Hi all,

I am currently 28 years young (old???) and working in the U.A.E and am earning decently (by current standards in the UAE).
My own post:
http://www.canadiandesi.com/read.php?TID=9459&page=3 " target="_blank">http://www.canadiandesi.com/read.php?TID=9459&page=3 ....to answer any queries that may arise regarding <i>decent standards</i> and stating my reasons for migrating.


But the big question that all of us face is .... what is the future in Canada???
My current qualifications:
*) MCA from VJTI, Mumbai.

*) 4 years experience in the field of Information Security (i.e. right after my MCA, I started in this field)

*) BS 7799 certified Lead Auditor

*) Going in for CISA and CISSP real soon now. (in fact expect to get both of these certifications before I get my visa.... haven’t received my AOR as yet....had sent my application about a month back )

*) Primary area of work Information Security Risk Management/ BS 7799 certification and compliancy audits / penetration test a.k.a. ethical hacking.

*) Have good technical knowledge (at least I feel so ) in security/networking ...firewalls/IDS/honeypots/IPS/<i>any fancy technical jargon here</i>

*) IELTS overall band score 8.5

I want to get views from CD members on the following:

a) What are the job prospects in the field of Info Sec in Canada in general? In particular, any specific geographical locations where people of such skills are in demand (say Toronto, Vancouver etc.)

b) What are the prospects for making it big, career wise?? Options of getting better jobs as one gains more and more experience?

c) What is the minimum basic salary (per hour/month/annum) should I expect to live a comfortable life? I know this question is very subjective, but let me throw in a few specifics into this...
i) a good 2/3 BHK flat/apartment
ii) Nice Car (not a second hand Nissan Sunny ... no offence to ppl owning second hand Nissan Sunny)... and not even to the high end of a BMW 745LI .... a 3 door Mitsubishi Pajero is good for me

... hope you'll get the point.

You Future is very bleak here. You are doomed for disaster.

Try the USA. Idiocity to the core here. No professionalism.

I myself am a IT security consultant.

Canada is not for professionals. If you are lucky you might make it here.

No talent ,no qualification, sheer luck works here.

This country is only for labourers.

Never leave your job and come to this place to try your future .

I write this as you have good qualification and experience but this country will destroy you in a few months.

I think if you can sell yourself, the security market anywhere is very hot right now. And as companies ramp up their security infrastructure, it is bound to get hotter.

I don't think anybody can answer the BMW or Pajero question for you, you have to find it our yourself. Generally, if you're in your line of work, moving up is not very difficult if you're motivated (and from your certifications, it seems like you are)

If you are discouraged easily by posts like the one above, don't bother coming. Otherwise, I know lots of IT consultants (with various skills) who are doing quite well. (as a matter of fact, Sridharm himself has a really well paying job according to his other posts, he's just worried about others )

I'm not saying it'll be a cakewalk, but don't buy the other extreme from anyone either. My two cents.

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Hi Sridharm and Bluelobster,

Thanks for your input (….after a long wait for any kind of reply).
Bluelobseter thanks for your encouraging words.

There is a bit of info I missed in my previous post. I have got my degrees evaluated for Canadian equivalency by WES. They have put my educational qualification equivalent to a Masters Degree in Computer Science from a Canadian University.

Sridharm your response was certainly not very cheerful. However, before I take it in its face value, I would like to ask a few questions. I would be most grateful if you can respond to them and help me make a clear decision.

You mention, and I quote, <b>If you are lucky you might make it here.</b>
Do you mean apart from my educational qualifications, the professional certifications that I have or will gain have no meaning? I can understand the hesitancy on the part of Canadian employers for accepting Indian degrees, but CISA/CISSP/7799 lead auditor are globally recognized as the best certificates in the field of info security….after all you claim to be an Info Sec professional, who will know about it, better than you!!!

Do you mean, in spite of such certifications, I will not be called for a job interview just because I am an Indian….<b><i>this would amount to saying that Canada is a racist country!!</i></b>
However, if you mean I’ll not get a job because there are none available, a quick search on a few of the leading websites for jobs in Canada has altogether a different story to say.

