“…I would like to know about jobs in Toronto for Industrial Engineers…”

 

Visit the Canadian Society of Industrial Engineers (CSIE) – Ryerson Chapter or University of Toronto Chapter.  These are professional associations presented by specific educational institutions and they might be able to help you get started in your career networking and perhaps provide you with job leads. 

Why not visit the Institute of Industrial Engineers  (IIE)?  They are the parent organization for CSIE.  They have a wealth of information.  However, this site is not specific to Canada alone—it represents the North American Industrial Engineering society. 

Becoming a member of this professional association requires a fee.  However, once you join, you’ll receive 12 issues of their newsletter that will provide you with valuable market information about the industrial engineering industry in North America.  Also, with membership, you are entitled to discounts on professional publications, conferences and seminars, as well as fringe benefits such as discounts on credit card interest rates, UPS shipping and insurance programs.  The fee for becoming a member is quite reasonable and something you might consider once you arrive in Canada.

Their website also offers a bunch of free services that you might be interested in, such as a career center that displays jobs for Industrial Engineers. They also allow you to post your resume on their site to be considered by employers.

 

“…I am an Israeli lawyer (got my LL.B degree from the Tel-Aviv University in Israel 11 years ago) practicing Law in Israel for the past 10 years, 8 of them running my own private Law office.

My wife is a social worker (got her B.A. degree from the University of Haifa).

In this stage, I need your consultation and aid, regarding the above mentioned issue, including the very important matter of working in Canada…for me and my wife – maybe in Jewish community…”

 

“…The best and easiest way to get information is through the web.  Here are some sites that will help you:

http://www.settlement.org -- It is very important that you get your academic credentials assessed and recognized for the purpose of employment in Canada.  Often Newcomers can’t practice their professions because they can’t/haven’t gone through the licensing process.  Many professions are regulated by the government (see assessment services in Canada) and the regulations may vary from province to province.  This site has links to the Canadian Certification for International Professions and to your Licensing Body – The Law Society of Upper Canada.

You will also find a link to The Canadian Association of Social Workers. For information about Toronto, look at http://www.communityinfotoronto.org.  It is a detailed site that covers health, education, legal rights, housing and employment.

For information on the Jewish community in Toronto, you can visit JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) or http://www.feduja.org (United Jewish Federation)…” 

“I am a landed immigrant from Korea.  I have 4 year long experience as a web designer in Korea…I registered [for a] web designer course of [a] design institute…I don’t know whether it would help me to get the proper job and am very confused with everything.  If possible, please give me some guidance regarding this.”

“Congratulations on your recent immigration to Canada.  I understand from your email that you are currently in School and looking for work.  I am an employment counselor here at JVS and I would be happy to meet with you to help you with your resume and interviewing.  I work some evenings if you are unavailable during the day.  Where are you living?  I can also refer you to other agencies [that service your area/location]…”

If you are a new Canadian who has migrated to Toronto Canada and you are ready to look for work, contact JVS of Greater Toronto.  JVS offers a variety of services and counseling to help in your job search.  JVS has 2 locations servicing the Toronto area and can also refer you to similar organizations depending on what’s appropriate.

“We are a family from Israel and we are moving to live in Toronto in 3 – 4 months.  We have 4 kids 14, 12 and twins 3 years old.  We ask [for] help to see if you know a factory in plastic injector molding in Toronto…”

You can check out Husky.  They are the company I know of that does plastic injector molding.  If you look at their careers page at http://www.huskycareers.com you will see that they list jobs for all over the world.

The Husky location nearest to Toronto is in Bolton Ontario.  Bolton is a small town that has been experiencing huge expansion over the past 7 years.  Bolton is only about 25 to 40 minutes drive outside of Toronto.  However, public transportation in and out of Bolton is very limited.  They have a bus that brings people from Bolton to Toronto in the a.m. and a bus that brings them back in the p.m. on weekdays only.  You would either need a car to commute, or you would need to locate in Bolton.  Being a small community, rental vacancies are hard to come by.

