Do You Have “Canadian Work Experience” ?

Kabayan,

You may have heard of the term “Canadian Experience”. You may have heard that you need “Canadian work experience” when applying for your first job in Canada. You may have thought, “but that doesn’t make sense! How do I get experience if I don’t first work, and how can I work if I must first have the experience?” You may have felt that is unfair, chicken-and-egg, discriminatory even. In some ways you will be right to think so, and there are groups in Canada that would agree with you. Just read through these links to learn more.

http://www.fairnesscommissioner.ca/index_en.php?page=about/current_projects/canadian_work_experience

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-removing-%E2%80%9Ccanadian-experience%E2%80%9D-barrier

http://settlement.org/ontario/employment/working-in-canada/workplace-culture/how-important-is-canadian-experience/

http://www.beyondcanadianexperience.com/sites/default/files/csw-sakamoto.pdf

Done reading? Now we’ve established that you’re not alone in thinking that requiring Canadian experience is potentially and probably unfair. If applied to your disadvantage, you might even have cause to file a complaint for discrimination.

But who would want to work in a company that you have to complain or file a case your way into?

It would be much more constructive to understand the value of “Canadian experience” from an employer’s perspective, and plan on how to address their concerns so that the need for this experience doesn’t affect us as much.

IT’S LIKELY NOT INTENDED TO DISCRIMINATE

Let’s take out the thought of intentional discrimination, and try to understand legitimate concerns that translate into a perceived need of the employer to look for Canadian work experience. If it’s intentional, there’s nothing much you can do about it short of filing a complaint.

Your experience and skills can be grouped into hard and soft components. Hard skills, such as writing a computer software program for example, are easily verifiable. Either you can or you can’t.

Soft skills on the other hand, such as your English skills and ability to communicate, your understanding of how Canadians act in the workplace, your knowledge of relevant laws and workplace expectations, your ability to integrate and work harmoniously with people of this culture — these are more difficult to gauge. It translates to “will you be a good fit for the company”? It translates to “will you need to be trained, or need a longer transition period”, which translates to costs, before you become useful to the company?

Having Canadian work experience means you can provide a work reference that an employer can call to verify your skills and your attitude to work. From this point of view, an employer asking or looking for Canadian experience as a means to gauge your soft side would not be totally unfair and unreasonable.

So instead of crying foul or worrying about it, let’s deal with it.

FILIPINOS HAVE AN EDGE

I’ve realized that Filipinos have an edge in this ability to integrate.  We’re generally comfortable with English. We adjust to the new rules. We smile easily. We’re usually not abrasive in the way we talk or act. We’re used to other cultures, with our experiences with long Spanish rule, a large Filipino-Chinese community and Hollywood entertainment. It’s therefore no surprise that we’re everywhere in the world, and would often easily integrate and excel in a new environment.

DEALING WITH IT

That said, how do we deal with this Canadian work experience challenge ? Ask Google, and it comes up with a few links that are instructive. Read the two links below.

http://www.cnmag.ca/issue-2/730-jobs-top-10-ways-to-get-canadian-experience-n00

http://www.jvstoronto.org/ask-the-employment-specialist-no-canadian-experience/

To these articles, let me just add my few cents worth.

First, I believe that the need for “Canadian experience” is intended and more challenging for ethnic groups that have a problem with English, and whose cultures are so different from Canadian culture that smooth and quick work integration is in question. That generally does not apply to Filipinos.

Second, if you have quality work experience that shows in your resume, that you fluently communicate and  make obvious during a job interview, and that is verifiable with your references, then you shouldn’t be too concerned.

Third, I personally have not seen a job posting that specifically, explicitly calls for “Canadian experience”. Quality experience, yes, but specifically Canadian experience, no. I’ve long heard about this Canadian experience barrier, but have yet to actually see it in the workplace and labor marketplace. Maybe I’ve just been lucky. It’s out there in some way or form, but is not openly out to make it difficult for you to get your first job.

My final take and personal conclusion on all these?

It’s there. Do try to mitigate it as soon as you can. Don’t worry too much about it.

Have you had bad experience with this “Canadian work experience” barrier? Let us know about it.

Winter’s coming. Keep warm.

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To read my most recent blog post, as well as access links to earlier posts, click this link.

A Better Life in Canada

Kabayan.

It’s been almost 18 months since I last updated this blog. I’ve been answering most comments and questions when I get the chance, but never really found the need to add more to the experiences I’ve already posted.

Until now.

