Quebec Without French (Continuation)

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: Quebec Without French (Continuation)
 
Let me start first with my background. It took me 3.5 years to complete my immigration papers. On July 1, 2005 I landed in Toronto, Ontario. I´m a IT professional whose skills is very much in demand in Toronto. I don´t speak French too.

A month of jobhunting in Toronto was so very frustrating. They always asked for your Canadian experience (a stupid thing since they know, based on your resume, you´re an immigrant who just landed) I thought then that Canadians are more interested in your Canadian experience rather than your skills.

I was losing hope then but a surprise came on my second month. I´ve got a call from a prospective employer who saw my resume in Workopolis.com. That employer is based in Montreal. They invited me for a battery of interviews (tehnical, psychological, panel) by long distance call and on-site. The panel interview was done in Montreal and yes in English. To cut the story short, I made it and here I am now based in Montreal.

Living in Quebec, particulary in Montreal is not difficult for non-French speakers. A lot of people are bilingual, they are fluent in French and English. Some could not speak well in English (with all the grammar), but you can understand them well. People in the office speak English aside from French and it´s the same thing outside the office. So basically language is not a barrier for immigrants who don´t speak French.

If you apply under Quebec policy, french is one of the factors, but you can be successfully chosen even if you have no French skills (with your points in other factors). I have officemates who came from India or Sri Lanka who don´t have French skills but were accepted. And yes, they don´t get descriminated but are looked upon by the whites.

If you are thinking Quebec as an easy jumping board to Canada´s other provinces, then you would think twice when you are in. Quebec is very beautiful. Montreal likewise. People in this part of Canada are warm and kind and quality of Life is is very good. My only complaint though is the cold weather (this is my first winter here)

For those of you who are still waiting, I would say just be patient. While you are waiting, save more money and gain more skills. This is also the time to rethink if going to Canada is worth it given your current status. Do more research about how life in Canada will impact you and your family. I did not do these. For me, I´m just too lucky to get the job/salary/place that I want and continue the lifestyle that I used to have back home. Not too many immigrants do get what they want here. I met other immigrants of different nationalities and many of them, or I would say, 60% are not happy. Pray and let God decide which one is better for you.



You will need those when you arrive here in Canada. Canada is not that all heaven. If you think

[21-02-2006,16:46]
[***.113.24.1]
guy
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
so are you saying an immigrant has a better chance of landing a job in quebec than other provinces, because in quebec they are less stuck up with canadian work experience?


[21-02-2006,17:12]
[**.157.210.170]
Anonymous
I lived there (in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
It is very very difficult to find jobs in MOntreal without french. I was very very lucky and I get paid nothing.

Not only that, even if you learn french and you could speak it ok, it will never be good enough for the Quebecois. they are way more stuck-up. Calgary ROX!

[21-02-2006,17:21]
[**.222.168.117]
Mambo
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
I too am applying as IT professional, but under the federal SW program. I wonder if you could share what particular area in IT your skills are. I ask because it gives an idea what IT skill sets are still in demand in Canada, which you bring.

Regarding the Quebec program - very interesting as I (and I think many others) assumed lack of French language skills is a disqualifier.

[21-02-2006,18:14]
[***.131.12.0]
Richard
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
>Not only that, even if you learn french and you could speak it ok, it will never be good enough for the Quebecois.


FINALLY someone who thinks along the same lines I do. Sure, you can get by with no or little French, but it is extremely difficult to go beyond a certain level (say, $15/hr, unless you´ve got something really in demand) - the ceiling effect. I´m not sure that´s due to the French/English, it could just be my situation, but still.

Anyone in Montreal want to offer a hard-working, serious. flexible person with an MA in Linguistics (first class pass from top UK University) a $10/hr job? I´m more fluent in French than a lot of French people here are in English and can more than get by. But I´m currently a nanny, and prior to that, I worked as a cashier. C´est la vie.

[21-02-2006,20:46]
[**.37.48.242]
...
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
$10 or even $15/hr is nothing for this kind of jobs specially when u r IT professional or engineer. this salary is for cashiers, cleaners, and labour jobs ....

some companies take advantage of theses new high skilled immigrants and hire them with minimum wages knowing that they need a job very badly and fast...

when u search for job make sure the salary fits ur job

good luck to everyone

[21-02-2006,23:16]
[**.198.189.222]
AAA
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
To 37.48.242

I know a young girl who came to Canada to study. When she arrived here, she could not say a word of French and not much more of English. She got a Bacc in Linguistics and then she immigrated. She went back to the university to get an MA in orthophony. In Quebec they don´t know where to find these professionnels. She has a very good job now, very well paid. May be this could be an option for you.

Bonne chance.

[22-02-2006,00:35]
[**.203.127.225]
Anonymous
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
I have never thought I would be in the land of french speaking Canada. All I know is I have the skills that Canada wants. Though I don´t speak french and I did not consider Quebec in my immigration and employment undertakings, Montreal still took me in..... so I´m grateful. I´m in ERP (business solutions) world of IT and I get paid according to the market price. The whole point of this is that in reality skills count a lot in Quebec or anywhere in Canada, if you have what the local people don´t then a good chance for you to be in.
Again good luck to all of you.

[22-02-2006,10:23]
[***.113.24.1]
guy
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))

Getting a job depends upon your profession & of course your language skills, there are lots of jobs for certain IT people with certain software skills, but for others like marketing, sales, service, finance, general engineering, teaching etc, you will have tough time getting jobs, & these people will end as low class workers

[22-02-2006,10:42]
[**.231.57.19]
KK
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
I just want to add some more for the benefit of other aspiring immigrants. Based on other landed immigrants´ experience, it is hard to pursue your real career in canada especially when you started one with a blue collar job. They´ll question your skills which you want to apply. So if you land here in Canada, exert all effort to find that job fit for you, if not go to school and upgrade yourself. Schools are good source for job opportunities. Yes, a lot of money is involved, that´s why Canada checks how much you´re worth (money) in the first place.
[22-02-2006,12:19]
[***.113.24.1]
guy
(in reply to: Quebec Without French (Continuation))
...which is why I have applied to do orthophonie (speech pathology). It´s my only chance of staying in Canada because I can´t carry on with $8/hr jobs and a degree.

I find out the results in a month or two, wish me luck!

[22-02-2006,19:16]
[**.37.48.242]
...