Mmm.... most of my well established friends are not from IT background, As in the last couple of decades, IT job market faces challenges from the fraction paid off-shore counterpart and the threat similar low paid on-site consultant from the same offshore companies.

To list a few,
- A travel agent who after a struggle (2 years), found his own venture.
- An Engineer (no PEngg), actively making a good life in product marketing.
- Real estate agent (3 houses, 1 condo, a Mercedez, a Lexus)..,
- Sr. Technician, tools.
- Sales, Electronic distribution.
- Accounting and Finance.
- Financial Advisor (Mortgage / Insurance).
- Printing Engineer.
- Teacher.
- Another Mechanical engineer.

I know what is a struggle in India and I had been there, and I am yet to meet a family here who is struggling as bad as they struggled India. Perhaps, they are positive.

Quote:

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Originally posted by tamilkuravan

Yup. Very true.
Decide if that is the kind of life you want.
I must also point out to you that if you donot upgrade yourselves right from day one but opt. for standard jobs like labour, CSR etc... and looking for jobs in yoru own line, chances are that as time goes by you will get a significant gap in your own line professional employment and will push your still down.
Looking forward to some positive comments for other CD's who are well employed for the benefit of the OP (with the exception of IT people).
Hope this helps

TK A

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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM

Someone i know 1 - Works for a big company that Sells AC's Humidifiers etc Makes 70K+ commission, wife did a course on travel and tourism makes 40K

Someone i know 2 - Works in a company that designs mechanical machinery makes 65K, wife works with TD makes 45K

Someone i know 3- Finance manager with a Japanese compny in their GTA office, he has been in canada for 3-4 years makes 75K, wife works as a receptionist in a big firm 40K

Someone i know 4:- works with HSBC Finance 55K, wife is auditor (not IT) makes 120K + bonus (last year almost 35K)


Also

Someone i know 4: husband been in canada for 5 years, couldnt find decent job, still at home as dosent want to do call center job, takes care of kids, wife makes 40K, no savings but still own car and live ok life, without struggle

someone i know 6: Man, alone, bank manager in india for 20 years, has been here 6 years work in gas station for 9$/hr


I am in IT and my wife works as well but our total income is lesser than the 4 someone i know above..

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Live and Let Live

I think there is a perception that unless your a doctor, engineer lawyer (or now IT Professional), then you are no one and will never truly succeed in a career.

What is wrong if someone enjoys doing manual labour work or customer service work? Do you know that Plumbers and Electricians make more money than I can ever dream of making? DO you know that Registered Massage Therapists make $37 per hour??

Construction Superintendents and Project managers bring in over 100K per year.

The issue of immigrants getting jobs in their field is very multi-faceted and is not as simple as just "its racism" or whatever.

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~ Morning rain

Quote:

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Originally posted by tamilkuravan


Canada is mainly for IT people, Young people no education or high tech education and who are prepared to fight it out while living in humble circumstances and eventually climbing up the ladder.

Once agin, it depends on your priorities. if have any intention of saving moeny and then living a comfortable retired life in India, then it is an horrible option.

However, if you are coming with the idea of struggling, living hand to mouth, living in a clean / corruption free environment, to be where drugs (and illegal guns)are available in plenty, where your daugher can study free till 12th and then enter university with a student loan, where you get Canadian passport in 4 years and then you can drive to USA as long and whenever you wish, get a free by pass after waiting for a year , wait for 6- 8 hours in the emergency for getting a bleeding finger to be seen by the doctor for free (even if you want to speed up the process by giving $1 million in Canada it is not possible), where seniors with no proper investments live like beggers, where even the bus drivers greet you with a hello upon entering the bus, where 6-9 months will be snow and impossible to go for a nice walk, where to go to India for a family of 3 will cost Rs.2 lakhs , you will feel at home in Canada.

Peace

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i..........rock........!!!!!

Right, isn't it true that the list of foreign educated, top brass in big companies is growing and growing. At least, I found quite a few with my clients. By the way, they are not in IT.

