Finding a job in Canada with limited work experience.

Gift of the Gabbert

I'm thinking of applying for the IEC visa but am worried about getting a job as I have **** all on my C.V. I dropped out of uni this past summer and only have limited work experience,I worked in a supermarket for 18 months and have done some labouring on building sites for a couple of summers.If I go over,how hard will I find it to get a job and where would be the best place to move to?

the_syco

Do you have any qualifications at all?

WasterEx

You'll get a job if you really commit to finding one and you're constantly on the look out. (It becomes inevitable that way)
I'm moving to Toronto, I'm not sure what the story with employment is over there but I'm confident I'll get work even with my lack of qualifications

Tonto86

Come to Alberta. If your breathing you'll have workin a couple days

Martyn1989

Yep as anyone whos looked for a job in Calgary will tell you, if you can't find a job here theres something seriously wrong. You take the first job you get then start looking for a better one or maybe even just another one.

Minimum wage is not alot though and although you will survive you won't have much to enjoy yourself with, so look at getting some qualifications or atleast concentrate getting a little experience in bars and restaurants so you can earn some tips.

againstthetide

Gift of the Gabbert wrote: »

I'm thinking of applying for the IEC visa but am worried about getting a job as I have **** all on my C.V. I dropped out of uni this past summer and only have limited work experience,I worked in a supermarket for 18 months and have done some labouring on building sites for a couple of summers.If I go over,how hard will I find it to get a job and where would be the best place to move to?

If you plan on staying in Canada long term then it will be really difficult to stay there beyond an IEC without a trade or a skill.
It will be very hard to get PR status as there is a lot of criteria and they put a lot on emphasis on training and education.
If your intention is to get the IEC and just come for two years and make msome cash I would say tear on but if you are looking for a long term plan then I would advise get a qualification of some sort

tony81

WasterEx wrote: »

You'll get a job if you really commit to finding one and you're constantly on the look out. (It becomes inevitable that way)
I'm moving to Toronto, I'm not sure what the story with employment is over there but I'm confident I'll get work even with my lack of qualifications

Really bad idea. Toronto is a horrible city for a start. Full of pretentious nobodies. There are so many immigrants crowding out the lower end of the job market that you'll end up sharing a room in chinatown and living on noodles if you don't have a professional qualification.

I think Alberta is probably your best bet.

JustRoss23

It depends though if he get a job on the oil rigs he would almost 100% get PR Status as the oil rig/sands will be going for many years to come. or even if he got a job with a big company out of Edmonton say as a welders assistant he could end up getting PR that way by signing a contract and doing an apprenticeship.

Tonto86

againstthetide wrote: »

If you plan on staying in Canada long term then it will be really difficult to stay there beyond an IEC without a trade or a skill.
It will be very hard to get PR status as there is a lot of criteria and they put a lot on emphasis on training and education.
If your intention is to get the IEC and just come for two years and make msome cash I would say tear on but if you are looking for a long term plan then I would advise get a qualification of some sort

Why do people answer if they ain't got a clue what they're talking about.

There are several routes to permancy, a qualification does help but isn't a requirement.

frankspencer

My mate is in Red Dear Alberta, told me they will take anyone on for oil rig work but he works 12 hour day for three weeks straight so it is tough work!.

JustRoss23

Tonto86 did you go out with a trade? or are you labouring ?:)

againstthetide

Tonto86 wrote: »

Why do people answer if they ain't got a clue what they're talking about.

There are several routes to permancy, a qualification does help but isn't a requirement.

