AZeD1:
Point to note as regarding Tech jobs:

Going to top schools helps because this companies actually have recruiting events in this tops schools so there's a higher chance of a human being going through your resume.

Culled from http://steve-yegge..com/2007/09/

I am not a techie but just following this conversation and getting a bit confused. Schools matter or they don't? It seems as if on one hand, you are saying it doesn't matter and in the next breath, it actually does. Or does 'attending top schools' matter when you're younger and pushing your educational achievements but ceases to be relevant when you are older and pushing your experience? And by 'younger' or 'older', I mean in terms of experience and not age.

AZeD1:

As for the bold, the answer is NO. When it comes to promotion, your work along with company politics will speak for you.

Thanks. Learnt new stuffs today as per recruitment for IT (software) jobs.

salford:

Thanks. Learnt new stuffs today as per recruitment for IT (software) jobs.

And that was AZeD1 at his best ...

Bsbabe:

I am not a techie but just following this conversation and getting a bit confused. Schools matter or they don't? It seems as if on one hand, you are saying it doesn't matter and in the next breath, it actually does. Or does 'attending top schools' matter when you're younger and pushing your educational achievements but ceases to be relevant when you are older and pushing your experience? And by 'younger' or 'older', I mean in terms of experience and not age.

I might not be the best to answer this, as I am not in IT, but I feel school highly matters.
A school would make it easier to get a job than relying on just talents/knowledge.

The school markets you to employers either via coop programs or grad recruitment events; hence, you would have been given an edge over someone who has to rely on referral to break into the league.

Another point is that. When candidate A and candidate B both have similar knowlege/skill set (experienced folks), HR would have to eventually fall back on a factor to select a candidate. Academic qualification would likely be the deciding factor in going for one candidate over the other just like the example I gave at my work place.

salford:

I might not be the best to answer this, as I am not in IT, but I feel school highly matters.
A school would make it easier to get a job than relying on just talents/knowledge.

Another point is that. When candidate A and candidate B both have similar knowlege, HR would have to eventually fall back on a factor to select a candidate. Academic qualification would likely be the deciding factor in going for one candidate over the other just like the example I gave at my work place.

My sentiments exactly so I am trying to understand what AZeD1 was explaining about the tech industry and I got a bit lost because he said Google, Amazon & Co seem to have thrown out the book when it comes to recruiting based on academic qualifications and then later went on to say 'attending top schools matter' so basically I guess I am trying to clarify which one it is. Academics matter or they don't

Bsbabe:

I am not a techie but just following this conversation and getting a bit confused. Schools matter or they don't? It seems as if on one hand, you are saying it doesn't matter and in the next breath, it actually does. Or does 'attending top schools' matter when you're younger and pushing your educational achievements but ceases to be relevant when you are older and pushing your experience? And by 'younger' or 'older', I mean in terms of experience and not age.

They do and they don't.
Explanation:

The big companies in Tech (Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, AirBnB, et al) have recruiting events in top ivy league schools so by virtue of attending those schools, you get to attend this events were you actually meet a recruiter in person as opposed to filling forms online that would be first screened by an automated system.
So schools matter in the sense of being in the right place at the right time and once you have one of this big companies on your resume, it becomes easier to interview at the other big ones.

Once you are out of school, it becomes what you know and who you know(referral is a very potent factor in Tech companies) and luck in getting your resume in the hands of the right person.

Like I have shared earlier, I got my current job via reddit (I created a post with my resume after removing all personal information) and a couple of companies reached out to me.

AZeD1:

They do and they don't.
Explanation:

The big companies in Tech (Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, AirBnB, et al) have recruiting events in top ivy league schools so by virtue of attending those schools, you get to attend this events were you actually meet a recruiter in person as opposed to filling forms online that would be first screened by an automated system.
So schools matter in the sense of being in the right place at the right time and once you have one of this big companies on your resume, it becomes easier to interview at the other big ones.

Once you are out of school, it becomes what you know and who you know(referral is a very potent factor in Tech companies) and luck in getting your resume in the hands of the right person.

Like I have shared earlier, I got my current job via reddit (I created a post with my resume after removing all personal information) and a couple of companies reached out to me.

Gorrit

salford:

I might not be the best to answer this, as I am not in IT, but I feel school highly matters.
A school would make it easier to get a job than relying on just talents/knowledge.

