Canadian Career Coach said:
Lately, I've noticed A LOT of discussion about the importance of Canadian work experience.
I think many on this forum are just trying to share their personal experiences and wisdom.
It's not meant to sound discouraging -- but it's important to understand the actual realities -- not what the government says - but from immigrants who have already landed and gone through this experience firsthand. They are living the issues every day, so they have some inside knowledge.
I think it would be a HUGE benefit to those who've not landed yet to hear firsthand experience from those who've experienced this issue once landing in Canada.
If you've already landed in Canada, share your personal experiences (both positive and negative) about the challenges you faced about not having Canadian work experience. What did you do? Was retraining involved and did you eventually land in your previous work area?
Thanks for asking the question Canadian Career Coach...
I landed in Nov 2009 and still haven't found work (now to be fair I don't have to take a survival job as my partner can support us both). I did not move to Canada for a "better life/opportunity" or anything like that and I didn't come through the skilled worker program. I came through Family Class after years of hoping my partner would find work where I live (He's in telecom). It became clear that one of us would have to make a career sacrifice if we were to ever live together. Given the choices, our career paths, and earnings potential, it made the most sense for me to move here. Given that, I thought I would encounter some transition issues, but I did not think I would really and truly have to start over!
I'm from the US and have a BS and Masters degree with 20 years work experience mostly in private school teaching high school mathematics, but I have also been the VP of a for profit consulting firm and the Associate Director of a national non-profit organization. I have accessed all kinds of newcomer services, temporary employment agencies, etc (in addition to networking and sending resumes for job postings on my own) in an attempt to find a job. Most of these services are oriented to helping those who have less skills (esp communication, but also job search skills) and I have been told more than once that I would not be well-served by the programs offered. It's flattering but disheartening to hear "you are too well-qualified" and "you should have no problems finding work"...it makes me want to scream "But I am having problems finding work! Where can I go for help?"
I am currently re-training in a co-op accounting program (I'm getting High School credit for it too) learning Simply Accounting and all but one of my classmates are immigrants. Almost all have university degrees and work experiences in our home countries but have had little or no success finding permanent work in their respective fields here (and so many of them have accounting degrees and/or experience). I was quite surprised to find how difficult it is for all of us to break into the market here.
The one thing I've noticed is that no one will come out and say "You have no Canadian experience" (probably because it is a violation of the Canadian Human Rights Charter or some such titled document); you just don't get a call for an interview. When you don't get that call 100s of times for positions you are well or overly qualified for, you start to wonder if that lack of experience is the real reason...
Hopefully, through my co-op placement, which is a 6 week unpaid internship in a Canadian company, I will acquire a letter of reference and enough Can work experience to supplement my resume and find a permanent entry-level accounting position. I suspect that once through the door, finding work will be a easier. We shall see; I'm trying my best to remain positive. Allison