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| Subject: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada? |
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For the info of new immigrants with engineering qualification.
Pushpa
How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?
by Efim Cheinis
"Why do some newcomer professionals work as pizza deliverers?" This question was discussed at a meeting with Kirsten Williams, Senior Program and Policy Consultant of Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
A foreign engineer thinking about immigration to Canada has certainly looked into the National Occupational Classification List, where he, or she, has found many engineering positions. Once he understood that Canada needs engineers, he began the immigration process. Further, he has sent his engineering diploma, for example, to Professional Engineers Ontario, and soon received a letter saying that he meets Canadian requirements of engineering qualification. Under an assumption that he will quickly find a job, the foreign engineer has come to Canada.
Upon arrival, he or she begins sending tens or even hundreds of resumes, which get no response. He begins to understand that finding an engineering job for a new immigrant is practically impossible! The holder of an engineering diploma gets frustrated and feels deceived. Having spent all the money brought from the old country, he or she is happy to find any survival job like delivery driver, construction worker, store clerk, security guard, etc. A good education and valuable experience are unused, and Canada does not receive the expected benefit from immigration.
Does the Canadian government know about this?
"Yes, the Government of Ontario knows," said Kirsten Williams. "Some skilled newcomers living in Ontario are unemployed or have survival jobs. We try to resolve this problem and help internationally educated newcomers. It is not easy, because 120 thousand immigrants come to Ontario every year, and 100 thousand of them settle in Toronto. And many of the internationally trained engineers are not ready to work as engineers in Canada."
What does Ms Williams mean, "not ready´? There are many barriers to overcome.
In order to work as an engineer in Canada, it is necessary to have an engineering diploma, but this is not enough. In spite of the higher English or French language requirements set by the Consulates of Canada, language proficiency for the majority of professionals is not good enough for work on highly technical engineering positions. Besides, many immigrants, working as engineers in the homeland, sometimes carried out completely different duties than what are needed in Canada and described in the Canadian National Occupational Classification. Additionally, internationally trained engineers often do not know important Canadian standards, rules, codes and regulations, lack professional terminology or have a poor computer background. Another factor is that Canadian employers prefer to hire engineers with Canadian diplomas, certificates, experience and references. Therefore, before entering the Canadian job market, immigrating engineers have to create a serious career plan and to do lots of preparation work.
Another problem is that Ontario simply cannot employ all newcomer-engineers. For example, Ontario will require 25 thousand new engineers by the year of 2015, but in only the last five years, 40 thousand newcomers with engineering backgrounds have arrived in our province, and thousands more will be graduating from Ontario universities as well. That is why some newcomer-engineers have to work as technicians or technologists, change their occupation, open a small business or move to another province.
What does the Canadian government do to help newcomer engineers find jobs?
"Our work is conducted in several directions," said Kirsten Williams. "We research the immigrants who have arrived in Ontario, determine the level of their education, their experience and occupations. First of all we want to help immigrants who have occupations that Ontario desperately needs."
Because employers seek candidates with good English communication skills, the government has opened and funded language assessment centers. From here they are referred to appropriate ESL schools, where they will improve their language skills and more easily integrate into the Canadian job market.
16 pilot projects, funded by 19 million dollars, have been opened for internationally trained professionals. These projects include internship workplaces for highly skilled professionals, who have received education abroad. The internship duration is from 4 to 12 months with a monthly salary of $1,667. Internet sites: www.careerbridge.ca and www.equalopportunity.on.ca have more details about these projects. One can submit on-line application forms for participation in these projects, but not all applicants can be accommodated.
Several organizations provide a help for newcomers:
Accessible Community Counseling and Employment Services (ACCES);
Centre for Foreign Trained Professionals & Tradespeople (CFTPT);
Career Action for Newcomers (CAN);
Jewish Vocational service (JVS);
Skills for Change;
MicroSkills;
Mentoring Partnership;
Ontario Network for Internationally Trained Professionals (ITP).
Most of them are funded by the government.
Another problem is certification. To be licensed in Ontario, internationally trained engineers need at least four years of experience, one year of which must be in Canada under the supervision of a certified engineer. Because engineering is a regulated occupation in Canada, foreign-trained engineers must also take some additional training courses and write some technical exams, which are not easy.
