What to do after job Interview?

Source: collegelifestyles.org

Well, you have been along a quit a process (I always say that looking for a job is a job itself): 1. look for positions that would match your background experience and 2. went through the battle of the interview. Now is time for follow-up.

On the internet you can find all kind of templates for follow-up call and emails. I prefer to be more natural writing an email without templates, but based upon the process that I went. I normally call or email 15 days  after the interview. Hopefully you will remember the name of the interviewers.

So meanwhile, you may want to get (if you do not have yet) your SIN number (social number) at the Service of Canada and also  get two pieces of ID. Other important step is to check the contact information of your potential  references. Employers may ask you contact of your previous 3 employers.

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

Source:http://canadaimmigrationlawyers.ca/news

Applying for Canadian Citizenship

When I did my Canadian Citizenship application (5 years ago or so), I was very excited even though I was not very keen to gather all the documentation required, some of my documentation was in Brazil and I could not remember well the exact dates. Now is my fiancé time, voilá!  :0)

1. Read very careful  documentation checklist and procedures on how to apply. Note that application fee increased quite significantly.
2. Only submit your documentation if it is complete and if you have lived in Canada long enough to be eligible for citizenship, better do not risk to have the process delayed for missing documentation.
1. To be safe I submitted my application with registered parcel that required signature upon arrival at the immigration office ( it was my way to ensure that the my documentation was received, best money spent!)
3. You must be a permanent resident (PR) for at least two years before you can apply.
4. You must live in Canada for at least three of the four years before you apply (there is a rumor that this time will increase).
1. You can use  residence calculator to check if you comply:
1. In my case, I requested my travel history to aeroplan of the last 4 years, it was free, not sure if they are still providing it.  I also had e-tickets at my email, and of course the stamps in my passport.  
2. You may count ½ day time before you become PR and 1 full day after receive your PR
5. You need to proof that your skills to speak English or French.
1. I submitted my transcript of the  Canadian University and all Certificates received since I arrive in Canada.
2. Please check item 1 for required documentation
6. You must do the Canadian Citizenship Test

Canadian Coins

Source: or2013

As you could see in the post Money and finances the coins in Canada, as as important as the bills.

Well, well, well if you were a person like me that hates coins, better watch them when you are coming to Canada.

Why they matter to you? Because they are essential to:

• pay laundry (in some of the residential buildings,laundry/dry machine are available, but they cost 1.75$ per load - exact change). I can count how many times I had to go to a convenience store to buy something in order to get coins of "quarter" (0.25$). 
• take buses (at least here in Saint John, Fredericton, Halifax) you need to have the exactly change. They may accept bills (paper money) but you will not get the change. Wellllll ..... I saw sometimes, and it happened with me, that the driver asked the person behind to give me my change and put the remain amount on the fee collection (in order to get your change will have to count with the driver niceness).
• it is great for tips in restaurants.
• pay the parkmetre, specially if your car will be parked for few minutes.

Besides the change for the laundry, in my first years here, my nightmare was really to remember the names of each coin. Yeahhh!! I remember going to the grocery store, and have the cashier telling me: "it is missing a dime", I would look confuse, and solution I showed all my coins and asked them to pick the right one.

Also a collector would get crazy here, because the Royal Canadian Mint makes them with different symbols (quarter or higher). 

Penny was taken from circulation, now it is souvenir. Interesting enough is that:

• The rounding is not done on single items but on the total bill of sale.
•  If the price ends in:

           - a one, two rounded down to 0

           - six, or seven it gets rounded down to 5

           -  and rounded up if it ends in three, four, eight or nine.

But you would pay the exact value, without rounding, if you pay with credit card.

Are you going to a job interview? Be prepared!

Source: No No's >> To avoid  

Nothing can be so nervous than to go to a job interview. But think through, you are having the opportunity to sell yourself!!!

 Since 2010, when I graduated and started to work in Canada, I experienced 4 job hunting (as an immigrant, you are going to get lots of contract term, initially it scares, then you get use to). 

Interviews was another reality for me; in Brazil, I would use my professional skills and discuss technical knowledge to sell myself while in Canada, I have the feeling that you sell more your behavioural skills with a backup of a strong reference letter. Technical skills are mentioned when they ask you to list your experiences. 

In my case, my post-graduation counted negatively, simple because employees thought that I would ask for tons of money ( that is true :0) hahahha), and probably I was too theoretical (that is false).   But in the end of the day, I just want a place where I can work and use my professional skills.

