I don't think I had a strong backgroud but I got my IT job within one month after I arrived at Toronto. It was 2000. After a year, the company I served bankrupted and everybody was laid off. Then after approximately one month, I got another IT job which is even better on salary. It was 2001. And this year in August the current company I am serving hired 2 guys. So I strongly recommend that you focus on searching a job now. However, if this labour work doesn't take too much time, you can consider it, 'cause you still have time to search job.