Would it be a dumb idea to move to Calgary WITHOUT a job?

[Cal23]

Hey guys, huge Flames fan, I've been considering a move to Calgary and had some questions. Basically. I had a list of Canadian cities I wanted to move to (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, etc), and starting crossing some off the list, like Montreal for the potential language problems, and Toronto/Vancouver for the cost of living.

Now I think Calgary might be a good place to try out, but I live in Ontario, and since I'm a recent grad. (in IT) I don't know how difficult it'd be finding a job. On one hand, I don't want to move and be unemployed for several months because I just don't have the money to stay unemployed for so long, on the other hand I'd like to get a job -before- moving there but I'm not sure what my chances would be (considering I wouldn't be able to fly out for every interview, and with my lack of experience they may just go with someone local).

So...any advice? Has anyone been in my position before?

[undercoverbrother]

Centre Street between 12 and 13 Ave lots of work there.

[Ozy_Flame]

Are you a programmer?

Show up on Monday with no job. Get raise by end of day Tuesday at new job.

[the-rasta-masta]

If you do it, why not just get a temporary job while you search? I know from experience that when I graduated, it took a few months to go through the job shopping process. Companies can take some going through applications time when applying for IT jobs, and if you get an interview, that process itself can take a few weeks as well. Even after you get hired, the start date can be a few weeks away too.

[Rathji]

What kind of IT work do you do?

[afc wimbledon]

Its IT, they don't do phone interveiws? apply for a few jobs from Ontario, let them know you arn't available for in person interveiw.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Cal23

Hey guys, huge Flames fan, I've been considering a move to Calgary and had some questions. Basically. I had a list of Canadian cities I wanted to move to (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Edmonton, etc), and starting crossing some off the list, like Montreal for the potential language problems, and Toronto/Vancouver for the cost of living.

Now I think Calgary might be a good place to try out, but I live in Ontario, and since I'm a recent grad. (in IT) I don't know how difficult it'd be finding a job. On one hand, I don't want to move and be unemployed for several months because I just don't have the money to stay unemployed for so long, on the other hand I'd like to get a job -before- moving there but I'm not sure what my chances would be (considering I wouldn't be able to fly out for every interview, and with my lack of experience they may just go with someone local).

So...any advice? Has anyone been in my position before?

if you're a recent IT grad, getting a helpdesk position somewhere shouldn't be too hard, depending on what you actually learned in school. if all else fails you could always get a TSR position at Shaw or Telus to gain some experience

[Hans Landa]

All I can add is that you're picking the right city. This is the best city in Canada on so many levels.

We bought a house out here (while still living in Ontario) with only myself having a job secured in Calgary. Two weeks before our house closed, my wife scored hers. She had to fly out for an interview and then back to Onterrible though (not an IT job).

Good luck.

[Northendzone]

personally, i would not move somewhere without having a job lined up, but that is me.

if you have somewhere you could stay without having to pay rent that might be enough to make me think about at least temporarily relocating.

[DuffMan]

If you have no commitments ie wife kids house, go for it. Things get much more difficult later on. If you don't get work right away just go the Mac to make a bunch of money in a short perioid of time to hold you over while you look for IT work.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I'm not convinced that Vancouver is significantly more expensive in terms of cost of living vs Calgary unless you absolutely have to live downtown or jericho beach or w/e. Food is cheaper there, gas is more expensive, transit is better, rent and parking are kind of rough in both places. Calgary is harder to navigate without a vehicle.

Calgary has had a ton of inflation in the last decade especially with food/drink prices if you like to eat out.

[HelloHockeyFans]

If you have a Calgary address that you can use of a friend/family member, that would be the way to go for your resume for now. Also wouldn't hurt to either change your current cell phone number to a Calgary one, or get a separate Pay-As-You-Go device with a Calgary number.

Being a recent grad, companies may be hesitant to even contact you if they know you're based out somewhere other than Alberta (different story for an experienced hire).

Do that, apply, and try to line up a few interviews over some window (2 weeks) and invest in a trip out to Calgary to attend these interviews and start your career!

[Cal23]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Are you a programmer?

Show up on Monday with no job. Get raise by end of day Tuesday at new job.

I'm a networking/IT guy, not programmer, in retrospect wish I did that...much more jobs in that arena.

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

Its IT, they don't do phone interveiws? apply for a few jobs from Ontario, let them know you arn't available for in person interveiw.

The only thing that worries me is I might screw up my chances, because they might say "this guy is a new graduate (thus no experience), why take a chance on him?" and hire someone local.

What do you think?

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

if you're a recent IT grad, getting a helpdesk position somewhere shouldn't be too hard, depending on what you actually learned in school. if all else fails you could always get a TSR position at Shaw or Telus to gain some experience

How easy would it be to get a job there? In Toronto getting a job anywhere (even a call center at Rogers) is next to impossible with the amount people that apply, nevermind the people with connections

Originally Posted by DuffMan

If you have no commitments ie wife kids house, go for it. Things get much more difficult later on. If you don't get work right away just go the Mac to make a bunch of money in a short perioid of time to hold you over while you look for IT work.

Sorry, but what's the Mac?

[Regulator75]

^^^ Fort McMurray.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cal23

Hey guys, huge Flames fan, I've been considering a move to Calgary and had some questions.

We have some questions for you.

Who scored the first regular season goal for the Calgary Flames?

Name 5 players to wear #10 for the Calgary Flames?

Who has the most short-handed goals in franchise history?

Who is Irene Besse?

[MrMastodonFarm]

God dammit Regulator. We could have had some fun with that for a while.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Cal23

Sorry, but what's the Mac?

Fort McMurray

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

God dammit Regulator. We could have had some fun with that for a while.

I was going to say Fort MacLeod.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Cal23

How easy would it be to get a job there? In Toronto getting a job anywhere (even a call center at Rogers) is next to impossible with the amount people that apply, nevermind the people with connections?

in 2004 while still going to SAIT, i just dropped a resume off at Shaw on a spur of the moment thing while applying to some other places around the area. they called me back the next week, and i had a job a week after that. the job itself sucked, but it gave me an opportunity to moved into Shaw's internal helpdesk where i learned a lot, and eventually helped me get my current System Administrator position at my current company

i wouldn't recommend Shaw for anyone looking at a permanent career choice, but as a foot in the door it can work out quite well. i know several people in our IT department alone that also got their start there

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I'm not convinced that Vancouver is significantly more expensive in terms of cost of living vs Calgary unless you absolutely have to live downtown or jericho beach or w/e. Food is cheaper there, gas is more expensive, transit is better, rent and parking are kind of rough in both places. Calgary is harder to navigate without a vehicle.

Calgary has had a ton of inflation in the last decade especially with food/drink prices if you like to eat out.

Average incomes are lower compared to Calgary.