Canadian Welcome

There was a time in Canada that a person was hired by a company and stayed with that company for life. That doesn’t often happen anymore. There was a time that a person learned a skill or a trade and continued with it until they retired. Not so anymore. Now, teachers are becoming tradesmen, tradespeople are becoming service workers, early retirees are starting businesses. Whether a company downsized, workers got tired of seasonal layoffs, or to try something different, people are switching careers more than ever before.

For instance, one of my relatives is a gas technician by trade. But frequent layoffs are causing him to re-think his career. Will he try out another trade? Probably not. He’s thinking police or fire department. A friend is retired from a government position and is now a department store greeter. Another went from teaching to running a home repair business. A policeman friend decided to have his own painting company. I’ve gone from being a library technician to helping local businesses and entrepreneurs promote themselves online.

The possibilities are as wide as your imagination. You’ll need to work hard and invest some of your finances to get ahead, but there are options. We should be thankful for the choices and opportunities available in this country. And most of us are.

Technorati Tags: switching careers, business opportunities

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It is not always so easy to find work in Canada whether you are a Canadian born or a newly immigrated resident. There are certain requirements that must be met before coming here. It is often best to find a company who is willing to hire you and will give you a solid basis to help your case along with any legal documents you need to provide and receive from the Canadian government.

All provinces have different laws and rules regarding job opportunities. Some places have higher wages but also have a much higher cost of living which still leaves you no extra income. You will need to find out what fees need to be paid, what forms to be filled out (VISA application, etc.). If you need more information about settling in Ontario, go to Settlement.org.

Technorati Tags: settling in Ontario, finding work

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Whether to gain experience in a field, to get to know a company from the inside, or just to help others, volunteering is a great option. Even though you are working without being paid, the benefits and contacts make it worthwhile.

What better way to see if you would enjoy working with seniors than to volunteer in a seniors’ home. Or to see whether your love for horses could translate into a career with the disabled.

Often, we think that we’d love working in a specific field until we try it for a while. Then we find it wasn’t quite what we thought. For instance, working in retail involves dealing with people – but what about when those people are crabby? Or what about the times when there are no customers and you have to sit alone and wait for someone to come. Would you still like the job as much then?

Volunteering offers a way to find out how you might like a career without spending the time, energy, and money required to pursue a job that isn’t quite what you thought it would be. For instance, volunteering has helped me realize I enjoy teaching groups rather than individuals.

While volunteering is helpful to the organization you work with, you are still expected to treat it as you would a paid job placement. Set hours are required, often a years commitment, and you will still have supervisors to tell you what to do. An attitude of ‘I can do what I like because I’m an unpaid helper’ won’t do.

By showing up on time and working to the best of your ability, you may well be noticed by management and offered a paid position within the company. But even if you don’t, the experience will be be beneficial. And the appreciation shown by those you’ve helped will warm your heart.

Technorati Tags: volunteeering, volunteer positions, gaining work experience

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When you arrive in Canada, you will often be looking for a job as quickly as possible. Take your time and remember -  if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Following are a few possible employment scams to watch for:

1. You should never have to send money to pay for start-up kits, information packages, administrative fees, training or certification before being hired.

2. If you use the services of an employment agency, you should never have to pay a finders’ fee or a registration fee first.

3. Stuffing envelopes at home is usually a scam. Especially watch for companies that ask you to send money before you start.

4. Some companies offer payment if you assemble craft projects at home. If you are asked to pay for a starter kit first, it could be a scam. Often your finished work will be rejected and you won’t be paid.

5. Don’t pay a one-time fee to learn how to work at home without checking the Better Business Bureau and doing an Internet search on the company.

6. If you’re offered a job, watch that you aren’t asked to pay for visas, paper work, or an information package.

7. If you’re asked to call a 1-900, 1-976, or 1-809 number  to get information on a job, you will be charged for the call. If a legitimate business uses these pay-per-charge numbers, they are obligated to tell you about the fee first. Scammers don’t tell you about the fee.

Technorati Tags: employment scams, looking for a job, finding work in Canada

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I live near Toronto in what is called the tricities area, since there are three small cities all side by side. The area is also a centre for technology and boasts two universities, Waterloo and Laurier, and the School of Architecture.

Waterloo Region recently started a website to encourage new immigrants to settle in the region. Called the Newcomers Waterloo Region Website, it provides information on employment, skills credits, and community and government services.

Although the majority of immigrants to southern Ontario target Toronto, small town living such as that found in the tricities area is something that should be considered. For more information, go to their site at Newcomers Waterloo or visit citizenship Canada  for information about other government programs in Ontario.

Technorati Tags: immigration to Ontario Canada, Waterloo Region immigration

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