What can I do to get a software job as an immigrant to Canada?
December 26, 2022 7:41 AM Subscribe
Alright, so I moved to Canada to do a masters degree in CS (specialized in software for ML) at Queen's in Ontario. My degree is done. It's time to find a job in Canada so that I can move forward with my other plans here.
Maybe posting this here is a stretch, but this place helps a lot, so I'm gonna throw the dice. I've got three years of experience, foreign though, something that I'm not real sure works to my favor here or not. Some people say it doesn't matter some say it does. I don't care, but that's that.
In addition to that, I want out of software and I want into Data Science. I'm not picky though, I want a job for now.
To add things into the mix, I'm looking for a remote job in Toronto. Eventually, I want to move to Montreal. I speak French and love the city, despite my initial apprehension to it. I guess it's like they said it's a city to fall in love with. I can't move there now because if I do the process to gain permanent residence becomes longer and more complicated. Sticking to Ontario is better for now, especially since I'm super close to PR. It's a points based system, and I've got so many points that I don't really know what to do with them. I don't want to go over there and prolong the process.
Finally, and I don't know if I'm asking for too much, I would like $100-120k if possible. If I need to ask for less I will.
I'm wondering if there's anyone that can give me any advice. I'm flexible with these things. So please, suggest whatever. Thanks in advance.
Maybe posting this here is a stretch, but this place helps a lot, so I'm gonna throw the dice. I've got three years of experience, foreign though, something that I'm not real sure works to my favor here or not. Some people say it doesn't matter some say it does. I don't care, but that's that.
In addition to that, I want out of software and I want into Data Science. I'm not picky though, I want a job for now.
To add things into the mix, I'm looking for a remote job in Toronto. Eventually, I want to move to Montreal. I speak French and love the city, despite my initial apprehension to it. I guess it's like they said it's a city to fall in love with. I can't move there now because if I do the process to gain permanent residence becomes longer and more complicated. Sticking to Ontario is better for now, especially since I'm super close to PR. It's a points based system, and I've got so many points that I don't really know what to do with them. I don't want to go over there and prolong the process.
Finally, and I don't know if I'm asking for too much, I would like $100-120k if possible. If I need to ask for less I will.
I'm wondering if there's anyone that can give me any advice. I'm flexible with these things. So please, suggest whatever. Thanks in advance.
I mean, covering the basics is always a good place to start: really fine-tune your LinkedIn, get LI pro and look for roles, reach out to your network.
posted by DarlingBri at 8:37 AM on December 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by DarlingBri at 8:37 AM on December 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm an American living in Ontario and I work as a remote freelance editor using Upwork, which has a lot of tech (including data science) jobs. Upwork has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get around that, you can build a great client base and income stream until you figure out something else or you discover that a client might want to hire you full time. If you decide this is something you might like to do, please feel free to message me and I can provide some tips for getting started.
posted by nightrecordings at 8:43 AM on December 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by nightrecordings at 8:43 AM on December 26, 2022 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Consider looking at consulting & development organizations like Accenture and Deloitte, which will have more and more opportunities for data science as AI becomes big.
I can personally recommend my employer, Slalom Build, which has a need for data engineers. It’s remote-friendly, with locations in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, has a strong culture, and lots of training and promotion support.
posted by alicat at 9:46 AM on December 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
I can personally recommend my employer, Slalom Build, which has a need for data engineers. It’s remote-friendly, with locations in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary, has a strong culture, and lots of training and promotion support.
posted by alicat at 9:46 AM on December 26, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: What is your status in Canada? Since you’ve finished your degree and don’t yet have PR, I’m guessing you currently have a post-grad work permit?
In general my advice would be to work on networking as much as possible, in-person if you can. Find meetups related to data science or whatever programming languages you’re fluent in, and attend them. Try to make acquaintances while you’re there — introduce yourself to people, try to find common interests, and let them know you’re looking for a job. In my experience, people hiring for positions tend to strongly prefer applicants they’ve already met in person. And if you know anyone who works in tech in Canada, ask them if their company is hiring, or if they know of openings elsewhere.
Second, spend some time thinking about what kind of job you really WANT. Being picky will actually make your job search easier, not harder, because when you find a job that aligns closely with what you want, it’ll be easier to show genuine enthusiasm, which DOES come across in an interview and will make you a more attractive candidate. Being very flexible might seem ideal, but in fact it often comes across as indifference, which is a yellow flag in interviews. I have turned down candidates before because they seemed indifferent about the job and I wasn’t sure they would actually enjoy working on my team.