Yes there are many route to PR, I should know I have looked at them all

Was on the point of applying for the CEC when it closed but have gone down the SINP route instead

I had considered going into construction when I got here for the extra cash but went a different way because it was a better fit with staying long term in Canada


AINP does a semi skilled program

Criteria is below:

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrating/ainp-eds-semi-skilled-criteria.aspx#newcandidatecriteria

Other PNP streams are geared towards the skilled worker end of things

I am just making the point that if you want to stay long term in Canada long term it gets easier with skills and qualifications

If you want work come to Saskatchewan, not much in the way of work shortages here

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-general-labour-W0QQCatIdZ149

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-bar-food-hospitality-W0QQCatIdZ60

From job bank trades and construction search for the past 7 days

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?TmFrm=E7Days&ProvId=08&Categ=7*&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1


Past 7 days in Farming fishing and natural resources

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?TmFrm=E7Days&ProvId=08&Categ=8*&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1


In any case if you do want to stay longer start reading here

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp you can figure out what way you want to go.

WasterEx

Right, gonna look into Alberta, sounds like there's a constant flow of jobs there. People seem more confident about it in general.

WasterEx

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Mate loads of work in Alberta it seems a lot of construction jobs paying 15-20 bucks an hour good money if your a single lad not supporting anyone. if you really want to make money you could get a job on an oil rig as a roughneck.. this work will either make or break you. really all you need is your hs2 alive ticket be able to work 12 hour days and pass a drug test. it was voted the 4th worst job of 2012 but the pay is pretty unreal. 6K every 2 weeks:).

Wow, where can I find more information about the oil rig jobs? Are you sure it's 6k every 2 weeks? If it is I'm gonna try and sort myself out with that job.
What's a 'hs2' ticket?

againstthetide

Roughneck aka swamper

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?ProvId=09&kwd=swamper&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1

or also known as a Derrickhand
http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?ProvId=09&kwd=derrickhand&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1

againstthetide

http://www.safetyed.ca/info/h2s Hydrogen suphide gas training

Also likely to need First aid training , fall arrest training etc but job descriptions should tell you

ShooterSF

tony81 wrote: »

Really bad idea. Toronto is a horrible city for a start. Full of pretentious nobodies. There are so many immigrants crowding out the lower end of the job market that you'll end up sharing a room in chinatown and living on noodles if you don't have a professional qualification.

I think Alberta is probably your best bet.

Any ideas on barwork in Toronto? It's what I'm looking to do and I figured a big city is more likely to have more bar jobs.

frankspencer

From the last post it seems to be better to work in a camp as they provide everything but that is for the oil sands not the rigs i think..
this video gives a good insight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuBEnh3E0cg

againstthetide

Didnt realise there was a difference between roughneck and derrick hand ah well live and learn.
Sounds like you earn your money, yis are welcome to it

Martyn1989

ShooterSF wrote: »

Any ideas on barwork in Toronto? It's what I'm looking to do and I figured a big city is more likely to have more bar jobs.

Right theres about 3000 miles between Calgary and Toronto but I'll offer what I know. I'm bartending in Calgary. Food and beverage service/management is an industry that they are looking for people. Think about it, in Calgary there are alot of high earners, alot of work and a low cost of living, this gives people high disposable income for luxuries like food and drink. Calgary is an extremely wealthy city teaming with professionals etc.

If you've got confidence and a good personality you'll do well here. If you've experience working in a bar you'll get a job bartending. If you've none you'll get a job barbacking. You could move up from barbacking within a few weeks, you may never move up in the place your working and have to move around to get your chance.

Wages and tips depends where your working, bartenders minimum wage is lower then the regular min wage, its $9.20 an hour, theres tons of myths on the internet about the money that can be made here, I have walked out of a quiet Monday day shift with nothing, a Saturday night shift with $200 etc. In general I'm guarentee'd to at least double my wages. If your a hard working barback the bartenders will always try look after you, but it'll be considerably less then they're share.

To work in Alberta you'll need to get ProServe responsible service of alcohol training cert. It costs $20, you'll need to be in Canada to do it, you do it online in a couple of hours and its done. You can get the ProTect security staff training free then aswell which do because it covers relevent law etc. even if you've no intention of working doors.

