CANADA, OH CANADA! I LOVE YOU.

[THIS IS NOT AN ‘ARTICLE BUT COMMENTS ON SOUZAN ESMAILI’S INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL POST OF DEC 3, 2023 ON LINKEDIN.? THIS FORMAT HAS BEEN USED AS THE COMMENTS/REPLY FIELDS IN LI HAVE CHARACTER LIMITATIONS].??

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Thanks for this post. You are indeed one of the very few people who genuinely like to facilitate "newcomers" as well as Canada-born people to find opportunities here. But may I please, respectfully, disagree with you on some of the points you have outlined in your post? I am asking this specifically because, very recently, a "lucky" guy misconstrued my different views as some sort of criticism on him and labelled it as "calling out" (a new term introduced over the last 5-6 years in the lexicon of social media) and then launched an onslaught to besmirch me against all norms of decency & professional etiquette. ?Of all the places, Canada should be THE place where opposing views ought to be patiently heard even if they are in a minority but, apparently WYS (What You See) is not WYG (What You Get). So, I am confident you would not mind my point of view.?

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Please bear with me as this is a topic of importance for me and, I am sure, you are not just looking for favorable feedback only and have the courage to accept some unfavorable feedback -- not against you but in general about the whole situation. ?

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You have given some excellent tips but there cannot be a cookie-cutter approach.? The change of mindset has to occur not only on the “newcomers’” part but also on the part of the Canadian government, Canadian employers and the facilitators (this is not at all a reference to you or TCAE) or mentors even (especially), if they are Canada-born. I suggest that the following points be taken into account:

1.???? What is the rationale of having “Canadian experience” as a pre-requisite to applying for most jobs here? When I had applied for immigration (under the approved occupations/skilled migrants’ program) to Canada, I don’t recall being asked this question at any stage.? When you land here and are asked this question (or when it is mentioned in the job postings), isn’t it tantamount to denying fair/equal opportunities regardless of national origin, race, gender, etc.?? Even if it is not against the law for some odd reason, isn’t it unethical to ask for Canadian experience?? Should we take this as a fraud or deception on the Canadian government’s part and, at least, unethical on the part of corporates and other employers??

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2.???? Building on the above point, do you or the potential employers think they cannot take any risk on somebody who does not have “Canadian experience”?? Hypothetically, if an experienced professional with a good track record AND international experience but without the elusive “Canadian experience” is hired, what are the “big-picture” mistakes they would commit jeopardizing the operations of the employing company?? How are those risks lower than what might arise by hiring a Canada-born candidate or one with Canada-experience? How acceptable are those risks and what are the mitigants?

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3.???? What is so special about the Canadian work environment or culture that compels Canadian companies to discriminate between Canadian and non-Canadian experience?? Why isn’t such discrimination so widespread in the US, for example or Europe or even many of the Asian, Middle Eastern and African countries? How does somebody with zero prior UAE experience flourish in, let’s say Dubai? ?

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4.???? Why does somebody who has tons of experience have to start at almost the lowest rung of the corporate ladder in Canada?? It does not necessarily happen in most parts of the world.? Why here?? Do the employers in Canada take undue advantage of the constraints (created by the Canadian government as well as the employers themselves) faced by the “newcomers”?? Isn’t it exploitation, just a few degrees lower than human slavery?

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5.???? At the risk of offending many people, please allow me to say that most Canadians are generally laid-back people – oversensitive about their working hours, lunch breaks, deadlines, etc.? I have actually seen and heard stories about Canadian employers actually admonishing their “newcomers” and other employees if they try to complete work and projects too fast or well before the deadline!?? At least, the chances are that a “newcomer” immigrant will actually be much more productive (without complaining on flimsy pretexts) than “Canada-born/raised” employees!? I am not saying they will not be mindful of their human rights but will not be having an issue with working an extra one hour or so or to complete an assignment well before a deadline.?

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6.???? The Canadian economy thrives in many ways due to the influx of immigrants.? Not facilitating them to find suitable jobs will hamper Canada’s economic growth.? Do we have any idea of how many talented immigrant doctors, engineers, bankers, etc., are working as cab drivers or security guards, truck drivers, real estate brokers, and in other jobs much below their caliber?? Should this state of affairs continue?? I am not implying that these jobs are inferior, as there should be respect and dignity for all kinds of labor and many of them probably make a lot in terms of their wages.? But is it desirable for somebody who has been an engineer, for instance, to expend his energy and talent as a bus/truck driver? ?Should they all become entrepreneurs?? But one needs a certain aptitude and acumen to be an entrepreneur which many of us do not have.?

