Any Canadian expats here? Looking for Canadian MNCs...

[djdre]

Hi all,

I'm researching into what Canadian headquartered companies have operations in Singapore. I'm trying to make my way to Canada to fulfill my PR obligations.

The key stumbling block to getting a decent job over there is gaining "Canadian experience". So I'm trying to quicken this process and seeing if I can get employment with a Canadian MNC or organisation that operates in Singapore, prior to making this move. This would make the first step entry more advantageous. Else the thought of taking on "survival jobs" just to get by is too daunting.

I am in the IT industry, mid level career. You do not have to reveal where you work, just your knowledge of any Canadian companies operating in Singapore in general will be tremendously helpful. E.g. RIM, Manulife are some of the big boys.

I tried emailing the Canadian Chamber of Commerce but they didn't respond to me.

Many thanks in advance!

[zzm9980]

Pick out some of your favorite Canadian MNCs, and go to the "Jobs" section of their websites. See if they list Singapore as a location, or better, have open reqs here.

I'd target the banks first.

[movingtospore]

Research in Motion has an office here, though they aren't doing well these days.

If you aren't fussy about staying in SP, the Canadian banks all have much bigger operations in HK than they do here.

[carteki]

So you want to move to Canada - have applied for PR - but don't want to pack up and move over there? Can you not get a job directly in Canada with your qualifications? Surely that would be easier than finding Canadian companies in SG that may / may not want to transfer you to Canada?

[poodlek]

So you want to move to Canada - have applied for PR - but don't want to pack up and move over there? Can you not get a job directly in Canada with your qualifications? Surely that would be easier than finding Canadian companies in SG that may / may not want to transfer you to Canada?

His problem I'm presuming is that he can't get hired in his profession without the elusive "Canadian working experience" and he doesn't want to pass his time at Tim Horton's.

On the other hand, I'm not 100% certain that working at a Canadian company not in Canada will qualify for the "Canadian experience" they're looking for. But in IT I don't really see it being that big a deal??

[djdre]

Hi, thanks for the comments. Poodlek was correct, migrating there for Tim hortons as a survival job would be soul (and dream) crushing.

When we do decide to land, the job search will have to begin. Just in the mean time, I've been scoping the Singapore landscape for Canadian companies but not that many big ones show up through searches. For banks, I've seen RBC, TD but seems like they're small operations and doesn't appear like much hiring going on. I've seen RIM (but certainly tough times ahead for them), Manulife and not much else, hence why I'm trying to find out more by starting this topic.

Yet on the other hand, there are big Canadian int'l schools, expat community, Canadian association - so what Canadian companies have a significant presence or are investing / growing in Singapore in a big way??

Thanks in advance

[poodlek]

Hi, thanks for the comments. Poodlek was correct, migrating there for Tim hortons as a survival job would be soul (and dream) crushing.

When we do decide to land, the job search will have to begin. Just in the mean time, I've been scoping the Singapore landscape for Canadian companies but not that many big ones show up through searches. For banks, I've seen RBC, TD but seems like they're small operations and doesn't appear like much hiring going on. I've seen RIM (but certainly tough times ahead for them), Manulife and not much else, hence why I'm trying to find out more by starting this topic.

Yet on the other hand, there are big Canadian int'l schools, expat community, Canadian association - so what Canadian companies have a significant presence or are investing / growing in Singapore in a big way??

You know, plenty of Canadian expats work for non-Canadian companies that operate both here and there...just because there are a number of us doesn't mean Canada is heavily invested in Singapore.

Are you sure that this path will qualify as "Canadian experience" you're looking for? I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing there must be some sort of forum for folks emigrating to Canada where you might glean more valuable information. What about writing to the companies you'd be interested in working for once there and asking what specifically they would consider as Canadian experience? Maybe it won't be as degrading as Tim's, just a matter of working a few steps down from your qualification in the same company?

[sundaymorningstaple]

Just go to the Canadian Association and ask. Normally these organizations will have a list of their country's companies that have a presence in Singapore. They are the ones who get hit up for donations, etc.