You'll earn enough here to live and enjoy your stay, theres certainly more money to be made here then at home aswell as alot of opportunity to learn and improve yourself if you plan on spending a bit of time in the industry. With regards to being able to stay on in Canada with 'just barwork' it is possible. I work with a barback who is being sponsored for his LMO because he's an extremely hard worker and good for the business, how common this is I don't know and I don't know much about the LMO process.

Tonto86

[,nt a different way because it was a better fit with staying long term in Canada


AINP does a semi skilled program

Criteria is below:

http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/immigrating/ainp-eds-semi-skilled-criteria.aspx#newcandidatecriteria

Other PNP streams are geared towards the skilled worker end of things

I am just making the point that if you want to stay long term in Canada long term it gets easier with skills and qualifications

If you want work come to Saskatchewan, not much in the way of work shortages here

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-general-labour-W0QQCatIdZ149

http://saskatchewan.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-bar-food-hospitality-W0QQCatIdZ60

From job bank trades and construction search for the past 7 days

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?TmFrm=E7Days&ProvId=08&Categ=7*&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1


Past 7 days in Farming fishing and natural resources

http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/res-eng.aspx?TmFrm=E7Days&ProvId=08&Categ=8*&OpPage=50&Stdnt=No&nsrc=1


In any case if you do want to stay longer start reading here

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.asp you can figure out what way you want to go.[/Quote]


Your right, there's loads programs. In Alberta you can even get sponsored in bar work, waiting, hotel cleaner or front desk clerk, all unskilled jobs.

Its a pet peeve of mine when people give damning carpeted and wrong advice. People make life decisions on this, I'd hate to think of someone sitting at home thinkin of what could of been for no reason.

againstthetide

Tonto86 wrote: »

Its a pet peeve of mine when people give damning carpeted and wrong advice. People make life decisions on this, I'd hate to think of someone sitting at home thinkin of what could of been for no reason.

And it's a pet peeve of mine when people paint a super rosy picture and advise people to rush in
I'm just trying to provide balance that why I provided the link to CIC so people know what their options are.
And I did provide links to general labour jobs that should be easy to get and pay reasonably well but point
People need to do research themselves beyond forums and do the job searches and phone the CIC if needs be
It's a seriously bad move to base these decisions off one source of information like boards

JustRoss23

Yea i can see both yer points of view. it would be an awful bad thing to move 6000 miles and after two or three months have to ring mammy or daddy ask them to pay for a ticket home.
But saying that Alberta/Saskatchewan seems have a lot of construction jobs/Bar Jobs so i am sure with a good work attitude a person could do awful well for him/herself .:)

Martyn1989

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Yea i can see both yer points of view. it would be an awful bad thing to move 6000 miles and after two or three months have to ring mammy or daddy ask them to pay for a ticket home.
But saying that Alberta/Saskatchewan seems have a lot of construction jobs/Bar Jobs so i am sure with a good work attitude a person could do awful well for him/herself .:)

It would be hard not to work here from my experience, I just received an email asking me to come in for an interview for a little part time work on the side of my current job

My gf is an engineer with no experience, she's hardly had time to look for a job in that because shes been working since we arrived, first some xmas work which she got offered a full time job out of. Then she got call backs from others she applied for but turned them away because they only offered minimum wage. Granted these are for places like Ticketmaster etc but the point I'm trying to make is you may not make alot but theres noway you'll be ringing Mummy after 3 months (But being an Irish mammy she'll require a minimum of 2 calls a week anyway). So for people like you Ross who want to get on to the rigs etc just watch out for that, don't get sidetracked by your job etc.

ShooterSF

Thanks Martyn for a very detailed response. I have 10 years bar work but not much food service so hopefully I'll get something. I might look into Alberta as it keeps coming up thread after thread.
(Sorry OP for hijacking btw!)

Martyn1989

ShooterSF wrote: »

Thanks Martyn for a very detailed response. I have 10 years bar work but not much food service so hopefully I'll get something. I might look into Alberta as it keeps coming up thread after thread.
(Sorry OP for hijacking btw!)