But yeah, as others have said, I could provide more helpful advice if I knew at what step of the process you’re getting stuck.
posted by mekily at 6:44 PM on December 26, 2022
In general my advice would be to work on networking as much as possible, in-person if you can. Find meetups related to data science or whatever programming languages you’re fluent in, and attend them. Try to make acquaintances while you’re there — introduce yourself to people, try to find common interests, and let them know you’re looking for a job. In my experience, people hiring for positions tend to strongly prefer applicants they’ve already met in person. And if you know anyone who works in tech in Canada, ask them if their company is hiring, or if they know of openings elsewhere.
Second, spend some time thinking about what kind of job you really WANT. Being picky will actually make your job search easier, not harder, because when you find a job that aligns closely with what you want, it’ll be easier to show genuine enthusiasm, which DOES come across in an interview and will make you a more attractive candidate. Being very flexible might seem ideal, but in fact it often comes across as indifference, which is a yellow flag in interviews. I have turned down candidates before because they seemed indifferent about the job and I wasn’t sure they would actually enjoy working on my team.
But yeah, as others have said, I could provide more helpful advice if I knew at what step of the process you’re getting stuck.
posted by mekily at 6:44 PM on December 26, 2022
Response by poster: What changed since then? We can give better advice if you narrow down where the problem is occurring.
Not much really. Some interviews didn't go well, others are just companies that just don't seem like good fits.
I should mention that I also have a part time job so, I can afford to be picky. To be frank I could stay there, and wait until I get PR. That still doesn't work for me because this place doesn't pay enough to live outside of a small town.
Also, I told Google no. Maybe some will think me a fool for that, but I couldn't put myself through that stress. Not after everything that happened.
posted by Tarsonis10 at 6:30 AM on December 27, 2022
Not much really. Some interviews didn't go well, others are just companies that just don't seem like good fits.
I should mention that I also have a part time job so, I can afford to be picky. To be frank I could stay there, and wait until I get PR. That still doesn't work for me because this place doesn't pay enough to live outside of a small town.
Also, I told Google no. Maybe some will think me a fool for that, but I couldn't put myself through that stress. Not after everything that happened.
posted by Tarsonis10 at 6:30 AM on December 27, 2022
I'm not in IT, but as a newcomer to Canada a few years ago I found that getting a first job was mostly about connections, even superficial ones. I got my first job through a third hand connection, and my husband got this through a referral from someone who had been offered a job at the company but turned it down, then referred my husband to them instead. So if there are any companies you are interested in, try making contacts there. And don't randomly message people on LinkedIn with the generic "I want to connect" message, tell them why.
posted by Kris10_b at 6:57 AM on December 27, 2022
posted by Kris10_b at 6:57 AM on December 27, 2022
Response by poster: Been doing that and I have a network but it only goes so far.
If I contact someone randomly on linkedin should I tell them I'm looking for a job?
I'm apprehensive of doing that because it just feels very self interested. People are generally happy to help, but still it's kind of one-sided.
posted by Tarsonis10 at 7:43 AM on December 27, 2022
If I contact someone randomly on linkedin should I tell them I'm looking for a job?
I'm apprehensive of doing that because it just feels very self interested. People are generally happy to help, but still it's kind of one-sided.
posted by Tarsonis10 at 7:43 AM on December 27, 2022
Best answer: Consider looking at consulting & development organizations like Accenture and Deloitte
The combination of consulting and Queen's is like peanut butter and jelly. Perhaps a bit less so for CS grads for various reasons, but the Queen's cachet is still relevant.
posted by blerghamot at 10:29 PM on December 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
The combination of consulting and Queen's is like peanut butter and jelly. Perhaps a bit less so for CS grads for various reasons, but the Queen's cachet is still relevant.
posted by blerghamot at 10:29 PM on December 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
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A few weeks ago, you wrote "I have many interviews including one with Google. I would have thought that this was the hard part, but it isn't and sooner or later I'll have a job. I'm in demand and a lot of companies are responding." What changed since then? We can give better advice if you narrow down where the problem is occurring.
posted by cheesecake at 8:21 AM on December 26, 2022 [12 favorites]