Therefore, the Government of Ontario funded 2 million dollars for two years for the special program to help internationally trained engineers to obtain a Canadian certificate. This program has been developed and carried out by the Professional Engineers Ontario (www.peo.on.ca). However, immigrant-engineers must realize that while it is possible to work in Canada as an engineer without the certificate, you cannot call yourself a professional engineer, and you are obliged to work under the supervision of a certificated engineer who will bear the responsibility for your actions.
A similar service can help you become a certified technician or technologist (http://www.options-engineering.ca).
The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), coordinates employment actions for newcomers. The council works to improve access to employment for immigrants in the Toronto region and supplies them with valuable information, so that they are better able to use the skills, education and experience that they bring with them to Canada.
All these Government actions will make the internationally trained engineers more attractive to Canadian employers and will facilitate their job searching skills. By finding an appropriate job, engineer-immigrants can realize their creative potential, provide a high standard of living for their families, and make a real contribution to the Canadian economy. CNM
[24-06-2005,05:00]
[***.91.66.161]
Pushpa |
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How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada? (in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
A very good effort to help new immigrants with engineering qualification.Can u please comment which is a more suitable destination for engineers (specially oil& gas sector) Ontario /Alberta or?
[24-06-2005,06:26]
[***.135.51.247]
Ali |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
Often times, cabbies and pizza delivery men make more money than presidents and prime ministers in those poor countries. Recently, I read about an opthalmologist from Colombia who said he derives life satisfaction working as a surgery assistant than being a leading expert in his country. You just have to find where you get right amount of money and tune your mind to the profession. Hopefully, as the street labor in Canada becomes better trained, we will have fewer criminals around. Whatever you do, what is needed is a high level of dedication to the job at hand.
[24-06-2005,11:53]
[***.202.107.231]
In Canada |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
very enlightening explanation. no doubt you can substitute IT everytime the writer uses the word engineers.
there is no perfect solution. Hopefully, we can work together to achieve everyones dreams and goals.
[24-06-2005,13:07]
[***.20.170.23]
sharon |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
Ali,
Oil and Gas sector... yes go to Alberta... the province has the second largest oil reserve on planet earth. This will not change in the next 100 years, so Alberta will always be the place to be for this industry.
The oil patch also spans parts of eastern British Columbia, and western Saskatchewan.
Go to Calgary or Edmonton, look at the skyline. Half of the shinny, huge, glass on concrete skyscappers have "Nexxen" "Husky Oil" "Imperial" and other names of oil companies.
There is work in exploration, siesmic studies,well drilling, well servicing, pipe lines, refineries, and a whole host of other occupations that revolve around this. For instance, and engineer may work for a company that designs equipment for any one of these companies.... or a civil engineer may be needed in a place like Fort MacMurray, which is bursting at the seems.
Oil = Alberta (Saskatchewan, BC, and the Territories to a lesser extent)
Manufacturing = Southern Ontario and Quebec
Agriculture = BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI.
Forrestry = BC, Alberta, Territories
Service Industry = Every province and territory
Government Jobs = Primarly Ottawa and Hull PQ. All provincial capitals.
Well, not very professional, but should help some people.
Dave
[24-06-2005,15:08]
[***.116.146.227]
dave |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
I think its high time for Canada to stop skilled immigration. By doing that you won´t hear immigrants complain abt their pathetic state of life and the govt can save a few million dollars and it can find a better means to use it.
[24-06-2005,16:04]
[***.242.242.2]
Raj |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
I think we should still have skilled immigration, just try and get these people to stop complaining that a job does not fall into their lap once they get here.
I mean, almost none of these people ever leave Canada for the reasons that they so openly complain about. I have met too many immigrants who faced difficulties, then found success in their field, to worry about the ones who want to complain about how our government tricked them into coming. They all go to Toronto, even though its obvious that this is a horrible idea, as there are too many immigrants going to just one place. (I love Toronto though!)
I have also met, many many many native born Canadians who have faced difficulties in their careers.... finding a job with no experience coming out of school... French Canadians with language barriers in English Canada (English speakers finding jobs in Quebec when bilingualism is a requirement), people getting laid off from their IT jobs, with no IT companies willing to hire them, companies moving their manufacturing to Asia, laying off hundreds, or thousands of Canadians. These people still love Canada, still finding the means to survive, having a social net which prevents them from starving......