You'll have no problem finding work here, hand out your resumes in person between 2 and 4 in the afternoon and if you haven't started by the weekend I'd be very surprised. There's a few differences in how your expected to work here and I found it tough the first week or so but a guy with your experience will breeze into it. Best of luck.

hdowney

Should you change up your resume from how it would look over here? Different styles in different countries and all. Thinking of adding a little info on mine. I was training to be a chef - didn't get very far though cos I got quite sick and the school said that ye weren't allowed into the kitchens if you were sick But think I'd put as much info about me as possible on it yakno

A_Sober_Paddy

Sorry to be derailing the thread(if i am)...

Just wondering what kind of work is there for a business graduate with 5 years experience in retail?

I'm currently working but I've always wanted to go to Canada and at the moment the drive to get there is probably in first gear but I'm sure before the year is out it'll be back into 4-5 gear...

Cheers in advance for replies

frankspencer

A_Sober_Paddy wrote: »

Sorry to be derailing the thread(if i am)...

Just wondering what kind of work is there for a business graduate with 5 years experience in retail?

I'm currently working but I've always wanted to go to Canada and at the moment the drive to get there is probably in first gear but I'm sure before the year is out it'll be back into 4-5 gear...

Cheers in advance for replies

I am also a recent business graduate (with plenty of experience in manufacturing)...is there jobs in the oil sands for business grads or is all the skilled work for trades and engineer's

jiminho

frankspencer wrote: »

My mate is in Red Dear Alberta, told me they will take anyone on for oil rig work but he works 12 hour day for three weeks straight so it is tough work!.

What's your mates name frank? Seems like the only Irish folk in this city work with me.

BTW anyone can get a job in Fort Mac but it's not living. 3 weeks on 1 week off is the usual. The week off is spent dreading going back. Not a way to live regardless of how much money your making

frankspencer

jiminho wrote: »

What's your mates name frank? Seems like the only Irish folk in this city work with me.

BTW anyone can get a job in Fort Mac but it's not living. 3 weeks on 1 week off is the usual. The week off is spent dreading going back. Not a way to live regardless of how much money your making

He was moved on since I was last talking to him,he is now in a place called fort nelson? in B.C.
I really want to make some serious money and I know I wont make it in Ireland.Where is the best place in Alberta to source some work?

jiminho

frankspencer wrote: »

He was moved on since I was last talking to him,he is now in a place called fort nelson? in B.C.
I really want to make some serious money and I know I wont make it in Ireland.Where is the best place in Alberta to source some work?

Well tbh work is available everywhere in Alberta. Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort Mac are all hiring 1000s of people. I can give you a more descriptive answer if you wouldn't mind telling me what you do.

As for 'serious money', you will earn substantially more disposable income everywhere in Alberta. Remember the tax rate in Alberta is locked at 25% meaning it doesn't matter what you earn, you will get taxed the same. I can only talk for jobs in the engineering field but i have heard of one or two people earning $140,000 in Fort McMurray. Remember tho the tax and the fact there is nothing to do in Fort Mac meaning your disposable income (if you're diligent) at the end of one year could amount to several years earnings back home. I'll prob do it for the year before i come home, pay the aul down payment

frankspencer

jiminho wrote: »

Well tbh work is available everywhere in Alberta. Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort Mac are all hiring 1000s of people. I can give you a more descriptive answer if you wouldn't mind telling me what you do.

As for 'serious money', you will earn substantially more disposable income everywhere in Alberta. Remember the tax rate in Alberta is locked at 25% meaning it doesn't matter what you earn, you will get taxed the same. I can only talk for jobs in the engineering field but i have heard of one or two people earning $140,000 in Fort McMurray. Remember tho the tax and the fact there is nothing to do in Fort Mac meaning your disposable income (if you're diligent) at the end of one year could amount to several years earnings back home. I'll prob do it for the year before i come home, pay the aul down payment

Going through the web, most places seem to keep referring to Fort Mac?(but hear mainly bad things),suspose no such thing as easy money. Where is the best places to look for work in Alberta any particular sites?

