Asian newcomer to get an office job? (2013, restaurants)

[kanin]

Hi,

I am applying for International Experience Canada (aka Working Holiday) and have gone through all the checking, now waiting for the official document, hopefully. Under this scheme, I will be on a 12-month open work permit to work in Canada and I am planning to fly to Vancouver in March/April 2013.

I'm from HK, a chinese gal in her late 20s, holding a bachelor degree with honours in Linguistics and have been working in the communications/public relations field for 5 years. During my undergraduate years, I spent one year as an exchange student in Europe and after graduation I have been traveling quite a lot as a solo female. I am open-minded, adaptable and used to multicultural environment. Yet, I have never worked nor looked for a job overseas.

I know quite a lot of working holiday makers from Taiwan/ HK are employed as waiters/cashiers/physically-demanding posts in Asian restaurants and grocery stores. I do want to experience this kind of life, something I have never done at home. But in the long run, I target to be a permanent resident in Canada (if the policy allows), therefore, I would like to try looking for jobs with a more promising prospects.

So here I need your help in adjusting my expectation.

Will an Asian newcomer with such background be able to find an office job in administration/marketing/communications/tourism/retail? contract or temporary posts will be good enough.

I wanna know the market better, where my position in the market is. Please shed some light.

As for my language abilities, I am literate in English and Chinese (a bit of Japanese) and fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin (also a bit of Japanese). I supposed the chance in Vancouver will be higher over other cities. Please enlighten me if you have any counter suggestions.

Thank you so much!

-Kanin

[Artful Dodger]

You could try sorting through the job postings on jobbank.gc.ca. It would give you a better understanding where and how your skills would be in demand. Try selecting British Columbia, then the area of Vancouver/Surrey/Fraser Valley (BC) and then look under either Management or Business, Finance, Administration. Select all jobs and then check the requirements under postings that would interest you.

Just a note Vancouver/Surrey/Fraser Valley would include all areas of Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Coquitlam etc.

[telex_610]

You're not gonna have any real problem here, being an asian. If anything, the other asians might see you as competition. As for the PR card, get married or pop out a kid.