Moving to a new country can be challenging, especially when the language, the culture and the laws are unfamilar to you. Re-establishing your career can take a few months or a few years depending on many factors:

• Career Goal:  What type of position and level of responsibility are you willing to accept?   You will may need to start at a lower skill level job than you had in your home country or even make a major shift in your career.
• Attitude:  How positive are you and how well do you present yourself to others?   Employers look for people who are optimistic and happy.
• Qualifications: Are your academic credentials and work experience comparable to Canadian standards?   You may need to adapt your knowledge or skills to meet local expectations.
• Community:  Are you able to network with engineers, geoscientists and other people in the community?   Most people find job opportunities through the people they meet. 
• Language and Communication Skills: Are you able to understand and communicate in a business environment?   Good communication skills are essential.   The more fluent you are in the language of business , the easier it will be.
• Economic Conditions: Are there jobs available within your field?   Each region in Canada has a different economy.

It is crucial that you know what to expect and that you are prepared. The earlier you start to prepare the better. If you are still in your home country, you should do everything you can to set your expectations and prepare before you move to Canada. This website, and many like it, can help you before and after you move to Canada.

Many new immigrants to Canada have said they did not know how challenging it would be to establish themselves in Canada. Keep your long-term goal in mind, but be mentally prepared. The career path is not always straight forward and can be filled with disappointment.  There is an enormous amount of evidence that proves that your attitude greatly impacts your success. While you may often feel frustrated and angry while you try to re-establish your career, it is essential that you remain positive and keep focused on your goal.

A resource that may assist you in maintaining your positive outlook is the book "The Magic of Thinking Big" by David Schwartz. (Amazon.ca)

First-Hand Advice

From Internationally Trained Engineers:

• Unemployed English-speaking Canadians have the same sorts of problems that we have (except the language problem).   We are not that different.
• Continue to focus on your area of interest and be determined to succeed, despite the obstacles you will face.
• Stay optimistic.   Persevere and be patient.
• The main component for success is determination, focus and a willingness to learn from others. Competition is stiff and other obstacles stand in the way of an immigrant engineer.
• The most impressive thing for me about local engineering firms is that there are so many engineers who originally came form various countries. That's why I absolutely believe that I am welcome by this country and there must be some organizations that are willing to accept my years professional experience and skills.