Browsing over to your previous posts on this website, you have mentioned that you came to Canada in February 2004, with 4 years experience as Network Engineer in US with Microsoft and Cisco certifications (MCSE and CCNA I presume). So your exposure to the field of Information Security (if any) would be in the last one year or so.

May I ask what qualifications do you posses to claim that you are an IT Security Consultant? CISA/CISSP/CWSP/CISM/7799 Audior/CEH/CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional) / CCIE (security track)????? ….. quite a lot of stuff to achieve in past one year …eh???!!??

Can you please tell me what your educational background is?

AFAIK, information security is becoming a major issue for companies around the globe and specifically in North America and Europe. With legislations such as Basel II / Sarbanes Oxley are making Info risk management a hot commodity (BTW I also have experience in risk assessment based on ANZ 4360)

You must understand and appreciate the concerns I have raised above. As mentioned, if I have to take your world about a ‘grim and dark future, where I am doomed for disaster’, I need to understand in which capacity you are advising me.

I am, on my level, doing the maximum possible research before coming to Canada, but the intention of my post on CD is to get first hand information.

Unfortunately, going by the number of response, it was not every enthusiastic. Probably, I should have posted something more juicy, like
a) Should I come to Canada after selling all my belonging including my dog?
b) Should I appear for IELTS exam before applying Canada? I am english educated!!
c) Why should I come to Canada?
d) Will it be cold when it snows in Toronto and should I bring a leather jacket? )

to invoke more response and have ‘masaledar’ discussions!!!

Hope you do respond back with relevant info.

BTW, I don’t know if you have read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but lemme tell you that you make Marvin the robot sound more cheerful

cheers

Hi vand3 Reality is always bitter. Its never encouraging. As I said choice is yours . I really dont care whether you come here or not.It dosent matter to me. I looked at you at a professional level and told you the truth.
As per my earlier posts stand corrected I have a total of14 years in various countries the IT industry with security specialisation.

Here I have people coming to me with very high qualifications and still without a job.
You really dont know this country. It sucks. Companies have no idea of what they want. They want everything under the sun from a candidate and will pay only 18-20 dollars and on contract.
I dont want to explain my security expertise and my talents here.
Only advice first get a job and then come here thats very unlikely.
Security is hot field but not in canada. Its a junk Yard man.

You might get a security job yes as a Security Guard .

People dont care about your experience here you dont have canadian experience and your english is not english here my friend as you are from a inferior race. Sorry for being crude. Thats the reality

See the posts of all professionals how they have failed here and gone back or have become labour class.
People have made it yes , hardly 1%. That was before.Not any more.Anyone who is coming nowadays are fools or people from disaster countries. Lots of people are going back.

You dont know what pain is until you feel it
You dont know what hunger is unless you are hungry.

Your choice Buddy Welcome to canada land of missed opportunities.

Telling the truth is not being Negative. You need courage to accept it.

I could paint you a rosy picture but why are people not doing so Think. Reality it is not so.

Look at the people who say this place is good. Take a look at their background and qualification and where they have come from.

Dont go by a few people who were lucky to succeed.

You might be lucky and succeed. Good for you.
If not living hell. If You have lots of money take your chance.

Everyday I meet so many people with horror stories in their life with disappointments and misery , living in basements struggling , all educated with excellent qualification and experience.

Just my 2 cents.

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Orginally posted by vand3matram

Hi Sridharm and Bluelobster,

Thanks for your input (….after a long wait for any kind of reply).
Bluelobseter thanks for your encouraging words.

There is a bit of info I missed in my previous post. I have got my degrees evaluated for Canadian equivalency by WES. They have put my educational qualification equivalent to a Masters Degree in Computer Science from a Canadian University.

[A:] >>> Means Nada. No employer will care about WES evaluation. <<<

Sridharm your response was certainly not very cheerful. However, before I take it in its face value, I would like to ask a few questions. I would be most grateful if you can respond to them and help me make a clear decision.

You mention, and I quote, <b>If you are lucky you might make it here.</b>
Do you mean apart from my educational qualifications, the professional certifications that I have or will gain have no meaning? I can understand the hesitancy on the part of Canadian employers for accepting Indian degrees, but CISA/CISSP/7799 lead auditor are globally recognized as the best certificates in the field of info security….after all you claim to be an Info Sec professional, who will know about it, better than you!!!

