I just wanted to tell my experience in case it's useful for anybody in a similar situation
I got my PR FSW visa a few months ago after almost 4 years of processing. Until I got my visa, I did not mention anything to my employer, a multinational company. Once I got the visa, I communicated to them, very openly, my plans for moving to Canada; while I could have left my post quite soon after the announcement, I promised to stay a long period to allow them to find a replacement for my position (and kept my promise).
In the meantime, I invested most of that time networking with a few peers I knew in my company at Canada; they, in turn, put myself in contact with key decision makers in the Canadian offices. At the same time, given the good relationship I had with my management, they were very eager to recommend me to this people (they had no direct management responsibilities for the company's Canadian business). After a long process, including everything from emails to calls and interviews, I got a job offer to start working with them a few weeks after my landing date. Needless to say, this is priceless...
In a nutshell, while this is only the experience of one person in one particular multinational company, if you work for a company that has presence in Canada there are some tips that can be helpful for getting a potential job there:
-While waiting for your visa, work very hard and effectively to ensure that your management has a nice image of you. Even if getting a job with the Canadian subsidiary could not be an option, your image will be directly related to the references they can provide you. In addition, if English or French are not used often at workplace, work hard on strengthen your language skills in the waiting period: the Canadian managers may not feel compelled to hire you, despite your experience and references, if you cannot communicate effectively since day 1.
-When communicating your plans to the company, be very open AND consistent; make sure they don't hear different versions of your story from different sources.
-Use the regular channels in place at your company, if available, to get in touch with the potential Canadian bosses. This could be via your regular management line, but it's likely to be different depending on your company culture.
-Be sensitive to your current location company issues: if you are an experienced employee, finding a replacement for you may not be an easy task. If possible (and again, according to internal policies) try to be proactive at getting somebody to fill your position and make your boss' life easier. In addition, notify your decision well ahead of your departure date; if you are planning to make landing a return within a few days to later settle definitively, this could serve for both purposes.
-Be sensitive to your Canadian company issues: possibly their functional or company goals there could be slightly or very different, so spend some quality time understanding what they are looking in an employee and why you would be a better pick vs. a local hire. Visualize how your current skills and experience can strengthen the Canadian organization in a way that nobody else could. Try to expand your internal network to include as much Canadian peers as possible; while they may not provide a reference (in case you did not get to work with them in your current location), they can provide valuable hints on how the company works in Canada.
-Even if you cannot lock a job before you settle definitively, ensure that you will in good terms with your management. While Canadian Experience is a great barrier for getting the first job, having an internal reference from your home country is better than just a standard reference, as the Canadian employer is more likely to call your previous management for an extended discussion of your skills, talents and experience.
Again, very personal experience and may not apply in many cases, but for those who are in a similar position, hope it can be useful.
I got my PR FSW visa a few months ago after almost 4 years of processing. Until I got my visa, I did not mention anything to my employer, a multinational company. Once I got the visa, I communicated to them, very openly, my plans for moving to Canada; while I could have left my post quite soon after the announcement, I promised to stay a long period to allow them to find a replacement for my position (and kept my promise).
In the meantime, I invested most of that time networking with a few peers I knew in my company at Canada; they, in turn, put myself in contact with key decision makers in the Canadian offices. At the same time, given the good relationship I had with my management, they were very eager to recommend me to this people (they had no direct management responsibilities for the company's Canadian business). After a long process, including everything from emails to calls and interviews, I got a job offer to start working with them a few weeks after my landing date. Needless to say, this is priceless...
In a nutshell, while this is only the experience of one person in one particular multinational company, if you work for a company that has presence in Canada there are some tips that can be helpful for getting a potential job there:
-While waiting for your visa, work very hard and effectively to ensure that your management has a nice image of you. Even if getting a job with the Canadian subsidiary could not be an option, your image will be directly related to the references they can provide you. In addition, if English or French are not used often at workplace, work hard on strengthen your language skills in the waiting period: the Canadian managers may not feel compelled to hire you, despite your experience and references, if you cannot communicate effectively since day 1.
-When communicating your plans to the company, be very open AND consistent; make sure they don't hear different versions of your story from different sources.
-Use the regular channels in place at your company, if available, to get in touch with the potential Canadian bosses. This could be via your regular management line, but it's likely to be different depending on your company culture.
-Be sensitive to your current location company issues: if you are an experienced employee, finding a replacement for you may not be an easy task. If possible (and again, according to internal policies) try to be proactive at getting somebody to fill your position and make your boss' life easier. In addition, notify your decision well ahead of your departure date; if you are planning to make landing a return within a few days to later settle definitively, this could serve for both purposes.
-Be sensitive to your Canadian company issues: possibly their functional or company goals there could be slightly or very different, so spend some quality time understanding what they are looking in an employee and why you would be a better pick vs. a local hire. Visualize how your current skills and experience can strengthen the Canadian organization in a way that nobody else could. Try to expand your internal network to include as much Canadian peers as possible; while they may not provide a reference (in case you did not get to work with them in your current location), they can provide valuable hints on how the company works in Canada.
-Even if you cannot lock a job before you settle definitively, ensure that you will in good terms with your management. While Canadian Experience is a great barrier for getting the first job, having an internal reference from your home country is better than just a standard reference, as the Canadian employer is more likely to call your previous management for an extended discussion of your skills, talents and experience.
Again, very personal experience and may not apply in many cases, but for those who are in a similar position, hope it can be useful.