The school markets you to employers either via coop programs or grad recruitment events; hence, you would have been given an edge over someone who has to rely on referral to break into the league.

Another point is that. When candidate A and candidate B both have similar knowlege/skill set (experienced folks), HR would have to eventually fall back on a factor to select a candidate. Academic qualification would likely be the deciding factor in going for one candidate over the other just like the example I gave at my work place.

Bsbabe:

My sentiments exactly so I am trying to understand what AZeD1 was explaining about the tech industry and I got a bit lost because he said Google, Amazon & Co seem to have thrown out the book when it comes to recruiting based on academic qualifications and then later went on to say 'attending top schools matter' so basically I guess I am trying to clarify which one it is. Academics matter or they don't

In tech companies, Engineers make the decisions not HR so when it comes to hiring, Engineers send the candidates to HR.

When it comes to Candidates with same skill set and knowledge, the deciding factor is usually ** drum roll ** who the hiring manager(usually an engineer) would rather have a beer with.

That last bit might be surprising but personality is usually a big factor in tech hiring.

Another point to note is that a whole industry has sprung up around passing tech interviews. There's
http://www.crackingthecodinginterview.com/
https://elementsofprogramminginterviews.com/

and many more. You can read more about tech interviews here
https://triplebyte.com/blog/how-to-pass-a-programming-interview

PS: This is about purely tech firms (Amazon, Google, Microsoft et al) It would most likely not apply to working in tech departments of banks and other firms.

That being said, I have an extra copy of cracking the code interview and if anyone would like it, let me know. (preferably Ottawa based) because of shipping.

AZeD1:



In tech companies, Engineers make the decisions not HR so when it comes to hiring, Engineers send the candidates to HR.

When it comes to Candidates with same skill set and knowledge, the deciding factor is usually ** drum roll ** who the hiring manager(usually an engineer) would rather have a beer with.

That last bit might be surprising but personality is usually a big factor in tech hiring.

I am aware. When I say HR, i meant the decision maker. i.e. whoever the candidate would usually be reporting to somewhere along the ladder.
In my work place - a crown cooperation, when candidates match skill for skill, the manager would have to go for the one with the higher academic grade. We nor get mago mago for that one o. But the Manager would have ideally given his candidate more points if he was a referral or known to him.
But if he/she does not know the candidates. Hiring manager and HR would select the higher academic grade if candidates have equal points from interview assesment. I take part in recruitments.

but like you mentioned. tech companies are different.

This was an interesting topic. kudos to all contributors...
Discussions like this are better than the occasional cats and dogs fights/relationships on this thread

salford:
This was an interesting topic. kudos to all contributors...
Discussions like this are better than the occasional cats and dogs fights/relationships on this thread

Wao!! This is an amazing forum. I wish i discovered it earlier.

OK. I'm just few weeks in Canada and trying to settle down and at the same time confused on the best line of action for me. I came in on PR with a wife and 2 kids age 4 years. I have been reading a lot trying to get insights on how to navigate in terms of career and jobs.

My wife wants to do a diploma in nursing starting Sept 2019 and she is about applying. However, from what i am seeing in my job search in the last 3 weeks, it seems to me that getting a higher role will be difficult at this time. By the way,i have B.Eng mechanical engineering and all my work experience has been in utilities management in manufacturing companies. In fact, i think i want to go back to school and do a one year college certificate program next year and the two courses that are coming into my mind is Power Engineering and Process Quality Engineering.

Please seniors in the house, i have some few questions

1. What do you think about the two courses in terms of jobs from what you have seen so far in Canada?
2. I read we can get an OSAP loan. However, if we get the OSAP funds and I and my wife get into school at the same time on full time basis,is it possible to work part time during the period to keep going for the period considering we have two 4 year old boys in JK? Is this doable? or should i wait for her to finish first or i go first?
What will be the best way to go about this because we do not want to get stuck in low key jobs.

AZeD1, you just won my respect. I like people who stand up for vulnerable people.

how many months does pnp take?

sentra05:

Wao!! This is an amazing forum. I wish i discovered it earlier.

OK. I'm just few weeks in Canada and trying to settle down and at the same time confused on the best line of action for me. I came in on PR with a wife and 2 kids age 4 years. I have been reading a lot trying to get insights on how to navigate in terms of career and jobs.