JustRoss23

I would advise you to stay well clear of fort mcmurry its meant to be very bad and the cost of living is huge why don't you just work in the likes of Edmonton or Calgary you will still make a load of money and the cost of living is cheaper then fort mcmurry and your lifestyle will be a lot better..:)

The_Poznan

Man Jiminho (haha class username)

Have you got contacts into Fort and such places Jim? Farming with Brother at moment (keeping me sane) but would like to burn it up in fort for couple year too and have a down payment for a business afterwards...Applying for the visa hope to be gonzo outta here by start of Feb. Completed a masters last Sept in purchasing/supply chain so a job in this area would do too. Can you kindly forward on the descriptive answer to me too?

Sound

jiminho wrote: »

Well tbh work is available everywhere in Alberta. Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort Mac are all hiring 1000s of people. I can give you a more descriptive answer if you wouldn't mind telling me what you do.

As for 'serious money', you will earn substantially more disposable income everywhere in Alberta. Remember the tax rate in Alberta is locked at 25% meaning it doesn't matter what you earn, you will get taxed the same. I can only talk for jobs in the engineering field but i have heard of one or two people earning $140,000 in Fort McMurray. Remember tho the tax and the fact there is nothing to do in Fort Mac meaning your disposable income (if you're diligent) at the end of one year could amount to several years earnings back home. I'll prob do it for the year before i come home, pay the aul down payment

frankspencer

The_Poznan wrote: »

Man Jiminho (haha class username)

Have you got contacts into Fort and such places Jim? Farming with Brother at moment (keeping me sane) but would like to burn it up in fort for couple year too and have a down payment for a business afterwards...Applying for the visa hope to be gonzo outta here by start of Feb. Completed a masters last Sept in purchasing/supply chain so a job in this area would do too. Can you kindly forward on the descriptive answer to me too?

Sound

Hey,I hope to be over in the Summer sometime,let us know if ya make it to Fort Mc..

desserdub

i have been offered a job out in the camps in alberta.didnt think the tax was that high.so if im earning 1600 for flat week i will be paying 400 dollars before any other deductions?sure i wuold have to pay prsi and pension aswell.

againstthetide

http://www.ees-financial.com/calculators/TakeHomePayCalculator.htm

16 weekly is 3200 biweekly is how most pay goes here

3200 * 26 = 83200

Your take home according to that is $2,329 bi weekly

But that may be lower when other work deductions are taken into account

May not be actually 26 pay periods but pretty close

jiminho

frankspencer wrote: »

Going through the web, most places seem to keep referring to Fort Mac?(but hear mainly bad things),suspose no such thing as easy money. Where is the best places to look for work in Alberta any particular sites?

The other poster is rite in that cost of living is much higher up there but there is literally nothing to do and you're a few hours away from the nearest city, Edmonton. So between that and possibly working in camps (free accommodation), you will earn a lot more up there. As i said, everywhere is doing well but I would go to Calgary.

@The Poznan - I don't really know anything in that field mate and I'm pretty sure a lot of farming comes to a stand still over here for 6 months of the year. If you're up for Fort Mac, just take a welding course and you will get snapped up easy. Btw the visa will take months to get.

@desserdub - How is the tax rate high? Back home you would have a list of other charges on your income, for example prsi which i don't get charged for here. Why would you add pension as well, sure you're going to have to pay that wherever you go and that's the best investment you can make

Tiddlers

My two cents from living in Vancouver, you will be at a disadvantage here with limited work experience. The economy and job market is better than Ireland but Van is still a small enough place and just like anywhere, those with experience will be favoured above those lacking experience.

