Any advice for my unemployed friend?

[actuary]

Being a native English speaker, I never realized how hard it is for foreigners to get a job here.

I have a friend from Japan who is looking for a job. His situation is getting desperate. But nobody will hire him because his English is less than perfect. He has all the paperwork done so that he can work here legally. But he cannot even get a job at a clothing store or restaurant.

I've given him all sorts of advice, helped him with his resume and practiced interview techniques. I am out of ideas now. Do you guys have any suggestions?

[entity]

ask him to apply for a position in a canadian tire warehouse (i work there)
the pay starts at ~$12 (not the greatest, but I'm assuming that he isn't picky atm) and as long as you can understand what people tell you and know enough English to ask questions when you have one, you'll be fine.
they should be hiring a lot of people now as this is the time when a lot of students like me quit because classes have started.
i believe you can apply online at www.canadiantire.ca

[DACC]

What do you mean when he has his paperwork done? Does he have an employment authorization from Immigration Canada, and does it state for all employers? Or is he a permanent resident (formerly known as landed immigrant)?

If he just has only an employment authorization, there is an expiration date. Employers don't want to commit knowing there are no potential for permanent employment (training and all that).

If he's a permanent resident; he'll have to tough it out. It has been shown that recent immigrants, even with degrees and everything, are in fact discriminated for jobs.

[MrDisco]

^ afraid its true. he may have to consider meanial jobs and at the same time pick up classes to develop his communication skills.

[BadDrafter]

What is his eductional background? If he was an engineer where he came from he surely can draft, no talking required. Many aisan ex engineers go on to become draftsmen in this country because they don't have the language skills. One of my golfing buddies is from Korea and was a mechanical engineer in Seoul, but here he's just another drafter. He still makes a decent living, enough to support a family.

So what are his qualifications?

[actuary]

What is his eductional background? If he was an engineer where he came from he surely can draft, no talking required. Many aisan ex engineers go on to become draftsmen in this country because they don't have the language skills. One of my golfing buddies is from Korea and was a mechanical engineer in Seoul, but here he's just another drafter. He still makes a decent living, enough to support a family.

So what are his qualifications?

He studied math at Kyoto University (which he tells me is very good.) Despite his qualifications, his ideal job would be at a clothing or retail store. Something like the Gap or the Bay. He is not interested in making a lot of money - just enough to get by. He actually has a year and a bit of experience in high-end retail stores in Japan.

[actuary]

What do you mean when he has his paperwork done? Does he have an employment authorization from Immigration Canada, and does it state for all employers? Or is he a permanent resident (formerly known as landed immigrant)?

If he just has only an employment authorization, there is an expiration date. Employers don't want to commit knowing there are no potential for permanent employment (training and all that).

If he's a permanent resident; he'll have to tough it out. It has been shown that recent immigrants, even with degrees and everything, are in fact discriminated for jobs.

Good point. I am not sure whether he is a permanent resident or if he only has an employment authorization.

[boneca]

He could try applying for a job in a hospital...there are many positions there such as a cleaner, laundry attendant etc...that don't require much experience and/or contact with the public plus his english does not need to be "perfect".

[actuary]

Thanks for the suggestions, Boneca and Entity. I'll tell him to apply to these places.

[deep]

What do you mean when he has his paperwork done? Does he have an employment authorization from Immigration Canada, and does it state for all employers? Or is he a permanent resident (formerly known as landed immigrant)?

If he just has only an employment authorization, there is an expiration date. Employers don't want to commit knowing there are no potential for permanent employment (training and all that)....

If he's under 30 he would qualify under the Working Holiday program, and thus would not need to concern himself with the employment authorization. He's got the post-secondary edumacation bit worked out, so how old is he?

This is a dream program...cuts through all the red tape, makes Taxation a breeze. I went to Japan under it, and knew several friends from there that came back to Canada under the same program.

