‘If you like your field, don’t give up’, says engineer Paul Frasie

“In my life I’ve learned not to have big expectations in the beginning,” says Paul Frasie, a designer engineer from Romania. “Because I don’t want to be disappointed later. So the only thing I thought about on my way to Canada was that since you leave everything in your country [when you emigrate], you have to somehow succeed in the new place. If you come to Canada and in six months return to your country, you will have nothing left – just frustration.”

However, Frasie did have plans – he intended to find a job soon after his arrival to Canada, to work and to buy a house. He had no idea of the challenges internationally trained engineers face when they come to Canada and start searching for professional jobs. Frasie didn’t know anything about the highly competitive job market, the “Canadian experience” requirement and the specifics of applying for jobs in Canada. He had prepared a Curriculum Vitae (which is used more often in Europe) and when he arrived he found some resume templates. So Frasie started sending his resume to companies he assumed would be interested in his qualifications and skills. “The first six months I sent tons of resumes and didn’t receive any feedback form anybody,” he says. “So at this point it was very tough and disappointing.”

To make matters worse, the global recession had impacted Canada as well and many engineers were losing their jobs. Frasie had already felt the recession in Romania, but he didn’t expect to find a similar situation in Canada. It was hard to stay positive and to figure out what the right thing to do was. He didn’t want to change careers or do survival jobs as many professionals did at that time when they faced unemployment. He loved his profession and wanted to work in his field.

What helped him stay optimistic was a meeting with the founder of the Association of Romanian Engineers in Canada (AREC). He introduced him to other engineers from his country and Frasie started building a network of acquaintances and friends with similar backgrounds. “Everybody helped me somehow,” Frasie says. “They didn’t find a job for me, but they gave me some sources, some useful information and shared their experiences with me.”

Read more here.

News You Can Use - Self-Study Guide for Skilled Immigrants

Finding Talent is a training video developed by TRIEC.  It uses a storytelling approach to present the business case for hiring skilled immigrants and to demonstrate techniques which will allow companies to leverage the talents of skilled immigrants.

The Finding Talent video and self-study guide will provide you with valuable information on 

finding a job.

You will benefit from this video most if you:
- watch the whole video from beginning to end first 
- replay segments that are most interesting to you 
- talk about the video with a friend or family member
- do at least some of the optional activities included in this guide
- consult the resources to further your learning 
- seek employment-support services as you need them 
- are open to seeing things from a different point of view



Use this self-study guide to learn about the topics covered in the video. It provides an 
overview of each video scene, identifies key learning objectives, and offers optional activities for 
you to reinforce your learning.

• self-study guide for skilled immigrants who are employed or looking for work

Fabricating our Future

Marie Laird, Chair, SME Toronto

There's a connection between the decline in manufacturing and the decline in the middle class. If we don't reverse the trend, we can look forward to careers in the service sector.

  

"Industry classification systems used by the government commonly divide industry into three sectors: agriculture, manufacturing, and services. The primary sector of industry is agriculture, mining and raw material extraction. The secondary sector of industry is manufacturing. The tertiary sector of industry is service production." (Wikipedia)

It's no secret that our country has progressed through the various stages of industry described above similar to most developed nations.  We started as farmers, fishermen, lumberjacks and miners - and progressed to the production of manufactured goods during the Industrial Revolution.

We have now moved into the tertiary sectors as evidenced by the fact that the service sector has grown to account for 71.3% GDP and 76% of the labour force (2009 stats). Higher commodity prices have helped revitalize certain primary industries, but manufacturing has continued to decline from a high of 29% of GDP in 1944 to only 13% of GDP and 13% of the labour force in 2010.

What do these statistics mean? Has our standard of living continually increased - in line with our progression through each of these stages?

When did Canada have the greatest sense of prosperity? When did people in Canada and people coming to Canada, on average, have the most positive outlook for themselves and their children? 

The answer is, "Not now." 

I'm not suggesting that life in Canada hasn't improved in many ways since we were primarily hewers of wood and drawers of water, or even when we were heavily focused on manufacturing.

However a high standard of living is more than just owning material goods once considered luxuries. The opportunity for all members of society to make a contribution, earn a good wage, and live a healthy life in a clean and safe environment plays a much larger role than often credited. A critical indicator of a high standard of living is a shared sense of hope for a better future.