From what I've observed, employers are much more interested in experience than a qualification which is something I think all young and recent college grads should bear in mind before deciding to move. Canada is expensive and to get by, you will need to work.

It's easy to believe that the streets are paved with gold in Canada while sitting in Ireland but there are people in Vancouver, where I am, who are worried about the job market here.

Like the poster above me said, moving to Fort Mac is not going to provide you with a life. I have a friend here who moved there for a while and described it as he'll on earth full of savages. And it's not so easy just to walk in to a high paying job with no working experience, no experience living in the harsh climate they have up there and just being completely wet behind the ears. I got to say, I do worry when I see young guys saying they'll move to Fort Mac. It's tough, isolated, expensive wilderness and very different from what most young irish people will capable for.

ehenness

jiminho wrote: »

As for 'serious money', you will earn substantially more disposable income everywhere in Alberta. Remember the tax rate in Alberta is locked at 25% meaning it doesn't matter what you earn, you will get taxed the same.

I'm Canadian, from Alberta, and just would like to correct this. Our provincial income tax is 10% flat.

Federal tax however has four tiers. From Canada Revenue Agency:

15% on the first $43,561 of taxable income, +
22% on the next $43,562 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over $43,561 up to $87,123), +
26% on the next $47,931 of taxable income (on the portion of taxable income over $87,123 up to $135,054), +
29% of taxable income over $135,054

You will be taxed both provincial and federal tax as well as having CPP and EI deductions.

It is still true though that Albertans have a high disposable income compared to the rest of Canada. You will make a lot working on the rigs if you don't spend it all on booze and buy a big truck on your week off.

desserdub

what is CPP and EI ehenness and is it much?i will be moving to calgary in spring so would just like to know this?

ehenness

CPP is Canada Pension Plan and EI is Employment Insurance. How much is deducted depends on your income but it is always less than what you pay for income tax. On my paycheck it is less than half of what is deducted for federal income tax.

Also, the first $16,000 you make annually will not be charged provincial income tax. So if you hold a bar/waitressing job not likely you will pay provincial tax.

Enjoy Calgary!

NewsMeQuick

Anyone else know much about prospects for graduates with limited work experience? My degree is an honours B.a. in international business and langauges (not French). I just graduated in October and haven't gotten anything yet, though I worked plenty of jobs in school and early on in college. I've a Canadian friend in Nova Scotia who said that Toronto is good for finance and Vancouver for import/export. I'm personally mostly interested in Vancouver but I could open up if there were work.

What I'm really looking for is a chance to show ability and education, an intern position, trainee, or junior something. If I could get experience at home, I wouldn't need to emmigrate.

I don't imagine every profession would demand experience ahead of qualifications. You couldn't hire an unqualified architect who has worked privately here and there, nor a lawyer etc.

Thanks for any advice

COYVB

tony81 wrote: »

Really bad idea. Toronto is a horrible city for a start. Full of pretentious nobodies. There are so many immigrants crowding out the lower end of the job market that you'll end up sharing a room in chinatown and living on noodles if you don't have a professional qualification.

I think Alberta is probably your best bet.

Moving outside Toronto, to somewhere like Ajax, Whitby, Pickering or Oshawa would mean much lower rent, plus more job opportunities for unskilled people. Tim Hortons should be the first stop for anyone just arrived in the country. You'll get a job there no problem at all, and it's money while you look for something a little bit better

NewsMeQuick

Are there any graduates in Canada who can comment on the thread topic?

I just found another article of interest, this one is about the Canadian minister for immigration, Jason Kenny. Much is made of his trip to Ireland late last year, but he also went to the UK.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/expat-money/9583522/Canada-woos-unemployed-British-graduates.html

Many (hard-working, well-meaning) non graduates appear to be giving the bleakest advise imaginable. However, the Canadian immigration minister seems to be targeting newly qualified and unemployed graduates particularly. Apparently, not so 'worthless'.