Immigration 101: How to Succeed in Canada?
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| Immigration 101: How to Succeed in Canada? By: Vandematram A.Who should immigrate to Canada?. article.php?id=539 |
Quote:
Originally posted by Vandematram
A.Who should immigrate to Canada?.
We keep reading the very same questions repeatedly in regards to job opportunities in Canada.
The dichotomy of the situation is that some highly qualified/experienced individuals are immigrating and crying here while poor to mediocre individuals are going great guns here.
Hence persons with the right attitude and a desire for making it any cost are required in Canada and NOT the book smart people.
It is all about attitude in Canada.
The the words attitude denote that we will do what is necessary to succeed here than what we want to do with our past experience.
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B.What are the yard stick for success after you leave your shores and land in Canada?.
1.A fully paid up 4 bedroom home with a two car garage and a swimming pool. The value of the assett around $ 1 Million.
2.Either a BMW X5 or a Cadillac Escalade or even a Mercedes SUV and combinations of those cars.
3.Option for a vacation anywhere in the world for 2 weeks every summer.
4.Children doing very well in school and getting 90% and above with a sure shot for the bursary and getting into top programs in good schools including medical education.
5.A condo on the 20th floor in downtown GTA rented and having the option to give it your child when they are ready for the first job.
6.A vacation cottage home at the Muskoka lake with a fancy boat on the jetty.
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C.Having listed a wish list or a symbol of success yard stick in Canada do we know any Desis who has attained these?.
Yes and there are plenty of them in Canada. I see every day Punjabi taxi drivers who cannot read or write English and who speak a smattering of English living in half million dollar home with their family driving Acura SUV's.
You see the refugee Srilankan Tamil living in fancy homes and every one of his family has a car. Many of them cannot sign their own names in English but have mortgages which far outweigh those of many of us.
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D.Who are they and what is it that they do?.
Typically these are individuals who have less education, who have picked skill sets and are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
They also have an attitude to face any consequence to attain success. Meaning they will even break the law and are willing to go to jail if needed so.
The highly qualified book smart individual always calculates the risk before jumping in while the less qualified street smart individual looks at the reward before jumping into the pool of wealth.
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E.How do you plan for success in Canada?.
1.Do not come with the US cross border migration plan after Citizenship. USof A is such a mess it will take generations to get out of the mess.
Life is more stable and chances of survival are better in Canada in comparison to USA.
2.Land in Canada and leave your degrees/experience certificates aside and start from scratch with a Will Win attitude.
3.Get a Safety Shoes from Walmart. You might be the best damn SAP expert with donkeys years of experience in it but the way things are going you'll never know when you will go looking for a warehouse job.
4.Always plan for 2 part time jobs than a full time job.
5.It is better to get into a unionized job with seniority than to break your head over an office job. The so called desk job/office jobs are the real stinkers unlike India where you'll have no job security but will be made to slog at a wage which on averaging for hours will be equal to or less than minimum wage. There will be no option for overtime pay on office jobs unlike the manufacturing/warehouse jobs.
For Example: FEDEX pays $13.50 per hour to start with and you can always move into higher professional levels from the entry point. UPS pays their drivers $25 per hour and there are many who make around $100,000 PA and have their vacations, pension and full health benefits and they are protected by the union. Canada Post pays initially the minimum wage and if you are able to enter full time you end up at $22 per hour.
6.Try to incorporate a small business on the side. Set aside a small amount may be 1000 bucks to start with and try to tinker in a small business on the side. You may succeed or you may fail but you have made a start. The up side on this is that you can write off your expenses from this side show.
7.Always have a plan for a future small business and try to work in it even if it involves low pay.
If you plan to start a restaurant down the road and you are a TECHIE, do not write in this website about starting a restaurant. Get a job in an Indian place or even a Subway or Timmys and see for yourself how it works and then decide to get into a similar business.
The message here is that you cannot learn swimming by reading a book, You need to jump into the water.
8.Always keep building your credit, checking your credit score and use all methods to get a HIGH LINE OF CREDIT.
You need to get credit cards to reach there, but once you get the 100K combined line of credit for your family you can cut your credit cards off.
9.Constantly keep evaluating your financial,social situation and also keep track of YOUR progress than your neighbours progress.
Many a time we lose track of our own success from where we were 3 years ago by comparing ourselves to our friends or neighbours.