[A:]>>> I will second Sridharm here. Your professional certifications as CISA/CISSP lead auditor will not have as much value as if you had experience in US/Canada to go with it. The auditors typically need to have good people skills. They normally get employed by consulting firms or very large corporations. Will you make the cut in North America on people skills front? <<<

Do you mean, in spite of such certifications, I will not be called for a job interview just because I am an Indian….<b><i>this would amount to saying that Canada is a racist country!!</i></b>
However, if you mean I’ll not get a job because there are none available, a quick search on a few of the leading websites for jobs in Canada has altogether a different story to say.

[A:] >>> No, you wouldn't be called for interview because your resume will show you have no North American experience. This is how jobs are filled:

First, people who know hiring people,
Second, people who got referred by people who know hiring people,
Third, people who got referred by employees of same company,
Fourth, People who have similar experience with a local company,
Fifth, People who have somewhat similar experience with a local company
Sixth, People who have similar experience with a company in Canada
Seventh, People who have somewhat similar experience with a company in Canada.
Eigth, People who have similar experience with a brand name company in US
Ninth, People who have similar experience with a company in US
Tenth, People who have similar experience with a US/Canadian brandname company in rest of the world.
Everybody else comes after that.

Now you know where you stand on pecking order..<<<

Browsing over to your previous posts on this website, you have mentioned that you came to Canada in February 2004, with 4 years experience as Network Engineer in US with Microsoft and Cisco certifications (MCSE and CCNA I presume). So your exposure to the field of Information Security (if any) would be in the last one year or so.

May I ask what qualifications do you posses to claim that you are an IT Security Consultant? CISA/CISSP/CWSP/CISM/7799 Audior/CEH/CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional) / CCIE (security track)????? ….. quite a lot of stuff to achieve in past one year …eh???!!??

Can you please tell me what your educational background is?

[A:] >>> He has a job in Canada as IT Security Consultant and you don't. That is all he needs for qualifications. It will be easier to find a job as IT Security Consultant with MCSE/CCNA and some security experience than with CISA and no 'Canada' experience. Also, you are assuming if he didn't have security certifications means he had no previous security experience, that is inaacurate assumption. And people who assume things make bad auditors and consultants ;-) Also CISA/CISSP auditor certs target different type of security jobs than MCSE/CCNA target...you know 'yapper' job vs. 'down in the trenches' job. And chances in trench job for for people with non-Canadian experience is better than yapper job. <<<

AFAIK, information security is becoming a major issue for companies around the globe and specifically in North America and Europe. With legislations such as Basel II / Sarbanes Oxley are making Info risk management a hot commodity (BTW I also have experience in risk assessment based on ANZ 4360)

[A:] >>> Sounds really nice reading in market research reports and in media, doesn't it? But think about who will be making hiring decisions for Basel II, SOX, risk management positions and how are you going to get in front of them. If you can't find one contact in a company, think what are your chances of finding a contact in upper management of the company for jobs not typically advertised.<<<

You must understand and appreciate the concerns I have raised above. As mentioned, if I have to take your world about a ‘grim and dark future, where I am doomed for disaster’, I need to understand in which capacity you are advising me.

[A:] >>> Everybody here is advising in the same capacity, they have gone or going through it. Ofcourse, choice is yours to take the advise or not.<<<

I am, on my level, doing the maximum possible research before coming to Canada, but the intention of my post on CD is to get first hand information.

Unfortunately, going by the number of response, it was not every enthusiastic. Probably, I should have posted something more juicy, like
a) Should I come to Canada after selling all my belonging including my dog?
b) Should I appear for IELTS exam before applying Canada? I am english educated!!
c) Why should I come to Canada?
d) Will it be cold when it snows in Toronto and should I bring a leather jacket? )

to invoke more response and have ‘masaledar’ discussions!!!

Hope you do respond back with relevant info.

BTW, I don’t know if you have read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but lemme tell you that you make Marvin the robot sound more cheerful

cheers

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[A:] >>> No, you wouldn't be called for interview because your resume will show you have no North American experience. This is how jobs are filled:

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