Migrating to Canada or USA from Greece (Geological/Mining/Metallurgical Engineer) 1

[geov86]

Hello guys! I am really really glad to find this forum as I can see it represents a strong engineering community on the internet. I don't want to get you tired with many things so I am about to tell you my story in the short run, and I would kindly like your opinions regarding my issue.

I am a BSc(hons) Engineering Geologist specialized in Geotechnical Engineering and I have 4yrs of work experience as a consultant mainly in foundation engineering as well as in natural hazards (landslides, slope stability etc),and very few experience in tunneling. In addition,in a couple of years from now I am about to graduate from the National Technical University of Athens as a M.Eng Mining & Metallurgical Engineer (5yrs academic degree = BSc & integrated MSc) with specialization in Geoengineering & Metallurgy.

As most of you are aware (I think?), the situation in Greece has become unbearable,with zero prospects for engineers (basically for everyone!). For this reason, I decided to leave Greece,search for a job,and settle,abroad. Since two of my top choices are Canada and USA, I would like to ask you a couple of questions regarding engineering and engineering market there.
1) What's the possibility of getting geology or an engineering job before immigrating there, and without having to attend a MSc at a Canadian or US university in order to be seen more favorable from a possible employer?
2) How is the market in Canada or USA regarding geotechnical engineering,mining engineering, or geology? Good - bad prospects?
3) If I take the PE examinations and obtain the PE, does this change the way employers consider my resume and application, instead of just apply for a job without having this?

Thank you very much in advance for your opinions and for the kindness to reply to my post. Wish you all a wonderful day!

George

 

[moltenmetal]

http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/2061/la_id/1.htm

A link from the Professional Engineers Ontario website which will give you a taste for what is involved.

You can and SHOULD apply before you immigrate. Getting a license requires at least 1 year of experience mentored by someone licensed in Canada, and getting that year can be a challenge. And a license is no guarantee of a job, nor is it an absolute necessity to get a job (or else nobody would ever get that year of experience...)

Be aware that in Canada, only 30% of engineering graduates work as engineers:

https://www.ospe.on.ca/public/documents/advocacy/2015-crisis-in-engineering-labour-market.pdf

Any engineer immigrating to Canada without a job in hand before they land is taking the risk that they will never work as an engineer again. Mind you, thousands of immigrants do manage to immigrate and get engineering jobs here every year, but thousands more do not.

 

[TheTick]

Not in the mining field. However, in a discussion with one recruiter, he mentioned that he needed mining engineers in New Mexico, and he couldn't get any of the mining engineers in Upper Michigan to go (because the U.P. is just that awesome!).

If you need experience, there's probably lots of work to be had in any number of far-flung, third-world mines. Just be sure to have a return ticket in hand.

 

[geov86]

moltenmetal: I understand. That being said, there's no need to even bother searching for a job in Canada, under these conditions.

TheTick: My friend,I want to stabilize my life on a better quality level,not to lose it completely in a third world mine!Thing is,I know nothing about N. Mexico,however,from what you mentioned above about the mining engineers,I'd rather maintain this lack of knowledge!

Basically,I mostly would like to know whether employment opportunities are approximately equal for foreign and native engineers when it comes to an employer, and if it is possible to apply for a job through the internet without the discrimination due to visa sponsorship etc, or employers don't even look at foreign applications and I need to obtain a MSc in order to successfully enter the market?

 

[jayrod12]

I have a co-worker who immigrated from Greece 2 years ago to Canada. He was a structural engineer in Greece and now is only minor steps away from obtaining his P.Eng designation here. His previous experience in Greece provided him adequate base knowledge to allow him to work here. I would not write off the possibility of jobs in Canada without looking at the job opportunities. Your current experience would make you highly valuable to a geotechnical engineering firm.

Do some research into firms in Canada and the US that are along the lines of the work you want to do. Then contact people at the firms that interest you and see where it goes. It may be beneficial for you to look for a job where your experience is applicable in order to get your foot in the door. Once you've gained local experience it would likely open more doors for you to migrate into a different position if desired.

Based on my understanding of the situation in Greece, any engineering related job here is better than staying in Greece. Even if it isn't your dream job.

 

[Lomarandil]

geov86, my perspective from the outside looking in is that many employers in the US are still not hard pressed to find adequate native/local candidates, and as such they'll either disregard or heavily discount applications from persons who don't already live in that state, let alone international candidates.

It's not impossible, but you'll need to prove (more thoroughly than normal) that you are the ideal candidate for that specific job (without setting off the "overqualified" triggers).

----
The name is a long story -- just call me Lo.

 

[moltenmetal]

You've got to understand that many people coming to Canada are coming for family reasons first and career/opportunity reasons 2nd. Many think Canada is a land of limitless opportunity and don't mind taking the chance of never working in their chosen field again because they don't feel that's a likely outcome.

You'd be competing for jobs with a lot of those folks if you did choose to come.

Come if you can, or choose not to- just do it with your eyes fully open, aware of just how hard it might be for you, not on the basis of hope alone.

