This International Women’s Day, we are proud to share the journey of Yfaat, a Canada InfoNet program participant, as she builds her career in Canada’s tech sector as a newcomer woman. Moving countries meant starting over in many ways, professionally, emotionally, and strategically. Her story is about resilience, adaptation, and the power of intentional career planning, especially for women navigating new systems while staying true to their ambitions.
Moving to Canada
I moved to Canada last summer, in July, from Israel. Like many newcomers, I arrived with excitement, hope, and a quiet understanding that the transition would not be easy, especially as a woman rebuilding her career in a new country.
I am a Technical Program Manager, and my background is in delivering complex software development projects in the tech industry. When I was younger, I wanted to conquer the world. Over time, my goals became more grounded and closer to everyday impact. I’ve always been drawn to challenging roles—working with cutting-edge technology and contributing to products that genuinely affect people’s lives.
When I moved to Canada, I was open to taking a more junior role than I was used to. What mattered most to me was staying in tech. It’s a dynamic industry, it evolves quickly, and compared to more traditional fields, it offers fewer rigid barriers and more room to grow based on skills and results.
The Reality of the Job Market
What surprised me most was how conservative many Canadian companies felt, especially when it came to roles and compensation. I was also struck by how competitive the job market in Toronto is. Every job posting seemed to receive hundreds of applications within minutes. It quickly became clear that submitting strong applications alone wouldn’t be enough.
I realized I needed to clearly structure and position my experience in a way that would truly distinguish me from the crowd.
Building a Process That Worked for Me
Instead of applying randomly, I built a job search process, one that I could refine and improve over time. First, I focused on learning the local market. I used AI tools to translate my experience into Canadian context: understanding how roles are titled here, what employers value, and how my strengths—global experience, deep technical understanding, and leadership in tech-driven environments—fit into the market.
Next, I mapped out the landscape. I identified companies that were actively looking for the strengths I brought with me, rather than trying to fit myself into roles that didn’t align with my background.
Once I had a list of target employers, I benchmarked my CV and LinkedIn profile against professionals already working in similar roles at those companies. I studied how they described their work, the keywords they used, and how they framed their achievements. This helped me refine both my resume and online presence.
Like most job seekers, I tailored my CV for every role. But I also invested heavily in interview preparation. I used AI to simulate different interview scenarios—HR screenings, hiring manager interviews, and peer reviews—and asked for detailed feedback on my responses.
One of the most important steps I took was writing out my professional introduction—the classic “Tell me about yourself.” I wanted to be intentional about how I presented myself and what I emphasized. I also prepared four detailed stories of accomplishments from my past roles, each highlighting different strengths. Before every interview, I reviewed these notes so I could confidently adapt them to behavioural questions.
I practiced my pitch before every interview. I showed up prepared, confident, and professional, aiming to leave a clear and consistent impression of who I am and what I bring.
The Value of Support
Among all the supports I accessed, the support from my employment counsellor at Canada InfoNet had the biggest impact. Having a professional perspective—someone who could offer real feedback and guidance—helped me focus on what truly mattered. It saved me time, reduced self-doubt, and helped me move forward with clarity.
Advice for Other Newcomer Women
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: be intentional. Think about where you want to be, then build a process that gets you there. Adjust it as you go. Change what isn’t working. Invest the time. And don’t take rejection personally.
The job search is a numbers game. For every 100 CVs you send, you might get five interview invitations. You may pass one or two out of every ten interviews. Each interview is practice for the next one—and the next one will be better.
This International Women’s Day, we want to remind newcomer women that starting over does not mean starting from zero. Your experience, resilience, and adaptability travel with you. With the right strategy and support, you can find your place and thrive.
Canada InfoNet supports pre-arrival participants on this journey — offering mentorship, career guidance and resources to help you explore opportunities and make informed decisions before arriving in Canada. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your journey.
