Series #3: Networking When You Arrive and There Are No Connections

One piece of advice almost every newcomer hears in Canada is this:

“You need to network.”

Employment counsellors say it. Settlement agencies say it.Career coaches say it.

And yet, many highly educated immigrant professionals quietly resist it.

I have seen this repeatedly over the years.

Women with impressive degrees, extensive experience, and beautifully crafted résumés would spend weeks refining every word on their CVs. But when it came to attending an industry event, introducing themselves to strangers, requesting an informational interview, or following up with a professional contact, they hesitated.

Perhaps because many of us grew up believing that qualifications should speak for themselves.

That if we worked hard enough, opportunities would naturally follow.

But Canada taught me a different lesson.

A résumé tells people what you have done. A conversation tells them who you are. And often, that makes all the difference.

Many jobs are never publicly advertised. Many opportunities begin with a recommendation, a referral, a conversation over coffee, or a chance meeting at a professional event. That is not favouritism. It is trust. People hire people they know, people they have met, and people who have made a positive impression.

As immigrant professionals, we often arrive with no professional network, no alumni connections, and no family friends working in our field.

That can feel unfair.

But it also means we have to build those relationships intentionally.

Networking is not about collecting business cards or adding hundreds of strangers on LinkedIn. It is about building genuine professional relationships. It is about showing up. Being curious. Listening.Asking thoughtful questions. And allowing people to see the person behind the résumé.

Some of the most successful immigrant women I have known were not necessarily the ones with the most impressive credentials. They were the ones who had the courage to walk into a room where they knew no one and start a conversation.

Looking back, I realize that networking is not really about finding a job. It is about finding your place in a new professional community. And sometimes, belonging begins with a simple introduction.

I feel particularly authentic writing about this on LinkedIn because when I look back at my own professional journey in Toronto, almost every opportunity came through a referral, a recommendation, or a connection.

Every role I held began because someone knew me, trusted me, remembered me, or was willing to introduce me to another opportunity.

Not because I had the perfect résumé.

Not because I submitted the most applications.

But because I had taken the time to meet people, build relationships, and stay connected.

For immigrant professionals, this can be an uncomfortable realization.

We often arrive believing our credentials, experience, and hard work will speak for themselves.

But in a new country, there is no one automatically marketing your strengths.

No former classmates advocating for you.

No family network opening doors.

You have to become your own ambassador.

That is why networking is not optional—it is essential.

Getting to know people.

Meeting people.

Following up.

Showing genuine interest in others.

Being visible.

These are not distractions from your job search; they are part of it.

Because opportunities often travel through people before they ever appear on a job board.

Have you ever found an opportunity through networking rather than a job posting?

I’d love to hear your experience.