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batool talebzadehProgram Coordinator
March 26, 2025
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Between Two Worlds: Navigating Belonging and Professional Fulfillment Across Borders

Skilled immigration is often discussed in terms of geographical relocation and cultural adaptation. But beneath these conversations lies a more subtle layer that is frequently overlooked: the “professional identity” of immigrants. This issue is particularly significant for individuals who arrive in countries like Canada with years of experience and advanced education, only to find themselves in a labour market that does not fully recognize their capabilities.

A clear example is a friend who spent years working in Iran’s oil and gas industry and graduated from Sharif University of Technology, considered Iran’s top university, and ranked highly on the global stage. He has lived in St. John’s, Canada, for nearly six years and currently holds a specialized role at a reputable local company.

From the outside, everything appears to be in place: a relevant job, good income, and financial stability. Yet, beneath this success lies a significant shift in the level of professional engagement compared to his previous career. While his financial and family life are secure, he continues to work remotely with companies in Iran.

This decision is not driven by income. He notes that in two and a half years at his Canadian company, only two major projects have been completed, whereas his Iranian colleagues deliver specialized packages every few months. The income from his Iranian collaborations is negligible compared to his Canadian salary, but he maintains these ties for intellectual fulfillment and to preserve his professional identity.

Why would someone with such expertise divide their professional life between two countries? The answer lies in structural challenges faced by many skilled immigrants.

Understanding Structural Challenges in Canada’s Job Market for Skilled Immigrants

  • Lack of Recognition for International Education and Experience: Canadian employers often lack familiarity with foreign educational institutions and professional backgrounds. A degree from a reputable University, despite its global prestige, is not always fully acknowledged.

  • Closed Professional and Managerial Networks: Success in the job market is frequently more about who you know than what you know. Newcomers are often disconnected from these networks and need years to establish their presence.

  • Project Stagnation and Structural Differences: In provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador, project development can be slower due to bureaucratic processes, environmental regulations, and economic conditions. For professionals used to fast-paced environments, this may feel like intellectual stagnation.

  • Unconscious Biases: Even in multicultural workplaces, unconscious biases for local talent or those from similar educational and cultural systems often persist.

Dual Professional Existence: A Threat or an Opportunity?

What first appears as a challenge may present a unique opportunity. Immigrants who maintain professional ties with their home countries become bridges between two worlds. This dual professional existence can serve as a competitive advantage, enabling knowledge exchange, transfer of experience, and international collaboration. Remaining connected to one’s specialized field while gaining exposure to new systems allows immigrants to become influential in both spheres. However, this model is not equally accessible to all immigrants. Many must adapt to limited local opportunities, often leaving their skills underutilized and unrecognized.

Why Isn’t the Dual Professional Model Accessible to All Immigrants?

While maintaining dual professional lives may seem ideal, several factors limit its feasibility:

  • Nature of Certain Jobs and Professions: Some professions, such as medical sciences, law, require physical presence or are highly regulated. Even in engineering, many roles demand on-site work, making remote collaboration impractical.

  • Legal Restrictions and Licensing Requirements: In Canada, many specialized fields require licensing or credential recognition. This process can be time-consuming and costly, and without it, immigrants cannot fully participate in the job market. Labour laws or contract restrictions may also limit foreign collaborations.

  • Financial Pressures and the Need for Stability: For many, the immediate priority is financial stability. Entering the local labour market, even in roles below their qualifications, is often the quickest way to secure income. Time and energy for professional ties abroad become scarce.

  • Time Zone Differences and Mental Strain: Balancing work across time zones, systems, and responsibilities is exhausting. The mental and physical strain, along with family and social obligations in Canada, makes this dual model difficult to sustain.

  • Gradual Erosion of Professional Networks Back Home: Professional networks require consistent engagement. Without physical presence, these networks may weaken, and one's status within them may fade. Rebuilding or maintaining them remotely is not easy.

  • Personal and Family Priorities: Some immigrants focus entirely on establishing themselves in Canada, especially when family presence and support are needed. Dual professional engagement demands extra time and energy, often in conflict with family priorities.

How Can These Untapped Capacities Be Activated?

To fully benefit from skilled immigrants, Canada must implement meaningful changes: Develop systems for faster, more transparent assessment of international credentials and experience. Create genuine opportunities for immigrants to access professional networks and leadership roles. Educate employers on the true value of immigrant talent and address unconscious bias. Provide clear career pathways with growth and advancement support for immigrants. Without these interventions, we will continue to hear similar stories of skilled individuals living in two professional worlds, or worse, abandoning their expertise for roles far beneath their potential.

Conclusion

In today’s interconnected world, overlooking the potential of skilled immigrants is not merely a missed personal opportunity, it is a lost competitive advantage for the broader economy and society. When educated, specialized immigrants are not fully integrated into Canada’s professional systems, the result is not just individual underutilization,it is a collective loss of valuable capacity.

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