Hi all
I have not arrived in Ontario yet, I shall be there by 1st March. This has all taken effect so quickly. I was offered this job two weeks ago to start on the 1st March. I am leaving everything behind here in South Africa and just going. I have been living in a black hole for awhile leaving my husband a year ago and trying to start a new life. (Don't worry I am not kidnapping my kids and running away - everything is legal and everyone knows ). I have been looking for a job in South Africa for a year now. I even have a degree and am studying my honours but still no employment. It's really sad I tell you. But then this job came up in Canada and is such a good opportunity I could never turn it down. We are all looking for a new start and for me to be able to provide overseas education for my children would be wonderful so they can have a good future I am happy to do it.
BUT I know nothing about this place and I know no-one. I need lots of information from you guys out there who have already made the change. So I am here to make some friends.
Also this job offer from Wal-Mart seems too good to be true, they provide accommodation even. I am battling to comprehend all of this. I just need someone to talk to. I have been given a five year contract.
I'll end off now before I tell you my entire life . I am very excited and just need some new friends right now.
Thanks for listening . I love these icons
Debi

well done girl! I know nothing about Canada but good luck with your new life.

You gotta try it! Good luck to you

But one thing to bear in mind, and I dont know how true it is, is that Wal-Mart have a bad reputation for treating their staff in the US. Theres even been a TV documentary on it by some guy in the States. May of course be totally differemt in Canada. But it gets you there, and then you have the option of looking at other things if you dont like the job.

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Hi Debi - welcome to the forums here.

It all sounds very exciting, but how exactly did you find this job? It sounds a bit sudden, and I have to wonder a bit how they are managing to get your visa and travel set up and organized in such a short space of time.

There's an old expression in the US (and in Canada, I suspect, too) that "if something seems too good to be true, it's likely that it is." Unfortunately WalMart has had problems in the US over subcontractors hiring undocumented foreigners in some of their stores, and it sounds a bit unusual for them to be providing accommodation, not to mention a five year contract. I'm not saying this isn't a marvelous opportunity, just to be very careful and make sure everything is as it seems to be.

Are you going to be working at one of the stores, or at the company headquarters (in Mississauga)? What kind of work will you be doing? How did you hear of this job?

Make sure you get all your questions answered before you go. There are a few scams out there and you don't want to be stuck so far from home in a bad situation.
Cheers,
Bev

You gotta try it! Good luck to you

But one thing to bear in mind, and I dont know how true it is, is that Wal-Mart have a bad reputation for treating their staff in the US. Theres even been a TV documentary on it by some guy in the States. May of course be totally differemt in Canada. But it gets you there, and then you have the option of looking at other things if you dont like the job.
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Oh dear, thanks for the feedback on that one. I had no idea. I will bear it in mind. Perhaps that is why they are looking for foreigners to work there?

Hi Debi - welcome to the forums here.

It all sounds very exciting, but how exactly did you find this job? It sounds a bit sudden, and I have to wonder a bit how they are managing to get your visa and travel set up and organized in such a short space of time.

There's an old expression in the US (and in Canada, I suspect, too) that "if something seems too good to be true, it's likely that it is." Unfortunately WalMart has had problems in the US over subcontractors hiring undocumented foreigners in some of their stores, and it sounds a bit unusual for them to be providing accommodation, not to mention a five year contract. I'm not saying this isn't a marvelous opportunity, just to be very careful and make sure everything is as it seems to be.

Are you going to be working at one of the stores, or at the company headquarters (in Mississauga)? What kind of work will you be doing? How did you hear of this job?

Make sure you get all your questions answered before you go. There are a few scams out there and you don't want to be stuck so far from home in a bad situation.
Cheers,
Bev





Well I must admit we say here too that if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is, but then it all seems so legitimate. I have such a lot of documentation and I also have had my lawyer look at the contract (because I was suspicious) as well as a family member who is a lawyer.
I must admit I do have misgivings of my own but I want an opportunity so desperately I do not want to pass it up.
My brother recently relocated to Iran and has been given accommodation, so I didn't give that a second thought, but his contract is two years. I also thought that a 5 year contract was quite a long one and was only glad to be given it, but yet again "too good to be true".
Please help with advice on this one, I do not want to make a mistake but I do not want to look a gift horse in the mouth either.

I also have been offered, what I think, is rather a high salary USD8,725.00 per month after tax. Would you mind giving me your opinion on that too?

Also what if I did take up this offer, go over to Canada, hate the job and resign. Would it be easy for me to find alternative employment there? The job is with the head office in Mississuaga.

I found the job from an internet search website for international jobs. I have been doing that with local websites and all those jobs have been legitimate, I have been for a few intereviews etc. With this one when I applied I received a message back from the search website and then Wal-Mart sent me an e-mail and then I had a ton of questions to answer to scan in and e-mail them just like a job interview. No personal details of mine have been asked for whatsoever except for a passport number to obtain the visa.
Am I being stupid??

The job I have been hired to do is as HR Assistant to the HR Manager.

What other things should I make sure are "on the level" before I leave here?


Thank you so much for your reply.

Debi

Oh I found the job from an internet search website for international jobs. I have been doing that with local websites and all those jobs are legitimate, I have been for a few intereviews etc. With this one when I applied I received a message back from the search website and then Wal-Mart sent me an e-mail and then I had a ton of questions to answer to scan in and e-mail them just like a job interview. No personal details of mine have been asked for whatsoever except for a passport number to obtain the visa.
Am I being stupid??

Goodness, I am sorry Bev, I keep rereading your e-mail and seeing new questions. The job I have been hired to do is as HR Assistant to the HR Manager.

Thank you so much for your input.
Debi

Hi Debi,
I'm honestly not trying to spook you or anything. It sounds like you've been doing the right sort of thing - having the paperwork checked out by a lawyer and all.

It's odd that they seem only to need your passport number to get you a visa. You may want to read over the section on visas for the Canadian High Commission in South Africa Canadian High Commission in South Africa :: Visa and Immigration :: Immigration Main Menu
They seem to indicate that a work visa will take at least 4 weeks to get - and they say not to book any flights until you have the visa in hand.

Unfortunately, without knowing what sort of visa they are applying for, it's impossible to know what your status would be should the job not work out for any reason. Some visas are tied to the job, while others are more general.

The other thing I'd check on is - do you have any contacts at WalMart in the office where you will be working? Even just the name of your new boss with a phone or e-mail address? I can't imagine hiring someone from such a distance without at least making a phone call to say "welcome on board" or "do you have any questions". Maybe you could make contact just to say "thank you" and introduce yourself, saying you're looking forward to working with them and to ask about what sort of visa they are trying to get.

You're right - the salary does sound rather high, and I wonder about them quoting it in US dollars rather than Canadian dollars. Have you had to pay any money to the internet agency in relation to this job or getting the visa? That's the one big red flag I would watch out for.

In any event, I hope this is a legit deal because it sounds marvelous.
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

No I have not paid for anything and they said they would book my tickets over there too.

I think I will take your advice and make that "Thank you" phone call on Monday.

Thank you very much and I will keep in contact on this site.

Debi