Yes your friend TECHIE came to Canada with his IT experience and got a job in RIM and is making 80K. Yes he bought a nice semi-detached home from the 100K he saved from his US stint.
You came from India and did all odd jobs and you are driving your Toyota Corolla and have your condo or town house. Do not be dissuaded by comparing yourself with him. If he loses his IT job where will he go?.Can he/is he prepared to wear the safety shoe and work in a warehouse, while you can do it at a drop of a hat.
10.Have positive attitude and be willing to take risks. If you do so, there is more wealth in Canada to be attained than anywhere in the World.
Like the Great American Poet called Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cents said - "Get Rich - Die Trying"
Do Not Give UP!.
Very true. I totally agree with you.
Quote:
Originally posted by dan
Quote:
Originally posted by febpreet
Quote:
Originally posted by dan
nice try above but much easier said than done. Manufacturing/warehouse jobs can have an impact on health down the road so you might keep the job but not your health. Same with driving etc. Also hourly wages and big mortgage...receipe for trouble as pointed out above. Financial health that is.
Certainly not the way to think as a 101 for the most part.
What do you say about those Desi Taxi Drivers, Factory workers, etc. who looks pretty healthy to me. Trust me they are indeed healthy. The above is just an excuse given by the educated and techie folks like us. To top it all, they enjoy life better than we so-called professionals with early mortgage payoffs. Their wives stay at home with 3 cars parked at a driveways. I can show you in thousands within GTA and Vancouver. I personally know at least 15-20 families who are amongst the one described in '101'. So, I disagree with you that it's easier said than done. Punjabis have found a great success in Canada not by being booksmart but streetsmart. While, the new wave of professionals who live by the book are way far behind these business people who are not only a success, but living their life a way better than the 'so-called' professionals. You may say, they are the most currupt as well, while I'd say - yes the case of few bad apples. Where they aren't?
Well you disagree and that is fine. Nothing stops you from going the streetsmart route anyway but 3 cars in the driveway is not everyone's measure of success or the reasons to be in North America. That is not everyone's goal and that goal can be achieved using the streetsmart route.
And it IS easier said than done. It is tough work, the hours are long (certainly they do not enjoy life the way you said it) and as for the health issues, that could be an issue but not for all.
So take this 101 route YOURSELF and come back to us only then. Till then, bye. Stop looking at the driveways as well.
I don't look at the driveways bud, it's just a way to present you the facts. Yes, FACTS. This is my motto in life not to compare myself to others and not to demean myself by looking at others' achievements. Even if I need to take 101 myself, I don't need to be answerable to anyone, least to this board and you. So, take it easy!
Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 02-07-10 10:55:46
Quote:
Originally posted by dan
Well you disagree and that is fine. Nothing stops you from going the streetsmart route anyway but 3 cars in the driveway is not everyone's measure of success or the reasons to be in North America. That is not everyone's goal and that goal can be achieved using the streetsmart route.
And it IS easier said than done. It is tough work, the hours are long (certainly they do not enjoy life the way you said it) and as for the health issues, that could be an issue but not for all.
.
I think febpreet means that there are those immigrants who work , what we consider insanely hard, and their long term rewards are - having the ability to acquire material gains (house, cars, etc) while still having one spouse remain at home, which is harder for most families due to the need to have two incomes to maintain a middle class lifestyle.
However i also agree that most of these people have a different 'quality of life' than we do. They dont vacation in mexico, go on cruises, spend money on luxuries like dinner's out, movies etc. Their socializing is with other families who are often in the same boat.
What bugs me is when employers take advantage of these people who are willing to pull 16 hour shifts in a warehouse (for example). Anyway thats a different issue.
Finally - Dan, you said that having 3 cars is not a measure of success or the reason to be in North America. Please advise my CBCD brain (said in jest here)..for what other reason do immigrants come to NA? Our health care system is not as good as back home, nor education nor the culture of Canadians.
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~ Morning rain
Quote:
Originally posted by morning_rain
for what other reason do immigrants come to NA? Our health care system is not as good as back home, nor education nor the culture of Canadians.
Freedom from tyranny.
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 02-07-10 11:22:27
Quote:
Originally posted by morning_rain
. Please advise my CBCD brain (said in jest here)..for what other reason do immigrants come to NA? Our health care system is not as good as back home, nor education nor the culture of Canadians.
In Canada, we all know that.
But then what is the reality out there in India or elsewhere. Consultants and even the govt. give spin.
