How can I move to Canada or Norway as a skilled worker?

Question

I have worked for 7 years in an oil-gas industry as an opeartor and a technician. I've got training certificates from the "Gemini Corporation" (Canada) and Chongqing University of Technology (China) related with my position. Although my own country is an oil-gas one, people who works in this field are paid not well and it's difficult, almost impossible, to be advanced. So, I think it would be better to try to move to such country like Canada or Norway. I know some ways, which I could find in internet, but they are helpless!!! PLEASE, HELP ME.

Answer 1

You should definitely start looking for a position before you move!  Once you have an employment contract in either country, your employer will in many cases help you with the immigration process.

In Norway, it's extremely difficult to relocate without an existing employment offer (unless you're married to a Norwegian).  However, there are a huge number of oil and gas companies in Norway that are looking for employees.  Once you have a company sponsor, it becomes much easier to enter Norway as they have special immigration policies for skilled laborers who already have a contract.

I would recommend searching the major oil company websites for job listings and start applying.  For example:

Statoil - http://www.statoilhydro.com/en/careers/j...

Shell - http://www.shell.com/home/content/career...

Chevron - http://careers.chevron.com/

Also, if you just do a search for "oil gas jobs norway" or "oil gas jobs canada" you'll get many, many hits for industry-specific recruiting sites and job listings:

http://www.oilgascareer.com

http://www.oiljob.com

http://www.infooil.com

http://www.oilandgasjobsearch.com

Right now, oil and gas is probably one of the top industries recruiting internationally, so you should have plenty of opportunities!

One thing to keep in mind...  A lot of the international oil companies operate in English (even in Norway), so if you're not confident of your language skills, start practicing!

Answer 2

I lived in the middle east (Saudi Arabia) for 3 yrs. In these other countries you really need a sponsor right from the start. It is getting harder & harder to go to work in a different country esp. if you are an American.  Good luck & keep trying!

Answer 3

Pack your bags and go.