Karthik stood at a turning point in his life when he decided to leave Bangalore, India’s Silicon Valley, for Canada. A computer science graduate with a passion for technology, he dreamed of advancing his career and education abroad. His search led him to Montreal. Yet, the uncertainty of starting fresh in a foreign country loomed large.
“What if Montreal isn’t the right city?” he wondered. “Will I thrive in such a new and different environment?”
Karthik needed guidance to help him navigate this life-changing decision. That’s when he discovered the Welcome to Canada app. “I didn’t know anything about Canada,” he recalled. “I was checking out different provinces and cities, trying to understand where I’d have the best opportunities. The Cities Comparison Tool made everything clearer - it reassured me that Montreal was the right choice. It made me feel calmer, knowing I’d made a good decision.”
With confidence in his choice and a clear sense of direction, Karthik embarked on his journey to Canada, ready to embrace the possibilities that lay ahead.
Arriving in Montreal, Karthik quickly realized that the transition would be more challenging than he anticipated. The cold April air was a stark contrast to Bangalore’s warm climate. “The lowest temperature I’d ever experienced was 16 degrees,” he admitted. “I wasn’t prepared for six degrees - it was a real shock.”
Language barriers added to the difficulty. While he expected French to be widely spoken and started to learn basic French, he hadn’t anticipated how much it would impact daily life. “There were people who didn’t speak English at all,” he shared. “It was tough, but I was willing to adapt, I love embracing the French culture.”
Finding a part-time job proved equally difficult. “French was a big requirement here. Even non-customer-facing jobs needed it,” he said. Despite the challenges, Karthik’s determination kept him moving forward.
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Throughout these hurdles, the Welcome to Canada platform proved invaluable. Its features provided both practical tools and emotional support, helping him navigate his new life with greater confidence. “The app gave me everything I needed in one place,” he explained. “It didn’t make me take 10 steps to find what I was looking for. The design was simple, welcoming, and just made sense.”
In addition to the Cities Comparison Tool, the newcomer-friendly Job Board added even more value, allowing Karthik to dive deeper into specific career prospects. “I used the city comparison feature to figure out which sectors were popular in different places. Then, I filtered jobs by keywords to see where the opportunities aligned with my field,” he explained. These tools gave him a better understanding of the job market and provided a sense of reliability and credibility. “If I’m thinking about moving to another province, I’d take your app - it’s trustworthy and accurate.”
Another standout feature for Karthik was the AI-powered Interview Coach, “It helps you prepare and understand what you’re doing right and where you can improve,” he reflected. “For me, it wasn’t just about the interviews. It also boosted my mental health by giving me the assurance that I was prepared. That made me feel calmer and more confident.”
Today, Karthik is thriving in his master’s program in software engineering, but his aspirations reach far beyond academics. “What I’m really hoping to achieve in Canada is to get a job I love, where I can make a meaningful difference,” he shared.
For newcomers beginning their journey in Canada, Karthik offers this advice: “Preparation is everything. The right resources can make all the difference. I’d absolutely recommend newcomers use Welcome to Canada. The Cities Comparison Tool helps you narrow down your options, whether you’re coming for immigration or study. The Job Board makes it easy to find opportunities tailored to your needs, and the Interview Coach boosts your confidence by making you feel more prepared.”
Karthik’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and the transformative impact of accessible tools. His story serves as a reminder that with determination and the right support, even the toughest challenges can become stepping stones to success.
Learn more about Welcome to Canada and Virtual Career Coach
Visuals credit: Diego Franco
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