Timothy Said:

how to move from software QA to software development?

We Answered:

You can read more, and do more software using those language for your own in your free time, so you'll have more experience, and then you can submit your CV in a development company that have an open vacancy in development... and in your CV now, you can write the software that you have developed by your own, and they can be your reference... This how I could do it...

And another suggestion, you can even submit your CV before doing this some company accepts candidates like this, but by this you'll start from scratch...

I hope that this can help you...

Hazel Said:

Building an IT Career in Canada?

We Answered:

Dude..Chances are if you're a recent grad with no experience and hold a degree from a different country, there's a very low probability of landing a job in IT... maybe you'll get a job in data entry but something like software developer or dba, definitely no- especially if you do not have any experience

A couple of my friends that just recently graduated university specializing in IT/compsci can only find low-end help desk and QA tester roles. The only ones that actually landed a software developer role did so because they already had some experience from interning in school. I also know some grads who are working in a completely different fields from the degree they graduated with... just think, when you apply for a full time IT position, you're probably competing with a few of these guys I know. The worst part is, they have a canadian university degree while you possess only a college diploma from a different country and landed immigrant status ... not all employers will take your diploma for its face value and all large employers (banks, government, etc..) will not hire you unless you possess a canadian citizenship. I may be wrong but I think you have to live in the country for a certain amount of years before they give you full canadian citizenship status.

Although you don't want to waste time going back to school, chances are you'll probably have to. I would maybe suggest picking a school with a co-op program as it'll give you an opportunity to gain experience. If school isn't for you, I honestly dont see you landing a job related to IT unless you're extremely personable and somehow charm the pants off your interviewers...then maybe you'll get something like help desk.

As for the entry level jobs in high demand, I see a lot of postings for QA analysts/testers, business analysts and help desk from the major banks downtown.

Common programming languages.. SQL, vba etc.. for banks and java, C, etc.. for software developing roles. I think most job requirements require you to know at least some of everything.

Good luck.. you'll need it