First of all, let me apologize for being out of the scene for a few months. Second I am very thankful to everyone for their help during the immigration process. I landed in Canada on Feb 22, 2013 and the reason of being out of the scene was to get a good idea of Canada before I advise something.
So, I landed in Feb: Toronto covered in snow. I initially stayed for 2 days in safehomestay and then moved to a shared apartment with students. I wanted to keep the expenditure low, so 425 per month including utilities per seperate room was a great offer for me. Additionally, they were very friendly and they were sharing everything except underwears lol so I was using all their utensils, pillows and blankets. I was new to Toronto and I would highly recommend something like for a single person, as there are alot of right decisions we need to take. For example, their apartment was right infront of subway station, it wasnt very expensive, the building was average with low cost, I wasnt supposed to pay the first and last month, they were willing for any type of help, they even offered to pick me from the airport but I said no. I thought they might get a better offer and would rent the room to somebody else so precautionally I stayed in safehomestay to see how things go.. but I was wrong, they were short of money as they were students but they were honest.
I took of 3 months vacation from my job in Pakistan and I thought if things wouldnt go well for me in canada, I would come back to pakistan and would plan properly and move back after an year with agood plan.
The job process was the most challenging I experienced. I got 5-10 calls per day when I began to apply but no real interviews, thats all. I was 100% in all the interviews, I downgraded my CV, talked to recruitment agencies, distributed my CV, joined social community services but no use. I wasnt tensed in a sense I had a good job back home and atleast I was safe. after 25 days of direct applies, I changed my strategy, I contacted everybody in my circle, I kept asking for references from strangers and booom:
I landed in a job on 35th day of my landing. People kept on telling me okay ask that guy, ok call that guy tell him we ABC is reffering you. The job was pretty good SENIOR NETWORK ENGINEER. It was enough for me to send a resign back home. Believe me, when I got the offer letter, I was travelling by subway, passing through kennedy station and that big canadian flag right infront of the station looked so wonderful. Yes, for the first time after my landing.
Things began to change, I got myself a good car, I shifted to an apartment of my own, I am working hard and still trying to balance my life as immigration is a rebirth and everything would be new for you.
Some tips for newcommers:
Network: this is must otherwise you might be in odd jobs even after 15 years.
First job: First job in your field is a must, spend an year of two in that job and then sky is the limit.
Odd jobs: you would work hard and would hardly earn your living
Taxi jobs: If things arent working for you, then atleast drive a cab on temp basis, you would making good and would be saving enough to spend on your skills upgradation
CIIP or other new commer job placement agencies: They would keep on asking you for volunteer programs, that means dollar 5 per day, that is weird, so network and try to get somebody refer you. 2ndly, they would screw up your CV, specially in IT. When you would apply for a job posting, the HR department would pick that CV but when the IT department would review that CV, it would be thrown in a dustbin. So work on your CV with your own brain, make it something like equally ok with HR department as well as well IT department. Some might not agree with me but this is what I have seen in my own company. And dont forget: N E T W O R K like crazies
Dont worry about the snow, get a nice jacket and you gonna be fine. Dont look at the nice apartments until you get a good job. Work on your network and get a job placement first.
Now some other things:
I prefer walmart for shopping, it has almost anything you need and its very affordable. Toronto is a wonderful city as a whole, there is always something going on, specially the weekends rock. Another plus: this city is so multicultural and finding your community wont be hard for you. If possible dont rent a basement, you would be bored and it is going to affect your energy level, which means alot during the first job hunting process.
Do let me know if you need any help. I have been an active member of this forum for years and I have been receiving a lot of messages recently. Additionally it is going to be hard for to keep track of each and every post as the first year in canada is very busy as everything is new. So I would create a new email or fb id and would share it with you, so it would be easy for me reply to everyone.
and let me thank everyone for all the help during the immigration process for 3 years.
I wish success to everyone and do remember me in prayers
