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There is a lot of talk about the need for IT professionals in Canada. But is this really real? Which skills must a professional in the field have to be hired?
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We are living in a world in constant and rapid transformation in which Adapting companies to the digital era has led to the creation of many specialized IT vacancies. Brazil produces excellent professionals in this field and many of them come to study and work in Canada, where they find quality of life and great opportunities.
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In general, to get a good job in this area here in Canada – with a work visa, obviously – you need to have experience, a good networking and be super up to date with the tools and languages used in the market. Some of the functions in the information technology area:
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Developer/Programmer
IT Project Manager
Quality Assurance Analyst
Data Analyst
IT Business Analyst
Senior Software Engineer
Network Administrator
Technical Support Specialist
IT Project Manager
Quality Assurance Analyst
Data Analyst
IT Business Analyst
Senior Software Engineer
Network Administrator
Technical Support Specialist
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If you are already a professional in these areas, have good English, experience in the field, already have your work permit and you’re prepared for market interviews, go ahead! If you are thinking about studying something in this area or even pursuing a postgraduate degree, there are many options across Canada. A BFF Exchange You can find the best course for those who want to enter the field.
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LISTEN TO WHO IS IN THE MARKET
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On our recent visit to the beautiful city of Victoria, which is on Vancouver Island and is the capital of British Columbia, we spoke to Richard Sweeting, Sales & Marketing Coordinator from one of the city's technology companies, AOT Technologies, which also has offices in Vancouver, Seattle (USA) and Kerala (India). He gave us a good idea of his vision of the market and what an IT professional should have to enter the local market, as well as great tips on reading and job search sources.
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A AOT Technologies is an award-winning integration and analytics solutions company. They build intelligent systems for businesses and governments and this has made them one of the fastest growing companies in Canada.
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Below is the interview we did with him.
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Victoria is known for being an important technology market. This makes us believe that there are many jobs on the market. How do you see this?
Richard Sweeting: Victoria has transitioned from a city whose biggest employers were the provincial government and tourism to a thriving technology hub in the Pacific Northwest. Over the past 20 years, public and private investment has driven tremendous growth in the technology sector on Vancouver Island. According to one Viatec study 2018, “The technology sector is responsible for a significant portion of employment in the region. In 2017, there were 16,775 employees in the sector. ”
While growth in the region may have stagnated slightly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology industry has largely escaped unscathed, and is estimated to be worth more than CAD 1TP4Q10 billion per year to the Greater Victoria economy by 2030. Links close to Vancouver, Seattle and other cities in the Cascadia Innovation Corridor (Cascadia Innovation Corridor ) will continue to drive this growth. Vancouver Island's natural beauty also makes it an attractive location for people looking to balance quality of life with employment opportunities.
Richard Sweeting: Victoria has transitioned from a city whose biggest employers were the provincial government and tourism to a thriving technology hub in the Pacific Northwest. Over the past 20 years, public and private investment has driven tremendous growth in the technology sector on Vancouver Island. According to one Viatec study 2018, “The technology sector is responsible for a significant portion of employment in the region. In 2017, there were 16,775 employees in the sector. ”
While growth in the region may have stagnated slightly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology industry has largely escaped unscathed, and is estimated to be worth more than CAD 1TP4Q10 billion per year to the Greater Victoria economy by 2030. Links close to Vancouver, Seattle and other cities in the Cascadia Innovation Corridor (Cascadia Innovation Corridor ) will continue to drive this growth. Vancouver Island's natural beauty also makes it an attractive location for people looking to balance quality of life with employment opportunities.
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As a leader at AOT Technologies, when hiring a new professional to your team, what skills do you value most?
Richard Sweeting: AOT Technologies looks for a combination of things, all of which we consider crucial to building a well-rounded team and hiring people who will have the best chance of success. Hands-on experience is key at AOT Technologies – being in a competitive space in North America, we look for employees who have a diverse background across a number of different skill sets and settings. In particular, skills in being agile and adaptable are very important – the technology industry is constantly changing, so it's a valuable skill to be able to shift gears and apply your experience and education in different ways. For example, our team had to go from working on internal projects to developing and delivering a working solution for the BC government's COVID-19 response literally overnight!
Richard Sweeting: AOT Technologies looks for a combination of things, all of which we consider crucial to building a well-rounded team and hiring people who will have the best chance of success. Hands-on experience is key at AOT Technologies – being in a competitive space in North America, we look for employees who have a diverse background across a number of different skill sets and settings. In particular, skills in being agile and adaptable are very important – the technology industry is constantly changing, so it's a valuable skill to be able to shift gears and apply your experience and education in different ways. For example, our team had to go from working on internal projects to developing and delivering a working solution for the BC government's COVID-19 response literally overnight!
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What type of professional does your company need most? (Developers, designers, supporters, digital marketing, etc.)
Richard Sweeting: A AOT Technologies is always looking for developers with the diverse experience I mentioned before. In recent months, we have hired developers full stack from Brazil, India and South Africa. The core competency of our business is the experience of our team, and finding the right talent is much more important to us than filling vacancies. That said, we are always open to hearing from people who believe they can add something to the team.
