Daniel Maw

Daniel Maw

“My story with Moveover Recruitment begins with flicking through the job advertisements in the rear of the Farmers Weekly Magazine one Sunday afternoon. Not really happy in the job I was currently in, and feeling like I was going nowhere, achieving nothing, I thought I would go for it, and send Moveover my CV. What’s the worst that could happen, right? A few hours later, I received a phone call directly from Bruce, extremely interested in what I had to offer as an individual, and looking forward to meeting up for an interview.”

And the job?

“The result of this preliminary interview was that Bruce put me in contact with a large Case IH dealership in southern Saskatchewan. After completing an exam set by the western Canada dealers association to see what level I was at, a Skype interview was set up with the company’s group service manager. After an hour long conversation, they offered me a position as a technician.”

How was the move?

“Within six weeks, I had received my yearlong IEC work permit, and had boarded a plane on a one way ticket to Canada! Going into the unknown, without knowing a single person, yet excited for the adventure lying ahead.”

How are things going?

“I have now been working in Canada for a year and a half, and my career as a service technician has gone from strength to strength. I am based around an hour south of the capital Regina, down in a small city named Weyburn. I get out on the road diagnosing faults the majority of the time, in a large, well equipped service truck, as well as carrying out repairs which can range from small oil leaks, to large engine and transmission rebuilds, in the dealership’s recently built workshop.”

The future?

“The potential for personal growth and experience here is great! Initially, the size of machinery is daunting compared to the size of implements back home in the UK, but with the excellent manufacturer support, constant training and the knowledge of the staff, the transition is made much easier. Personally, my time out here has provided me with the independence and the experience needed to grow, both in the workplace and with life in general. It has provided me with excellent knowledge of Case IH products, as well as other large brand manufacturers such as Kubota, MacDon, etc. which I can carry through with me, to my chosen career path in the future.”

What about salary?

“During my time here, I have attended various training courses, up at the training centre in Saskatoon, as well as MacDon training courses in Winnipeg, Manitoba, keeping us up to date with the newest products. Salary wise, with good mechanical experience and qualifications, it is possible to hit the $100,000 a year mark if you’re prepared for the added overtime during the busy months of seeding and harvest. That’s quite a difference to the salary of the average mechanic in the UK!”

But what about play?

“It’s not all work, work and more work! Fun times can definitely be had. Moveover organised an amazing trip to Banff, in the Rocky Mountains in 2012. This got all us “immigrants” together, for a fun filled week in the mountains, with which we could build relationships with each other, and make friends for life. And, it’s such a small world! I met a couple of the guys I had studied with at college! The Canadian Rockies are an amazing place to visit, especially if you are into your skiing or snowboarding. Having big, wide open piste, with plenty of powder! With the added bonus of being drivable in a day, from Southern Saskatchewan.”

How were Moveover?

“All in all, it’s definitely worth it for the experience, the sights, the friends and contacts you make. The list could go on! And, a big thank you goes to Moveover Recruitment for making this happen. Without Moveover, I would have never have had, or known, about the experiences available! Moveover provided that solid link from that very first interview, right through to the present day. And that, to me and many others, is highly appreciated.”