Feeling Overwhelmed in SoCal

[DerickT]

I'm a Canadian (surprise, surprise) looking for work in Southern California. Specifically the Los Angeles area. I recently finished a contract position in Canada and have some time off to look for my next job. So I came down to Los Angeles to see if I can find any work here. The problem is that it's SO overwhelming looking fo a potential employer in this city. I've started applying for jobs through online job boards and sent out a few resumes to some companies I was interested in. Unfortunately, I have yet to recieve any replies. I'm just wondering if there are any resources or company listings that would help me find employers who routinely hire Canadians. This would be very helpful in focusing my search. Also, How easy is it for business grads to find work here? Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[pkennedy1990]

There is like NO support for Canadians in California, except for slightly in San Francisco, and then it's only because that city is notorious for being universally tolerant. We, to them are "aliens" and "foreigners" but even worse so because we sound like them. And they hate that. I guess it's like New Zealanders in Britain; they sound enough like the British to fit in but they are foreigners to the UK, and have to be here on visas just like Canadians and Aussies and Americans. Of course the difference is the level of violence in California and in the States against you if you're "different." I hope you don't have my experience, in that I was treated like being Canadian was some sort of betrayal to the United States, and like it could be beaten out of me or worse. As for working there, the Canadian Consulate office in Los Angeles should have some sort of list of Canadian-friendly businesses, they always have whatever the country they're in, allows them to have. What it will consist of is Canadian-run businesses, listings like Air Canada and the Royal Bank of Canada, and other Canadian things that are there or in the area. I wouldn't say the exact same thing applies in the USA but over here in the UK you almost have to be working for the Canadian Embassy itself or for Air Canada or be a journalist for the Toronto Star stationed here, or stationed in the military over here in order to work here, otherwise, for everything else they prefer their own citizens, even if it's a severe shortage work area in which they SAID they would take anyone from any country. The States and the UK are alike in that they never mean what they say in recruitment, that they'll take anyone from "any" country and get a work permit for that person, etc. The advantage that you have in the States is that you will at least sound pretty much like them, so it's not as if everything out of your mouth gets you accosted with "you're Canadian!" with whatever that means they're going to do to you. You can blend in there better than you can over here! There at least it'll be more like "you're one of us" with whatever way that entails that they are going to treat you.
My advice, after many years of suffering in that Evil Empire known as the States, is that if you really want to stay there just try to blend in. California doesn't ask for proof of citizenship for a drivers' license, and if you can get a Social Security number (theirs have the same number of digits as ours, just rearranged slightly) then you'll "pass" for American.

[Brenda]

"Of course the difference is the level of violence in California and in the States against you if you're "different." I hope you don't have my experience, in that I was treated like being Canadian was some sort of betrayal to the United States, and like it could be beaten out of me or worse."

Are you implying that you were beaten because you were Canadian? Do elaborate as I find that difficult to believe.

[fortheloveofgod]

No. Please. Don't encourage her.


Pkennedy, your posts are unrelentingly WHINY and BRATTY. Racism does exist (i have gotten my share of it too). Life is not fair, but you will not get a better opportunity to overcome these obstacles than in the States. Stop thinking your the 1st and only 'one' to have been mistreated. Nobody owes you anything in life.

Yes, you are a foreigner, so people will treat you differently. deal with it. fight it. but stop whining already!

[fortheloveofgod]

btw,

all your rants are based on a few personal incidents, which you use to paint a generally ugly picture of just about EVERTHING.

Isn't that what racists do?

[Michelle]

In response to the origional post, I am a Canadian as well and I spent 7 years in California before moving to the UK. I was actually in San Francisco so I can't tell you specifically about where to look for Canadian friendly businesses in SoCal. I moved over sight unseen and just hit the streets looking for a job all day every day! I did do some applying from Canada but like moving to any country I think it is much more difficult getting a job while you are outside of the area.
Is it possible for you to come don to LA for a while and look in person or even move over and take a chance. I did find it helpful to have an exact arrival date which was on my resume as well. Also, I don't know if you have any contacts there or a source for it but if you could get a copy of the Sunday paper each week you would have access to job listings as well as seeing what the climate looks like.

[DerickT]

Thank you for everyones responses so far.

Michelle, your suggestion of "hitting the streets" is precisely what I am doing at the moment. I've been here for the past 3 weeks or so looking for work and basically sending out a ton of resumes. Out of curiosity, what was your profession in California for 7 yrs?

The good news is that I had my first interview today! Whether I get the job or not, it was a huge morale booster

[Michelle]

Hi DerickT.
Congrats on your first interview, that does make some of the struggle worthwhile, doesn't it!
Well, I had a pretty good advantage when I moved to The Bay Area as I am a chef and northern CA is a hotbed for food prefessionals. Long boring story but I found a job fairly quickly once I arrived. That was because it is such a tight community that I was given a good recommendation by one person I tried out for who ended up not having anything available.
I know that doesn't help much though.
I hope your interview goes well and I am sure it's just the first of the good news!
Michelle