FINDING CONTACTS

To be realistic, unless you are going on a temporary working visit or are being transferred by your current company, you may not get a firm job offer before you leave for Canada. However, it is possible and greatly improves your chances with the immigration authorities as well as giving you a much less stressful transition. Where to start?

Using publications

Why not start with the British newspapers? Most carry the occasional advertisement for jobs in Canada. The Sundays are your best bet.

Another possible source of Canadian job advertisements is professional journals, such as Computer Weekly or The Economist. If there is such a journal relevant to your occupation peruse it regularly.

Specialist publications

There are specialist papers that carry advertisements for overseas jobs. One which concentrates wholly on Canada is:

Canada Employment Weekly
21 New Street
Toronto, ON
M5R 1P7
Tel: (416) 964 6069
Fax: (416) 964 3202
e-mail: info@mediacorp2.com

This is a weekly publication with 32 pages including over 1,000 new job opportunities in 61 major occupation categories. A recent addition is CEW Express, an on-line electronic edition. Visit their website at www.mediacorp2.com for more information and current subscription rates.

A very helpful bulletin available from Canada is:

Overseas Employment Newsletter
PO Box 460
Town of Mount Royal, PQ
H3P 3C7

Anyone interested in working and living in Canada would be well advised to subscribe to Canada News. This is an excellent monthly publication packed with current information about lifestyle, immigration and job opportunities. It will also keep you informed of new books and other publications that might help you in your job search. After reading a few issues, you will know more about the Canadian economy and lifestyle than the Canadians themselves. You will also find it a valuable source of advertisements for removal firms, immigration consultants, recruitment firms and more.

Canada News
Outbound Newspapers
1 Commercial Rd
Eastbourne
East Sussex BN21 3XQ
Credit card orders: Tel: (01323) 726040
Email: outboundnews@trbeckett.co.uk

Also try visiting their website www.canadanews.co.uk for all the latest updates on immigration, lifestyle issues, etc.

There are several other sources of advertisements available. The Canadian High Commission has a large selection of Canadian newspapers, magazines and journals and is happy to let you use its reading room. It is advisable to make an appointment.

The City of London Business Library also has a good range of Canadian publications:

City of London Business Library
1 Brewers Hall Garden
London EC2V 5BY
Tel: (020) 7638 8215

A visit to your local reference library can be very productive. There you should be able to find the following three directories which list newspapers, magazines, journals and other publications throughout the world:

Willings Press Guide

Benn’s Media Directory

The Ayer Directory of Publications.

The Directory of Jobs and Careers Abroad is useful and can be found at many libraries.

Finally, don’t forget the Internet. I have listed a selection of websites later on in this chapter.

Finding out who to contact

There are many books and directories to help you with your search. Two in particular are so comprehensive you might consider getting hold of a copy to keep. They are:

• Canadian Directory of Search Firms 2005 Edition. The trade reference for Canada’s recruitment industry, this directory profiles 2,500 agencies and over 4,000 recruiters in 61 occupation categories. A CD-Rom is included to help you search through all the data in the book.
• Who’s Hiring 2005. Another up-to-date directory, this lists Canada’s top employers in 61 categories. It includes human resource, contacts complete with all necessary addresses, telephone and fax numbers and email addresses.

Both these books are printed in Canada and available through Canada Employment Weekly.

Two other useful publications available from Canada Employment Weekly are:

• The Career Directory 2005. Contains information on more than 300 degree, diploma and certification programmes to help you match your qualifications with over 1, 100 Canadian employers.
• Canada’s Top 100 Employers 2005.As the title suggests, this book profiles employers who lead the way in attracting and retaining quality employees.

You can see more information about all these books (and order on-line if you wish) at www.mediacorp2.com

Publications for temporary work

Several books contain worthwhile information and contacts, including Living & Working in Canada, How to Find Temporary Work Abroad, Working Holidays, Summer Jobs USA (includes a section on Canada) and The Directory of Summer Jobs Abroad. More information on these and other reference books are in Further Reading.