As I have said before, it goes something along these lines.
1. Canadian healthcare is free and without bias (we know the reality on ground)
2. Canadian education is free ( yeah. Till grade 12. but what about daycare fees for children less than 12 and ven more daycare fees for children less than 4. Who pays to keep the child during summer vacation?)
3. Govt. gives money to children ( $ 100 a month .peanuts and that too for children under 6)
4. Canadian’s love nature (yeah . who will enjoy it for 9 months a year – snow or cold seasons)
5. Canada needs to fill in 1 million jobs by 2010 (2000 stats) (Yup. You bet)
6. Canadians love immigrants (yeah. Try getting a job)
7. Welfare is given , if you canot work (yeah. $ 517 a month for a single person )
8. Most Canadians own cars / internet connection (yeah. With the gas price, internet price, insurance price, it is not worth it).
9. When you get passport , you can go to USA (except in IT or senior positions, you canot)
10. Most Canadians are hardworking (yeah. They work 12 hours – very hard work- a day. They compensate energy by eating beef, pork, drinking. Indian body canot do this)
11. You can go to India and come whenever you like (you pay for the airfare of around $1200 a person.in 2002 it was $ 1600 / person)
12. You can own (mortgage a home). (yeah. Who gives you a job here)
13. 1 C$ = Rs. 42. (As if you will get money to send to India. When you receive money from India to pay bills here, you will know Rs 80 = 1 large Tim hortons coffee)
Most come here fooled by this statement (incl . me). Once they come here, all their money (savings) is gone by the time you know that you were cheated by the Govt.. So after that your options will be to go back (if you have money left in India or you have a job there) or you start sweeping the factory floors and move on from there (unless you are in IT or Finance). You loose interest in the simple pleasures of life and get used to the -35 deg. Cent..)
Welcome to Canada. Viva to the cursed land of the free.
Hope you got the gist
Peace by TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
In Canada, we all know that.
But then what is the reality out there in India or elsewhere. Consultants and even the govt. give spin.
As I have said before, it goes something along these lines.
1. Canadian healthcare is free and without bias (we know the reality on ground)
OK.
2. Canadian education is free ( yeah. Till grade 12. but what about daycare fees for children less than 12 and ven more daycare fees for children less than 4. Who pays to keep the child during summer vacation?)
Who will take care the kids if one is working in India and their parents are either have similar commitments from your siblings.
3. Govt. gives money to children ( $ 100 a month .peanuts and that too for children under 6).
What about the CCTB. RESP exemptions plus other benefits thats beyond the discussion here.
4. Canadian’s love nature (yeah . who will enjoy it for 9 months a year – snow or cold seasons)
I see that it is nice in May, June, July, August, September that counts to 5 months of nice weather, my relatives in Delhi complain that the weather is bad in Winter and unbearable in summer, so do people in Madras, Dubai and Gulf.
5. Canada needs to fill in 1 million jobs by 2010 (2000 stats) (Yup. You bet)
No comments.
6. Canadians love immigrants (yeah. Try getting a job)
Checked with some fellow Canadians, they said yes because it brings them economy as the population doesn't seem to grow as they wish.
7. Welfare is given , if you canot work (yeah. $ 517 a month for a single person )
I've seen many complaining that welfare should not be given. What is the point. Yes or No.
8. Most Canadians own cars / internet connection (yeah. With the gas price, internet price, insurance price, it is not worth it).
Hope you know the price of Gas in Europe and then India too.
9. When you get passport , you can go to USA (except in IT or senior positions, you canot)
Many of my Non IT and Financial guys have moved, you could check with them.
10. Most Canadians are hardworking (yeah. They work 12 hours – very hard work- a day. They compensate energy by eating beef, pork, drinking. Indian body canot do this)
Thanks for bringing some humor.
11. You can go to India and come whenever you like (you pay for the airfare of around $1200 a person.in 2002 it was $ 1600 / person)
Going to India is not a must for many of my friends. They do once in 4 years.
12. You can own (mortgage a home). (yeah. Who gives you a job here)
Is it different from any where else.
13. 1 C$ = Rs. 42. (As if you will get money to send to India. When you receive money from India to pay bills here, you will know Rs 80 = 1 large Tim hortons coffee)
It would matter only if you are paid in Indian Rupees.