Adaptability & Assimilation to the demand of new environment plays an important role and more than all it is "Thinking Positive" , I can't stress any more on the later as it is at last the way I believe.

I also remember another Gentleman I met here initially in Canada, he was a Civil Engineer, did not pursue his P.Engg.., but took several communication courses from HRDC, took avg. paying jobs for about a year with co-op also. After little more than a year, he landed with two job offers from Vancouver BC and Alberta both were 85K+ as "Specialist Consultant". A notable thing with that Gentleman was his Positive approach. The bottom line is, I have seen Engineers from all branches including Mechanical, Electronics, Instrumentation and Civil succeeded here in getting a job in their own field after initial struggle. Are they really super duper individuals, no way.....

Quote:

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Originally posted by morning_rain

I think there is a perception that unless your a doctor, engineer lawyer (or now IT Professional), then you are no one and will never truly succeed in a career.

What is wrong if someone enjoys doing manual labour work or customer service work? Do you know that Plumbers and Electricians make more money than I can ever dream of making? DO you know that Registered Massage Therapists make $37 per hour??

Construction Superintendents and Project managers bring in over 100K per year.

The issue of immigrants getting jobs in their field is very multi-faceted and is not as simple as just "its racism" or whatever.

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The cowards never started,
The weak died on the way,
Only the strong arrived.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yK1i9cLAMM

Assumtion: OP is coming to Canada just with the basic money which is required as the 'settlement fund' and not with lot of money like $100K/++ after selling his house/car/shares/stocks etc.etc. in India.

Hi,
I could not resist to contribute my 2 cents.

You can definitely live a decent life (may not be a decent lifestyle) even with a family income of 60K/Year.

OP have mentioned:
'most importantly seeking practical thoughts is for the fact that having toiled hard to rise the corporate ladder in last 20 years'
In my opinion, you have already worked hard to rise to that level. You are at DGM level and your wife is also at a good position. Are you ready to forget about your past 'level and status and authority and what not...' after coming to Canada? If not then you might have to memorize the following lines and keep saying :

"Kahan aake rukne the raaste; kahan mod tha use bhool ja,
Woh jo mil gaya, use yaad rakh; jo nahin mila, use bhool ja,
Woh jo tere naseeb ki baarishen; kisi aur chhatt pe baras gayin,
Dil-e-be-khabar, meri baat maan; use bhool ja, use bhool ja."

Please do not expect that you will be at the same level right from day one. You may have to work (I would not say 'struggle') hard and smart to reach there. It may take 2-3 years or it may take 10-12 years. Its good that you have no hang-ups about 'your own field' so you can get adjusted anywhere.

I would request to all fellow CDs who have reached in the management cadre (Senior manager and above with a base salary range of 75K to 100K+, non-IT offcourse ) within 3/4/5 years after coming to Canada, please share your experiences here.

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Sanjeev Manocha, MBA
Real Estate Sales Representative
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)

Re/Max West Realty Inc, Brokerage
96, Rexdale Blvd., Toronto

Mobile: 416-843-7600
Office: 416-745-2300
http://www.manocharealty.com" rel="nofollow">LINK

I am not in management cadre, but I must say that we(me & my wife) earn a salary more than 70k & we are able to live a decent life in Toronto.

But to describe the initial time when we landed here, I can say that it was quite hard to believe that my previous experience wasn't been counted anymore. I tried to find a job for one month & then understood the harsh reality & immediately joined a CO-OP course wherein I was taught the office culture (what to do/not to do), ways to find a job (very tricky), ways to develop networking, interview skills etc etc.... for 2 months.

Another 3 months I was placed in an company wherein I worked voluntarily for them for 3 months (without pay). I must say I gained a lot of experience in that period & I learned a lot of things & I also developed contacts who gave my reference latter. In the last month I attended a lot of interviews & got this job where I am working from last 3 yrs.

Just my 2 cents.....

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i..........rock........!!!!!