Hi CD's,

With a preschool kid at home it's almost impossible to look for a job now.
I'm planning to do some courses so that I would be more adaptive to the job market when the kid starts school. I was thinking about the solid works training offered by Seneca, 2 evenings a week. But, my husband is telling me to look for something in IT like quality assurance or SAP functional. He says I will definitely get a job in these fields. I don't want to change field but I want to start working next year. If IT will open the job doors for me then I will work towards that.
Please suggest one from above or any other that will help.
Constraint - Timing of classes should be either in evenings or weekends. Cost - 1000-2000.

My company uses self-training websites for Solidworks.

1. http://www.myigetit.com/
On the top of the screen, pricing models can be searched.

2. http://www.lynda.com/Solidworks-training-tutorials/1157-0.html
Not sure if this is free or a paid service.

Give it a try to see if it is worthwhile. I am not sure if you would find it easy to learn without a PC with solidworks installed and in front of you. The self-training are video tutorials.

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Dimple2001

Lalitha,
With the closure of RIM/Blackberry, IT jobs is not attractive.
I studied SAP HR (2 times) but the job oppertunites was very less even with Blackberry hiring tons of people at that time.
Unless your Hubby can help you in getting a job in his firm (afetr you doing the courses), I would not recommend IT.
Before you try to enter your field, you should see if it is worth upgrading your skills in Senaca or whereever.
I worked in AutoCAD. Someone told that AutoCAD was hot. I applied to new jobs for 5 years (while working at another job for $ 12 an hour) and I got only 2 or 3 interview calls in the 5 years. So research.
As I said before, It is not a bad idea to list in your resume that you are in Canada for the past 5 years and that you have a degree from Senaca or George brown etc.. For a beginer job, no one will check .

Peace by Murali

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Lalitha,
As I have said before, send me your (real) resume (which you have not sent till now though I had first asked you some 6 months back). Let me review it and advise. I have around 9 years Canadian experience.
You can black out your real name and address, if you wish and send me only the body of the resume.
Send, if interested. My email address is in your inbox

Peace by Murali.

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

If your husband has a good job, then it may be it is good idea to concentrate on home front for few more years to take care of kids and give them extra support in their education and well being.

Once they grow little older, you may give few months to upgrade skills/resume accordingly to hit the job market.

It all depends on what kind of living you like to have. You can get yourself trained in QA and sooner or later I am sure you can get a job in software testing if your communication skills are good. However, you will be very very busy in addition to managing daycare for your kid.

My husband has an OK job. We just about manage rent+transport+communication+grocery+EMI back in India. Well, anyway money is not the only takeaway from a job. After having worked with global MNC's for 6 years it very hard to sit at home. I took a break after marriage for 1.5 years now the second break will be a year in Jan. All companies are not very open to get people with breaks. Also, after my daughter starts school I will be very bored. My parents are ready to come over to look after my daughter but only after my brothers marriage, praying to God that it happens very soon
The only reason why my husband said I can get job in IT is because of my communication skills but that can be put to use only when someone calls for interview! People say that without exp it will be difficult and I may have to fake it. I'm not OK with it. Now, my husband has come up with MEng! He wants me to study at Ryerson. I really don't know where I'm going to end up, hopefully some-place good?!

Lalitha,
Waiting for your parents to come to look after your child is not a workable option as getting visa for your parents will be like a lottery. Try to work with what you have got now (I know it is hard though).
I would suggest the following :
Since this is december (almost), there will be no hiring for another 45 days. Every one will be in christmas mode.
Try to connect with Costi or Career bridge or skills for change or other professional people who will give you a month or weeks workshop on how to write your resume and how to tap into the Canadian work force. This is totally free. Some centers offer free child care / child minding while you do that.
Your resume must be tailor made to the job that you will apply. Only when your resume is ti Canadian standards, start applying. Donot apply blindly now as your name will stick to the database of the company that you are applying.
Being in IT seems easy, but then where are the jobs? Blackberry has almost closed and hence there are lot of people looking for work. Unless your hubby can find you a job in Indian companies in the GTA, it is impossible.

M. Eng. seems not a good option as you have just 6 years of work experience, which is trivial in Canada. However, I would advise you to upgrade your current skills in colleges such as Sheridan, Centenial etc...

I would also recommend you to network with Non IT based people on CD such as Dimple 2001 who know the current trend.

All the best.

Peace by Murali

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.