I cannot speak for other cities but in Vancouver healthcare is on a long waiting list. There are other institutions that are competition entry. And there are institutions naman that requires prerequisites. Such prereqs include a 100 hour volunteer to a certain institution, a 10 units of chem/math/ science, business english etc etc. And there is the private institution na mas madaling makapasok but the tuition is higher of course. For example an LPN in a private school is around $25k for those citizens and PRs here. Dagdagan mo pa yan kung international student ka.

[lonelymiss28]

True, i took up LPN and it took me 4 yrs to get in.

[rave21lala]

gusto ko sana yung course na may co-op kaso bihira naman yung health related course na meron.

[Dyuan]

Meron po ako kaibigan na nag attend ng Orientation/ Seminar sa Energy Manpower Services Inc., ang sabi doon madami nga daw kailangan na Housekeeping and Food Beverages through Canadian Temporary Foreign Program, i train ka nila sa Training for Excellence Corporation of the Philippines, Training Center ito pero kelangan mo :

Training Fee: 48k. Pero pwede 3 gives ( 15k down payment, 18k one month after start ng class, 15k before final exam)
Schedule: MWF ang schedule 4 hours each day. 190 hours at 300 hours na OJT.
Expected Salary: 14 CAD minimum- 20 CAD per Hour x 8 hour ng work

After ng training, saka ipapasa ng agency ang resume mo sa employer sa Canada, pag napili ka tatawagan ka ng agency at mag aantay ka ng 3-4 months para sa Visa kasi matagal daw mag process. libre na daw ang airfare, ang housing naman mag provide sila, pero 1/3 ng sahod mo ang counter part mo. Madami nga daw sumusugal like Bank Manager, Nurse, IT, though naka alis naman na sila, after 2 years candidate ka na din for Immigrant.

Nakaka takot sumugal, una meron bayad, and pangalawa sa dami ng related sa course at meron experience, siyempre mas malaki ang chance mapili sila (admin job ako). Though willing ako mag change ng career para din sana makuha ko pamilya ko, nakaka takot pa din, kasi maiiwan ko mga anak ko at asawa ko dito.

Ano po sa palagay ninyo dito?

[rave21lala]

^eh pano kung hindi naman makuha?edi sayang yung 48k?sana magkaron din sila for caregiver para hindi naman masyado malayo sa background kung nurse ang mag-aapply.

[Dyuan]

Yun nga, kaya NO NO na agad si husband..

[rave21lala]

tsaka ganon ba kadali na mahire? syempre yung employer kukunin na lang yung ngaapply na talagang may experience na kesa sa training lang. malabo yun, bka maging goodbye 48k lang.

[jhandee]

yung friend ko na interview kahapon via skype para sa mcdo, saskatchewan . Sagot nya medical at ticket, $10 /hr ang rate nya, kung mcdo mag provide ng house, salary deduction. Buti na lang manager ng mcdo yung brother in law nya di na sya mamumroblema sa house.

[Dyuan]

^ ok yan sis ah, tyaga lang sa umpisa.. so related work experience din siya dito sa pinas?

[jhandee]

hindi nga sis wala syang experience kahit sa food chain. Csr lang sa call center,yung isang kasama nya cashier sa mercury drug, sabi nga nya i rerefer nya ako pag kailangan pa,hintay lang daw nya yung go signal sa employer para sa medical, Ang bait daw ng canadian na nag interview sa kanya, basic lang din daw ang mga questions. sabi din ng ate ko, booming daw kasi sa saskatchewan ngayon, konti lang din tao kaya , nag ha hire sila ng foreign employees. Ang tagal din kasi ng provincial nominee, naiinip na nga din ate ko.

[Dyuan]

Refer mo kami lahat sis jhandee haha

[jhandee]

lol naku sis kung pwede nga lang lahat tayo dito eh , makapunta na dun asap, im getting old na din, ang higpit din kasi ngayon, swertihan na lang talaga.