#2. Yup, we're late today
Or would you prefer if it landed in your inboxes by this time
Hello!
How’s your week going? Mine is a bit topsy turvy (kiddo has a bug so I and May are having to babysit and get whatever work we can get done). But I would love to know - would you prefer if today’s newsletter hit your inbox by this time or earlier in the day?
In today’s newsletter: Hugo Onuoha talks about moving to the United Kingdom to study, and then back to Nigeria because he was homesick, and then back again with family. Funny thing is he says he doesn’t miss the Nigerian food, weather, or culture.
Also: Lauren Mostowyk of Interac talks about the company’s recent survey on newcomers' financial experiences in Canada.
Plus: Angela Iyke-Osuji with four tips for immigrants looking to translate their foreign experience to a new work culture.
By: Dozie Anyaegbunam
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Hugo Onuoha doesn't miss Nigerian food, weather, or culture
Prior to this episode, I've always believed that immigrating as a student makes it a bit easier to settle in, integrate, and get going. Speaking with Hugo Onuoha, who moved to the UK twice—first as a student, then years later as a working professional with his family—challenged that belief.
This is why I now say that the immigrant isn't a monolith. Everyone's story is different.
During his first stay in the UK, he experienced such intense homesickness that he shortened his degree program from four years to three just to return to Nigeria faster. Yet surprisingly, seven years later, he found himself drawn back to the same country – this time with a completely different experience and outlook.
I also found it particularly fascinating that unlike many immigrants, including his wife, he doesn't pine for Nigerian food, weather, or culture. As he puts it, “Apart from family, I don't really miss much.”
Continue listening ⤵
Lauren Mostowyk & Interac want to reduce financial stress for newcomers
Asides from rebuilding social capital, one of the hardest things to rebuild as a newcomer is financial confidence. You know, the idea that you are in control of your bills, you understand how the financial system works, and you are working towards your long term financial goals.
The startling thing for me here was that while 61% of newcomers feel financially confident when they arrive in Canada, that confidence is cut in half within one month.
And that's quite worrying. We get in folks who can contribute to the country's growth. And within 30 days, they start feeling like they're floundering, probably due to a combination of the typical grueling Canadian job hunt, the need to prove to a potential landlord that you can pay your rent, and the steady hum of everyday expenses.
As Lauren Mostowyk, Head of Integrated Marketing and Communications at Interac, puts it, “We don't talk enough about how much of your happiness is driven by your financial confidence.”
Continue listening ⤵
4 Tips that help to showcase your diverse experience in a new work culture
‘Remove your foreign experience from your resume because it means nothing.’ Every immigrant has probably heard this take either directly or indirectly while hustling to get that first coveted role.
Well, I don’t agree, especially as someone who landed her first job in Australia with only my Nigerian experience on my resume. As an immigrant, one of your superpowers is the uniqueness of the experience and perspective you bring to a company.
Here’s how I approached translating my foreign experience to show competence. These tips work even if you’re changing careers.
#1. Localise Your Resume
Localising your resume means you structure it to match the standards, norms and expectations of the industry and job market of the country you're applying in. Localisation ensures your resume is relevant, culturally appropriate, and more appealing to the recruiters in your new country.
In simpler terms, localisation makes your resume look like it’s been here before and it’s not an imposter.
Some countries may have distinct resume formats unique to them. For instance, resumes in Australia, Canada, and the United States, headshots are discouraged while for France, Spain, and Italy, a professional headshot is common and often expected. In the Middle East, including a photo is standard practice. In Germany, it’s okay to send a two to four page resume while in Canada, one-page resumes are standard, especially for early to mid-career professionals.
Continue reading ⤵
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Love getting this at this time and enjoying the reading with some tea