My wife wants to do a diploma in nursing starting Sept 2019 and she is about applying. However, from what i am seeing in my job search in the last 3 weeks, it seems to me that getting a higher role will be difficult at this time. By the way,i have B.Eng mechanical engineering and all my work experience has been in utilities management in manufacturing companies. In fact, i think i want to go back to school and do a one year college certificate program next year and the two courses that are coming into my mind is Power Engineering and Process Quality Engineering.

Please seniors in the house, i have some few questions

1. What do you think about the two courses in terms of jobs from what you have seen so far in Canada?
2. I read we can get an OSAP loan. However, if we get the OSAP funds and I and my wife get into school at the same time on full time basis,is it possible to work part time during the period to keep going for the period considering we have two 4 year old boys in JK? Is this doable? or should i wait for her to finish first or i go first?
What will be the best way to go about this because we do not want to get stuck in low key jobs.

if you want to go the power engineering route, Calgary catholic immigrant society CCIS, has a power engineering program for new immigrant with degree in mechanical engineering. its a bridging program pathway for power engineers it is done in affiliation with SAIT, to get 5th and 4th class power engineering diploma and certificate of competence. i think you should visit CCIS in downtown, Calgary and make more findings.
Its completely free and you will be paid every month for 9 months during the programs. people have had good successes with jobs after the program. that is also largely dependent on you!. As expected it is highly competitive, you have to write exams and interviews to get in. But nothing is impossible.


But for overall job prospect for these courses...i leave that to our seniors here to answer, maternal, salford.

Hello all, My Aor is September 17th I got a medical passed mail and biometrics request on the 11th of October on the 12th October I got a mail that my account is updated but when I logged into my application I didn't see anything, has anyone experienced such in his or her application.
Also note that I have an active biometrics which I did last year when I applied for study visa it was also updated on the day I got the biometrics letter.
(Modify) (Quote) (Report) (Share

ijeaify:
Hello all, My Aor is September 17th I got a medical passed mail and biometrics request on the 11th of October on the 12th October I got a mail that my account is updated but when I logged into my application I didn't see anything, has anyone experienced such in his or her application.
Also note that I have an active biometrics which I did last year when I applied for study visa it was also updated on the day I got the biometrics letter.
(Modify) (Quote) (Report) (Share

Wrong thread. Follow the link attached.

https://www.nairaland.com/3999848/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled/1#59645806

Good afternoon everyone

So I have a masters from NOUN and a BSc from University of Benin, I'm 25 years old and have 3years experience in the financial sector, Please is the NOUN certificate recognised? Can I use it for my ECA since that's where I have my highest qualification from?

Nellz19:
Good afternoon everyone

So I have a masters from NOUN and a BSc from University of Benin, I'm 25 years old and have 3years experience in the financial sector, Please is the NOUN certificate recognised? Can I use it for my ECA since that's where I have my highest qualification from?

Wrong thread to ask this question. But yes you can use NOUN for your ECA. For further questions, please follow the link below -

https://www.nairaland.com/3999848/canadian-express-entry-federal-skilled/1#59645806

sentra05:

Wao!! This is an amazing forum. I wish i discovered it earlier.

OK. I'm just few weeks in Canada and trying to settle down and at the same time confused on the best line of action for me. I came in on PR with a wife and 2 kids age 4 years. I have been reading a lot trying to get insights on how to navigate in terms of career and jobs.

My wife wants to do a diploma in nursing starting Sept 2019 and she is about applying. However, from what i am seeing in my job search in the last 3 weeks, it seems to me that getting a higher role will be difficult at this time. By the way,i have B.Eng mechanical engineering and all my work experience has been in utilities management in manufacturing companies. In fact, i think i want to go back to school and do a one year college certificate program next year and the two courses that are coming into my mind is Power Engineering and Process Quality Engineering.

Please seniors in the house, i have some few questions

1. What do you think about the two courses in terms of jobs from what you have seen so far in Canada?
2. I read we can get an OSAP loan. However, if we get the OSAP funds and I and my wife get into school at the same time on full time basis,is it possible to work part time during the period to keep going for the period considering we have two 4 year old boys in JK? Is this doable? or should i wait for her to finish first or i go first?
What will be the best way to go about this because we do not want to get stuck in low key jobs.

Much depends on you. As an Engineer, you have a variety of career paths options available. You could follow your PEng route or take short employment ready courses like tge Power/Process you mentioned.

