Sanaz and Livia, were two newcomers who defied the odds and emerged as champions at the prestigious Ontario Colleges Marketing Competition (OCMC).

Through their gripping stories, you'll discover practical strategies for conquering self-doubt, embracing a growth mindset, and mastering the art of pitching and presenting. Prepare to be motivated as these two trailblazers share their secrets to success, from harnessing the power of feedback to leveraging their unique strengths and turning challenges into opportunities.

Download this Episode's Workbook and check out our full show notes here: https://onfire.show/winning-the-ontario-colleges-marketing-competition-secrets-of-success-from-sanaz-bahadori-and-livia-barbosa-de-oliveira-nof15/

Gurasis Singh, moved from India to Canada to study Media Strategies and Advertising. He faced numerous struggles like finding housing, lost job opportunities, and cultural barriers related to his strong accent and appearance. However, Gurasis persevered through networking, persistence and maintaining a positive mindset. He shares his journey to overcoming immigrant challenges and eventually launching his own podcast “My Thick Accent” to showcase immigrant success stories.

Full show notes here: https://onfire.show/my-thick-accent-is-my-superpower-with-gurasis-singh-nof14/

Joco Amante shares his journey of applying to over 500 jobs before finally landing his dream role. Joco invested his life savings to study for an MBA in Canada, but after graduating, he struggled to find work. He opens up about the constant rejection taking a toll on his confidence and the stress of being on a study permit. Joco provides valuable insights on lowering your expectations as a newcomer, extending your financial runway, and the importance of networking. Listen to this episode to gain perspective and actionable tips to land your dream job.

Full Show Notes and Resources here: https://onfire.show/lessons-from-500-nos-how-to-land-your-dream-yes-with-joco-amante-nof13/

Episode Highlights:

• Overcoming Language Barriers: We dive into Maria’s journey of overcoming self-doubt and fear of judgment to find her voice.

Key Takeaways:

1. Volunteer at non-profits to gain confidence and connections. It’s a launch pad!

More info HERE

Nazia Iqbal moved alone from Pakistan to Canada as a student. Despite facing tremendous cultural obstacles, she powered through initial struggles to climb from retail banking to impressive corporate roles, breaking barriers for immigrant women along the way. Gain an uplifting blueprint and mindset-shifting insights to overcome your career struggles as a newcomer.

Episode Highlights:

• Arriving in a New Country and Culture

• Dealing with the shock of doing everything solo for the first time

• Convincing the bank to take a chance on her

• Cracking norms that prefer silence from women and immigrants

• Relationships with casual lunch buddies paying off with key referrals

Key Takeaways:

1. Stick it out in tough entry-level jobs to gain experience and work toward career goals.

Where to find Nazia

• Nazia’s LinkedIn Profile

Where to find Miguel

• Miguel’s LinkedIn Profile

Referenced

• Book: Peace of Mind: Becoming Fully Present by Thich Nhat Hanh

I chat with Luki about whether informational interviews (also known as “coffee chats”) are essential or overhyped. We share our experiences using them to build connections and get job promotions. We also give best practices for improving your coffee chat skills.

Episode Highlights:

A Conversation that Started on LinkedIn

• I posted that “informational interviews are underrated”. Luki countered saying they can be overrated and should be rebranded as “curiosity conversations.”

A Tool that Got Me Six Promotions

• I attribute coffee chats for my biggest career moves – they helped me land six promotions. But I learned the hard way how to have good ones!

How to Request a Meeting

• Share your situation and specific question you have for them. Suggest a short meeting like 15-20 minutes. Provide a calendar link to make scheduling easy.

Best Practices for the Conversation

• Prepare questions ahead of time, but keep it a flowing chat rather than an interrogation.

Key Takeaways:

• Coffee chats can be valuable, but focus on learning about the person instead of direct career help. Mutual value matters most.

Conclusion: Overall, we agree coffee meetings are great ways to build meaningful connections, though the approach matters. Try our tips to get better at networking through information conversations!

Full ShowNotes HERE

Newcomers ON FIRE! Featured by Feedspot 20 Best Canadian Career Podcast

Episode Highlights:

• Navigating the Early Struggles: Sabina recounts her early challenges finding work in Canada despite being told it would be easy. She realized she needed to understand the Canadian job market better.

Key Takeaways:

1. Focus on continually improving your self-awareness and understanding the market’s needs. Find where you can add value.

Where to find Sabina

• Sabina’s LinkedIn Profile

Where to find Miguel

• Miguel’s LinkedIn Profile

Referenced

• Business Edge Program

Ruth Javier is an expert in overcoming the challenges of relocating to a new country. Ruth shares invaluable insights on improving your communication skills, finding the courage to pursue your dreams, the importance of networking and volunteering, embracing your unique accent, and strategies for maintaining a positive mindset. Get ready to be inspired and empowered to make your newcomer journey a success.

Episode Highlights:

• The Power of Communication: Learn how to improve your English and become an effective communicator, no matter where you're from.

Key Takeaways:

1. Focus on improving your communication skills to succeed in your new life.

Gabriela Gutierrez emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking in decision-making, highlights the art of preparing for job interviews, reveals her secret to getting hired on the spot and also shares her recipe for staying motivated.

Episode Highlights:

• How to Prepare for Job Interviews – Gabriela discusses her approach to preparing for job interviews and how she ended up getting hired on the spot several times.

Key Takeaways:

1. Prepare thoroughly for job interviews, showcasing your skills and getting hired on the spot.

Where to find Gabriela

• Gabriela’s LinkedIn Profile

Where to find Miguel

• Miguel’s LinkedIn Profile

Lorena Martinez is a seasoned professional who shares her secrets on overcoming challenges, securing your dream job, and embracing a life filled with confidence and opportunities.

Episode Highlights:

• “From Coffee Server to Marketing Professional” Lorena Martinez, moved to Canada with a dream of building a successful career in marketing. She talks about her early challenges, including finding her first professional job and dealing with uncertainty.

Key Takeaways:

1. Never give up on your dreams; keep pushing forward.

Where to find Lorena

• Email: [email protected]

Where to find Miguel

• Miguel’s LinkedIn Profile

Referenced:

• Business Edge Program (Rotman School of Business)

In this episode, we cover:

• 00:00 Introduction