Canada Bound

[Scoobystu]

Hi there

I am looking for design/mechanical engineering work in Canada. My partner and I are going to be in Toronto for the first week in May. I have been emailing recruitment agencies but have not had any response as yet. Can anyone point me in the direction of an engineering/technical recruitment agency in Toronto that might be interested in meeting with me whilst I am in the country. We are travelling from Scotland with the idea to see a bit of Canada and meet with recruitment agencies. We were hoping that recruitment agencies/potential employers might take us a bit more seriously if we make the effort to go and see them.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[jmw]

You have already e-mailed a number of agencies. Sure, you can e-mail any new agencies that the guys can recommend but that isn't going to get you an appointment.

It's a funny thing but a surprising number of people don't respond to e-mails and you shouldn't depend on it. The number of e-mails a busy person gets is staggering so you need to do more.

In part this is because many time-management courses advocate prioritising e-mails and not responding to singletons from an unknown sender; if it is important enough, the reasoning goes, they will send another which then gets a better priority.

Don't rely on the e-mail. Send it, presumably with your CV attached, then ring about two weeks in advance of your visit and state that, re your e-mail and submitted CV, you are ringing to arrange an appointment and which day suites them best (and give them an option of days). Don't give them the option of seeing you or not seeing you, one of those options isn't a desireable outcome.

Just the e-mail may make it seem like you are only casually interested . An structured and escalating plan will get you results.

JMW

http://www.viscoanalyser.com

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.

 

[PSE]

I agree with JMW and would also add to try to target specific agencies (if known to you) that specialize in your area of professional interest. Contact them directly with your interest and travel itinerary. That way, with your relatively limited time available, you can be more effective in your search.

Regards,

 

[TheTick]

Email is not an effective way to communicate with busy people, especially management. When I want to "hide something in plain sight" from my boss, I send him an email. That way I can say I told him without him actually knowing anything.

As far as making contact with recruiters goes, I find it is most effective to contact those listed in current job postings. Answer ads and submit resumes for specific jobs.

Blindly firing resumes at recruiting firms is not so effective. There are many reasons for this. Basically, your resume will just get lost or buried.

Due to illness, the part of The Tick will be played by... The Tick.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

 

[Scoobystu]

OK, points taken. I will take a more proactive approach.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

I will follow up my cv shotgun approach with a few phone calls to the specific jobs I have applied for.

Cheers

 

[haggis]

Scoobystu
I've worked through the same employment agency for some 20 of the 37 years I've lived in Canada and they are probably the biggest and most reputable in Ontario with a far reaching client list.

You most likely have researched your trip but Southern Ontario has the biggest concentration of industry in the country.

The area between Toronto and Niagara Falls is well named
"The Golden Horseshoe."

However, in whatever area your expertise lies, there are other opportunities in other regions i.e. B.C. for Paper, Logging, Mining. Alberta for Petrochemical etc. etc.

All in all, it's a damn good country - no regrets.

Contact:
Ian Martin Limited
301 - 111 Grangeway Avenue
Scarborough
Ontario M1H 3E9
Tel: 416-439-6400

Guid luck! and lang may yer lum reek.

Haggis