Hi,

I came to Canada from UK about 3 years back. I have 2 Masters and 2 Bachelors degrees and One Diploma. I looked for jobs within my field which is the creative industry with no success. Taking guidance from other desi's I have tempered and tailored by CV according to the job requirements and often do not mention my qualifications.

I am happy to do a retail job / customer service as well. It has been frustrating, not being able to get even a basic student/entry level job.

I am an excellent communicator and have taught in the US as well. Language and communication is not a problem with me.

I do not wish to loose hope and am at a complete loss. I have been to Acccess employement, worked on my CV with them, but no response. Any suggestions/help will be really really appreciated.

Thanking everyone in advance.

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Mehra

Try call centre jobs. I have a few friends who have been able to get jobs - salary ranges from 11-18 per hour. Sometimes you can get full time work and sometimes you can get work for a few hours a day or few days in a week etc. There are agencies that do these placements. Try to visit websites / career section of companies like Mobile/banks etc which would have local call centres. These also have shifts sometimes. If you are lucky you can get work for an odd shift.

Be on the lookout. Check out Target. They may be looking for new people.

I have often seen small posters outside stores wanting assistants etc. If you are serious, and this is a lot of leg work, take a few cv's - dress smart and attack one big mall each day (like square one - which has a hair dressing salon always wanting a receptionist). Look at the window of each shop for such a poster - you just might get lucky. Off course - it is a rule that you always find something you don't need and vice versa.

I think I have given an extreme suggestion. I am presuming you have no job at all and do want one even at entry level. Once you do get a job and enter the workforce - networking helps you get more suitable positions.

I wish you all the very best and hope you get a good job soon.

Looks like something is missing from you end.
Are you groomed properly (no mush, hair neatly trimmed etc..).
Try to go to manpower companies and ask them to give you a light work job. Try to network in libraries. (not in shopping centres). Some agencies like Acess, costi, St Gabriel can help you in finding volunteer jobs.
Try to use food banks and soup kitchens till you find a job to save money.
As said earlier, give us some more general info. to help you. May be some CD's may have access to help you find a job in their company if you share some specific information.
Unfortunately I can not in Canada or I could have tried to help you.

Peace by Murali

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Geeta- I checked with call center jobs and they require a certificate or one year experience!! which I do not have. I don't know how your friends got the jobs, since I am sure that most people who come from India are not really with back grounds from Call Center industry. I have been to costi, access, got my CV checked, re-worked etc, applied at rogers, bell, scotia ...always writing a good and relevant cover letter and editing my cv according to job requirements. I have lived in the west for 10 years so I know how things work, but for the first time after coming to Canada, I am experiencing any employment related issues. I have tried all routes, personally taking my cv's to different places- malls, stores with no reply, applied online universities, companies ... made hundreds of applications. Currently I am at a complete loss as to what to do. Geeta, if you could let me know as to which placement agencies your friends went to, I will really appreciate that, perhaps that might create some sort of leads for me.

Tamilkuravan- I am from the creative industry and make films and have lived in many continents. I get supported by the government to work on my projects, but it is not enough and not consistent. Hence I have always supported myself working in Universities, working as an online researcher for companies, admin, translator, teaching etc. My skills are varied and adaptable. I have volunteered in 6 organizations in Toronto and the irony is that I was asked to apply for a board of director positions by maytree ( they normally screen you for the same)!!! which is coz of my experience etc, but I am unable to get the most simplest of the jobs!!!
Hence any leads for job, name of placement agencies, any information you might have please do let me know. I consider myself computer literate with knowledge of M.S. Word, M. S. Power Point, Excel, Google Spreadsheets. I will be happy to send you my CV.

Once again thanking you all in advance and really appreciate your taking out the time to write to me.

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Mehra

Hi,
Check your PM(private message), I sent you contact details of a recruiter.

,

Quote:

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Originally posted by Dotty

Geeta- I checked with call center jobs and they require a certificate or one year experience!! which I do not have. I don't know how your friends got the jobs, since I am sure that most people who come from India are not really with back grounds from Call Center industry. I have been to costi, access, got my CV checked, re-worked etc, applied at rogers, bell, scotia ...always writing a good and relevant cover letter and editing my cv according to job requirements. I have lived in the west for 10 years so I know how things work, but for the first time after coming to Canada, I am experiencing any employment related issues. I have tried all routes, personally taking my cv's to different places- malls, stores with no reply, applied online universities, companies ... made hundreds of applications. Currently I am at a complete loss as to what to do. Geeta, if you could let me know as to which placement agencies your friends went to, I will really appreciate that, perhaps that might create some sort of leads for me.

Tamilkuravan- I am from the creative industry and make films and have lived in many continents. I get supported by the government to work on my projects, but it is not enough and not consistent. Hence I have always supported myself working in Universities, working as an online researcher for companies, admin, translator, teaching etc. My skills are varied and adaptable. I have volunteered in 6 organizations in Toronto and the irony is that I was asked to apply for a board of director positions by maytree ( they normally screen you for the same)!!! which is coz of my experience etc, but I am unable to get the most simplest of the jobs!!!
Hence any leads for job, name of placement agencies, any information you might have please do let me know. I consider myself computer literate with knowledge of M.S. Word, M. S. Power Point, Excel, Google Spreadsheets. I will be happy to send you my CV.

Once again thanking you all in advance and really appreciate your taking out the time to write to me.

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Dotty:
I am not in Canada for the past 2 years and hence donot know the current situation now.
If you are not getting any call centre jobs, then there is something a miss in Canada or in you. Call centre was the first jobs that a person with knowledge of English would get and the Desi's who did not know english would either work in Tims/MacD's or do labour jobs.

Since you are in creative industry / film industry, I would suppose that your sole sources of employment would be with universities or with non-profit organizations that get aid from Ottawa and spend in Afganisthan / Africa. On this front, try world vision and the like companies.

Again due to the first sentence, I am unaware of current GTA situation. I request other CD's esp. Hiren, Fido, BL, SS, peacock to help you.

Peace by Murali

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

My experience has been very different, when I came in 2010, I checked around for call center jobs. I was asked for 1 year experience within the industry, many jobs adverts mention that on their postings as well. I am still persisting, hoping something will turn.

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Mehra