When Verónica Vera arrived in Canada from Mexico in August 2025, she brought with her extensive professional experience and a strong desire to build a meaningful career in British Columbia. But like many skilled newcomers, she quickly realized that navigating a new labour market came with unexpected challenges.
After advancing to the final interview stage for a position with BC Ferries but not receiving the role, Verónica was left questioning what she was missing. “What am I missing? What should I be doing differently? What do I still not understand about this market?” she reflected.
That uncertainty eventually led her to the MentorConnect Program, where she was matched with mentor Ned DeBeck in March 2026. Looking back, Verónica describes the experience as a turning point in her newcomer journey.
At the start of the mentorship, Verónica’s goals were to:
- build confidence applying for jobs,
- better understand workplace culture in BC, strengthen her networking skills, and
- learn how to better position her experience in the Canadian market.
Over the course of two months, they made tangible progress.
One of the most impactful aspects of the mentorship was helping Verónica understand networking in practice. Through introductions facilitated by her mentor, she connected with professionals in both the private and public sectors, gaining insight into local business realities and workplace expectations.
“Networking still feels challenging, but now I see that challenge very differently,” Verónica shared. “Before, networking felt overwhelming and paralyzing. Today, I see it as a long-term process that will require creativity, consistency, and patience.”
The mentorship also transformed the way she approached job applications. With guidance from Ned, Verónica learned how to strategically tailor her resume and communicate the value of her experience more effectively. She credits this process with rebuilding her confidence and helping her better understand the Canadian hiring landscape.
One realization in particular stood out for her: “If I could go back and repeat my BC Ferries panel interview today, the experience would be completely different.”
For Verónica, the value of the program extended far beyond resume support or interview preparation. Through regular weekly meetings, practical conversations, and honest feedback, she gained a stronger sense of direction and confidence in her professional future in Canada, as well as important exposure to local business needs, constraints, and culture.
One of the most vivid parts of that growth was learning to adapt from a high-context communication style to the lower-context style common in Canadian workplaces. What she had previously understood in theory became real through lived experience: she began to see how clear, direct, and focused conversations could build trust, create insight, and open professional doors. That cultural learning helped her not only communicate more effectively, but also better understand what employers in BC are looking for in workplace interactions.
As more newcomers grow with MentorConnect, BC’s talent pool gets deeper.
“I genuinely believe this program can create a significant ‘before and after’ experience for internationally trained professionals trying to build their careers in Canada,” she said.
Today, Verónica continues to build her professional network, refine her career positioning, and deepen a growing interest in AI-enabled organizational transformation. What began as practical advice from her mentor on using AI tools to strengthen job applications led to a conversation with a public sector leader, and became one of her biggest breakthroughs: a shift in how she thinks about the future of work, leadership, and workforce adaptation in BC.
Her experience is a strong reminder that immigrant talent often brings not only international experience, but also the adaptability, learning agility, and fresh perspectives. Reading her story, we realize that it’s not just immigrant talent that can grow and bridge cultural gaps: BC employers also have much to gain by recognizing and valuing immigrant talent and making a few straightforward changes to improve their integration and processes.
Ready to make your mark as a mentor or accelerate your career journey as a mentee? Learn more and get in touch with us today!