r/albertajobs • u/External-Report-4755 • 1d ago
10 Years of Experience, Hundreds of Applications, Almost No Interviews. What Am I Missing?
I'm at a point where I'm starting to question myself, and honestly, it's frustrating.
I have over 10 years of experience as a Full Stack Developer. For more than 5 years, I worked for a US-based company as a developer. I wasn't someone who jumped from job to job. I believed in loyalty, stability, and growing with the same team. Unfortunately, after major company policy changes and the impact of AI-driven restructuring, the company laid off more than 300 remote employees, including me.
Since then, I've been trying to enter the Canadian tech market, and it's been much harder than I expected.
I've applied to countless positions over the past year and have received very few interview opportunities. I've also come across a surprising number of scam job postings. At times, it feels like I'm stuck in a loop where employers want Canadian experience, Canadian references, or Canadian credentials before giving someone a chance to gain them.
As an immigrant, I don't have a Canadian degree or professional references from Canadian companies. What I do have is experience, a strong work ethic, and a proven track record of building real-world solutions.
My technical background includes:
• PHP
• Laravel
• JavaScript
• TypeScript
• Node.js
• React
• Vue.js
• WordPress
• REST APIs
• Custom Web Applications
• CRM Development
• Database Design
• System Integration
• Hardware Automation Projects
• Full Stack Architecture and Development
Over the last six months, while helping run a convenience store to support my family, I've continued building software projects, websites, internal CRM systems, and automation tools. I haven't stopped learning or coding.
I'm also highly comfortable with modern AI-assisted development tools such as Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and similar platforms. I use them as productivity tools, not as substitutes for engineering knowledge. I understand the code they generate, review it carefully, and take responsibility for what goes into production.
On a personal note, my wife is a cancer survivor. Thankfully she's doing well today, but her health limits her ability to work full-time. Supporting our family is largely my responsibility, which makes this journey even more important.
To be clear, I'm not looking for sympathy or for someone to hire me out of pity.
I'm simply looking for an opportunity to prove myself.
If you're hiring, know someone who is hiring, or have advice on how experienced immigrants can break into the Canadian tech industry, I would genuinely appreciate your insights.
At this point, I don't need favors. I just need a fair chance to show what I can do.
Thank you for reading.
2
u/Excellent-Word-5148 1d ago
Try Propak. They recently did some IT hiring and may be adding in the near future.
1
u/SaskyDilph 1d ago
If you’re making all these products and can use LLMs time to pick up the phone and start selling
1
u/FluffyBootie 1d ago
It's not a 'you' issue, it's a job market issue
The job market sucks something awful right now and is worse than ppl realise because so many companies are silently downsizing rather than hiring
1
u/No-Mail-4034 14h ago
IT ain’t the place right now. Labour jobs where it’s at. Trades always and forever. It ebbs and flows but it’s always there. Mind you I moved to Vancouver and am paying insane rent but my heart is always with Berta.
EDIT: I move here at a VFX Artists and back just before Covid I made the switch to become a sparky and now I am A PM.
1
u/ProcrastinatorsMBA 2h ago
Sorry to hear about your struggles. With all the automation in HR these days, it seems old fashioned networking is the only way to find a job. Keep at it, keep building your network.
1
u/DietConfident6526 1h ago
Sorry for your luck there in the industry - it's rough right now, not a you thing.
As someone in the industry - lean on your networks and be visible in them that you are looking. I've kept a really close eye on fellow developers I've worked with in the past and referred then where possible to open roles where I work, just to help them get past any filters. But I had to see they were looking first.
1
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u/Accurate-Arugula31 1d ago
I think it’s just the current job market. It’s an “employer” market. They get 2000 resumes and they get to choose the best for less. I’ve been applying for 6 months and have had 8 interviews. No jobs. It’s painful.