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I.T. Jobs in Canada
The Canadian I.T. industry mirrors that of just about most Western
countries at present with the I.T. industry in general suffering
a slump. Certain sectors however will always remain buoyant and
there is general optimism that the trend downward is in decline.
If your destination is Canada, on either a long-term permanent migration
or just an extended working holiday, the opportunities are still
there for those seeking computer jobs in Canada.
If you're planning on working in Canada there are some general categories
of visa or permits that you require in order to look for work. For
a general overview of the immigration rules and possibilities, click
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Canada takes in over 200,000 new immigrants every year, and thousands
of others on working holiday permits so there are many opportunities
to live and work in Canada.
Assuming
that you have the necessary paperwork organised to live and work
in Canada, what you can expect from the Canadian job market depends
on how much effort you are willing to put into your computer job
search. Like most countries, the Canadian I.T. market is centered
around the major cities and towns, and there are a number of resources
available to you to locate the job you want. But like in most
cities competition for contracts and positions can be tough especially
if you are applying from outside Canada and are looking for sponsorship
as a way in to the country. For those people outside Canada looking
for a way in through I.T. employment, you may want to read our
article on 'Finding
Jobs Overseas' for some hints, tips and strategies.
The
North Americans lead the way in Internet usage so it is not surprising
that there are numerous online job banks specifically devoted
to computer jobs in Canada.
It is highly recommended that you register with as many of these
online job boards as you can and, where possible, set up profiles
that will have them send you notification of any vacancies that
meet your specific criteria. For those applying from overseas
bear in mind that the Internet has meant an explosion of applicants
from other countries sending their resumes and C.V.'s unsolicited
so it may be extremely unlikely that you will receive any response
from agencies if you adopt this method. You will need to have
exceptional skills in a sought after sector of the computer industry
if you want to get the attention of an agency when you are applying
cold from overseas.
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Each
town and city has its own collection of private job agencies and
consultants. Best practice is to normally register with 3 or 4
agencies. Registering with too many means that you risk spreading
yourself too thin and registering with too few means you won't
be giving yourself the best chance of finding a job. If you feel
that an agency is not giving you the service that you want don't
have any hesitation in dropping their services and replacing them
with another. (Equally, if you feel you are getting great service
from an agency, spread the word and tell us here - the more information
we get back from travellers and migrants, the better we can make
'Overseas Experience'). No matter what, you will need to get yourself
a mobile phone in order to take calls from agencies and be available
for interviews.
Canadian newspapers also carry a number of I.T. job advertisements
both in their print editions and their online editions. One aspect
to looking at newspaper advertisements for computer jobs is the
ability to identify actual companies that may be hiring. If you
are overseas and looking for a way in to Canada, this might be a
valuable tool in making up a list of I.T. companies to approach
for sponsorship.
Inter-company transfer is also a popular way to obtain an I.T. job
in Canada. Most multi-national computer companies are represented
there so this avenue into Canada should not be overlooked. More
often than not this requires a reasonable amount of time working
for the same company in your homeland - but if Canada is a long
term goal then this is a viable option for many people.
The pay structure for computer jobs in Canada is reasonably good.
Like many other countries, Canadian I.T. companies have been looking
to outsource overseas many of their functions and this has particularly
impacted on the lower-end positions such as helpdesk personnel.
This is a trend that is likely to continue over the foreseeable
future so developing your I.T. skills into sought after areas is
vital if you wish to be sure of obtaining an I.T. job in Canada.
This outsourcing has effectively downshifted some salaries while
forcing up others.
Many factors such as your location, experience, and education will
be reflected in any pay negotiations. If you intend to seek contract
I.T. positions you can expect a larger base rate of pay, but you
have fewer rights and security in your job. Contracting is a good
way to gain Canadian experience and to position yourself in the
spotlight for any full-time jobs that the company you work for may
have in the future. Finding a good job is often like waiting for
a bus - you wait for ages and then a few come along at once. It
is often the case that when you have a job it's much easier to find
other jobs. When you are unemployed it can be difficult getting
a 'foot in the door'. I.T. contracting may be the way to address
that problem.
To assist you with your search for an I.T. job in Canada we have
compiled a number of online resources that we hope will be of benefit
to you - just click on the 'Useful resources' button below. We are
always keen to hear back from those who have 'walked the walk',
so if you have any job-hunting suggestions for I.T. jobs in Canada,
or have any experiences to share and would like to write an article,
please feel free to contact us.
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