While this doesn't solve the problem of FINDING A JOB, it makes life easier in that you don't need an employer specific authorization. You can work for anyone. The catch is that you're supposed to be IN JAPAN when you apply...he may have to get family members to fake it for him.

http://www.cccj.or.jp/contents/services/servicesjwhp?language=english

...for more details than you can shake a stick at.

[Gee]

Why would someone with a mathematics background want to work in retail?

Umm, no offense, but shouldn't he be doing your job?

Actuary for an insurance company?

[setell]

I think other than keep applying there's not much I can suggest. I mean I'm having problems getting a job myself :( Being unemployed makes a person seriously doubt his/her qualifications but don't give up. Keep applying!

[actuary]

Why would someone with a mathematics background want to work in retail?

Umm, no offense, but shouldn't he be doing your job?

Actuary for an insurance company?

He has not written any of the SOA exams, a requirement for most actuarial firms. He could write and then work with me, (I am an actuary for a small pension consulting firm,) however, the earliest opportunity to write would be in November and I don't think he can wait that long.

Either way, he tells me he was forced to study by his parents and that he actually hates math. I don't know how anyone could hate math, but I respect his decision.

[coolspot]

But nobody will hire him because his English is less than perfect. He has all the paperwork done so that he can work here legally. But he cannot even get a job at a clothing store or restaurant.


On a 1 to 10 scale - how bad is his english?

1 = incomprehensible, 10 being flawless. A native english speaker, around a 8 - 10.

[Flyer]

Tutor university Japanese students...there's York, Ryerson, and U of T...

[Nyte]

I don't know how anyone could hate math, but I respect his decision.

I dont particularly like math either.

[83_gemini]

If anyone loves math, it would have to be an actuary! :D

[Sonbuster]

Being a native English speaker, I never realized how hard it is for foreigners to get a job here.

I have a friend from Japan who is looking for a job. His situation is getting desperate. But nobody will hire him because his English is less than perfect. He has all the paperwork done so that he can work here legally. But he cannot even get a job at a clothing store or restaurant.

I've given him all sorts of advice, helped him with his resume and practiced interview techniques. I am out of ideas now. Do you guys have any suggestions?

you friend doesn't have it as bad as me. i'm native speaker, a uni grad and still jobless :( . patience is golden.

[actuary]

On a 1 to 10 scale - how bad is his english?

1 = incomprehensible, 10 being flawless. A native english speaker, around a 8 - 10.

If I consider myself a 9, then he would be a 6. He can understand, read and write just fine, but has a medium to heavy Japanese accent.

[actuary]

he can teach Japanese

http://www.aitas.ca/

I had him take a look at this website. According to the Japanese version, tutors have to take a course in teaching offered by the school before they can tutor. My friend would have to pay money to take the course and then make his money back once he is 'licensed'. We both agreed that this seemed a little fishy.

However, I know there are many opportunities for teaching Japanese out there, so I told him to look at some of the universities and other private tutoring companies. I would imagine he could make a nice salary if he picked up a few private students. Thanks for the advice!

[chickenbones]

He studied math at Kyoto University (which he tells me is very good.) Despite his qualifications, his ideal job would be at a clothing or retail store. Something like the Gap or the Bay. He is not interested in making a lot of money - just enough to get by. He actually has a year and a bit of experience in high-end retail stores in Japan.

Get a masters in statistical finance or quantitative finance. No english required. :)

[coolspot]

If I consider myself a 9, then he would be a 6. He can understand, read and write just fine, but has a medium to heavy Japanese accent.

In that case retail might not be the best place for him ... because he has to communicate with customers.

However, with passable english, and a little luck, he could score a technical job.

[red_roses101]

He has not written any of the SOA exams, a requirement for most actuarial firms. He could write and then work with me, (I am an actuary for a small pension consulting firm,) however, the earliest opportunity to write would be in November and I don't think he can wait that long.

Either way, he tells me he was forced to study by his parents and that he actually hates math. I don't know how anyone could hate math, but I respect his decision.


Says the actuary... :lol: