My experience - Getting a job in Canada with my current multinational employer

[ucan]

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.

 

[CharlotteJ]

or stay just where you are if you got a good job anyway!

 

[ucan]

I guess if people would just like to keep their jobs where they are, they would not even open up this website to start with!

I was a silent reader of your post for a long time, and just because you did not find what you were looking for/expecting in Canada does not mean somebody else cannot, and I am the living evidence that people, under some circumstances, can even get a job before landing to Canada. This post is aimed at being an objective review of the things people in these circumstances can do to improve their chances of getting a job, rather than a subjective point of view on whether people should keep their jobs where they are.

Perhaps for somebody like you, coming from Western Europe, keeping a job in your home country (and returning to it as you are) will probably be a nice option, but for people coming from countries like mine, where you are politically prosecuted for opposing the government and where the crime toll is 20,000 murders/year, a "good job" will not buy many of the things we aspire in life. Just for you to try to see things from a different angle.

 

[newtone]

ucan whats the name of the company?

 

[hankgong]

Ucan, thank you very much. Your post is very helpful. After reading it, I can tell that you are very responsible person and have a clear vision about what you want. Congratulations...

 

[CharlotteJ]

I guess if people would just like to keep their jobs where they are, they would not even open up this website to start with!

I was a silent reader of your post for a long time, and just because you did not find what you were looking for/expecting in Canada does not mean somebody else cannot, and I am the living evidence that people, under some circumstances, can even get a job before landing to Canada. This post is aimed at being an objective review of the things people in these circumstances can do to improve their chances of getting a job, rather than a subjective point of view on whether people should keep their jobs where they are.

Perhaps for somebody like you, coming from Western Europe, keeping a job in your home country (and returning to it as you are) will probably be a nice option, but for people coming from countries like mine, where you are politically prosecuted for opposing the government and where the crime toll is 20,000 murders/year, a "good job" will not buy many of the things we aspire in life. Just for you to try to see things from a different angle.

For your information, I actually found a great job in Canada just on the day I was supposed to take my flight back home! I didn't post it here and didn't pay attention to that at all and thanked them for their interest and the time they spent reviewing my resume and skills etc. And I better not tell you all about that or else you all would tell me I was out of my mind to have said No.

They offered me 45K a year, starting immediately but after a 2 months training and will enrol into a world of Marketing and Communication and as a certified bilingual, working right downtown among skyscrapers. But I just wanted to come back.

Anyway, you are right on the fact that one should work really hard networking and trying to secure a job prior to landing. That is all I can tell and advice on my behalf to the newcomers to Canada, especially Toronto being a really expensive city and I will not advice anbody to live the kind of lifestyle I was living being a newbe in town, having my own personal assistant at Holt Renfrew!

Networking is OH SO IMPORTANT in Canada! ... if you can't communicate thoroughly and in the way Canadians are used to, then at least try to improve your communications skills prior to landing and take up some courses and please do not be shy to talk to people. You really would never know, but sometimes the most average people on the street that you might meet, will have a job on hold for you!

Take up challenges and trust in yourself, no need to be shy, be a shark or you ll be eaten raw. Competition is so tough there and only winners will take it all.

And nobody should take me as example, I was just a spoiled European girl with an exclusive expensive taste that thought: OH let's try living in Canada, because I can buy Michael Kors, MaxMara, Juicy Couture, Betsey Johnson bla bla bla easier and less expensive and no need to fly off and on to North America so I become new immigrant!

Bad example!

Gosh I am so happy Harrods is now selling all of the exclusive North American designers and brands but also Le Primtemps in Paris is starting to take them seriousely.

 

[ucan]

And I better not tell you all about that or else you all would tell me I was out of my mind to have said No.

I don't think you are out of your mind at all. You simply have more work & lifestyle choices to choose from than many of us. Good luck back home

Ucan, thank you very much. Your post is very helpful. After reading it, I can tell that you are very responsible person and have a clear vision about what you want. Congratulations...

Thanks Hankgong. As long as there is 1 person that can benefit from this perspective, this post would have fulfilled its purpose.

ucan whats the name of the company?

Sorry Newtone, I'd rather keep it confidential. However, I can tell you that I was somewhat inspired by a guy (I think from India, working in IT area) who wrote in this forum (don't recall exactly where is the post) that he would had better waited and do other things to improve his chances of getting employed in Canada with the same company he was working for back home. I offer the other side of the story, stressing the importance, as CharlotteJ stated, as appropriate networking, in this case internal company networking.

 

[clubcanada]

ucan: good job - well done. you have understood how the market here works. bascially it's not so much about getting a transfer within your company. it's about reaching out to people within your network...

 

[ucan]

Thanks clubcanada

 

[bijupv007]

Thanks clubcanada

Congrats , u did a great thing and now ur safe

good luck always

Biju

 

[CharlotteJ]

I don't think you are out of your mind at all. You simply have more work & lifestyle choices to choose from than many of us. Good luck back home
Thanks Hankgong. As long as there is 1 person that can benefit from this perspective, this post would have fulfilled its purpose.
Sorry Newtone, I'd rather keep it confidential. However, I can tell you that I was somewhat inspired by a guy (I think from India, working in IT area) who wrote in this forum (don't recall exactly where is the post) that he would had better waited and do other things to improve his chances of getting employed in Canada with the same company he was working for back home. I offer the other side of the story, stressing the importance, as CharlotteJ stated, as appropriate networking, in this case internal company networking.

Thank you Ucan ... I indeed got better options and choices by comparison. In 2 weeks time after my return, I got a job and in the meantime, looking carefully for better options job-wise, there are plenty especially now that immigration law has become tougher for outsiders and so companies in dire need of good skilled local workers, but I just am happy and enjoying sunshine, the country side, the tastes and flavours and all and wishing everybody over there good luck in all aspects of life.

Good luck to you and congrats with the new job and new life. A job makes life much easier and opens all doors. Whatever you do, just don't buy yourself into debt and much of all that is available out there and be careful and build up a new future with least of debt. Ok?

We are going to see some harsh times ahead again as it seems now USA is going to introduce its own austerity measures plus China, the largest Canadian trading counterpart and client, also going to slow down. So be careful.

Hugs