Need advice on how to find a job

[osanowo]

Hi guys,

Harmony kicked my butt the other night to ask here (and I did not pay for it) - and she's right

Basically I'm French and have a temp working Visa. All the interviews I do go very well but I never get the job - and I never hear negative feedback from the placement agencies...

Now it really seems like you're considered to be good at nothing if you are interested in everything! My carriers include events planning, video editing, mechanical engineering, assistant methods and cost analyst, Excel programmer, computer technician...
I thought that all these skills, added to my "bilingualism", would help me to find a job but it doesn't unfortunately.

It's been more than a month now and I can't find anything. I've lowered my expectations and even dishwasher positions are not at my grasp...


As you can guess I really need advice.
I've searched a lot, been to numerous placement agencies, but maybe failed to ask where I should have in the first place...

I'd really be grateful for any advice or tip you guys can give me, as what may seem obvious to you could change my whole perception.

Thanks!

 

[LancsLad]

Electronics contract manufacturing is doing well, although the farkin dollar isn't helping.

They are ultra tech heavy on the production control side.

You might check there. Companies like Celestica , Surface Mount Centre dominate in Toronto area but there are many other smaller players.

 

[stinkynuts]

If you are not a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, your prospects are not good.

 

[K Douglas]

If you are not a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, your prospects are not good.

That is untrue. There are many industries requiring skilled help that cannot fill the void with the existing domestic labour market. Companies are looking to bring in some outside help all the time.
You seem to have a wide range of experience but prospective employers will look at how long you've held positions for, where your skill set lies, educational background including continuing education - technical courses etc..Resume is also important as is your presentation skills. Has your recruiter(s) assisted you in that regard?
My advice keep plugging away something will eventually hit.

 

[spatial_k]

Talk to absolutely everyone you know and see if they know of anything or know someone who might be able to help you. You'd be surprised how extensive people's networks are. Just get the word out there that you're looking.

 

[l69norm]

Talk to absolutely everyone you know and see if they know of anything or know someone who might be able to help you. You'd be surprised how extensive people's networks are. Just get the word out there that you're looking.

This is right on. It's not what you know, it's who you know (to get your foot in the door). If you believe in "six degrees of separation", then you'll find that job.

 

[daKoolGuy]

Start with Workopolis.com. I agree with the other posts, but you gotta fight it out. It's a vicious circle.

 

[peteeey]

http://thementoringpartnership.com/index.asp

 

[Gyaos]

Basically I'm French and have a temp working Visa. All the interviews I do go very well but I never get the job - and I never hear negative feedback from the placement agencies...Now it really seems like you're considered to be good at nothing if you are interested in everything!

First, why do you want to get a job and "prop" a company up? Why not just start your own company and prop that up? If you really needed a job and are from France, how 'bout getting one at Air France? They are replacing all their 747's with 777's, so there's something there.

But think about it. All that time wasted looking for work, getting interviews, etc. How much does that pay you? Nothing, in fact it costs you. And even if you got a job, you look at your paycheck and then you say "what happened to my money"?!! You pay the government first.

So if it costs you, either 1) use that time and money and start your own company, or 2) use that time and money and get some financial education.

Gyaos Baltar (Vice President of Caprica and THE KING of finance)!!

 

[tboy]

As silly as it sounds my first reaction was: people from Quebec need visas to work in the rest of Canada? DOH lol.

As for your bilingualism. Being European French isn't going to help you much here, we speak a different form. Now if you have taken french canadian grammar courses etc then I'd say you could land a job no problem. Hell, I have known people with NO education in translating getting upwards of 30 cents a word.

As stated, you may have those skills, but at what level?

Video Editing: what major motion pictures or commercials have you done? (or are we talking about home movies on your pc?)

Events Planning: We talking about organizing an event such as the Liberal Party Convention or your sister's engagement party?

mechanical engineering: so have you worked on any large scale project like the Canadarm or did you fix the a/c in your apartment once?

It may sound like I'm being sarcastic but if you're going to list something like mechanical engineering on your resume you better have the credentials to back it up. The same goes for all your "carriers", just because you worked for someone who did event planning, doesn't mean you're an event planner.

For eg: just because I have assembled 10 or so computers does NOT make me a computer engineer.

List under experience what you've been thoroughly trained to do and are compentant at, but under additional skills you can list all the minor things you've also done.

If I saw someone who listed "mechanical engineer" on their resume and found out they were in charge of repairing the photocopier at denny's I'd be pissed and wonder what ELSE did they pad their resume with?

BTW: when does your visa run out? If it is less than 5 yrs I'd say your chances of finding a good job is nil because companies know you most likely will be leaving in that time frame and won't want to spend the money training you. (because on average it costs about 50% of one's first year salary to train someone).

 

[osanowo]

Thanks a lot for your answers guys. There's a lot of interesting advice here.

Stinkynuts:
I agree with you as most companies/placement agencies refuse to take my resume when they hear that I don't have a permanent visa. Most of them say that they cannot propose me a permanent position. It's not true but they don't want to hear it.

Gyaos:
Thanks. I'll have a glance at the French corporations in the area... it's a good idea.
Now a/r to starting my own company, my visa does not grand me that possibility. I need another visa and $150,000 as proof of funds. If I had that kind of money I would not be looking for a job...

OW:
Great questions here; unfortunately I realized that it is maybe the most difficult question I've been asked. In France, you do what you're told, not what you want. And 10 years of work experience makes me now say that I did not know that I could do what I want.

tboy:
Quebecois is suprisingly different from European French unfortunately. You're right.
As for my work experiences, I have sufficient experience in each field to consider it as a job:
Events: coordinated events for journalist presentations in Europe for several automotive brands and groups.
Mechanical Engineering: automated the second largest metal treatment line in Europe. Created mechanical and computerized tools to enhance automated production.
Video Editing: well amateur on this one, up to medium length movies...
Computer Technician: in charge of the design and maintenance of hardware configurations.