Richard Sweeting: A AOT Technologies is always looking for developers with the diverse experience I mentioned before. In recent months, we have hired developers full stack from Brazil, India and South Africa. The core competency of our business is the experience of our team, and finding the right talent is much more important to us than filling vacancies. That said, we are always open to hearing from people who believe they can add something to the team.
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What type of training do you consider most important for a technology professional?
Richard Sweeting: From my own personal experience, I would say that having a diverse range of skills was key to moving to another country and looking for work. Always being open to learning new skills and refreshing old ones is a key trait employers look for in a potential employee. In my case, this meant updating and improving my HTML and CSS coding, while staying in touch with industry-leading marketing publications, attending webinars, and engaging with the professional community on social media.
For young professionals looking for a career as a developer, the message is simple: learn to write effective code! There's no substitute for being able to show what you can do when presented with a test in an interview, or the chance to impress in a trial period. Write code that works and is useful and you will find employers willing to give you a chance.
Once you have opened your doors in the market or when you want to differentiate yourself from the crowd, I recommend looking into project management courses and training Agile. Demonstrate that you understand and can operate in the environment Agile It's a desirable thing for most tech companies in the Pacific Northwest. Likewise, people who are able to move from a development role into project management or become scrum master are highly valued.
Richard Sweeting: From my own personal experience, I would say that having a diverse range of skills was key to moving to another country and looking for work. Always being open to learning new skills and refreshing old ones is a key trait employers look for in a potential employee. In my case, this meant updating and improving my HTML and CSS coding, while staying in touch with industry-leading marketing publications, attending webinars, and engaging with the professional community on social media.
For young professionals looking for a career as a developer, the message is simple: learn to write effective code! There's no substitute for being able to show what you can do when presented with a test in an interview, or the chance to impress in a trial period. Write code that works and is useful and you will find employers willing to give you a chance.
Once you have opened your doors in the market or when you want to differentiate yourself from the crowd, I recommend looking into project management courses and training Agile. Demonstrate that you understand and can operate in the environment Agile It's a desirable thing for most tech companies in the Pacific Northwest. Likewise, people who are able to move from a development role into project management or become scrum master are highly valued.
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In your opinion, where should international students, after graduating, look for a job in Victoria?
Richard Sweeting: There is an active and exciting ecosystem of start-ups operating in Victoria – you can find many of them by searching for companies with links to Alacrity Canada, Viatec and even the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the usual job advertisements on sites like Indeed and in LinkedIn, there is also a job bank site that is updated every day with open vacancies here in Victoria.
From my own experience of moving from England to Victoria, I found that you have to be willing to put yourself forward and be persistent. Often, the start-ups Technology companies don't have an HR department, just a small development team. Send resumes (resume) and cover letters (cover lyrics) and follow up. If you don't receive a response, don't be afraid to be assertive and confident in your approach if there is a company or project that you think can add value or is doing interesting things in the world of technology.
It’s worth doing your market research before you arrive – read articles from local business leaders on sites like BCBusiness.ca It is Cascadia Report to get an idea of what companies in the region are looking for and what skills and technologies they focus on.
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Richard Sweeting: There is an active and exciting ecosystem of start-ups operating in Victoria – you can find many of them by searching for companies with links to Alacrity Canada, Viatec and even the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. In addition to the usual job advertisements on sites like Indeed and in LinkedIn, there is also a job bank site that is updated every day with open vacancies here in Victoria.
From my own experience of moving from England to Victoria, I found that you have to be willing to put yourself forward and be persistent. Often, the start-ups Technology companies don't have an HR department, just a small development team. Send resumes (resume) and cover letters (cover lyrics) and follow up. If you don't receive a response, don't be afraid to be assertive and confident in your approach if there is a company or project that you think can add value or is doing interesting things in the world of technology.
It’s worth doing your market research before you arrive – read articles from local business leaders on sites like BCBusiness.ca It is Cascadia Report to get an idea of what companies in the region are looking for and what skills and technologies they focus on.
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What advice would you give to Brazilian students who want to enter Victoria's technology job market?
Richard Sweeting: Be persistent. While many technology companies have specific requirements for new hires, they also often don't have the time or resources to look further afield to identify new talent. And they're always open to exciting new talent here, so keep sending out resumes and work to maintain those relationships with potential employers.
Be adaptable. The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for the entire world, but with these challenges come opportunities for technology companies to pivot and find new and innovative ways to serve their customers. Diversifying your skill set to include different technologies and projects can help employers see your potential.
Be confident. When sending out resumes and cover letters, remember that when potential employers read them, they are looking for reasons to hire you. You have a lot to offer the job market in Victoria – your skills, dedication and enthusiasm could be part of something great here in the city.
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After these essential and exciting tips from Richard Sweeting of AOT Technologies, it's time to roll up your sleeves and make your Canada plan. Share this text with your friends in the IT area and contact BFF Exchange to make your study plan. Whether in Victoria or any other city in the country, there are hundreds of technology courses that will make your career take off.
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Study in Canada. Change your life.
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Hugs,
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Adri Pasa
BFF Exchange
