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| Subject: If not in Canada Part 3 - |
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I am convinced 100% that english is what stands between a marginal job and a great job. If you have grown up speaking and writing english- your adaptation to Canada will be easy because you THINK in english. English that is text book is always more of a struggle just like any other language. It can be mastered, but it take time and lots of practice.
Personal example. I work with a small company and was hiring and administrative assistant for myself. I needed someone who could write a letter, take notes at meetings, answer phones and interact with clients. I got a flood of applications (300). 30% of the applications came from people that had accounting degrees or something else totally unrelated to what I asked for. They wanted something until they got their perfect job. Sorry...those immediately go to the garbage. Of the ones left I would say 50% of the applications were filled with grammar and spelling mistakes. They too went in the garbage (sorry...that is what happens). You cannot say you have strong communication skills if you give me a resume with errors! Based on the resume information I would say well over half of those left were not educated in Canada. I am now down to about 75 applications.
So I start to read. Remember, I am looking for someone who can read, write and speak english easily. I am not looking for a rocket scientist. I cannot afford to teach someone english - I only have enough time to teach them the job itself. If I was a bigger company perhaps I could accomodate some learning time but I unfortunately do not have that luxury.
Accents are never an issue. Being understood is. I eventually hired a Scotish woman who came to Canada as a teenager. Very dominant accent but a full command of the language. Exactly what I needed. I even overlooked some weak computer skills because out of all 300 applications... I would say there was 25-30 where I felt their english skills were strong enough to do the job. Even the Canadian appliants had me scratching my head at times. This was not a fancy job. It pays $15 an hour.
Do not blow off the importance of language to your job success. It is more important than how many years of education you have.
[01-03-2005,20:18]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
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(in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
After your advise to me, I pay much more attention to my written English, after this summer, I will go back to adult education and take formal ESL training. In fact it only charges 50 dollars/term. I have never done any ESL training since I finished my degree in Canada. I learn English all by myself from TV. I write stuff depend on my sense which usually incorrect and beyond basic grammar requirement. Because you can always took your paper to writing centre and ask your friends to read thru before submit. They believe English is not your first language; it doesn?t matter to have mechanical problems. However, I do believe people do wanna give me face instead of embarrassing me.
I never pay high attention to my written English until Sharon?s sincerely advise. It?s true if you don?t have strong written skills, like me, maybe I can only stop in this ?Visitor Information Counsellor position? forever. I ended up 9dollars/ hour plus limited benefit, that?s it. ( Sharon, please come to say hi to me, if you pass Nanaimo, Tourism Nanaimo 2290 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, sorry, no immigration related questions gonna answer, only tourism visitor information please). What?s 9 dollars/hour mean? You can only pay off your car, house, don?t expect to buy some property, neither Disney world vacation on the summer.
I think I have ability to up-sell myself, however, my written is really sux. Need write more, practice more; I do agree English ability is most important facts to settle down in Canada. That?s why I never consider move to Richmond, even all my relatives living over there. (Sharon, not try to offense your hometown, it?s just too Chinese to me) In that kind of environment, you don?t have to use English at all, which means once you leave Richmond, you can not survive anywhere in Canada. That?s another reason, you ended up and getting 300 applicators. Because they never consider moving out of Lower Mainland, in fact, they can?t. Too many immigrants ended up in the same place.
Sorry if I made any mistake, those are just based on my understanding.
[01-03-2005,21:17]
[***.25.33.176]
Yijie |
(in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
Bravo Yijie. I can see your effort. You will get to where you want to go - I am sure. Ya...I think I am the only white girl in Richmond. (not really) I can eat at a different chinese restaurant every night of the year!
[01-03-2005,21:35]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
have a look! (in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
http://www.workincanada.net/find-job-canada.html
[01-03-2005,21:37]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
(in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
Hi Sharon,
May i ask where you are from originally if you dont mind ?
Also, i admire your dedication to this forum.
Thanks
[01-03-2005,21:51]
[**.204.32.138]
Simpleton |
(in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
I am one of those rare Canadians that was actually born here.
[01-03-2005,22:04]
[***.181.198.246]
sharon |
(in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
Lucky you Sharon, we don´t even have one Dim Sum restaurant in Nanaimo; none of any Chinese restaurant actually can be called Chinese food. If I want to have dim sum, I have to drive 1 hour and half to Victoria. However, we have pretty nice music pub. I lived in Richmond with my relatives for two-month summer before I came to Nanaimo. Richmond is neat city for those immigrants who are rich and want to retire in similar culture environment. Like my relatives, they never talk any single English at all, because once you live in Richmond, you don??t have to use English. Everything is written in Chinese.
One question for Sharon, how comes they built so many condo over Stevenson village. I feel shock last year. it??s rezoning everywhere in Richmond. I wonder if City Planner has a long-term goal for this city. It??s just broken view in Richmond.
Sorry, again, immigration none-related question, it´s my bad habit, always like to ask why why why why to everybody
[02-03-2005,13:19]
[**.66.78.235]
Yijie |
READ (in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
i would just like to point out, to all those ignorant people
on this forum, that the middle east is not a bad place,
there are a lot of countries in the middle east which are not dangerous. there are a lot of syrians i know who have successfully immigrated to canada, and have had no problem with the polic check, it is a staunch minority of middle easterns who are involved in those terrorist issues, if you guys are as "educated" as you claim to be, you are expected to be more informed about what is happening in that area, please educate yourself about that area before you post random messages
[07-03-2005,17:15]
[***.159.10.163]
middleeast |
dim sum (in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
i need to know about dim sum and google gave me your website and it got no use. i have 5page essay on dimsum but u guys give me nu´in.
[18-04-2005,00:03]
[***.186.220.213]
i luv green day |
hello (in reply to: If not in Canada Part 3 -)
was sure that the line "we have met the enemy and he is us" is from Shakespeare, but I cannot find it anywhere! Can you help?
[26-06-2006,19:28]
[**.31.86.8]
free rape movies |
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