Telecom Jobs in Canada - RF Engr.-

[TAwfig]

I am Allison VSC's partner and I work for a Canadian Telecom operator. I am also an EE and Accountant.

Job opportunities for RF Engineers in Canada are pretty good. Although generally the growth of the industry is constrained by regulations which need to be revisited (e.g., foreign ownership restrictions), the rapid increase in wireless data traffic, and emergence of wireless substitutes to traditional services (e.g., mobile TV, WBB) is putting stress on the national wireless infrastructure, and network RF engineering teams are quite busy.

Beyond operators, many consultancy businesses and several equipment suppliers (RIM, Nokia...) also hire talent in the RF engineering arena.

A couple of caveats:

- Preferable to establish contacts in the prospective hiring companies before making any major commitment to moving to Canada - if your professional project is the main reason for the move. An exploratory trip may be a good thing.

- Be willing to show some flexibility about the job location: Ontario is well endowed in wireless companies (Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto), even if the recent recession has put some of the smaller ones temporarily in the ropes; but other provinces such as Quebec and Alberta also offer opportunities (including in avionics for Quebec).

- If you are not proficient in French this will be a problem in Quebec (may not be unsurmountable if you do not have to work with the public). If you are, this will be an opportunity in many places, elsewhere in Canada.

- Finally, once you have circumscribed your target province get familiar with the provincial Professional Engineers body and make contact to understand what they require to recognize your particular engineering credentials. The sooner you do this the more time you will save and problems you will avoid. Many jobs with Telecom operators either require Canadian P.Eng. credentials, or consider it an asset (yes, this is a protectionist gig, but better work with them than against them).

Good luck.

[bonbon9]

- Finally, once you have circumscribed your target province get familiar with the provincial Professional Engineers body and make contact to understand what they require to recognize your particular engineering credentials. The sooner you do this the more time you will save and problems you will avoid. Many jobs with Telecom operators either require Canadian P.Eng. credentials, or consider it an asset (yes, this is a protectionist gig, but better work with them than against them).

Good luck.

Hello, Allison's partner
I have been checking P.Eng in Ontario, from their website I learned that in order to become a PEO we need to have Canadian work experience in the field:

To become a professional engineer, applicants must meet the following criteria:

    be at least 18 years of age;
    graduate with at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited Canadian engineering program, or meet PEO's education standards;
    successfully complete PEO's Professional Practice Examination on ethics, practice, engineering law and professional liability; and
    obtain four years of verifiable, acceptable work experience, with at least one year in a Canadian jurisdiction under a licensed professional engineer.


I guess this would be an asset to have ready for a second or third job opportunity in the field? As I see we cannot be licensed without having experience... Any advice is appreciated.

[AllisonVSC]

Hi Bonbon, It's Allison. There are a number of "bridging programs" in the Toronto area that connect engineers with employers who can help them get the job experience needed to get credentialed. If you Google "bridging programs in ontario for engineers" you will find many of them. That should get you started.

[bonbon9]

Hi Bonbon, It's Allison. There are a number of "bridging programs" in the Toronto area that connect engineers with employers who can help them get the job experience needed to get credentialed. If you Google "bridging programs in ontario for engineers" you will find many of them. That should get you started.

Thank you, Allison!

[josephdadreamer]

Anymore ? I recently gain some 4G stuff knowledge here in the US.

[horace1845]

How about for Telecom AC/DC Power jobs?

[olasope]

i am opeyemi ,how can i get started i want to work in canada

[AllisonVSC]

i am opeyemi ,how can i get started i want to work in canada

Do you have status in Canada? PR, valid work permit, temp work permit?
Check out the first and third folders here. http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/index.php

[salmi105]

Regarding non-technical jobs in the telecom industry? I have worked in Nokia customer service departments for 6 years, and currently I am a learning and development manager within the customer service division, I also have a PhD in technology management and my thesis was on mobile phones, what kind of opportunities I could find?
Note: I was responsible also for Nokia Canada customer service and call center learning and development remotely, so I am wondering how could this help in terms of having Canadian experience?

[josephdadreamer]

salmi105,

I would like to share my experience , i landed couple of months ago i was desperately looking for jobs i have no canadian experience at all , i did some couple of interviews and revised my resume multiple times , but just recently i got a job offer from a big company without my canadian job experience .  I guess in the field of telecommunications and IT , it wouldn't matter ....just my 2 cents....

joseph

Regarding non-technical jobs in the telecom industry? I have worked in Nokia customer service departments for 6 years, and currently I am a learning and development manager within the customer service division, I also have a PhD in technology management and my thesis was on mobile phones, what kind of opportunities I could find?
Note: I was responsible also for Nokia Canada customer service and call center learning and development remotely, so I am wondering how could this help in terms of having Canadian experience?

[newtone]

 @  josephdadreamer please share the name of the company so that it will be helpful to other new immigrants and everyone else in this forum

[salmi105]

salmi105,

I would like to share my experience , i landed couple of months ago i was desperately looking for jobs i have no canadian experience at all , i did some couple of interviews and revised my resume multiple times , but just recently i got a job offer from a big company without my canadian job experience .  I guess in the field of telecommunications and IT , it wouldn't matter ....just my 2 cents....

joseph

Good stuff, congrats Joseph,

Just wondering, which your job in a technical capacity or non-technical? i enjoy working in the business side of telecommunication, specially, the mobile phone indsutry, stuffs related to consuomer behaviour and such, is that an issue over there for new immigrants?