Higher chances by switching regions

[harryg]

Hello,

I am applying for a position in YYZ but as I understand this is a highly competitive region. I have no problem moving to a different region, so would I have higher chances of getting an assessment date if I asked to switch to YQM or YEG or another region?

Thank you

[fanman888]

I'm not sure if you can proactively ask to switch regions, but it wouldn't hurt to try. I initially applied for YYZ but everyone at my in-person assessment session was asked if we'd be willing to switch to YWG. For me it wasn't an issue since my family is located in Winnipeg. Definitely helped with my odds though; currently in the IFR pool hoping for a course offer.

[Freakflyer]

I was able to switch from YYZ to YQM quite easily. There was no way I was moving my family to Toronto. A call to the recruitment office and asking Joanne to switch pools was all it took. As for the competition, I am not sure if your odds will be better. I have heard that YYZ has a very deep pool.

[geoeng]

That's an interesting game to play. I switched fairly easily from Gander to YYZ after moving back to Ontario from Newfoundland. YYZ just has a lot of people and likely more applicants, so statistically your chance of getting a spot in an assessment may be lower. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that just because you're in one spot in the pool in YYZ would mean you'd be in a different position if you were in YQM or YEG as that would depend on the quality of applicants in each region, which would be difficult to know ahead of time. I think it's more about timing than anything else: when you get your application in vs. when assessments are done. YEG and YWG seem to run more assessments than other regions, so that may increase your chances. I believe, however, that YEG and YQM (and perhaps YWG) have all recently done assessment sessions while YYZ has not for a while, so you may get an assessment quicker there right now. Really a gamble though with no guarantee.

Ultimately it's a waiting game and you'll probably get stuck at a point in the process at sometime regardless of where you are. Some people whiz through parts or even the whole thing in a few months, while others, like myself, end up waiting over a year (or two). It will never move as fast as you want it to.