Now I don't even expect to get these positions; I know I have to prove my skills... but I can't even get a dishwasher job because my resume is not appropriated and I can't have a skilled job because of my non-canadian experience and my Frenchhoodness.

I'll try to change my perception with the advice you guys gave me.......

 

[Damondean]

Why not move back to France? Nice place, good food, good wine, beautiful women. Lots of jobs, too, I hear.

 

[LancsLad]

Why not move back to France? Nice place, good food, good wine, beautiful women. Lots of jobs, too, I hear.

While I dearly wanted to make a similar suggeston to the OP in light of his attacks on our way of life here, I thought it best to let that go unsaid. It must have taken a fair bit of agonizing for him to ask the question given earlier comments so I answered as best I could. I still say a process job with a CM as there is plenty of International movement even with the smaller players.

 

[Damondean]

Sorry if I am insenstive but . .

While I dearly wanted to make a similar suggeston to the OP in light of his attacks on our way of life here, I thought it best to let that go unsaid. It must have taken a fair bit of agonizing for him to ask the question given earlier comments so I answered as best I could. I still say a process job with a CM as there is plenty of International movement even with the smaller players.

I meant my comment about returning to France quite seriously and I did not mean it as a put-down. It is hard to advise someone about whom one knows little as far his ambition, expectations and personality go. It seems to me he is all over the map with his skills and past history and needs to focus on what he wants.

For example, he mentions video editing. There is a constant demand for this. There are even ads in The Star today. If he has any kind of experience and has a bit of a reel to show, he could get on with any number of independent production houses. Often, these are "per project" assignments and his temp. working visa would not be a hindrance. (Again, one does not know what the visa's restrictions are.)

The situation is likely similar in many IT-based enterprises. Unless he has contacts and local experience, "event organizing" is not going to fly. I think he meant public relations from his post. I think that is the least likely for him as far as success goes.

I would also like to hear why he wants to stay in Canada. It can't be the high quality of SPs LOL.

 

[LancsLad]

I meant my comment about returning to France quite seriously and I did not mean it as a put-down. It is hard to advise someone about whom one knows little as far his ambition, expectations and personality go. It seems to me he is all over the map with his skills and past history and needs to focus on what he wants.

For example, he mentions video editing. There is a constant demand for this. There are even ads in The Star today. If he has any kind of experience and has a bit of a reel to show, he could get on with any number of independent production houses. Often, these are "per project" assignments and his temp. working visa would not be a hindrance. (Again, one does not know what the visa's restrictions are.)

The situation is likely similar in many IT-based enterprises. Unless he has contacts and local experience, "event organizing" is not going to fly. I think he meant public relations from his post. I think that is the least likely for him as far as success goes.

I would also like to hear why he wants to stay in Canada. It can't be the high quality of SPs LOL.

It wasn't a jab at you. To some on this board I am insensitive and I have had spars with osanowo over Canada vs. the Euroweenie world and language. I was pointing out that it must have taken some soul searching on his part to post the question so I was letting past differences slide and tried to offer something that might help.

Even without making a joke of it you asked a very telling question. If it is so bad here compared to the Continent why stay????

 

[osanowo]

Much appreciated Lancs

The biggest problem in France is that you are not judged by your skills, so I thought that Canada was one of the only country to allow that.

Of course, I could go back to France, but I came here to find more freedom, less judgment, more buying power, build something for my future...
I was not expecting to be turned down because I have a temp visa or because I am French! or hear that my work experiences outside Canada do not count...

I was used to doing things the hard way, on my own, but I realize that there are too many opened doors here in Canada, and that it's very hard to adapt in such a short time (i.e. in the time given by my temp visa). Hence my post.


Canada is a great country when you have a goal, an objective. Personally I don't have one, as Damondean has pointed out, and I thought I could just work hard and enjoy some quality of life. But it looks like I did it the wrong way and will probably won't have the time to to see through me.

Though all the comments made here led me to think and I will change my job hunting methods...

 

[C Dick]

I think the idea of going after French companies that operate in Canada is a good one, then your Frenchhoodness is an advantage not a disadvantage. It would also be interesting to apply for some jobs in Quebec, where again, Frenchhoodness is more valued.

 

[Damondean]

Thanks for clarifying Osanowo. I cannot agree that in either video eidting or computer programming you are being turned down because your experience is outside Canada. These are technical skills -- if you have them at a high enough level -- and you should have no problem fidning something to start, build some experience and then move on.

Look in the mirror. How is your appearance? Do you articulate well what you want to do? Your written English skills are good so I do not see a language problem.

Ina any case, goo luck!

 

[xarir]

I'm with bee eh on this one.

You also mention that you're an amateur at video editing. What does this mean? Editing stuff you shoot on a camcorder with iMovie doesn't count. Even is you use Final Cut Pro just for shits & giggles like I do, it still doesn't count as job experience. You can list it as a hobby / interest, but you can't list it as a hard job skill.

You have many interests which is fine - lots of people have varied interests. But what real job skills do you have? Don't confuse the two because they are not the same.

My suggestion is to focus on what you actually have experience at. Events seems to be something a little more firm in terms of actual experence. But whatever your choice, I think you need to narrow things down dramatically then really go hard on finding a job that leverages that particular skill set.

Don't try the scattergun approach, be a sniper and select an industry / job.

 

[Nooki_23]

job

Give me a call...I will help get you a job...I have many contacts that are looking for bilinguals.

416-269-7483
john