If you are reading this blog, either because you just landed, or you are about to migrate, or have an application in place, or are wondering whether you should come …. if you are wondering whether coming to Canada is a good decision, let me just say and assure you that ….

…. LIFE IS BETTER HERE IN CANADA !

I find life here to be simpler, easier, safer. People are generally decent, nice even. There’s very little traffic. The environment is clean. There’s much less in-your-face politics. Government services work … like public transport, health, water, police. You know and feel where your taxes go. It’s just so different from Manila in many ways.

And me and my family have prospered. Quickly. Good seeds on fertile soil. There are a lot of great seeds in Manila.

I arrived Oct 2011, and started a great job in April 2012. That period was at times difficult and challenging. There were moments when I worried, doubted myself and wondered what’s possible, and IF it was possible. But things got much easier after that.

Here are some quick highlights on my journey, meant only to encourage and show you what’s possible.

1. Oct 2011 – Landed in Alberta. Stayed at a cheap hotel while looking for an apartment. Rented a small 2-bedroom apartment a month later, located just across a large mall. Water, heating and a parking slot were all part of the rent. The bus stop was 2 minutes walk, and the train station a 10 minute bus ride away. Convenient.

2. Dec 2011 – Started my job search, all online. Bought a second-hand car for $2,500. Moving around in winter  can be difficult without a car.

3. Feb 2012 – I’m getting worried. There’s been no response to my job applications. My settlement fund balance was getting low. I figured at this rate, I would run out by May …

4. April 2012 – Started work as a Project Specialist (a role much lower than my Manila positions, but that’s okay.). The pay offered was double the bare minimum that would have been livable for my family, and 30% higher than the minimum amount my pride would have accepted, so I was happy … and relieved.

5. Nov 2012 – Became a permanent, regular employee due to excellent job performance ratings. Filipinos generally do well, I believe. And because I was “over-qualified” for the role, I found the work easy, while producing work that impressed. Good pay, easy work, good performance that was appreciated. That the position was “lower” than what I was used to in Manila was no longer important to me.

6. Jan 2013 – Got a 9% “pay-for-performance” salary increase. Looking good. I also studied for, passed an exam, and earned a credential as a Project Management Professional (PMP). Locally-earned credentials are better understood and carry more weight than our education and work experience in Manila, so I worked for it.

7. May 2013 – Bought a 2000 sq.ft. 4-bedroom house in a well-located neighborhood. Paid only 5% as down payment and got approved for a mortgage with an interest rate under 3%. In contrast, my Manila home loan rate has never gotten better than 9% ever since I first bought a Manila home in 1995, even with a 30% down payment and good amortization payment records.

8. July 2013 – Bought my first brand new car, no down payment. A red Dodge Caravan, a family van good for seven passengers. Comfortable even in winter. Great for travelling, perfect for my family.

9. Oct 2013 – Applied with APEGA to be recognized as a Professional Engineer. If successful, this will open up even more doors.

10. Nov 2013 – Was unexpectedly offered a job transfer / promotion, with a 10% salary increase. I didn’t apply for it, didn’t even know the position was available. When formally offered under attractive terms, I accepted 2 days later.

11. Jan 2014 – Got another 5% “pay-for-performance” increase. 🙂

12. Third quarter 2014 – Hoping to get my APEGA credential this year. Was promised another salary increase when I do. [Update: Got my Professional Engineer credential Third Quarter 2016! I’m now working as a Senior Energy Engineer.]

I’m happy with the progression, but there’s more.

There is work-life balance — something that seems to be important to many people and implemented in many work environments. I work only 35 hours per week, with all weekends off, plus 15 days paid leave. I don’t bring work home. We get to plan vacations. My family has taken short vacations and long drives with beautiful views of snow-covered mountains and lakes.

I’ve been able to visit Manila twice the past 2 years. My Manila friends say they are happy to see me more relaxed, and visibly contented with my current life in Canada.

Some say my case is exceptional. I don’t think so. I’m now 53, old by many standards, but that hasn’t stopped me. I believe that with the right attitude, a bit of humility, a dash of confidence generously sprinkled with a drive to deliver your best … (a success recipe) … you should do well too.

In all likelihood, we will follow different roads, have different stories and different pacings, but it will lead to a situation better that where you are now.

I will try to write more about this “recipe” in future blogs.

Till then, don’t be afraid, Kabayan. Come to Canada — it will likely be one of the best things you will ever do for yourself and your family.

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To read my most recent blog post, as well as access links to earlier posts, click this link.

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