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?.

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!.



article.php?id=539
morning_rain   
Member since: Feb 05
Posts: 1920
Location: British Columbia

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 02-07-10 21:09:39

Quote:
Originally posted by Nightmare


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.



http://pharmacy.utoronto.ca/programs/bsc/admissions/overview.htm

Just to get into the bachelors of Pharmacy degree you need a minimum 70% GPA and write the PCAT - pharmacy college admission test which includes biology chemistry Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension. In addition, two writing subtests are included which are used to assess the ability to think and write effectively.

The interviews are very intense. I have sat on a panel (in a different subject mind you but it was for university admissions). This is very intense.

240 students out of 1000 get admission at the University of Toronto... This is a very competitive program.


-----------------------------------------------------------------
~ Morning rain



voltrex   
Member since: Nov 09
Posts: 111
Location:

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 02-07-10 21:40:48

Quote:
Originally posted by Nightmare

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.




This is how the CA program works in Australia, Canada, England and Wales, and even Pakistan.

If you have 2.5 years of big 4 audit experience from India, then it will take you about 6 months to a year to be designated.

Accounting firms prefer to hire recent grads, that's how it is in many countries.

Getting into a big 4 or mid-sized accounting firm in Canada is no different than in the US:

a) either directly from school
b) or as an experienced hire

It has nothing to do with Canada.



voltrex   
Member since: Nov 09
Posts: 111
Location:

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 02-07-10 21:54:14

Just to add, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) introduced in February 26, 2010 the "exception from employment requirement rule", students can now take the CA exams even if they can't find employment at a CA firm.
You still need to fulfill the work experience requirement.

http://www.icao.on.ca/Admissions/RegistrationOverview/EmploymentExemption/1008page11205.aspx

Couple of other things;

- Not all CAs have same job prospects, CA with big 4 experience > CA from a large firm (BDO, GT, RSM) > CA from a mid-size firm.

- Don't expect to become a CFO solely because you are a CA who worked at a CA firm for 2-3 years and then switched to industry.



voltrex   
Member since: Nov 09
Posts: 111
Location:

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 02-07-10 22:36:14

Quote:
Originally posted by Nightmare


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.




I agree with you regarding the TTC ticket collector and municipal clerks.
Canada post carriers make on average $55k and managers $86k, which is less than what an "average" CGA/CMA makes.

Being a Registered Nurse is a very demanding and stressful job and is regarded by some as "dirty work", the educational requirements are challenging as well.



ritz3645   
Member since: Sep 08
Posts: 220
Location:

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 03-07-10 01:34:33

Hi guys, last night round about 10pm (in an Indian city) a Audi (Gujarat number plate) stopped and asked me for directions for Shirdi.

There was also a Sumo behind the A4 or A6 or A8, and it happened so normally that it really shocked me.


My predictions out of India, USA and Canada as a destination to Live/Work,
........well Canada will never be a happening destination in foreseeable future,

Yes people will move because of the Developed Nation Status, and some jugadu Indians as a short cut to USA......but...... 'the growth will never be there period

also I see more friction internally as well as between neighbor down south.

On the contrary may be five or ten years down the line I will not be surprised to see a India USA trade pact, one similar to NAFTA, for starter http://www.export.gov/india/index.asp


My personal experience, employers/businessmen in CA are so cheap and corrupt in holding salaries, unfair practices..... in USA employers/businessmen are at-least honest and they will not deny you your hard earned compensation and believe in fair-play. In Canada dishonesty stems from the fact that there is not much meat in the system and nor a system which promotes out of box thinking or fair entrepreneurship.

For long Canada was satisfied cold calling American companies by preposition of a quarter cheap than America.......but now things have changed my friends,

Its cheaper to first migrate to Bahamas or Dominican Republic or Guatemala or Honduras or El Salvador and then move to USA.

also I am not talking to people who have migrated to Canada more than six to eight years back.


:cheers:



febpreet   
Member since: Jan 07
Posts: 3252
Location:

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 03-07-10 01:43:38

This is the reason why I have now asked my wife who has been struggling for the last 3 years trying to find a job in her field, to forget everything and try for a Public sector Clerical/Admin. job. Go in a full swing, as I know being a clerical or admin. Asstt. pays more than being a private sector IT professional (with loads of stress everyday).

This is her motto now, and I am very happy about it.



JRF   
Member since: Jul 04
Posts: 1853
Location: GTA, Ontario

Post ID: #PID Posted on: 03-07-10 06:01:44

Quote:
Originally posted by Nightmare

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.






I never worked in India in my life. I left soon after my education as that was my goal then and I did what I wanted to. I would be more than happy if I am compelled to settle in India now as I don't see any country as promising as India at this point to develop your wealth (perhaps China / Hong Kong might score higher but I do not have much knowledge about them).

Here is my point, no matter whether I immigrate to Canada or Uganda (no offense please), I would try to make the best. I was quite disappointed first when I landed Canada as I got flanked between our beloved naysayers ( I am no exception to that often), soon as I broke the chain, life was much more encouraging. I would never call myself successful as I continue to redefine / advance my goals. Just FYI, I have lost considerable investments here too but that is all the result my own poor judgment and you know it is part and parcel of life.

I did hate to live in some countries I lived in the past as I yielded to my emotions of constantly cribbing about and had a way to move out. I repent now for not having tapped the opportunities I had then.

As the original poster mentioned, if some XYZ is quite successful here not having all this B.Sc., M.Sc., CGA, CA, why not I ?
If some XYZ managed live in the harsh cold winter, why not I ?
If some XYZ managed break all the barriers here and show progress? Why not I ?

There are loads of posts you will find in this forum that will show how some folks (not IT, Finance as TK always crib about), managed to launch the best out of what they could. You would see a common ground behind them, that is relentless and positive.

Don't make a misjudgment that I don't prefer to live in India, I really love to as I understand every place has its own plus and minus to offer but at the same time I don't want to get myself soaked in extreme nostalgic feelings that could negatively influence how I am living my day to day life here.

Bottom line, if I could see about 100 people doing much better and I am not, the problem is in me not the environment.

Have a pleasant weekend...


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




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