How to Get a Job in My Career Field?

[jithucan123]

Hello Friends,

Hope you guys are doing good.

I am an Economics graduate and had done Computer courses. I worked for 5 years as Admin Assistant in India and as a Sr. Document (Presentation) Specialist for 5 years for one of the World's Top Investment Banking Client in India.

I am a Canadian PR and landed on 2014 March 4 in Canada. I moved to Lloydminster on March 5. I worked just 6 months in the year 2014 in Superstore and in a Liquor Store. Since It doesn't add anything in my career, I quit the jobs and left to Edmonton. I got a job which is somewhat related to my career field. But unfortunately I lost my job after 3 months as the contract ended in 2015 June 23. So again I am jobless. Since it is very hard to meet the expenses with my family, we decided to go back to India. We will be going this month last and planning to back to Canada in 2016 March. I have few questions:

1) I am looking for an Office jobs or a job where at least I can sit and work, So which city is more suitable for us. I am not at all bothered about the climate, expenses, people, I am just focusing on a job in my career field.

2) Do I have to go for any courses from Canada? If I go for OSAP it would be really helpful for us to do a course in Canada. But I don't have much idea about it

3) Is there any advantage for me if I do A+ certification course from India?

4) I have only 9 months of Canadian Experience (6 months in shops and 3 months in an Office) does it make any differences or any advantages for me to find a job?

Please reply.

Thanks,
Jithesh

 

[Jalex23]

1) I am looking for an Office jobs or a job where at least I can sit and work, So which city is more suitable for us. I am not at all bothered about the climate, expenses, people, I am just focusing on a job in my career field.

Toronto and Vancouver have more jobs and also more competition...

2) Do I have to go for any courses from Canada? If I go for OSAP it would be really helpful for us to do a course in Canada. But I don't have much idea about it

Studies in Canada are a must if you plan to enter into something you like.

3) Is there any advantage for me if I do A+ certification course from India?

Not really. BTW drop the "I have 5 years experience"... your experience only counts if it is Canadian. Maybe you can argue you have those years of experience AFTER you have completed some work in Canada in a relevant position.

4) I have only 9 months of Canadian Experience (6 months in shops and 3 months in an Office) does it make any differences or any advantages for me to find a job?

Yes. Any Canadian experience is valuable.

 

[jithucan123]

Thanks a lot for your valuable reply. I finally decided to go Toronto. After I am settled I will bring my family. Once again thanks a lot. Have a great time

 

[Jalex23]

Thanks a lot for your valuable reply. I finally decided to go Toronto. After I am settled I will bring my family. Once again thanks a lot. Have a great time

That is the correct way of doing things. Settle first then bring your family.... unless you have the means to support them without any income for the first 6 months.

 

[jithucan123]

Thanks a lot.

I have already wasted our 1 year. When we landed Canada, we moved to Lloydminster (Border City of Canada AB-SK Border City). That was a very wrong decision. I got a job on my 23rd day but it was in a Shop and the offices and office jobs are rare or those guys are not offering any jobs without a Canadian Experience or Canadian Education.

Any way past is past. Now I decided to go Toronto and focus on the job hunting, keeping in mind that for the initial 4-6 months I won't get a job and it would be a struggling period. But if I get a job where at least I can sit and work I will go for that job and I am less care about the salary and benefits, I am looking for Canadian experience in an Office Environment

Once again thanks a lot for your reply

 

[mrbeachman]

Funny how some people are saying your career is irrelevant, but to the other hopeful immigrants the Canadian cheer leading brigade keeps saying that jobs in Canada are plenty.

Anyway, I think you are making a huge mistake moving to Toronto just to look for an office job. These jobs are extremely competitive and unless you have a specific skill (like being fluent French) you will have a hard time getting a job. Toronto is also extremely expensive.... I am not sure if this is something you really researched before making this decision.

If you really want to move to Toronto, I would advise you to forget about office work and look into security jobs. There are hundreds of condos being built in Toronto and the job is relatively easy and pays ok. You just need to take a couple of short courses and you are set.

I would also look into getting anything real estate related. Otherwise, you will just end up in Shoppers Drugmart... and trust me.... these wages are not sufficient even for a single person living in shared accommodation. Good luck.

 

[jithucan123]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your reply. Well, I worked as a Document (Presentation) Specialist for 5 year in my Home country with an Investment Banking Client's Presentation Project. My job was like creating charts, creating complex documents and graphic objects in Word/PowerPoint, formatting documents etc in a tight deadline with 0% of error and what to say, I am "Addicted" to that job. So I don't want to change to another career field and I am looking for a job which is some what related to what I had done and what I am capable. I know it is childish and an impractical decision. But I don't want to do a job where I am not a good fit and I can't give my 100% . So I decided to take that huge risk.