Using agencies

Contacting employment agencies is possibly the best way of starting your search before you leave for Canada. There are many who deal with overseas placements but not all of them cover Canada. Listed in Useful Addresses are several which do; the list is by no means complete but is a starting point.

As mentioned, you can find out many of the agencies which make placements in Canada by perusing the advertisements in various publications. You can also look in The Yearbook of Recruitment and Employment Services, The CEPEC Recruitment Guide and The Executive Grapevine. The Expat Network produces the Canada Contact Directory that gives the names, addresses and phone numbers of hundreds of recruiters. Available from:

Expat Network
2nd Floor, Advertiser House
19 Balflett St, Croydon
Surrey CR2 6TB
Credit card orders by fax: (020) 8760 0469

You can order on-line at www.expatnetwork.com. And while you’re there, have a look around this website as, although it is not Canada-specific, there is lots of useful information there.

Your local library is likely to have the following directories which list agencies that make overseas placements:

Directory of Executive Recruitment Consultants
Directory of Assessment and Development Consultants
The Directory of Canada Employment Agencies.

Looking at Yellow Pages

A further source of employment agencies in Canada is the Canadian Yellow Pages: most city reference libraries have these for the major cities. However, there may not be a lot of point in contacting local Canadian employment agencies until you have arrived at your destination. The Association of Professional Placement Agencies and Consultants advised me that ‘clients normally prefer to hire candidates who are immediately available to commence employment and therefore would be currently settled in Canada’. The spokesperson went on to say that where off-shore technical skills were sought, Canadian agencies would network with their counterparts in other countries. She finished by recommending that new arrivals contact the Association on their arrival, at which time they will redirect you to agencies within your field of expertise.

Using professional placement agencies

The bad news is that there are not many agencies in the UK who can offer much assistance in finding jobs in Canada. Experience has shown that they can tend to be short-lived. Indeed, two that were mentioned in an earlier edition of this book were out of business by the time the book hit the shelves. The good news is that the few that do have Canadian listings often supply contact names and addresses of firms which are not actually advertising. See Useful Addresses for contact addresses.

The news is a bit better with regard to international agencies. These can certainly be contacted before you arrive in Canada and could prove helpful in your search. One such firm is:

RWH International Inc.
620 Wilson Ave
Toronto, ON M3K 1Z3
Tel: (416) 636 3933. Fax: (416) 636 8113
email: info@canadausemployment.com
website at www.canadausemployment.com

Other international agencies are listed in Useful Addresses.

CASE STUDY

Samantha gets a job before she leaves

Sam decides she would like the security of having a job lined up in Canada before she leaves, not least because it would put her mother’s mind more at rest!

She decides to invest in the services of a professional placement agency. She locates one that specialises in placing health personnel. For a fee they put her in touch with the Burnaby Outpatient Clinic, which is looking for a consultant dietitian. CV, educational certificates and references are sent. Finally the placement agency arranges for an on-line video interview.

‘Good news, Mum. You don’t have to worry any more. I’ve got a job lined up, just outside Vancouver.’

‘Will you have to travel far? In all that snow?’

Some mothers will worry about anything, but at least Samantha is set!

Immigration consultants

The popularity of Canada as an immigrant destination and recent changes to the immigration laws and requirements have resulted in a great increase in the number of firms offering immigration advice and assistance. Although the majority of these are reputable there has been concern of late over firms who fail to deliver what they promise. The Canadian government conducted an extensive review of the situation and introduced a regulatory body to monitor consultants.

The decision whether or not to use an immigration consultant is very much a personal one. Many find it is worth paying the fee to have their expert advice and support, others prefer to go it alone.

Have a look at some of the case histories in Canada News to learn about people’s experiences with consultants, as well as the experience of those who went through the process on their own.

As outlined in Chapter 2, consultants often offer a complete service, including employment assistance as well as immigration advice and counselling. This is probably the best source of professional help with your job search. However, immigration consultants are very unlikely to offer a placement service except as part of their complete package. This means that you would need to pay their fees for immigration counselling and assistance as well.