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7.???? I suspect that many of our Canada-born/raised friends would wish for a complete halt to immigration and for the current immigrants to leave Canada and go back to where they had come from if they have complaints!? But they should remember that they are not the real owners of this land and that they had themselves emigrated to Canada a few centuries ago and displaced the natives!? This is a cold, hard fact which should stop them in their tracks if they have any ideas to halt immigrants – it is the policy and the rules of the game that need reforms with the aim to facilitate most, if not all, immigrants to be gainfully employed here with dignity and merit.?

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8.???? I don’t approve of mentors or facilitators helping newcomers or Canada-born people blindly and making them gate-crash into organizations or associations for which their background is not suitable.? A content developer who has dabbled in cryptos and a bit of investigations with zero or little experience in a financial institution should not be facilitated to become a part of such organizations/associations.? Such people feel insecure, flaunt their wrongly acquired status, and gas light or create roadblocks for genuine people/newcomers who have the qualifications, knowledge, and experience that hugely surpasses the experience of those who have been “lucky” and deceptively “charming” to enter into prestigious organizations/associations/institutions.?

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9.???? I am all for networking even if I am on the introverted side more than at the extroverted end.? Networking, however, does not mean that “newcomers” and others (Canada-born/raised) should be preferred over people (whether newcomers or thorough-bred Canadians) who have much better experience, qualifications, and knowledge under their belts.? Otherwise, it is plain and clear favoritism/nepotism.? Merit should still rule. In my career too, I have recommended and still do recommend people for consideration for jobs/assignments but I don’t entertain requests from morons or shady characters.?

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10. Networking does not mean that the “luminaries”, stalwarts, or celebrities (take your pick of the word) in that event mingle and form groups with only the people they already know well and interact with them frequently.? It is cliquish behavior. They must mingle with people like me as well who may be somewhat shy and standing/sitting in a corner!? Otherwise, I would consider these celebrities snooty, hypocritical, and full of themselves!? Perceptions and judgments do matter whether we like it or not! ?In my humble opinion, such people do not deserve to be where they are today or, at least, need to be effectively trained on the topic of networking. ?

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11. I can understand if somebody completely unknown to me (with whom I have never interacted personally or even virtually) does not respond (unless reminded) to my email or other medium.? However, common courtesy demands that the addressees with whom one has interacted personally a few times, do send a response within a reasonable period of time and apologize for not having done that earlier.? I practice it 9 out of 10 times at least.? Perhaps, these are old-fashioned etiquettes that very few people subscribe to these days!?

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12. ?Some of the tips for writing CVs/Resumes/Profiles offered by many of the “experts” in this domain are actually unethical and deceptive.? I fully understand that it is okay to embellish a CV/Profile but hiding some vital facts is unethical and potentially illegal.? For example, some Canadian experts/recruiters have advised me to: omit mentioning my MBA degree; skip stating my corporate titles I have held in my career such as GM, SVP, Executive Director, and even VP earlier; not divulging my experience in Pakistan; listing only one bachelor’s degree instead of the two that I have (BBA and B.Com); not even stating my professional qualifications such as CCEP-I (from SCCE in the US) and CD (Certified Director, ICAP).? But yes, they want me to mention all the Canadian volunteering experience (which, of course, I take pride in but is it really more important than my hard-core professional experience?).? The problem is that I refuse to understate my really hard-earned accomplishments.? Does this mean that I have a tall ego or does it mean I have high standards of self-respect and integrity?? I don’t have a problem working in a job even much lower than what I have achieved in my life but if a potential employer feels I am overqualified for a particular job, then they should go fly a kite! ?I can’t resort to an unethical/illegal practice just to get a job.?

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13. ?An immature racist person – a podcaster without much international exposure – in his tirade against me, recently alluded to English not being my first language (which was meant to belittle me).? I had to enlighten him about my English language proficiency which I had gained as a result of English being the medium of instruction and communication since my nursery school days!? Such is the level of ignorance of those who offer podcasts on how to explore employment prospects!? Their own English language proficiency is pathetic in my opinion despite being born/raised in Canada!! ?The point is that such inexperienced idiots – moving hazards -- should not be in advisory or mentorship roles.? Organizations/associations that still encourage such people to remain on their rosters are complicit in perpetuating mediocrity and creating more problems for newcomers.? They are contaminating and compromising their organizational cultures.