As to the US, the job opportunities may be better, but some of the other conditions aren't so great. A colleague of mine immigrated to Canada from India, but failed to find suitable work and left for the US. He worked in the US for quite a while, but came back to Canada because it was possible here to at least have a hope of bringing in his parents. His parents are living with him now, so it worked out.

 

[MFJewell]

Make sure you pledge your allegiance to Allah on your USA visa application.

On a serious note, I think you will be hard pressed to find work in the US. CEs are abundant in the US, so it keeps pay lower than other disciplines and as someone else mentioned, allows companies to be picky. I have seen a lot of adverts that specifically state they will not sponsor foreign applicants. You may have to move here, get everything settled, and hope for the best.

 

[MintJulep]

I wish you the best, and don't want to be discouraging. But you need to know that H1-B visas are difficult to get and with our new idiot-in-chief likely to get harder. Even if you are eligible, it will take a long time.

https://www.uscis.gov/working-unite...on-models/h-1b-fiscal-year-fy-2018-cap-season

In all of the EU there is nobody digging a hole that needs your skill set?

Get a foot in the door with an international E&C or mining company within the EU - without the immigration challenges, then work from within to get transferred to the US or Canada.

http://www.enr.com/toplists/2016-Top-250-International-Contractors1

 

[geov86]

Thank you all for your replies so far! From what you mentioned above I think migration is difficult as a whole nowdays! Well, EU is a mess right now and it will become even worse in the near future! I cannot stay in a "German" union where basic human rights are demolished and which sets my country in an occupied regime,let alone the economic disaster caused!
Ok,as far as Canada is concerned, I got the point! Regarding the United States, is it going to be better if I obtain a MSc from a US institution? Will I be more favorable to possible employers or build more connections as a link to industry, or still will be the same? Note that I am a geological - geotechnical engineer not a civil engineer!

 

[jayrod12]

I spoke with my coworker. He indicated that he contacted the company listed below. They helped him get everything in order. It can't hurt to get in contact with them.

http://hiic.ca/

Hellenic Immigrant Initiative Committee
2255 Grant Ave, Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3P 0S2 Canada
Email: info@hiic.ca

 

[geov86]

jayrod12 you're super! Thank you very very much!

 

[Lomarandil]

Unless getting an MSc from a US institution somehow changes your legal work status (maybe it does, I just don't know), I don't think that will address the major hurdle you'll find with US employers.

At least in the US, geotechnical/geological engineers are considered a subset of civil engineers (same as structural engineers, land development, stormwater, transportation, etc).

----
The name is a long story -- just call me Lo.

 

[NorthCivil]

Canadian structural here - the job market is a bit soft at the moment, even in the areas that are doing better economically. Traditional resource areas (Alberta, Saskatchewan) are hurting big time from the oil crash. Lots of engineers from there flooded other markets looking for work. Geo's were especially affected by current low commodities.

I would be in the US if family etc wasn't keeping me here. Better salaries + higher dollar, a lower cost of living, bigger market, more varied projects make it a more appealing place to work IMO. if you have a family and are looking for stability, maybe Canada becomes more appealing. But for a young gun, America is where you want to go.

It might be easier to get into Canada than the US, but you will have an easier time finding a job in the US I would think. If you do come to Canada, expect to find work in very remote regions - (may as well go to the third world, at least its probably not as cold)

 

[IRstuff]

This site seems to have a lot of interesting information:

http://www.myvisajobs.com/Reports/2017-H1B-Visa-Category.aspx?T=OC

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

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[TheTick]

Sounds like you have much to learn about Upper Michigan and New Mexico. You won't learn it in Greece.

 

[FoxRox]

I cannot stay in a "German" union where basic human rights are demolished and which sets my country in an occupied regime,let alone the economic disaster caused!

I apparently need to do some in-depth reading. I was aware of the financial crisis in Greece, but human rights violations?! What rights have you been deprived of in Greece that you think will be granted in the US, aside from near-unregulated gun ownership?

 

[TheTick]

It's actually a French union. The Germans were compelled to join. Just happened to work in their favor.

I didn't know tax evasion and defaulting on debt were "rights".

 

[IRstuff]

I think the OP is referring to the austerity measures imposed by the EU(?) on Greece as a condition of borrowing money to run the country. IIRC, that meant that the government cut back on civil jobs and payments.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg

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[NorthCivil]

What OP is referring to by ragging on the germans:

The merging of currencies makes buying goods from Germany cheaper paying in euros rather than deutschemarks. Italy, spain, Greece, traditionally poorer countries drag down the price of the euro, giving the world a discount on manufactured german goods.

Greece's competitiveness pre-euro has been killed because richer countries like France, Germany, Holland, prop up the value of the euro, making it more expensive to buy Greek goods in euros than it used to be in drachmas.

Yes, France created the euro, but undoubtedly the biggest benefactors economically have been the Germans.

that's why Germany is happy to continually bail out Greece - keeping them poor keeps Germany competitive.