I came across a professional site for Injection Molding Professionals at http://www.immnet.com/.  It doesn’t directly specify which communities this site services and I suspect it’s a US based forum, but they might be able to offer you more information.

E.T.M. Industries is another Ontario based Injection Molding company.  They are located in Renfrew Ontario which is a littler further than Bolton (north east of Toronto) but it might be that there are better commuting routes going in that direction as Renfrew is in between Toronto and Ottawa.

You can also visit Kamek’s website at http://www.kamek.com/. They are located in Baie D'Urfe, Quebec.

I would recommend that you contact someone in Human Resources at any one of these companies to discuss what they require of their employees.   There might be some certifications or specific experience that they require you to have.  It’s always best to thoroughly investigate the requirements of your profession or trade so that you don’t have any surprises once you get here.  Also, find out whether or not there are any Plastic Injection Molding companies in Toronto.  If there are not, you might want to consider what your commuting and location options are.

“…I have experience of massage and acupuncture in China.  I would like to be a massage therapist or massage assistant in Canada.  What should I do at the beginning?  How [do I] register in Ontario?  Must I have a license for this occupation?”

 

“In response to your e-mail, if you want work as a Registered Massage Therapist in Canada you must have a license.  How do you get a license?  You have to contact the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario , 1867 Yonge Street, Suite 810, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1Y5.  Telephone: (416) 489-2626”

You might also find assistance at WES (World Education Services).  They will help you assess your credentials in comparison to accepted Canadian standards for Massage Therapy. 

If you find you need to upgrade your skills, there are quite a few colleges in Ontario for RMT (registered massage therapist) training.

You can also check with APT (Ontario Access to Professions and Trades).  They have an online Fact Sheet for Massage Therapy that should be useful for you.

 

 "..I am a Turkish…man [and] have done my BA in Turkey and now I am doing an MBA at the University of Hertfordshire which is one of the leading young British Universities.  I have perfect level English and I study French too.  After my master’s degree I am considering [immigrating] to Canada but I [want] to find a job before [I migrate] because I will get extra 10 points during the immigration procedure.  Can you give me some advice about finding [a] job in Canada?”

“…The best and easiest way to get information is through the web. 

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca will help you to research the labour market in Canada at the local and national levels.  It will answer the question “where is there a demand for my occupation in Canada?”  It will also help you determine what your occupation is called here.  Click on ‘occupational profiles’. 

http://www.strategis.gc.ca/ will help you answer the question “who might hire me?”  It lists profiles of companies and people to contact.

Other sites of interest:

http://www.settlement.org/ It is very essential that you get your academic credentials assessed and recognized for the purpose of employment in Canada. Often newcomers can’t practice their professions because they can’t/haven’t gone through the licensing process.  Many professions are regulated by the government (see assessment services in Canada) and the regulations may vary from province to province.  This site has links to the CICIC (Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials).

There is also a [section] on Immigration and Citizenship in Canada that could be useful for you.  Please check with CICIC FIRST about accreditation because they often want to do their own evaluations.  Other places listed in this site for evaluating your educational credentials are: York University, University of Toronto, World Education Services. 

This site also lists various sources of job leads, from contacting employment agencies and answering advertisements to establishing personal contacts.  [A] job search in Canada is a process and on average it takes professionals up to 6 months to find employment in their area of expertise.” 

“My family and I are interested in emigrating to Canada to live in the city of Toronto…[I am] a Civil Engineer, self-employed in construction and my wife is an [Information Technology] professional.  We have two children…

I have asked the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario about employment…”

 

Visit the HRDC Ontario Job Futures site and check out the information they have on Civil Engineering in Ontario including an outline of basic duties, average salary expectations and job prospects.  In addition they provide links to the Association of Professional Engineers Ontario, Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, Canadian Council of Professional Engineers and Ontario Municipal Engineers Association.