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14. ?Are the Canadian employers so na?ve that they can’t recognize somebody who would be able to speak (and write without emojis) good English or interact with Canadians here?? Excuse me, but are they so dumb they can’t infer from the profile of a person that he may have had more international exposure, studying in North America, and “heavier” experience of working in giant MNCs than even the CEO of that Canadian company?? For the right people, this is another highlight that must be presented to the recruiters; perhaps, it’s the latter who need to be properly and comprehensively trained. ?I will be glad do it for them, if called upon to!!

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15. ?Many of the events/conferences at which newcomers and Canada-born/raised professionals can benefit from are outrageously expensive – as high as CAD 2,500.? It is very easy (and insensitive) for a podcaster to say that “newcomers” should spend money for attending such events and going to recruitment/CV/interview “experts” in Canada but even CAD 200 can sometimes disturb the monthly budget of a “newcomer”.? Sponsors and other organizations should, perhaps, have some funds or free passes to enable newcomers to attend such events.? No, I am not saying that they should reserve a million or even a 100k CADs for this purpose but whatever is reasonably possible based on some selection criteria (for example making morons ineligible).? Also, quid pro quo that can be offered by the newcomers is volunteering for such events and Volunteering Plus which means the newcomers offering their professional services gratis for some assignments at these sponsor companies; in this manner they can acquire some practical “Canadian experience” and give an opportunity to these companies to observe them doing these temporary assignments after which regular jobs can be offered to them depending on performance.?? Something akin to co-op programs in universities but on gratis basis.? Here, I would like to greatly appreciate, in particular, the part that you/TCAE and Joseph Iuso/CMSBA have played in genuinely supporting the cause of those who are struggling to find employment and other opportunities in Canada.? TCAE conducted its in-person conference in Toronto in September, 2023 at nominal rates and even gave free passes to its members for this trail-blazing event.? You and Joseph certainly deserve a standing ovation for your respective roles!

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16. ?With due respect, I do not agree with the rhetorical mention about the change of mindset and not calling the “newcomers” as “newcomers”.? We can agree to disagree but the mindset change has to be mutually reciprocal – on the supply side as well as the demand side.? Why should we take the flawed conduct of the Canadian Government and the corporate world (employers) lying down?? Are we saying: “Whether we like it or not, this is the way “things” get done here – take it or leave it"?? If that is so, I am disappointed, given that Canada is known (perhaps wrongly or deceptively) for its freedom of expression and raising voice for inequitable treatment of any part of the society.? But I am currently in no mood to pack my bags and go back to where I came from!? I have my personal goals which I intend to achieve Inshallah – job or no job and whether I am encouraged or discouraged or whether I am a newcomer or a latecomer (a Rose called by any other name smells just as sweet)!?

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The upshot of the foregoing discussion is that entities and people who have taken upon themselves the task of facilitating newcomers and others to find jobs and other gainful employment opportunities in Canada are doing something really commendable.? However, they should now move on to the next level and challenge the flawed, unethical, and potentially illegal system surrounding the exploration of jobs/opportunities in Canada.? They should agitate for fair, transparent, and ethical ways of placement rather than questionable, cliquish, and cumbersome ways of hiring.? Also, they should ensure that networking is really networking, not confined to or among people who already know each other, but also those who need to be introduced, promoted, or publicized.?? While it is good to praise the already visible “stalwarts” and luminaries in LI posts, the “newbies” should get highlighted as well. For example, a full feature in LI focusing on one “newbie” at a time; they will feel good about it and never forget this act of magnanimity.?

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Finally, please do not take it as a criticism or an “article” on/about you.? I agree broadly with your recommendations but wanted to provide my own views too as your posts are widely read; who knows, out of a hundred views/reads of your post, one or two viewers/readers could assist in moving the needle further! It would be more impactful than a few hundred “likes” and “thumb-ups” and help you in the yeoman’s service that you are doing!?

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With my best wishes and gratitude to you!

Faisal Anwar, CCEP-I