successful canadian immigration
One of the most discouraging things I hear about Canadian immigration is the stories of families returning to their home country after trying unsuccessfully to settle in Canada. One of the main reasons for the failures, it seems, is that the primary household member who normally supports everyone financially is unable to obtain meaningful employment in their chosen profession or trade.
Many of these stories claim that once in Canada it is quickly discovered that foreign qualifications do not meet Canadian standards and therefore they are unable to find employment without extensive training. Most of these cases could have been avoided if possible employment requirements had been thoroughly investigated well in advance of landing. Canada has an extremely high standard of education and many other systems just don’t measure up to theirs: a degree program is 4 years, for example. Then you will most likely have to retrain, recertify, or normally, at the very least, start over at the bottom. This may sound crazy, but it’s true: at least once your experience is evident, you may soon find yourself climbing the ranks.
When my wife and I moved to Canada, I think we were exceptionally lucky, but we also spent two years thoroughly researching our respective occupations in the province of our intended destination. When I realized that my qualifications would not be enough, I had to make alternative plans and therefore went to work to obtain qualifications that would be attractive to any employer, not just my “niche”.
A first aid at work course run by St Johns Ambulance will only cost you 2 days of your time and around $150.00 and will instantly make you a little more attractive to any employer – most provinces have laws requiring Employers train their staff. Being computer literate with a variety of applications is almost imperative. Anything that makes you stand out and reduces the cost and time it takes to train you will be a huge boost to your resume. Also, employers are the same all over the world: they all prefer people who are willing to improve and make themselves more employable.
The first step is to decide which province you want to settle in, as each has its own educational assessment agencies and occupational regulators. The federal application for skilled trades bases your trade on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) list. However, some “Red Seal” trades are regulated in such a way that they transfer between provinces, but most trades and professions do not, meaning recertification if you ever move.
Once you have an idea of where you want to settle in Canada, contact the agency that will conduct your educational assessment and follow their instructions. Once you know what your qualifications are, you’ll have a good starting point. Then, using the PROVINCIAL regulators, find out exactly where you stand with respect to your intended field of expertise. The International Credentials Evaluation Service (ICAS) in Ontario offers a service that evaluates educational documents to provide a Canadian equivalent that can be used for employment, immigration, or higher education. ICAS also has information and advisory services for all types and levels of education: primary, secondary, post-secondary, and technical. I would definitely recommend contacting them well in advance to get some professional advice.
If you only need to complete a few exams or courses to switch to the Canadian system, then great, if not, make plans so you can support yourself through the time it takes to recertify. Also, try to make sure there will be a good job opportunity available once you’ve qualified.
Definitely pick a backup run or identify anything you can easily cross, as things rarely work out the way you intend. If you read the “Our Story” page on our Canadian immigration information website, you will see that events occurred that meant my plan A and plan B went wrong. Fortunately, some prior research paid off and I was offered “the right job” within 6 weeks.
To close this article, DO NOT trust your settlement funds to last. I highly recommend working anywhere to get started. Our budget gave us 6 months without work, but in reality we would have had problems in 4! A job as a waitress or bartender can be very lucrative, but even $1,000 a month means your money will last longer or help with training costs. My wife, Andie, worked at the local movie store almost immediately, and in addition to the money, it means you meet people and start networking. As the saying goes “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”.
Whatever you decide about your Canadian immigration adventure, be sure to thoroughly research your employability. This can lead to a successful settlement in the country of your dreams.
GOOD LUCK