Thanks

 

[mrbeachman]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your reply. Well, I worked as a Document (Presentation) Specialist for 5 year in my Home country with an Investment Banking Client's Presentation Project. My job was like creating charts, creating complex documents and graphic objects in Word/PowerPoint, formatting documents etc in a tight deadline with 0% of error and what to say, I am "Addicted" to that job. So I don't want to change to another career field and I am looking for a job which is some what related to what I had done and what I am capable. I know it is childish and an impractical decision. But I don't want to do a job where I am not a good fit and I can't give my 100% . So I decided to take that huge risk.


Thanks

In that case give it your best shot if you really want to do this. My answer was really more towards regular office jobs. Hopefully you will find an employer who will give you a chance and appreciate your experience regardless of where it comes from.

All the best

 

[jithucan123]

Thanks a lot for your reply.

My plan is like this: Got to Toronto and search for an Office job and for cover the expenses I want to do Part time jobs in evenings say 6-10 and also on Saturday and Sundays. I think I will be more free and the expenses will be less since my family is not with me, though I would miss them very badly.

Thanks once again for your reply

 

[Jalex23]

Funny how some people are saying your career is irrelevant, but to the other hopeful immigrants the Canadian cheer leading brigade keeps saying that jobs in Canada are plenty.

The info is not contradicting. There are plenty of jobs all over the place, that is true.... but this in no way or fashion implies that jobs are just waiting to be taken by anyone who happens to drop by. If you have the correct background (Canadian recognized studies), experience (Canadian) and skillset you will have no trouble at all finding a job.

That said, yes, plenty of jobs all over the place in almost all areas.

 

[mrbeachman]

The info is not contradicting. There are plenty of jobs all over the place, that is true.... but this in no way or fashion implies that jobs are just waiting to be taken by anyone who happens to drop by. If you have the correct background (Canadian recognized studies), experience (Canadian) and skillset you will have no trouble at all finding a job.

That said, yes, plenty of jobs all over the place in almost all areas.

If you sit from another country and browse through all the usual job sites, you will indeed see many jobs posted. However hundreds and sometimes thousands of people apply for 1 job. So yes, in fact there aren't plenty of jobs in Canada.

 

[Jalex23]

If you sit from another country and browse through all the usual job sites, you will indeed see many jobs posted. However hundreds and sometimes thousands of people apply for 1 job. So yes, in fact there aren't plenty of jobs in Canada.

I think the confusion comes from the word "plenty". "Plenty" doesn't mean jobs are waiting for for anyone to take them nor that there are more jobs than applicants.

Said that there are plenty of jobs in Canada (just recently we had 4 openings in here with no more than 30 applicants).


Wouldn't know about abroad. Looking for a job in Canada from abroad sounds a little over the top to me. The chances are so slim that you are basically wasting your time.

 

[Amy2Canada]

What are the document requirements for getting a job? in IT industry ?

In my home country, relieving letter of previous organizations, educational documents and ID proofs are sufficient.

I hope it would be similar? But since it would all be foreign education, work ex etc. How it is required over here?

Cheers,
Amy

 

[Amy2Canada]

What are the document requirements for getting a job? in IT industry ?

In my home country, relieving letter of previous organizations, educational documents and ID proofs are sufficient.

I hope it would be similar? But since it would all be foreign education, work ex etc. How it is required over here?

Cheers,
Amy

Can anybody comment on the query please?

Cheers,
Amy

 

[Lammawitch]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your reply. Well, I worked as a Document (Presentation) Specialist for 5 year in my Home country with an Investment Banking Client's Presentation Project. My job was like creating charts, creating complex documents and graphic objects in Word/PowerPoint, formatting documents etc in a tight deadline with 0% of error and what to say, I am "Addicted" to that job. So I don't want to change to another career field and I am looking for a job which is some what related to what I had done and what I am capable. I know it is childish and an impractical decision. But I don't want to do a job where I am not a good fit and I can't give my 100% . So I decided to take that huge risk.


Thanks

Have you adapted your cv/resume to a Canadian format? Do you have a kickass LinkedIn profile highlighting your skills? Are you networking with people in your field/companies?

Have you researched job titles commonly used in Canada which correspond to your work experience? I'm asking because the job title you use in your post, & the tasks you describe, could come under several job titles in Canada, none of which remotely resemble "Document (presentation) Specialist".

Canadian employers might simply not "get" what you are talking about! Your resume has about 5 seconds to "hook" the person reading it when you apply for a job.

Reading how you describe your job, that could come under "secretary", "executive secretary", "admin assistant" "PA" ... Etc etc ad infinitem ...