So do not be scared and prepare yourself:

• Be yourself, dress well, have a strong shake hands, try to smile, make eye contact with all in the room, avoid bad posture, listen and in the end summarize all the points of the interview. I normally forget words in English when I am nervous. So calm down!!!

• As I mentioned on the post about job hunting , research about the company that you applied, during the interview that may ask why did you apply for this position? or Why this company?

• Know very well your resume, I normally bring with me a copy of my resume, and slightly look to make sure that the chronological order of my employer are right (it is good to keep a great relationship with your previous manager, because 100% sure, you will need their reference check. Keep the track of their contact information as well).

• Questions asked will typically be: What would you do if you had a conflict with a co-worker? How did you solved it? What would you do if is 4 pm and you are asked to do an activity that will be demanded to finish? What did you like/hate the most in previous job? How do you see yourself in 5 Years? Why should I hire you? Do you have any question? 

  

 

Formas de vir para Canadá: Visto de Estudante (Universidade e College)

erasmusplus

Dentre muitas maneiras de vir para o Canadá, uma das mais utilizadas é através do visto de estudante.
confira nas linhas a seguir algumas informações sobre essa modalidade tão cobiçada.

Um pouco da minha história:

Quando decidirmos vir para cá eu e meu marido analisamos várias possibilidades e dentre elas, surgiu a possibilidade da vinda como estudante de College (que na época era a mais fácil, barata, rápida e menos burocrática). Como meu marido veio como estudante e por sermos casados, eu automaticamente ganhei o Work Permit (Visto de trabalho).

Porque escolher esse método: 

Através da nossa experiência, posso dizer que é uma ótima maneira de se ter uma primeira impressão do país. Se você ainda tem dúvidas se quer imigrar de vez, é uma excelente oportunidade para se acostumar com a cultura, clima,  estilo de vida e o mercado de trabalho, em vista que uma vez como estudante, de college ou universidade você passará no mínimo um 1 ano e até 5 anos (dependendo do curso ou especialização que deseje fazer) por aqui e terá oportunidade e passar por muitas experiências que ajudarão a tirar suas próprias conclusões sobre o País.

Uma vez aqui, suas chances de entrar com pedido de imigração por programas provinciais  ou após sua graduação você pode solicitar um visto de trabalho (Post Grad. work Permit), com isso suas chances são maiores.

Na pior das hipóteses você voltará  ao Brasil com um upgrade no seu currículo e com fluência em inglês.

Porque não escolher esse método: 

Caso você não tenha um bom nível de inglês, esse não é o meio mas indicado para você. Uma vez que todas as instituições de ensino solicitam comprovação de proficiência na língua inglesa (ou francesa dependendo da província) e isso é comprovado através dos testes de proficiência como TOEFL, IELTS.

Histórico escolar, carta de indicação de professores, diplomas e certificados todos esses documentos serão solicitados pelas instituições e todos devem ser traduzidos por tradutor juramentado e enviados por correio.. tudo isso não sai barato!

Caso você não tenha uma reserva financeira, Bolsa de estudos ou alguém que te patrocine essa também não é a melhor das alternativas. Além de ter que comprovar renda suficiente para se sustentar durante o período de estudos, esse visto possui algumas restrições quanto ao permissão de trabalho (sua permissão ira depender da sua carga horária de estudos), pois uma vez que você veio como estudante, sua prioridade é estudar!

Para mais informações sobre esse assunto acesse os links abaixo:

Como solicitar visto de estudante http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study.asp

Lista de instituições legalizadas pelo governo http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-institutions-list.asp

Tipos visto de estudante para trabalhar enquanto estuda: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/study-changes.asp

Espero que tenha esclarecido um pouco, essa opção de vinda para o Canadá.

Dúvidas, sugestões, deixe seu comentário aqui abaixo ;)

Why are we doing this?

Last week, having a cup of coffee at Tim Hortons...  wait a moment,... You haven´t heard about Tim Hortons? That means that you haven´t arrived to Canada yet!. Come with us!

As we were saying, we were talking about our experiences living in Canada, how different some of them were from the ones we had in our countries and how many people were asking us how to immigrate here. So, we decided to start this "canadaeasyguide".

We hope this guide will help you.

We will talk about the themes we are more concerned about or the ones we love, but you can tell us which one you  are interested in and we will try to write about it!