I think that there is fair opportunity for you to either find work for an employer as a civil engineer, OR become self-employed in this field.  However, like anything worth doing, it will take some research, time and hard work on your part. 

Use these and any other Internet resources you can find to help you prepare.  There are government programs in Canada for people who want to start their own business, but I would recommend that you first learn more about civil engineering in Canada and build up a professional network.  If you visit the Association of Consulting Engineers, they probably have some useful information about becoming an independent contractor in this industry.  Plus, their extensive links section has suggested resources for training and employment in Canada.

Please be advised that you should find out what, if any, credentials you require in order to practice your trade in Canada.  Visit www.settlement.org and research the educational requirements for becoming a civil engineer in Ontario.  There are some services that will assess your current credentials in order to help you determine what is required for you to work in your field in Canada.  Settlement.org refers you to WES (World Education Services), ACES (Academic Credentials Evaluation Services) at York University, CES (Comparative Education Services) at the University of Toronto and ICAS (International Credentials Assessment Service) of Canada.

 

Once I upgrade my education and achieve a degree, diploma, certificate or license that meets Canadian Standards, will I be guaranteed a job?

Achieving educational credentials does not guarantee that you will find a job in your field right away. It is a step in the right direction, but there are many variables that need to be considered. Generally speaking, employers in Canada give preference to professionals and trades people who have working experience AND education. There is also preference given to individuals who have experience working in Canada. In addition, many jobs require strong communication skills in order to be successful. If you are interested in improving your communication (language skills) APT (Access to Professions and Trades) has links to ESL/FSL (English as a second language/French as a second language) resources.



Although some newcomers are able to find jobs that are equivalent to their previous jobs, many have to start at a more junior level until they can prove their abilities and knowledge of the Canadian market to their employers.



Networking can help you overcome the misconception that newcomers do not understand the Canadian marketplace. Building up your professional contacts and taking time to read and educate yourself about Canadian market trends also demonstrates your dedication and enthusiasm to potential employers.

To find out more about LMI (Labour Market Information) for your profession or trade, visit the Job Futures website check under Outlooks By Occupation and Outlooks By Field Of Study. Job Futures is part of HRDC (Human Resources Development Canada). SkillNet.ca also offers valuable LMI in the form of an online daily newsletter.

 

“We are a young, Jewish, engaged couple who [live] in Turkey – Istanbul with our parents.  As you know in Turkey we have a big economic crisis… The government realized a devaluation of [the] Turkish Lira against all foreign exchanges.  In connection with [the] devaluation a lot of companies are firing employee[s] and we do not know what to do…We are ready to leave this country forever and build our future in Canada, but we do not have any relatives and also do not know a person who can help us for the immigration to Canada…”

 

“…It must be frustrating to want to start a new life and not know where to begin.  As an Employment Counselor with Employment Assistance Services, many of my clients have told me that looking for work in Canada is like a ‘science’.  There is a lot to learn, but once you understand the ‘laws and formulas’, looking for work becomes much easier.  I would like to share with you what these ‘formulas and laws’ are so that you can begin to build your future here in Canada.

The first step in looking for work in Canada is to have a focus.  By having a focus, I mean identifying an occupation (or, occupations), which you are qualified to do.  How do you determine an appropriate occupation?  Before anything else, take an inventory of all of the duties which you carried out in your past work history.  Once you have completed this, turn to an online resource called the National Occupational Classification (NOC) at www.worklogic.com:81/noc.  The NOC outlines the job duties for thousands of occupations in Canada.  Using your own employment history as a guide, start selecting those occupations from the NOC that match your background.  Another way to select occupations that match your background is to view advertised job postings.  A good website for this is http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/.  This site is especially useful because each job posting has a four-digit code that matches the codes in the NOC.