For some people the good times continue. Unfortunately for increasing numbers, such as those formerly employed in manufacturing, the future is quite bleak and the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen as opportunities for the middle class disappear.

Our collective hope for a better future is in decline and we no longer have confidence that life, in general, will continue to improve.

I looked at some average weekly wages by industry for 2010. Mining and oil and gas extraction had the highest average -$1700 per week (no surprise with commodity prices soaring). Forestry averaged $950 and manufacturing $960.

In the service sector, public administration (government jobs) averaged $1094 per week and finance and insurance industries came in at $1049.   However, there were other service sector positions which were much lower. Those in accommodation and food services, for example, earned an average of $354 per week and those in retail earned an average of $500 per week.

I couldn't find the answer, but I'd like to know the average wage in the service sector. I would bet that as we move more and more toward a service sector economy that our average wage as a nation will decrease...and that we will be more harshly divided between the upper class and the lower class with little in between.

Historically manufacturing played a strong role in the development and maintenance of the middle class. As manufacturing has declined, so too has the middle class.  Jobs in oil and gas, finance, insurance have not filled the gap. That's not to say those industries and jobs don't have a place...it's just a question of balance.

The service sector cannot revive the middle class.

So why are we still letting manufacturing decline? 

All the best!

Marie Laird
Chair
Society of Manufacturing Engineers Toronto
e: marie.laird@smetoronto.ca
w: http://www.smetoronto.ca
Advancing Manufacturing in Ontario

News You Can Use - Engineering job outlook through to 2018

Ottawa, ON. -- Engineers Canada has released a labour market study that shows the current and future market conditions in engineering. The study tracked current national labour supply and demand and includes a projection from 2010 to 2018, providing engineering students, universities, employers and governments with insight into labour market forecasts. 

Included in the study is information on qualifications and attribute requirements, along with career opportunities for those considering immigrating to Canada. For instance, while levels of immigration and Canadian graduation established in 2008-2009 are likely sufficient to balance markets across the coming decade, issues such as replacement demands related to retirements in many occupations will add to current challenges in recruiting experienced engineers.

The Engineering Labour Market Conditions 2009-2018 report is available online as a pdf document here. [http://www.engineerscanada.ca/files/engineering_labour_market_conditions_report_2010.pdf]

For additional information, visit www.engineerscanada.ca or www.randstadengineering.ca.

News You Can Use - Foreign professionals need 'soft skills' to find success

Foreign professionals need 'soft skills' to find success
Engineering a brighter future; Association trying to help immigrants
By Shaun Polczer, Calgary Herald

"Engineers like to think of mathematics as a universal language.

So the biggest challenge for skilled engineers immigrating to Canada isn't the ability to run calculations, it's often the 'soft skills' that go with finding a job on top of adjusting to a new culture and a new way of life."

Read more here.

The Second Quality: They are Optimistic

They always expect the best outcome out of every situation. 
Even when they don’t get what they want, they don’t regard it as a failure. 
They recover quickly from setbacks and mistakes. 
They never see a situation as permanent. 
They see the world as supportive.

Now, please take your time and go through these next five steps. Be clear and specific.

1. How can you consistently focus on success?
• You need to set very clear goals. Begin with the end in mind. Be very clear on your desired outcomes! Use an effective goal setting strategy. I use the "SMART" one. Which one you use?
• Do you ever rehearse for your success? Create a Winner's mind set today!
• Combine positive affirmations and creative visualizations of success before taking on any task or project. It works for Olympic athletes, so why not use it for the "competitive events" in your life?
2. How are you learning from every experience?
• Bitter or better?
3. How can you expand your resilience?
• How do you manage your ability to come back?
4. How do you stay positive in the face of setbacks?
• How do you react?
• I have in my office posted Tom Hopkins' "The Champion Creed":
• "I am not judged by the number of times I fail, but by the number of times I succeed. And the number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep trying."  Every time I'm going through some demanding stuff, I look up to this creed, calm down and smile.
5. Who is in your network to help you win?
• Whom do you call first?

"Before anything else, preparation is the key to success." ~ Alexander Graham Bell

Welcome to Canada!