Most come here fooled by this statement (incl . me). Once they come here, all their money (savings) is gone by the time you know that you were cheated by the Govt.. So after that your options will be to go back (if you have money left in India or you have a job there) or you start sweeping the factory floors and move on from there (unless you are in IT or Finance). You loose interest in the simple pleasures of life and get used to the -35 deg. Cent..)
Welcome to Canada. Viva to the cursed land of the free.
It appears, I have a very bad set of friends who either lie or steal probably, as they all seem to be doing all right with their life with pretty much same set of challenges what a normal human being face irrelevant of race.
Not just Finance, IT. There are many other fields have promising prospects, In these 3-4-5 years I've spent in the forum, I could've spent and equipped myself up.
Hope you got the gist
Peace by TK
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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
While I do not agree completely with TK, I completely disagree with JRF who is enamored with Canada. I do not know his occupation. May be he is successful entrepreneur running Subway or Tim Horton. Else he may be senior bureaucrat in Govt. or he may be happy here because he was failure in India.
Canada Vs India discussion, in one form or another has taken place innumerable times on CD. Well, I do not mind jumping one more time.
It is a sad fact that Canadian federal Govt. which designed and ran immigration program was a cheat and heartless. Now I understand that provinces have much better say, thanks to Conservatives. The Liberal party which ran immigration program did it keeping in view the politics and nothing else. I am sure that any party in power would have known that qualifications and experience of immigrants is not recognized and still they granted immigration visa largely on those qualifications and experience. That is the exact reason I am anti Liberal and would remain so through out my rest of the life.
Now experience of immigrants and their fate / status in Canada differ from person to person. There are many who advocate and advise that one should qualify again in Canada and I largely agree. However, one point that should be considered which most giving sermons forget is that Canada is India of 1956 of Jawahar joker – a license – permit- quota raj. For example, I tried unsuccessfully to get in to CA program. The requirement is that one should first get in to a CA firm recognized to impart training (Many small and medium CA firms are not recognized). Now age is a big factor for these firms. They prefer Canadian graduates fresh from University. Hence unless you know someone in big CA firm or you have worked in their branches in India it is difficult to get in the program. Of course, there are other options- CGA or CMA. Again, with CGA or CAN one can reach middle management position but CFO position is ruled out. Further, as pointed out by TK, Tim Horton Coffee costs Rs. 80 here. How long would your savings last? With a family of four, one has little option but to accept the first job that comes across and I did start with labor job @ $8/- per hour, then minimum wage. Over a period of time I did my CGA and is now settled in “good” job. (Warnings to those who are ready with daggers - I am certainly drawing above average salary so do not try to deride me on that count). However, I am certainly disappointed knowing that I would not rise to the top post though I am amply qualified. I have seen discrimination being practiced both in private and public sector.
Having spent 12 years in Canada, I now realize that there were enough pointers of which I was not aware when I migrated. I realize the mistake that I made. I researched for accounting and auditing career. Had I known what I know today that a TTC ticket collector or Canada post clerk or a nurse or a municipal clerk earns much more than a financial analyst in private firm, I would not have migrated. It is not that I have not tried to get those jobs. Fact is that it is almost impossible to get in to TTC or Ontario Hydro or local Govt. There is no concept of any technical entrance test – like UPSC in India. Who you know matters more than what you know. With the kind of system prevalent here, getting unionized job is a pipe dream.
The frustration that most immigrants feel is because of the kind of jobs that one gets. In some cases, it is because one is doing labor job, in some because of poor pay and reporting to stupid boss and some doing job much below the potential.
I do not know what kind of sick mind Canadian politicians possess. I am sure they must be deriving very perverse and sadistic pleasure when they learn that a doctor is driving cab or an engineer is doing Pizza delivery or an accountant is doing clerical job.
The whole system is structured in such a way that unless one has full understanding (which takes years) one is bound to get stuck in the “Chakravyuh”. I am sure I can write tons on the issue but I would spare you guys by giving one last example (To save my skin – I know the vitriolic reaction that I have got in past from my CD friends , especially Maple leaf hugging).
In case of Pharmacy, a test is conducted wherein the prospective candidate is asked to write an essay on any subject. Based on the essay and interview, admission is granted. They do not give a damn whether you have arts, science, or business subjects! There are just 100 seats in Toronto. If you can get in you are settled for the life- Guaranteed income of six figure annually.
Shame on this country. That summarizes my feelings succinctly.
