E120: Keely Cronin says your survival job is valuable Canadian experience

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In this episode, I’m speaking with Keely Cronin, Co-Founder of WorkSpark, where they support professionals who have migrated to Canada as well as anyone looking to make a mid-career transition.

One conversation she has over and over again with the folks she coaches is the gap, or more like valley between your qualifications, experience, skillset, and the infamous first survival job most newcomers have to start with in Canada.

Keely’s point of view is even if you’re a deep-sea engineer working at Tim Hortons, you should see that time as valuable Canadian experience. And as roles that immerse you in everyday Canadian culture.

Which means you should put them on your resume and frame them as work experience that shows you have soft skills to fit into your potential new job like a glove.

In this conversation, Keely and I chat about the soft skills you develop in such jobs. We also explore:

* Why she thinks Canada’s immigration narrative doesn’t match reality

* Culture and self-promotion

* Why moving countries makes you a baby again (but with baggage)

* Why it’s a good idea to experience Canada before job hunting ( but them bills don’t wait though)

Dozie’s Notes

A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:

* During the immigration process, the focus is usually on what the immigrant brings to Canada. However, once we land, the narrative seems to shift to all Canada is giving you. This weird shift seems to be creating an environment where the public doesn’t recognize the talent or contributions of immigrants to the economy and the country.

* Structural barriers need policy solutions, not resilient individuals. We should celebrate resilience. But…individual resilience and networking can only go so far. Issues like inconsistent credential recognition across provinces and unclear processes need government fixes.

* Moving to a new country literally resets you to ground zero. You are like a baby experiencing the world again. Except this time around you carry the burden of your previous life’s experiences and expectations. Accept this reality. That’s the first step towards turning this mental burden into a strength.

Official Links

✅ Connect with Keely Cronin on LinkedIn

✅ Schedule a free career assessment

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