Like You, I came to Canada with my family and with the cultural values from my country of origin, my hopes and my dreams. Same as You, I asked myself: "Is this the right time to be here? Am I doing the right thing? How can I connect with the right people to advance my career and to make friends?"

Newcomers have many challenges to face when they try to find employment in Canada. The impact of cultural differences in recruiting and the misunderstandings can lead immigrants to be unsuccessful in their job search for reasons unrelated to their ability to perform the job in question. One of the biggest challenges is the fact that the majority of the jobs are filled through internal posting and internal referrals. All these are a real issue!


My friends and I, are willing to guide you to become better prepared to overcome the adaptation challenges in Canada, and to achieve your goals. Can you imagine how is it when you feel confident and prepared because you have the "tools"?


I remember, it took me a few months, maybe more than that, to understand the meaning of "Don't take it personally!" in the Canadian reality. Then, I learned about how to become a better communicator by being assertive, and not appearing aggressive when communicating with others. Later on, I learned about the "wrap your feedback in four-layers of paper" concept, and I noticed amazing results when I applied it in my communication . And so on... I became a student of people, psychology, management and change.


Today, I am serving my community... in ways that reflect my commitment to co-workers, customers, and friends; and show my appreciation for the help and support they and the community have given me. My objective is to help, encourage and inspire others to succeed in their undertaking! 

You are in Canada by the "power of your choice", and you have the power to choose whatever your heart wants in Canada. You can choose to continue to work in your field or you can follow some other old or new dream and make it come through. YOU choose what to focus on, and you are what you think about yourself. Your beliefs about the world, make your reality. Your words are your truth.

Choose to become highly successful IEP!!
I recommend you don't skip any of the steps presented here. Each of the steps is essential to developing an action plan that works.During our time together today, naturally, you'll begin experiencing excitement about what the future holds for you as you begin to understand how easily leverageable this information is for you.

Have fun and be happy now! See you next week.
Daniel

"No matter what situation you are in right now, there is a purpose to that situation…. By working with the specific conditions in front of you, you will begin to discover things about yourself that will give you clues to the next step. Your job will be to look, listen, feel, choose, and act." ~ Carol Adrienne

Links:
Failure to tap into immigrants' skills costs billions
Going to Canada
www.canadianimmigrant.ca
Working in Canada
Professional Networks for Immigrants
http://www.arec.ca/links/

http://www.parents-handbook.com/
http://www.live-your-dreams.biz/
http://www.mikelipkin.com/
http://dorin-radu.blogspot.com/
http://mihaescu.blogspot.com/

The First Quality: They are Future-Focused

They let go of who they used to be or what they used to do.
They leverage their past in search of their future.
They know they must reinvent themselves in their adopted country.
They know what they want and they're determined to get it.

Now, please take your time and go through these next five steps. Be clear and specific.

1. What do you need to let go of?
• Status/ Money/ Qualifications
• We hold on to many things that hold us back. If you want to succeed, you must accept that it is totally up to you. Sure, things outside of your control will affect your progress (see recent recession), but you need to accept it and, if possible, use it. One of the techniques that worked for me, it was meditating and Forgiveness. You need to drop your unnecessary baggage (Forgive yourself, forgive someone who's done a great wrong, your social/professional status in the former country, qualifications, money, etc.) Forgiveness is your choice - a very empowering choice - not a feeling, and it is incredibly healing.  Let Go! Breathe and relax. Just forgive and be happy!
2. Who do you want to be?
• Career/ Community
3. How are you going to market yourself?
• What are you going to do to position yourself?
• Are you communicating with influence? Develop resourceful internal states: confidence, curiosity, focus, enthusiasm, passion, openness. Smile!!
• Align yourself with a successful organization.
4. Who can help you?
• Whatever you look for, that's what you'll find!
• This is not a "Secret", it is basic psychology - what you focus on you tend to get more of - so, you need a well-formed, defined and developed outcome of what/who it is you want and focus on it.
5. How can you help them?
• If you want to be successful, be VALUABLE to people that are VALUABLE to you. Simple have a high, unconditional respect for the other person, and be genuinely curious about them and what you can do to help them.

“When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened.” ~ John M. Richardson, Jr. quotes