Be aware also that some consultants operate worldwide and may not have much Canadian input. However, there are many who deal specifically with Canada. See Useful Addresses for a partial list.

Finding temporary work

There is a useful website that lists temporary summer jobs worldwide and sometimes contains Canadian opportunities. Look on the Internet for:

Overseas Summer Jobs at www.summerjobs.com

BUNAC’s Work Canada programme is the best option for students looking for gap year placements.

Live-in caregiving is another option for temporary work, as are casual farm labour, work camps and temporary jobs for teachers.

Some contact addresses are listed in Useful Addresses.

Exploring other avenues

At this stage you are trying to spread your net as wide as possible. Some of the things you try may bear no fruit but, believe me, it is a fact that the more communications, feelers, applications that you can get out there, the more opportunities you will get coming back to you. Often a possibility will appear seemingly out of the blue and you will wonder why you sent out those dozens of letters to agencies and employers. But it is the constant outflow of queries from you that leads to that opportunity.

Using contacts

Make use of any and all contacts you can think of. If you have friends or family in Canada, write or phone them and let them know that you are on the search. Ask them to send you copies of their local papers (just the job section will do if postage becomes expensive) and enquire if they know of any job openings in their area. Perhaps they could get an application form from their place of work that you could fill in on spec. If you do something like that, be sure to mention your connection. Everything helps.

Over the past few years, small relocation ‘experts’ have begun springing up. These are usually people who have successfully navigated the emigration process themselves and offer (for a fee of course) their advice and support. I suspect that most have real estate connections also, but they can be very helpful. Here follows a small selection.

If you don’t have any contacts in Canada and are thinking of moving to Alberta you could contact Helen Willy. She is an estate agent (or realtor) who emigrated from England to Canada in 1995 and now writes regularly for Canada News. She is very happy to provide information to prospective immigrants and will send relevant newspapers and job listings for the cost of postage only. Although she obviously hopes to benefit from helping you there is no obligation at all. Helen can be reached at:

Tel: (403) 995 1858
Fax: (406) 995 1859
email: helenwil@telus.net
or visit www.homeiscanada.com

Also located in Alberta are Ian and Jayne Wisdom who run Canilink Relocation, advising on relocation and settlement. You can contact them for a free brochure at:

48 Chapparal Drive SE
Calgary, AB T2X 3J6
Tel: (403) 254 8051
Fax: (403) 254 8053
email: canilink@shaw.ca

If you’re BC-bound, try Sue and Frank Gerryts at:

Tel: (604) 764 3563
email: sue@relocation2BC.com

CASE STUDY

Lucy casts her net wide

Lucy continues to try to find some temporary work before she leaves. She gets several leads from the Internet but before she can chase these she gets a phone call from her aunt.

‘Bob’s Burger Bar just down the road from us is going to be taking on extra help come June. That’s when their busy season starts. I mentioned you to him told him you were arriving in May. He’s going to hold a place open for you provisionally. It’s not much, just waitressing, but it will be something to start you off.’

Lucy is well on her way to a successful working tour of Canada.

Secondment or transfer

Another possibility is secondment or transfer within the company you are currently employed by. This would only apply to a fairly large firm that has offices in Canada, but if this is the case make enquiries of your personnel officer. Beware though, if this approach comes to nought it could jeopardise your career path so only try it if you are committed to the move.

Links Abroad

Canada News operates a club called Links Abroad which is a contact base for anyone thinking of living or working abroad, as well as for those who have friends and relations abroad.

Whilst you may not directly find job opportunities through this association, it’s all part of making contacts. And as a plus you will be eligible for lots of discounts all over the world, including special migrant airfares - very useful once you have succeeded in your job search!

More ideas

How else can you spread your net? There is always the option of placing Situation Wanted ads in Canadian newspapers and relevant journals. You can find the appropriate ones through the sources listed above.

Your professional body or trade union may be able to advise you of opportunities in other countries including Canada.

