Job Discussion Forums

TG12345 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 41

I was born in Wroclaw, Poland but came to Canada and lived here since I was 5. I speak fluent English and have experience working with kids and youth learning English and will graduate from Bachelor of Education next year.

Would the fact that I was born in Poland make it harder to get a job?

Thanks,
Tomasz Glowacki

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Shouldn't make any difference, don't even mention where you were born, you are Canadian.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:52 am Post subject:

I agree with Gordon that it SHOULDN'T make any difference, but it might.

The most important issue is where is your PASSPORT from? If it is a Canadian passport - you are Canadian - and I agree with Gordon - don't even mention your five years in Poland. It is not important and it will only confuse potential employers.

Many countries have a list of countries that they consider to be "native English speaking" countries and if you passport is not from those countries - forget it. Korea is one such example.

If you passport is from Poland - you will have some problems, but with good documentation that ALL your formal education was in an English speaking country you MAY be able to overcome most barriers.

Passport?

MELEE · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:58 am Post subject:

I'm with Ted. If you have a Canadian passport, you are a Canadian citizen and no one will no the difference (nor should they care) unless you make a big deal out of it. I've worked with a Canadian who immigrated when she was 6, until then she was Italian and spoke only Italian. But if she didn't tell you that, you'd never know. But if for some reason you never became a Canadian citizen, it could be an issue, sometime countries won't issue you a work visa to teach English if you are not a citizen of an English speaking country.

TG12345 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 41

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:33 am Post subject:

I agree with Gordon here, I don't believe I have ever stated the country of my birth on my resume/CV.

However, there are many citizens of Canada, American, UK, Australia, etc who were born overseas to parents who were either working or studying overseas at the time. No big deal.

I've been working overseas since 1989 and have never been asked in which country I was born. Always though - the country of which I am a citizen, or the country from which my passport was issued.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

As the others have said, mention your citizenship, not your place of birth. You have a passport from a native-speaking country, and that's all that really matters. Do not bring your birthplace into the process.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Everybody seems to be missing the main point. Employers need to see your photo page from your passport. Your photo page says where you were born. Employers look at that (I wasn't born in Canada either, but I was born in an English speaking country). Some people DO have a problem with it, but most don't, unless you have a Polish accent (most wouldn't know though, and if you've been in canada since you were five then I'd be surprised if you do havea non-Canadian English accent). Just chalk the people who do have a problem to xenophoibia, and move on.

I know other Canadians who were born in non-English speaking countries and haven't had too many problems. I've also known French Canadians who were born in Canada and have had no problems, even though their English isn't really all that great (employers can't actually tell that their English is very obviously non-native by word choice, word usage, sometimes word order and an accent so strong that native English speakers who speak no French or have no experience with the nasalized French spoken in Canada can't understand them when they speak English).

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

The only time employers have seen my passport page was AFTER i was hired, never before. Then if a problem comes up, you can explain your situation.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Employers don't need to see your passport ID page. Immigration does. Of course, if your employer files the paperwork for your work visa, he'll see it, but by then it shouldn't matter. The OP is Canadian enough, having lived there since the age of 5.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject:

I guess we can belabor the point here, but frankly, the problem is most likely not going to arise at all.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

You could always say your parents were on holiday and you popped out early- hence the foreign country of birth.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:33 pm Post subject: