Navigating Career Success as an Immigrant

(Photo by Hermes Rivera on Unsplash)

Today is Canada Day and so I am dedicating my post to this great country that has offered me many opportunities for which I am incredibly grateful!

According to the 2016 Census, 7,540,830 people, that is, 21.9% of the Canadian population, were foreign-born (immigrants). Immigrants are a very important part of the Canadian economy and their contributions to society are paramount. As a first generation immigrant, I am conscious of the struggles that immigrants face not just in the first few years of arriving in their adopted country but beyond that. Today’s blog is about navigating career success as an immigrant.

I immigrated to Canada from Mumbai, India in my mid twenties with my husband and 2 year old daughter. I was in the IT industry where I worked as a computer programmer and an adult training facilitator for 5 years. I remember telling the immigration officer during my interview that I would do anything in Canada including working as a grocery store clerk. He politely told me to stick to my industry as I would add value there. Somewhere in my mind, I probably did not believe him and thought I had to start my career off at the bottom and climb up from there. So right off the bat, I came with low expectations of myself and a preparedness to do anything. My first job was as a Word Processor which meant I was typing up documents, something I was over qualified to do. It was a maternity leave position for 6 months. Luckily for me, my employer recognized my capabilities and hired me to train the entire workforce on how to use a computer, MS Office and the like. (This was 1995 and companies were only just moving to a wider computer space.) That’s my early story as an immigrant, the rest is history! I’m sure your story is different; though there may be some common threads. I’ve discussed some of my own limiting beliefs as a new immigrant and ways to overcome them. I hope it will help you overcome yours.

Limiting belief #1: The successes I’ve had in my country of birth are not necessarily transferable to my adopted country.

You fear the unknown, unsure of yourself. You are riddled with self doubt, wondering if the new environment will value what you have to offer the workplace. You were so confident in your old country, in the environment in which you were raised. We all have these doubts and as new immigrants they loom larger. Whether you are seeking your first job in the new country, or your tenth, you may be faced with similar issues. So how can you build up your confidence?

1. One of the easiest ways is to think through your past successes, especially times where you stood out. If you are seeking your first job in Canada, think about a successful assignment you undertook in your home country. If it’s a subsequent job, think through any of your previous jobs. Identify the skills you brought to the table that helped you to succeed. Perhaps you have an innate ability to connect people, or build networks. Maybe you are a good problem solver, a writer, a speaker. Or maybe you have a very clear technical capability. Whatever the strength, it is transferable. Lead with those strengths and your confidence will follow you.

2. Another thought that will build confidence, especially if you are a new immigrant is this - the screening process to gain entry into Canada is a difficult one. Skilled immigrants clearly are skilled. If the government thought you would be an asset to the country, you most certainly are!

3. Whether its your first job or a subsequent job you are applying to, go prepared to sell your best and most confident self. Hiring managers want to see confidence, but not over confidence, so show up well.

Limiting belief #2: I have to start somewhere and move up from there so I will settle for anything.

If you are like me, you just want a foot in the door, so you shortchange yourself. You set low expectations for yourself and justify those expectations. You are prepared to work for lower pay than your skills and experience can demand, all because your expectations are not where they could be. It is important to adjust your expectations. If confidence is an issue, re-read the tips above. You want to set expectations at the right level for your skills – not too high and not too low. Here are some ways you can do this:

1. Read job postings, match your skills to those listed, go on job boards and review salary ranges there.

2. There are many websites that allow you to get an idea of what you should be paid for certain jobs. Being in the compensation field myself, I know that many of these sites are employee reported, which means they are likely inflated. However, they can still serve as a good ballpark.

3. If you have 80% of the skills needed for a job, apply anyway. I can tell you that there is no ideal candidate that fits 100% of requirements as described in the job posting. Employers look at many factors when making decisions, one of the important ones being your mindset and attitude.

Limiting belief #3: Cultural alignment – I am different and so I won’t fit in.

You were not born here so your culture is different from the average Canadian born person. Depending on where you grew up, it could be very different or just a little bit. You may also have an accent and its very likely that you are keenly aware and embarrassed by it. I’ve lived in Canada for over a quarter of a century and I am still very aware of my accent especially when I’m meeting people for the first time. In the early days, I used to be embarrassed by it – not anymore. There are 2 things that I suggest to help with the cultural alignment:

1. Get over it. Just because you speak with an accent or cannot relate to high school or winter activities like other Canadians, it doesn’t mean you are worth less. You have a stash of great stories and once you start telling your stories, you will have a lot of interested listeners!

2. Embrace the Canadian culture. Get into the mainstream. Get yourself a drivers license, watch Canadian shows and documentaries that will give you a glimpse into Canadian life and culture. Make new friends. Understand the various stat holidays and what they stand for. Read up on Canadian history and traditions. The workplace will feel that much more friendly when you are able to understand the workforce.

Apply the principles above and you will begin to think and hence feel more confident. This in turn will drive you to renewed action.

I have found the Canadian workplace to be a place of strength for me. I’ve made friends that I’ve grown close to over the years. I’ve learnt a lot from the many bright minds I’ve encountered along my path and a few trusted mentors who I talk to regularly. I’ve had ups and downs through my career, but I like to think of them as regular ups and downs and not related to an immigrant mindset!

To all the great Canadians who helped my career move forward, Happy Canada Day! And to those of you who have adopted Canada as your home – you couldn’t have chosen a better country!

I will end with a quote by a famous Canadian.

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

- Wayne Gretzky, famous Canadian hockey player