In addition to nozzle's contribution. CCIS is good but it is highly conpetitive so you game has to be strong. To give you an idea of the competition, out of about over 400 to 500 applications received per year from people with engineering discipline and experience, they then admit about 15 after exams and interviews. The two Nigerians i know that went through the program were able to achieve moderate success. Like you, one if them has a mech eng degree. I used moderate because they get contracts and term jobs which are not stable. I think this is so because some top employers would often specify that: "graduating from particular technical schools would be an asset".

Sait/nait/lakeland/Keyano: These schools have better power programs, more industry links, excellent alumni networks, and they get you on a higher class after grad. 5 Nigerian trained engineers I know that went through SAIT had high success in the job market. 4 ended up working for oil companies up north of Edmonton while one took a job at a manufacturing firm in the city. Overall Keyano has the best program as the college is in the heart of the oil sands region, and is currently sponsored by ConocoPhilips and partnered with a consortium of Nexen Inc, Suncor Energy Inc, Syncrude Canada Ltd, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Sait and Nait have partnership with Cenovous and spartan controls, Lakeland is partnered with Husky Oil.

However, from your post, it seems that you are in Ontario since you mentioned OSAP. I am not sure of how much in-demand Power Engineers/Process Operators are over there. I would advice you talk to the school you are thinking of attending to discuss about their graduates sucecess rate or better still seek out grads from those schools on the web to discuss about their success.

As per your wife, she can't go wrong with Nursing especially when it comes to getting jobs outside big centres.

Having both parent attend school is doable. Seen several here. Student aid would consider your applications for aid seperately. You can work part time. How you manage your time and finances is up to you. Other option people consider is for parents to attend school one at a time. This option gives you a lower debt load while in school. You are lucky your kids are 4 years old. They are close to starting a full day school.

Nozzle:



if you want to go the power engineering route, Calgary catholic immigrant society CCIS, has a power engineering program for new immigrant with degree in mechanical engineering. its a bridging program pathway for power engineers it is done in affiliation with SAIT, to get 5th and 4th class power engineering diploma and certificate of competence. i think you should visit CCIS in downtown, Calgary and make more findings.
Its completely free and you will be paid every month for 9 months during the programs. people have had good successes with jobs after the program. that is also largely dependent on you!. As expected it is highly competitive, you have to write exams and interviews to get in. But nothing is impossible.


But for overall job prospect for these courses...i leave that to our seniors here to answer, maternal, salford.

Thanks. I landed in waterloo region

salford1:

Much depends on you. As an Engineer, you have a variety of career paths options available. You could follow your PEng route or take short employment ready courses like tge Power/Process you mentioned.

In addition to nozzle's contribution. CCIS is good but it is highly conpetitive so you game has to be strong. To give you an idea of the competition, out of about over 400 to 500 applications received per year from people with engineering discipline and experience, they then admit about 15 after exams and interviews. The two Nigerians i know that went through the program were able to achieve moderate success. Like you, one if them has a mech eng degree. I used moderate because they get contracts and term jobs which are not stable. I think this is so because some top employers would often specify that: "graduating from particular technical schools would be an asset".

Sait/nait/lakeland/Keyano: These schools have better power programs, more industry links, excellent alumni networks, and they get you on a higher class after grad. 5 Nigerian trained engineers I know that went through SAIT had high success in the job market. 4 ended up working for oil companies up north of Edmonton while one took a job at a manufacturing firm in the city. Overall Keyano has the best program as the college is in the heart of the oil sands region, and is currently sponsored by ConocoPhilips and partnered with a consortium of Nexen Inc, Suncor Energy Inc, Syncrude Canada Ltd, and Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. Sait and Nait have partnership with Cenovous and spartan controls, Lakeland is partnered with Husky Oil.

However, from your post, it seems that you are in Ontario since you mentioned OSAP. I am not sure of how much in-demand Power Engineers/Process Operators are over there. I would advice you talk to the school you are thinking of attending to discuss about their graduates sucecess rate or better still seek out grads from those schools on the web to discuss about their success.

As per your wife, she can't go wrong with Nursing especially when it comes to getting jobs outside big centres.

Having both parent attend school is doable. Seen several here. Student aid would consider your applications for aid seperately. You can work part time. How you manage your time and finances is up to you. Other option people consider is for parents to attend school one at a time. This option gives you a lower debt load while in school. You are lucky your kids are 4 years old. They are close to starting a full day school.

