Success Tips Ruairi Spillane – Moving2Canada

About Me 2004: Business Studies degree from UL (Accounting & Finance) 2005: Masters in Financial Services 2006 – 2008: 3 unhappy years in finance Feb 2008: Got offered a finance role in Vancouver 2010: Tried to switch careers – struggled Jun 2011: Networked, headhunted by main competitor and offered the opportunity in sales I wanted Jul 2012: Quit a secure job to chase my dreams

About Moving2Canada Mar 2011: Moving to Vancouver Facebook page Sept 2011: Moving2Vancouver.ca Jul 2012: Quit a secure job to build a Canada-wide website and recruitment agency, Oct 2013: 35,000 visits per month, established recruitment agency for engineering and construction professionals

Why does this matter? Living in Canada since 2008 Changed careers in Canada (finance to sales) Assisting newcomers find employment since 2011 Set up my own online business in Canada Formal recruitment agency since July 2012 Setting up your own business is remarkably similar to job hunting in a new country What were the challenges I faced?

SWOT Analysis Objective: Being aware of your internal and external environment Strengths: (Internal) People skills Common sense Solid reputation of Irish people Accent International experience Modesty Strong education Opinionated

SWOT Analysis Weaknesses: (Internal) Accent – slow down and enunciate Lack of local (or any) experience Lack of ambition – Engrained to be grateful to have a job Modesty

Opportunities (External environment) Blank canvas – follow your dreams Strong economic environment Threats (External environment): Fear of flight – Employers prefer local candidates SWOT Analysis

How to find a job in Canada Step 1: Canadianize your Resume Step 2: Research the jobs market/Information interviews Step 3: Build your online presence Step 4: Build your contacts/Networking Step 5: Send targeted applications to open positions Step 6: Adjust/Improve the process

Using LinkedIn Free online networking tool allowing you to build connections before you land in Canada Garbage in, garbage out! Professional image, complete profile, keywords, join industry groups If you don’t promote yourself, then nobody will…

Immigration to Canada For those 35 years or younger, 10,000 International Experience Canada (IEC) working holiday visas will be released in Dec 2013 Do not pay any agency to fill out your forms! Over 35, then you need to get a job offer or else apply for residency

Things to remember! Network – build a team of people to help you find a job Be proactive, don’t wait for things to happen around you Do everything face to face or over the phone, where possible. Do not hide behind s No online job applications Meet at least two new people every day – drink lots of coffee Volunteer – it’s a great way to network and learn Remember, you write the script so making a fresh start is a great time to make a change Other things to remember….

Lose any sense of entitlement. You will be just another immigrant!

If something is not working, examine what you are doing instead of blaming external factors

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone… “What we fear doing most is usually what we most need to do.” - Tim Ferriss

Take action now Join our Network to be kept updated on immigration, employment and current events across Canada Getting Started Success Program – 15 page manual

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