Hello All, hope you are fine and in the best of your health. My name is Ahsan Iqbal and live in Pakistan. I have done my MBA and have 8 years of experience in Marketing/Sales with reputable companies in Pakistan.
So hows the experience of living in Canada. Hope you all are doing well. Please tell me about yourself. Also please guide me that if i want to apply for Canadian Immigration what is the most reliable in quick way to get it.

Looking forward to your reply

...a site visitor
 

What our readers say?

What our Online Counsellors say?
- Mazeena Rafi
- Jawed Akhtar
- Tanveer Shaikh

Personal experience of Fuzail Siddiqui

 I am an employment consultant with an organization which helps new comers to find a job in Canada. Based on my five years experience working in this profession, I would suggest if you have a good job, well settled, satisfied with your financial status, living happily with your family and have no major issues or threats in Pakistan then please do not come here. If you really want to get a picture on how's life in Canada come here as a visitor, meet and visit Pakistani and South Asian community and immigrants from other countries, talk to them, find out what type of professions or lifestyle they had before and now in Canada, what do they feel ??? why they left their countries and how they are dealing with the situation here. It will help you to make a decision for your future or   check the information through different websites regarding the barriers and issues in getting a job or job opportunities for new comers  "coming to canada, settlement.org, www.cassa.on.ca, onip.online.ca. are few good sites you can browse. Read the articles or interviews of people working in social services sector with immigrants and newcomers.

I feel majority of Pakistanis are working very very hard to survive in this country, they learn English and  get Canadian experience by working in the restaurants, delivering pizza's or driving cabs. They accept any survival jobs to support their families and forget about  their high education, experience $ qualifications as doctors,engineers or IT professionals from their previous country.
The job market here is  tough and cruel with lots of barriers for new comers even if they want to get into entry level positions. It's a different story after five to ten years though.

 It's your life and you have to make a decision, check all the pros and cons, keep a positive attitude, be prepared to struggle for a while or long and have faith in everything you do  before you land here.
All the best.

Mazeena Rafi

Dear AH and other group members,

I have been reading replies with comments based on experiences and i fully understand the value of the suggestions and remarks. As far as my understanding with this matter is concerned, you may have difficulites in the early months after arrival in Canada. But with the passage of time you will find your way towards your destination with the help of professionals who have expertise and resources to guide people in thier careers. It takes approximately atleast  0-2 years, i believe, to find your track to grow in your field. Some people who are already have experience to survive after struggle in difficult times any where in the world, feel it less painful and can use thier patience to deal with the situations here in canada while they are struggling to survive and progress.Some people take less time to settle in Canada while others take long time to make their way. It all depends on your thoughts, planning, attitude , profession, and your efforts. I shall give you an example that normally people while searching for the job have to hear "NO" approximately 30- 40 times before getting reply as  '"YES' from employers in reference to get a job. It depends on you how quickly you reach 30-40 employers and finish this series of NO's 30-40 times to find 'YES' at the end that means EMPLOYMENT. Some people may be disheart after few attempts and will never have the attitude to try again and will only say and will conclude why not to work on gas stations, grocery stores or telemarketing because employers do not give professional jobs due to reasons as , religious, ethnic or nationality as Pakistani.

After arrival here in Toronto within a week, i found job in my field. I have lots of examples of those who have been successful in getting jobs related to thier fields within 3-6 months. some within 6-9 months. Some within 9-12 months. I personally know people who have found jobs in the following fields and are working now. All are from Pakistan and had no," Canadian experience".

Employment Counsellors, Database Administrators, Computer Programers, Bank Officers, Self-employed, Journalists, Hotel Managers, Engineers, Social Workers.Office Managers, Salespersons, Marketing Associates or Managers.Accountants,

It takes more time and is difficult to enter into the profession which is regulated like Engineers, Doctors, Lawyers...etc but it is not impossible to work in these fields. Foreign trained prefessionals have received accreditation certificates and after qualifying are working in these professions too. In your case you will be settled easily because you do not need any occupational liscense to practise your profession. There are plenty of jobs in Sales and Marketing. you may not find the same level as you may have now in Pakistan after coming here, but you may be successful within 1-2 years. It all depends on your patience, planning, contact with professionals related to your field, networking with people and employers.

I would suggest you to come here with positive attitude and be optimistic. If you need any guidance, speak with counsellors and govt officials and do not hesitate at all. Government is trying its best to fund the programs to support foreign professionals to help them integrate into thier careers and canadian culture.There are lots of advocay groups and associations in Canada that are trying to change policies and regulations ragarding licensing and certifications. it depends on new comers to benefit from these services which are free.

Best wishes for all aspiring new canadians.

Tanveer Sheikh
Lead Employment Consultant
Toronto

Subject:  Re: [Coming2Canada] Hello 

 Dear All, I am proud to call myself as Canadian of Pakistani background.I work as a professional ( Councillor). I have been reading peoples angry and negative comments about canada and canadian people. It is very sad that people instead of understanding canadian society,values,people and adopting canada.They start judging canada and canadians and trying to see and get every thing through pakistani way. Every time folks tell me there were canadians and us desis/pakistanis in so and so meeting. There the problem starts when u don't even consider urself a canadian then why complain to begin with.

Canada is a very beautiful country and very open to every one. Canadian muslims are working in very high positions and running for even political parties. It all depends how do u feel and relate urself towards canada.

I very much agree that newcomers face horrible hardships in getting jobs in thier field. But don't forget this is not fault of canada but corporate conservative labour market to blame. Both provincial and federal governments are working on it. We have to be positive about things. And we should look into our weaknesses too. Our people don't want to be canadians, dont'want to improve language, don't want to adopt,dont'want to behave as canadians then don't wait for a miracle to happen. Read the history even italians and russians have the same hard time when they immigrated to canada .Those days days stores said openly dogs and russians are not welcome (and they were white).But today they are all proud canadians part and parcel of society. We have to learn the secrets of success to survive. Every immigrant has gone through this phase. Pakistanis living in toronto even don't know the names of premier and leaders who are running the province. It is a 2 way street. In pakistan we are not pakistanis but proud to be named by ethnicity or religion but the moment we arrive in canada we become pakistanis. Then why immigrate ???

We have to come out of hypocracy and double standards lifestyle which we are so used to live in Pakistan.

Canada has tonns of oppurtunities for right people. Now it is upto us how we seek those oppurtunities.

I hope it will clearify the picture. I appologize if i have hurt somebody but reality is always hard to swallow.

Thanks for taking your time, Jawed Akhter