The thing that really bugs me, is the people that come here, and look for work by emailing resumes to every job post they see. They then complain that they get no responses. Look, 500 people will apply to these jobs, and maybe 5 will here back. YOU NEED TO NETWORK, KNOCK ON DOORS, READ NEWSPAPERS, CALL PEOPLE, MAIL RESUMES, EMAIL RESUMES, CALL AND FOLLOW UP, BEG, PLEAD, DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN, THIS INCLUDES USING THE TIME THAT YOU NORMALLY SET ASIDE TO COMPLAIN, AND LOOK FOR WORK!!!!! TAKE A JOB THAT IS NOT IN YOUR FIELD, BUT MAY HELP YOU GET A JOB IN YOUR FIELD, MOVE AWAY FROM TORONTO, SEEK EMPLOYEMENT IN THE USA UNDER THE TN VISA, LOOK AT FEDERAL GOVERMENT JOBS!!!
Dave
[24-06-2005,17:03]
[***.116.146.227]
dave |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
Look,
Canada needs to evaluate if it really needs people in the specific industry. If the market is saturated enough (500 people will apply to these jobs, and maybe 5 will hear back), then why would you even want them to enter the country and do all the things that you mentioned.... (the people that come here, and look for work by emailing resumes to every job post they see. They then complain that they get no responses) besides doing menial jobs, and ofcourse complaining abt it.
If there are jobs in oil sector, get people who are skilled in that area, if there are no IT jobs, then don´t allow them to enter at all. I think the govt is doing a dis-service to itself by allowing immigrants that it does not need, UNLESS.... it really wants to fill the jobs that the Canadians don´t wish to take up with "skilled" immigrants from outside (you never know). I am only talking abt skilled immigration. Any IT bloke (or other area skilled guy) can still enter using family or whatever category he/she can and then do stuff like change career and wait for a million years to get the dream job that he/she wanted all this time.
But lets not divert from the "real" meaning of "skilled" immigration. Moreover are immigrants eligible for TN VISA ? Or do you have to be a citizen ?
[24-06-2005,17:30]
[***.242.242.2]
Raj |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
Canada need as many engineers as there are taxi cab or pizza delivery places, isn´t funny???
[24-06-2005,19:35]
[**.69.255.236]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
I think you can get a TN with permanent residency, but I am not positive. I didn´t have to worry about it, as I was born in Canada.
I hate this crap that Canada is importing engineers to become taxi drivers and pizza boys. MOOOOOOOOOOOVE AWAAAAAAAAAAAAAY FROOOOOOOOOM TORONTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go to a place in Canada where there are very few immigrants. You will find that native born Canadians are driving cabs and delivering Pizzas. In fact, you will find native born people doing these jobs in cities with lots of immigrants.
In additon, there are lots of jobs that pay higher than pizza boys or taxi drivers. YOU JUST HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM TORONTO and find them.
I made $8000 planting trees in Northern Ontario in 9 weeks. I made $21,000 loading explosives into holes in Alberta in less than 4 months (and I had an engineering degree when at that job).
As an engineer, I took a CAD monkey job because no one was hiring mechanical engineers. I just worked hard, and guess what, I got an eight month contract in Kenctucy, USA, working at Toyota... got my rent paid, $50 US a day in cash (per diem), and my regular salary of $38,750 per year. I got enough design experience that I was offered a job designing amusement rides.... guess what, I said yes, and I got to live in California for a year, and got a $11,000 raise from my last job.
Its a tough road, but crying does not help.
All this crying and complaining about not having a job handed to you is crazy.
You can always go back to where you immigrated from, and complain from there. I am not trying to be a jerk... by all means, stay in Canada, quit your complaining, MOVE AWAY FROM TORONTO, put your mind to it, and get a job.
Dave
[24-06-2005,23:21]
[***.116.146.227]
dave |
(in reply to: How Many Engineers are Necessary for Canada?)
dude, you need to put in place a provincial immigration. All this BS will not move people.
[26-06-2005,15:05]
[**.113.191.176]
Raj |
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