Warning! Want to come to Canada? Be a little crazy
For many people all over the world, coming to Canada is a dream. It is a life changer for you, your family and for generations of your family to come. In fact, according to the Economist, there is no better place on the planet to live in than Canada. For 2015, based on a number of measures such as safety, cost and livability, the economist ranked Toronto and Montreal as the two best places in the world to live.
Yet, some people who have made it to Canada like to complain about how difficult things are in this country. They say they want to go back home. Of course, they rarely do. So why is there such a disconnect? How can Canada be the best and the most difficult country at the same time?
It’s definitely not the weather. For that we have coats, hats and scarves! It all comes down to the need to be a little crazy, and it starts from the moment you are applying for a job overseas.
Ever heard of a Giga Coaster? A Giga Coaster is a full on roller coaster with a drop of over 300 feet. There are only five in the world, and here in Canada we have one appropriately called Leviathan. Riding a Giga Coaster is a mind-altering experience.
First, you look up and see a structure so high that you cannot imagine ever getting onto the coaster. Then you hear the screams and the pleas for help of people on the ride. Finally, you see the exhilaration and joy of the people who have just finished the adventure.
You also realize something else while waiting in line for a Giga Coaster. Not everyone has what it takes to ride a Giga Coaster. For every person getting on even more people exit the line up. Eventually, you realize that everyone getting on the Giga Coaster has something in common. They all have passion, enthusiasm and are just a little bit crazy. These are the same attributes you will need to find a job and immigrate to Canada. Perhaps these attributes sound cliché and excessively used. However, when you see as many international candidates as we do, certain trends begin to emerge.
The first is that not everyone displays passion about starting a new life in Canada. This may be surprising to you, especially if you actually are passionate about a better future. If so, wonderful and move to the front of the line! However, we cannot tell you how many highly qualified candidates exit the Giga Coaster line up simply because they show zero passion to the employer. You can’t fake passion, but going through the motions and cruising through the process is a terminal mistake in the international job market.
Second, it is amazing how enthusiastic people find a way to get to the front of the line whether it is for the opening of a movie, getting the latest iPhone, or for an international job. Overseas employers value enthusiasm and notice when people move fast. Hiring someone from overseas can be an uncertain process, so it matters who applies first, how quickly people to respond to emails, and when candidates are available for interviews. Many times first in gets the overseas job. In fact, sometimes the job is filled before you even apply. Never let that happen.
Finally, just like there are a million reasons not to ride a Giga Coaster, there are as many reasons not to fully commit to finding an overseas job. The jobs available are beneath you, overseas people are looked down upon, the weather is horrible, people are going to steal your money, and your chances are tiny. We are not here to say that getting a job in Canada will be easy. Trying to come to Canada can be a bit crazy, but riding a Giga Coaster is a bit crazy as well.
In fact, you probably have to be a bit crazy to keep moving along that line-up, listening to everyone’s fears and doubts while dealing with your own, until finally you are strapped in and on your way to an exhilarating experience.
Being a bit crazy means having a certain attitude that you are going to get on that Giga Coaster no matter what. It does not mean that you are reckless. You still strap on your seatbelt, take off your hat, and make sure you have not just eaten lunch. But when the ticket taker first sees you, he knows right away if you are going to make it on that ride. You must realize that the same thing goes for overseas employers and international candidates making it in Canada.