Once you have identified the occupation(s) that you are qualified for, the next step is to determine whether or not these occupations are experiencing growth and what part of Canada these occupations are in demand.  Canada is a very large country with vast resources, so although marine biologists might be in huge demand off the coast of British Columbia, you would find very few of them in Saskatchewan.  Some excellent resources for tracking labour market trends include:

- www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca (national site)

- http://www.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ (provincial site of Ontario)

- http://www.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/toronto/ (municipal site for Toronto)

(On each website, clicking on either Labour Market Information or Labour market Trends will get you to the appropriate place)

When researching the labour market, it is best to begin at the national level and work your way down to the municipal level.

Other online resources for researching trends at the national level include:

- http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/JobFutures/english/index.htm

- www.strategis.ic.gc.ca

After you have determined where your occupation is in demand, you are now ready to start developing your C.V.  In Canada, these are usually referred to as resumes.  How do they differ?  A resume is usually shorter (anywhere from 1 to 2 pages) and it does not include your entire work history.  In fact, your resume should be as targeted to your identified occupation as possible.  If this means having to remove information from your resume, that is considered completely acceptable.  (Just a word of caution.  Although it is completely acceptable to remove information, be careful not to include false information.  The resume is considered a legal document and creating a false resume can be cause for dismissal).

A good online resource for helping you develop a targeted resume is:

- www.workopolis.com

On the homepage, look for a section called ‘Worknet’.  In this section, click on a link titled ‘Need help with your resume?’  This page will give you tips on how to write your resume and help you determine what style to use.”

 

"…I’m Argentine…I have a degree in political science and a master’s in international relations with a specialization in economics…I have been working in the B to B department of a company…for 6 years…My wife is a musician…We also have a son who is 10 months old…

Nowadays the things are not so good in this country.  There is a big rate of unemployment (17%) and there [is] so much violence in the streets.  [These] days we are applying to get the visa for permanent residence [in Canada], but I’d like your help for this huge change in our lives…”

First of all, I would suggest that you might want to get your educational credentials assessed.  There are several services available in Canada that will assess your credentials and provide you with documentation to present to potential employers.  You can visit www.settlement.org and this site will direct you toWES(World Educational Services).  At WES you can explore their services such as Evaluate My Credentials, Required Documents and Give Me Instructions.  WES is working to standardize the evaluation process of foreign trained professionals and trades people.

 If your occupation does not require specific credentials in order for you and your wife to pursue that education in Canada, it might not be as important to have these evaluations done.  However, it’s in your best interest to investigate what is involved in pursuing your profession or trade in Canada.

 For your wife, I think pursuing a career as a musician in any country presents similar challenges.  However, Canada is a country that has a deep appreciation for Arts and Culture.  Perhaps she could start her investigations at some of the Universities in Canada that are known for their fine arts (in this case Music) programs.  Some examples are:

-         The University of Western http://www.music.uwo.ca/ (London, Ontario)

-         Concordia University http://music.concordia.ca/ (Montreal, Quebec)

-         York University http://www.yorku.ca/finearts/music/index.htm (Toronto, Ontario)

-         The University of British Columbia http://www.music.ubc.ca/ (Vancouver, British Columbia)

As for exploring opportunities in the B to B sector, you should research what is required to get a position in a business, or industry you have experience in.  One way to determine this is to take an inventory of all the duties that you’ve carried out in your past work history.  Once you have completed this, turn to an online resource called the National Occupational Classification (NOC) at www.worklogic.com:81/noc.  The NOC outlines the job duties for thousands of occupations in Canada.  Using your own employment history as a guide, start selecting those occupations from the NOC that match your background.  Another way to select occupations that match your background is to view advertised job postings.  A good website for this is http://jb-ge.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/.  This site is especially useful because each job posting has a four-digit code that matches the codes in the NOC.

The next step is to determine whether or not these occupations are experiencing growth and what part of Canada these occupations are in demand.  Some excellent resources for tracking labour market trends include:

-         www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca (national site)

-         http://www.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ (provincial site of Ontario)

-         http://www.on.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/toronto/ (municipal site for Toronto)

(On each website, clicking on either Labour Market Information or Labour market Trends will get you to the appropriate place)

When researching the labour market, it is best to begin at the national level and work your way down to the municipal level.

