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In this episode, I’m speaking with Simon Trevarthen, who leads the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). A big part of their work is helping helping immigrants see their skills through a different lens while helping employers access talent they desperately need.
And so the big question I hoped to answer with this episode is one I have been noodling on for a bit, which is:
"How do we help more immigrants see that their skills are exponential, not linear? And that the work you did in your home country can apply across multiple industries here.”
Simon and I also chat about:
The hidden job market and how TRIEC helps immigrants access that pool of opportunities
How informational interviews can help you land a job in Canada
Why networking is non-negotiable for immigrants
Why work connects to identity and how that complicates the immigrant experience when you have to take a role beneath your qualifications
Dozie’s Notes
A few things that stuck with me as I listened through this week’s conversation:
Survival jobs can lead to underemployment traps. It’s tough trying to settle into Canada without an income. But grabbing the first available job out of desperation can sometimes lock immigrants into cycles that take years to escape. Plus, Canada also loses when an immigrant works beneath their capabilities. Worth exploring Yauhan Mehta’s approach when considering a survival job.
The hidden job market means you need visibility. Most career opportunities never reach job boards. Employers fill roles through networks, referrals, and connections they already trust. For immigrants without established relationships, this is a structural disadvantage. TRIEC helps lower these barriers by connecting trained immigrants directly with employers who have unadvertised talent needs. But you also need to do the work of networking in the right circles.
Work is connected to identity in both beautiful and painful ways. Taking a role beneath your qualifications can affect your sense of self. To overcome this, Simon thinks you need to understand how what you know translates into this new economy. He tells the story of an Iranian engineer trained in oil and gas who successfully pivoted into aerospace project management in Ontario. The engineer recognized how his skills could transfer into a different sector.
Economic growth areas are also career opportunities. Always look at where Canada’s economy is growing or stabilizing when planning your career. Government funding usually flows towards growth sectors which means more jobs. And more jobs means labor shortages.
Official Links
✅ Connect with Simon Trevarthen on LinkedIn
✅ Check out TRIEC’s website for resources on inclusive job posting and more
One Ask
If you found this story helpful, please forward or share it to one immigrant out there.
