Very encouraging, thank you and may your heart be joyous mosky47:
Merry Christmas everyone. Been a while I posted on this platform.
I had wanted to post this before now but kept delaying.
I want to encourage everyone who awaits PPR, especially those in AVO. Last year (2018) was horrible for us as it seemed all our doors were closed. When we first heard about the EE thing we embraced it with joy. Everything went on smoothly: IELTS (one touch for me and spouse), ECA (for both of us was out within 6 weeks), medicals was a breeze. Then, we hit a brick wall when our application was sent to Accra visa office. We waited for 7 months before it was eventually approved.
Last Christmas was very depressing. New year's day this year was horrible. All we kept asking was 'How long, before we see Your righteous hand, how long before our mourning turns to shouts of joy?' (It's actually the lyrics of a song). The AVO seniors told us that shop would open between January and April or May. We kept praying and hoping. Truly, from around January they started giving PPRs. Ours came in April. Some AVOs with AOR of February even got PPR by April/May. (I'm sure this is encouraging to someone).
Now, we are in Canada. Last night, I had to sneak as Santa to drop Christmas gifts for my kids, and their joy this morning is heart-warming. Things are not perfect here, but I can say we are much happier here. I can say that the Lord led us here. It doesn't mean that our happiness depends on our location, though.
This is to everyone (not only AVO people) who feels discouraged about something (it may not even be the Express Entry stuff). Yours may be that you are looking for an admission, for a job, for a life-partner, for a child or for something that you can't share with us. Don't worry much (it's understandable if you worry); do the best you can do and trust the Lord to guide you. Keep trusting him. Hold on. Don't give up. Help is on the year.
May this Christmas give you more peace that is beyond human understanding. Cheers. |
Very practical post, thanks for sharing. remiaig:
Diary of a new working Canadian Permanent Resident . Hope someone finds this encouraging and useful
I have had to move about 5 times for work in less than 2 years (yes before anyone ask I am single, but I am a mobile, agile job seeker, I go where the job is, don’t believe in lamenting in one city when there are opportunities in others and I don’t have a car or drive). Lest I digress, at the beginning of the year I had a contract job for a really good organization I was hoping to get a permanent position with, despite the fact that I had worked for two different departments in the company, received very good reviews from the Managers I worked with and several internal job applications, I still had difficulty securing a permanent position.
During the first quarter of the year, I got an offer for a contract position with another company, with a salary, benefit and some vacation days in my opinion that seem too good to be true (had to show it to my Manager at the time to get a second opinion and be sure I am not been scammed, she reassured me that the company is a really good one even though not so well known). I know some maybe wondering why I was sceptical, all I can say is I’ve had a near bad experience in the past so I am unusually very cautious now. Also it’s not an industry I am familiar with, so I needed an unbiased second opinion from someone more experienced in the industry (my Manager at the time knew I was searching, she encouraged me to look outside the organization, also provided one of the references I used. Having a good working relationship with your boss/supervisor is very important). Money should not be the main/only motivation (some may disagree, that’s okay) for considering a job, for me it has never been, the opportunity for career growth and learning is key). When I applied for this job didn’t know what the salary was, even though I had done my research, the salary expectation I gave at my interview was about 25% lower than what I was offered. Even though I was pleasantly surprised, still this wasn’t a deciding factor.
With this new job offer starting at the beginning of the second quarter, meant moving again, I was just beginning to enjoy living in the City I was. I liked my landlords (very lovely family), wasn’t looking forward to searching for rentals. So I decided to commute for the first few months, this meant a total of about 4 hours of travel time each day. After the first two weeks of doing this, I didn’t need a prophet to tell me I have to move closer to work.
When I got the job, I told myself I will work so hard that by the end of my one year contract they will have no choice but to make me permanent. Little did I know. Having a good work ethic is very important, I know here unlike Naija, people are very particular about breaks, closing at the time they are expected to and only working overtime if paid for it or time in lieu. Personally, the amount of work determines how many extra hours I put in, so some/most days I start 30/45 minutes earlier, take half hour lunch or lunch at my desk while working, close 30/45 minutes later than my closing time never asked for overtime or discussed it with my supervisor, to be honest didn’t think anyone noticed (this may be because of the ex-naija bank worker in me where your offer letter states your hours are 8.30 - 5pm Monday to Friday, but you end up working from 7 -10pm sometimes later, and weekend also with no overtime pay). There was so much to learn and do, that those extra hours helped me achieve required tasks, so was happy to do it.
Some days there was lamentation of the spirit, my Mom became my unpaid therapist. Having a good support system outside of work is very important. Even if you don’t have family here, try calling home as often as possible, cos sometimes talking to trusted family and friends help to put things in perspective . I don’t have family here but I make a conscious effort to call home daily or every other day and that really helps especially days when work has been so hectic and I just feel like screaming but can’t do it at work so people don’t think I am loosing it.
After a really exhausting year, and been challenged with tasks I didn’t think I was capable of doing, with 5 months remaining in my contract, I was offered a permanent position. My supervisor had been hinting that he was planning to do this but I was too busy to even think about it. You would think I will be jumping for joy, but I was uncertain for so many reasons, and hoped that during the Christmas holiday I would have time to reflect before I received an official offer. Alas was I mistaken, the offer came in earlier than I thought.
This year has taught and reinforced certain things I know. Everyone’s path is different, the fact that it worked one way for someone doesn’t mean same will happen to you. Be open to change and opportunities, the fear of the unknown may lead to stagnation. Starting over in a new country is tough but be focused and remind yourself each day why you made the decision to move and be determined to make a success of it. Work ethics, work ethics, I started the job with an end goal of becoming permanent but as I progressed daily, it became more of learning as much as possible, giving a 150% each day (this is actually one of the statement on my cover letter) that I completely forgot about my end goal. Don’t give up, try try and try again. Have a good support system, doesn’t have to be physically in Canada. Listen and learn from people’s experiences. Find out what works for you, this may mean falling, but stand up, dust yourself and keep moving on. Celebrate small victories, sometimes the daily battles and struggles make us forget the blessings. Try to enjoy each day and take it as it comes (still learning how to do this sha �). Have I made mistakes, yes but it’s okay, learnt from them and move on. Above all trust God, Being confident of this very thing that, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it...(Philippians 1:6). Happy Holidays everyone, merry Christmas, wishing you all a fruitful and wonderful 2020. |
Travel › Re: Canadian Express Entry/federal Skilled Workers Program - Connect Here Part 9 by Zinger19: 11:02pm On Dec 25, 2019