Several Canadian provincial governments have offices in the UK where you can usually find up-to-date listings of vacancies in the provinces served.

Going on-line

A big change in job search technique has come about recently. Don’t worry - it’s good news. More and more employers and job hunters are using the Internet. A few years ago you could find the occasional information site but often these were out of date or abandoned within months. However, there is now a wealth of information and leads for the job seeker.

Those who are already familiar with the Internet won’t need to be told how to find these sources. However, you might find the list of current sites in Useful Addresses helpful in your search. Of course, being on the Internet already does give you the advantage of being able to set up your own website if you wish. To be honest, it is doubtful that prospective employers spend time looking at individual websites. They are far more likely to go to the comprehensive listings. But cast your net (or in this case web) wide. It can only help.

If you have not yet entered this world of global information, don’t be put off by unfamiliarity or technospeak. It really is very simple and you don’t need your own computer or Internet connection to make use of what is available. Many public libraries now have PCs connected to the web. Minimal charges are made and in some cases it is even free, and there’s bound to be a computer-wise librarian to help you get sorted.

The relevant sites fall into two main categories: information and actual job listings. Several sites are listed in the relevant sections in this book and in Useful Addresses, and there are bound to be many more. Here, however, are a few to get you started.

Websites providing useful general information:

Citizenship and Immigration www.cic.gc.ca Contains details regarding visas, immigration quotas, career opportunities and lifestyle. This is probably the most valuable and important site for anyone wishing to work in Canada. The Canadian government seems to have entered the world of electronic communication in a big way and has packed this site full of useful information, as well as all the forms needed for the various types of immigration application.

The Government of Canada’s information site www.canada.gc.ca This includes information about jobs and organisations. Features up-to-date news from each province.

Each provincial government has its own website: The addresses are listed in Useful Addresses at the back of the book.

A comprehensive guide to careers, education, training facilities, jobs and immigration around the globe can be found at www.career tips.com

The Canadian Almanac contains just about all the facts, figures and information you could ever want to know about Canada. It can be accessed on-line at www.mmltd.com/Directories/Cdn_Almanac.htm

This is only a small selection to get you going on your web search. Most of these sites, and those listed in Useful Addresses, have links to many more interesting and useful sites. So be prepared for a long and fruitful journey.

Websites with job listings or links

There is a wealth of sites offering job listings throughout the world, although many are not Canada-specific, so you may have to be patient in your search. Be aware that there are fakes as well as real gems, so just use your common sense. In particular, be wary of any site requesting money or financial details. I would recommend starting with the Government of Canada’s own site at www.jobbank.gc.ca You might also try:

Canada Jobs

www.canada.plusjobs.com

Note that this site has comprehensive links to province- and city-specific listings.

Plus Jobs	www.plusjobs.ca
Actual Jobs	www.actualjobs.com

Jobs Abroad	www.jobsabroad.com
Escape Artist	www.escapeartist.com/jobs/overseas
Find a Job	www.find-a-job-canada.com/overseas
Job Search in Canada	www.job-search-in-canada.com

There are many more. I suggest you just type ‘Jobs Canada’ into a good search engine such as Google and you’ll be off and running.

The Internet is expanding daily and offers up-to-date information and leads for the job seeker. It is particularly valuable for anyone trying to find a job in another country. No more airmail delay -the local candidate will see a new advertisement no sooner than you, even though you are thousands of miles away.

CASE STUDY

George sets his search in motion

George realises that the chances of getting a definite job offer before he arrives in Canada are slim, but wants to set the search in motion.

‘Aren’t you spending a lot of money on all these subscriptions?’ his wife asks. ‘And I shudder to think what our phone bill will be like with the amount of time you’re spending on the net.’

‘An international job search is bound to take some money,’ George replies. ‘But it will pay off in the long run. There are a lot of websites to check. And the publications will be useful to me once we arrive in Canada, too. And the sooner I put myself into the job market, the better.’

George is being realistic. An international job search does use up resources – both time and money – but he is going about it exactly the right way.