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I have been in contact with a newcomer friend that just landed a few months ago from India. She needed to get work quickly and would require support for various things. My input to her is to continue the search, get some Canadian experience by volunteering for a few hours a week, and meet people in the community. That's the best way to maintaining a positive attitude while waiting for that breakthrough in the employment search.

People of color only apply for jobs that they meet completely where as men would apply for all jobs that they only meet 65% of the time. You probably heard this data. As well, employers nowadays rely on AI to screen hundreds of applicants for one position and because of that, there would be a slim chance that work experience outside of Canada will be given serious, if not points for consideration.

Hundreds of immigrants land in Canada every year as the country continues to expand its economy with high labor needs. Getting employment in their field of expertise is still the number one issue for immigrant integration. More than 10 years ago, I, too, landed with just one suitcase and a big box. The rest is history as to what happened to me afterwards. 

New immigrants have lower self-esteem and will not apply to jobs that they think they're not qualified enough to get shortlisted. They do not have the existing networks that native born and or those who lived here longer would have for which to draw on for various types of information and support. But because of this self-selection, a few of them would end up in jobs that are way better for them in the long run compared with survival jobs that could trap them to a cycle of low wage and high stress situation. 

I would suggest to apply anyway until you see traction with a number of interviews for these positions. You'll never know how the hiring manager makes decisions with the selection process. They could be very well looking for a different kind of candidate and throwing yourself into the pool increases your chances. In my case, I bested hundreds of applicants and the only reason I was able to get the job was because I applied, despite the constant self-doubt. 

Keep up the positivity and never underestimate your worth. You have come a long way. Now prove to them that you can contribute now and not later. 

With a summer pause on my business and with one part-time on the side, I had a more relaxed pace than ever. One of the best things of doing only one thing is that the mind is emptied out to think in a relax way. There are no distractions, fear, deadlines, and pressures. 

The other day I was talking about what you can do that is within your control and what you can't to a group of students worried about their grades and how it will look to their parents, their future plans, etc. Much of their worries are based on fear that everything will go completely wrong. A grade can screw up your life or it may not, actually. The range of your control including how you react to failing to meet your goals or expectations is part of your remit.

Taking control over what goes in to our lives and what we allow versus what we have to rid off to allow for better things to come is our individual exercise. When we refuse to take the drama and politics of others and we ruthlessly carve out our own sense of wellness in our time and activities, we are being on top of our game.

The summer pause is exhilarating and a real time out from the time out. I recommend this to a lot of busy executives who are taking much more than they can possibly digest and enjoy. There are wannabe projects that are failing right before our eyes. It's better to bow out and cut losses because it will not shift in any positive way unless the culture changes.

Turns out, emptying out should be regular.

After a long wait, harvest time is now upon us. Farmers know that with perseverance and patience, the much-awaited time has come to reap the gains from the yield. This time around, there was plenty of rain during the summer that the crops have matured well and in time. We cannot be overly pleased with the weather cooperating with us. 

Harvest time provides us the perspectives that with good inputs come good outcomes. It may take a while for our dreams to become real in our lives but everyday is an opportunity to sow the seeds. If you want peace and calm, sow the seeds of cooperation and collaboration and build up one another. If you want a life that is interesting and adventurous, sow the seeds of creativity and follow your passions that fuel those pursuits. If you want a life of global impact that helps others succeed, sow the seed of being a positive provocateur. If you want a life filled with gratitude, start building your gratitude bank and always count your blessings. If you want to live a  simple life, define your own success and make your own metrics. Your happiness is your own. 

The law of seeding and reaping is a tested principle of life. It will never be wrong and it will always come to pass no matter what.