Originally posted by Jimmy
> This is quite sobering news
for all the enthusiastic crowd on this
> forum who post the "GotIt"s.
Starting at a lower position means taking
> a pay cut... this is quite
different from working in a whole new field
> or worse doing jobs that
require no more qualifications than a high
> school diploma and pay a
pittance.
>
> However, I do have couple of questions..
>
> 1. Does 6+
US experience as Software Engineer along with some studies
> at Masters
level have any impact on Canadian employers?
> 2. Last month, 60,000
jobs were created in Canada, albeit with a
> caveat. Most are in
manufacturing sector or parttime jobs. But if the
> economy grows
steadily, Can it pick up the slack from the past three
> years' slump in
'04?
>
>
1. Probably not, although US experience and
qualifications are more readily accepted than Non N American. I have a
UK degree, and it has not been a problem yet either, although I hear
from other brits that some employers shy away from non canadian
qualifications, especially in areas like IT
2. Probably not. As US is
such a major user of canadian goods and services, any coming problems
with the US economy will almost certainly have a knock on effect in
Canada, especially manufactuiring.
Going back the the issue facing
professionals, the problem does not lie directly with the government,
but with the professional licensing bodies. As these bodies are funded
and run by there members, it is not in their interest to approve all
incoming engineers, as that decreases demand (and therefore pay) for
there current members. As much as the bodies will assess new immigrant
qualifications, the real problem is getting the requisite canadian
expreience to become a member. Non experience..No Job...No Experience,
its a real catch 22.
By the way Andrew, there are 160 000+ PEngs in
Canada, dont know where you got the idea it was only 1500! Any job with
the word Engineer in the title will likely need PEng Status, although
there are a few out there that seem to ignore this requirement. If the
PEO had there way, only PEng members could have the job title
"Engineer".
Realistic, both assumptions are true, but unfortunately the
government is unablre to do anything to get the licensing bodies to
admit more members, so the system breaks down due the very protectionist
attitude of the PEng bodies.
It is not impossible to make it as an
emmigrating engineeer, but it will take time, and initially you will
have to work at a low level (responsibility and pay) to get the
experience to qualify as a PEng.
Any Engineer or other professional
expecting to step into a well paying job and career in Canada without
having to struggle for a few years at first is most likely kidding
themselves. It will be hard at first. Do not emmigrate for financial
or career progress reasons, do it because you identify with the values
of the country you are coming to , and you will be a lot happier.
Iain
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