Thank you salford. I am in Ontario and i am looking at Conestoga college

TheCongo2:


Generally with 2K you will find a very good brand new fridge. But if you are renting you don't have to worry about a fridge given that any appartement for rent should be equiped with a fridge by law.

Haaa over 600k?
What about these ones sold in Naija at 100k?

Contumely:


Haaa over 600k?
What about these ones sold in Naija at 100k ?

Used or brand new?

TheCongo2:

Used or brand new?

brand new. Thermocool LG etc

I guess it depends on what you want. LG sef get +N1m fridges. Check on bestbuy.ca

Contumely:


brand new.
Thermocool
LG
etc

Hello everyone. @glitteringstar @Bsbabe @salford1 @Azed1 really good talk!

AZeD1

Yes, Google, Apple and some other companies have decided to stop requiring candidates to have a college degree but that does not mean people who go to school to study Computer Science, Maths and related engineering and technology degrees for the IT/Tech industry have suddenly become unneeded. I agree that there are plenty of jobs in the tech industry that you do not need a college degree for; but there are some jobs that you must have at least a college degree to even be able to function at or comprehend.

Heck, I know someone who just got hired by a Canadian firm through VanHack as a JavaScript developer and would be migrating to Canada from Nigeria. Now, that is the traditional example of the kind of job that you do not need a college degree for. But you can't, in all honesty, tell me this kind of person who doesn't have a deep theoretical knowledge of computer science and mathematics would go ahead and write a compiler or even invent a programming language or lead the research that would power the next generation of self-driving cars and artificial intelligence etc.

You should also be reminded that many big tech companies have R& units and departments that they use as tools to drive innovation and technology forward. Do you, in all honesty, believe someone can function as a researcher in these companies, pushing the limits of technology and attempting things that have never been done without a college degree? Would someone without a college degree invent that navigation system that Space X rockets use to land automatically, refill, then take off again to attach itself back to the shuttle before taking that final lap into space? Would someone without a college degree lead the research that would invent the next-gen microchip that Apple will use to power its products?

So, while you can get a job without a college degree in the tech industry, there are jobs that you can't even comprehend just because you don't have that same college degree.

salford1:

Much depends on your choice or what you feel you would enjoy most. Another factor is the time you are willing to put into the career change i.e time spent in school. 1 year, 2 years, 3 years or 4 years.

In terms of job availability, It is easier to get health related jobs especially if you are willing to relocate to small cities and towns.

Depending on what type of healthcare job, pay can vary widely too. I dont know anything about firefighters as a career choice or how to go about getting into the path.

Ok. Thank you.

I was considering going for a Nursing or HCA certificate in either Norquest or Keyano. Which would you advise?

simiolu1:
AZeD1

Yes, Google, Apple and some other companies have decided to stop requiring candidates to have a college degree but that does not mean people who go to school to study Computer Science, Maths and related engineering and technology degrees for the IT/Tech industry have suddenly become unneeded. I agree that there are plenty of jobs in the tech industry that you do not need a college degree for; but there are some jobs that you must have at least a college degree to even be able to function at or comprehend.

Heck, I know someone who just got hired by a Canadian firm through VanHack as a JavaScript developer and would be migrating to Canada from Nigeria. Now, that is the traditional example of the kind of job that you do not need a college degree for. But you can't, in all honesty, tell me this kind of person who doesn't have a deep theoretical knowledge of computer science and mathematics would go ahead and write a compiler or even invent a programming language or lead the research that would power the next generation of self-driving cars and artificial intelligence etc.

You should also be reminded that many big tech companies have R& units and departments that they use as tools to drive innovation and technology forward. Do you, in all honesty, believe someone can function as a researcher in these companies, pushing the limits of technology and attempting things that have never been done without a college degree? Would someone without a college degree invent that navigation system that Space X rockets use to land automatically, refill, then take off again to attach itself back to the shuttle before taking that final lap into space? Would someone without a college degree lead the research that would invent the next-gen microchip that Apple will use to power its products?

So, while you can get a job without a college degree in the tech industry, there are jobs that you can't even comprehend just because you don't have that same college degree.

1) I never said people who went to school are not needed.
2) You do not need to go to school to learn compiler theory, you can learn that from YouTube.

My post talked about getting a job in Software Development /Web development and there are folks who are thinking of going back to school just to break into the software/web development industry.

My post was just to address that and like I said earlier, some folks learn better in formal settings and I encourage those people to go to school.