 

How do I start my own business in Canada?

Governments in Canada realize that small business is a significant part of our economic growth, and they want to help provide the necessary financial resources to facilitate this. Policies and procedure may vary from province to province. Please visit: http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/guide/full/2550 for a step by step guide to starting a business.

I have heard that it is difficult to find a job without Canadian work experience and that I will first have to do volunteer work. What does volunteering mean in Canada and how can I go about finding volunteer opportunities? Is this the only way for newcomers to get Canadian work experience?

New immigrants can gain Canadian work experience through employment as well as volunteering, internship or co-op opportunities. It's usually easier to find a volunteer, internship or a co-op than a paid employment position without any Canadian work experience.

Generally speaking, volunteers are people from all walks of life, all ages and stages. What they have in common is the desire to make a difference in their community – and in their own life – by giving freely of their time and expertise. Volunteers play a vital role in Canadian society. Some volunteers do so because they are new Canadians and volunteering offers them the chance to gain Canadian work experience, to practice language skills and to integrate into a new community. You can look for volunteer opportunities in your local schools, libraries, community organization, hospitals as well as the Canadian Red Cross.

An intern is someone who works in a temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than merely employment. Interns are usually college or university students, but they can also be internationally qualified professionals. Interns gain meaningful work experience with on-the-job coaching and mentoring in a supportive and professional business environment. 

Co-op programs integrate academic studies with related work experience. After completing the first half of a diploma or university transfer program, co-op students alternate semesters of classroom studies with semesters of paid, full-time employment. It is a win-win program for students and employers. For available co-op opportunities, please check with individual educational institution.

I am a newcomer and I hear that an employment counsellor or a job developer can help me to find a job. I don't know which one I need. What is the difference between a Job Developer and an Employment Counsellor?

First, let's find out what each of these professions do and what type of services they provide.

An employment counsellor advises, coaches, provides information to, and supports people who are planning, seeking and managing their life/work direction.

Employment counsellors work with clients individually or in groups. They help clients of all ages to select education and training programs, balance work and other life roles, navigate career transitions and stages, enhance career satisfaction, find employment or self-employment opportunities, write resumes, develop portfolios and prepare for interview.

Job Developers find employment opportunities from within the hidden job market, generate job leads, market participating clients to employers and advocate on the client’s behalf. Job developers are often the first point of contact for employers who are looking for new employees. Job Developers continually monitor labour-market trends and maintain ongoing communication with employers and the community.

Employment counsellors and job developers collaborate in supporting newcomers and job seekers and

job seekers can benefit from the services of both throughout their job search journey. To get support from employment counsellors and/or job developers, please contact an employment services agency in your area.

I have heard that there is a shortage of medical professionals in Canada. Does this mean that, as an experienced medical professional, it will be easy for me to find a job in Canada?

It can still take longer than expected for internationally trained medical professionals to get their license to practice medicine in Canada. The process of getting the licence also varies depending on where they settle.  

Medical professions in Canada, unlike in many other countries, are regulated by independent professional organizations within each province. Each province has its own requirements and rules and procedures for licensing physician and the main bodies involved in the process include:  

• medical schools that oversee residency training programs,


• provincial regulatory institutions that license physicians, and


• federal examination bodies

Regardless of their previous experience and certification, internationally trained medical graduates (IMGs) may be required to undergo additional training.

There are a number of programs available to IMGs depending on their residency province.

For information about IMG programs across Canada, you may visit these websites:

Ontario

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

http://www.healthforceontario.ca/Work/OutsideOntario/PhysiciansOutsideOntario/PracticeRequirements/International.aspx

Access Centre

Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professional Educated Abroad (CEHPEA)

 

British Columbia

Alberta

Manitoba

New Brunswick

College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick

Department of Health Physician Recruitment and Retention

Saskatchewan

Nova Scotia

Clinician Assessment for Practice Program

Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia



Prince Edward Island

Newfoundland