Watch: He Left Canada After 5 Years — And He Is Planning to Go Back

3:53 Important for me. >> Got it. >> That is something you could get it in abroad if I compare it to Indian. >> So did you go there for your

4:05 Post-graduate studies or did you go there for job? yeah >> I went for my postgraduation. I did bachelor's in IT here in Gurana College and then I did my postgraduation over there. I did it in Konos Stoa. I studied global business management. >> And I know you went with this expectation of the work life balance opportunities starting the business. what's the reality like I mean if someone is planning to go to Canada right now what are they underestimating it because you have had certain expectations and you went to the reality for the 5 years >> right? >> Yeah. You know paint us the picture of what's the reality is >> for sure. to be honest with you, crashing onto you before I graduated 6 months before I I was like okay fine I'm going to graduate 6 months after I started preparing myself I started reaching out to people on LinkedIn. I started connecting with people. I

5:06 Wanted to like land a job as soon as I get my degree. So that was my plan. >> Yeah. But it did not go that way. to be honest, it was it almost took me a year to find a job that I truly enjoy. it was like most of the people in Canada live paycheck to paycheck and that is something you get used to when you go to Canada when you because you always do a part-time or something when you're in school. So it's like you do bunch of things and you start living paycheck to paycheck. So it after you graduated it automatically resets you in a way like oh like I need to find a job immediately now. So a lot of people not just me even like my friends what they do is they immediately grab on to something that they get.

6:01 >> Yeah. >> they don't necessarily take the time to like find a job. they take they take whatever the opportunity they're getting and then they hold on to it and then they expect that another opportunity that they like falls into their lap which does not happen. So basically you'll be like doing the same job that

6:19 You don't want to do and then eventually you will be like you know what I don't want this and then you quit the job and then you'll actually look for something that you want and then you can probably find something that you want to do. So I would say for me reality was kind of like that. I was preparing for it almost for 6 months to get a job. I did find like couple of leads here and there don't get me wrong but people wanted experience but they didn't want Indian experience. so for me it was like really hard because I went right after graduation right after my bachelor's and then even before I went right before the graduation I had my own drop shipping business for a while which I ran for almost a year. so I was pretty solid when it comes to like business or like management and stuff like that but people didn't care

7:19 Honestly. it was more like they needed Canadian experience and they needed like the Canadian accent and stuff like that. So I would say that was the reality. it took me time to like find a job for like almost a year to find a job that I felt like okay fine this is the job I'm kind of proud of. Let me put it on my LinkedIn. It's like that. >> Got it. And how does that compare to the opportunities? I mean that was one of the reason right I think you know you mentioned like in India the people who have done bachelors and then the post like MBA might have the same opportunities. How does that compare to the opportunities in Canada like you know from your own experience?

8:05 >> how does it compare? I would say definitely from which university you come matters >> in Canada because when I was first moving to Canada my dad had a lot of people suggesting him that saying that oh it doesn't matter which college she goes to it doesn't matter which university she goes to but I think that is that is not right it is definitely matters which college you go to and the kind of people that you meet and also the kind of connections that you meet. because at the end of the day those are the people that will refer you to a better job and to like a better posting. for me personally from what I saw in in India among my friends it's very hard that you get a senior level position or like at least like a associate position. everybody has

9:05 To start as a fresher with like 20 20,000 or a 30,000 salary. It's like it's a mandatory. But in Canada it's not like that. If they if they like you, they will give you that opportunity.

9:19 It [clears throat] doesn't necessarily have to be like you have to start from the scratch. Yes, they yes they do ask you for experience, but if they do like you, you will be able to at least enter as a mid-level position. That is something I have realized over time with my experience like job hunting or with my experience inside companies and corporates and stuff like >> You made a comment about a lot of people live their paycheck to paycheck. I mean so is that only in the student life or like after they get into this opportunity? I know things have evolved, changed in Canada like what's happening right now in 2025 before you left what's the reality in terms of the financial yes there are opportunities there are like some other but what's the reality in Canada right now >> I would say yeah people do tend to live paycheck to paycheck especially when they are students because we come here we take loans personally I have an

10:20 Education loan I came here and then I had to like pay the loan off and I couldn't ask more money from my dad. So, what I would do, I would go get a job. my dad will be paying my tuition and if I could, I I'll be paying tution and whatever. I I wouldn't know if people would like actually believe, but I shared a room with a stranger for almost like 3 years of my stay in Canada. I mean she's a friend of course but me having my own room in India and having to go out there and share a room with a stranger is is not an expectation that you would have but those are the things that you know will make you feel like oh this is the reality and the reason why you don't get your own private room is because you tend to live paycheck to paycheck and I would also say it's because the wages are hourly.

11:18 In Canada. it's not like, oh, I'm giving you $3,000 or $4,000 a month and you spend it however you want. It's not it doesn't work like that. lot of corporates do that. Corporators are companies, but mostly when you start out and like lot of companies, they do hourly. So if there is a day that you

11:39 Skip work, there is no money for you. and a lot of people do spend paycheck to paycheck. that is also something I have observed in u my Canadian friends >> and they think it's completely fine but honestly it's not because the medical bills and everything is very expensive in Canada. >> So so yeah it's it's not a good thing to do. Got it. >> So when did you realize that and also like you like when did like you know you got an opportunity after one year and you have the career, you have the job and what what made you to move to India?

12:27 >> Okay. I had two reasons for it. first one was my visa was done. and I could rather I could apply for an extension and then stay for a while. But the second reason is I am getting married soon. so I figured I might as well come back, stay for the 6 7 months with my family, enjoy my time and then go back again. so for the 6 months that I'm here, I'm trying to like you know keep in touch with my Canadian clients and also like have my own business start in the 6 months. So when I go at least I'll still have something in India that if I ever feel like I want to come back.

13:16 >> Got it. Okay. But was there any was there ever a point where going back to India >> felt like a failure you know when thinking through this process? Hm. I would say not because I as a person grew a lot. my dad provided me everything. he joined me into a college and then I made friends >> [clears throat] >> etc etc everything. But when you actually go out there you grow as a person. so I would say like the friends that I made or like everything like I used to organize my own bed. here we have people for everything in India like we have we have a maid we have a cook but when you're when you're out there you learn to do things by yourself and that is something I would

14:11 Say it's difference from my friends who are here. so I think I wouldn't consider that as a failure because even when I came back I think I came back as a better person than I left. so I would not consider that as a failure. and also moreover I do want to like go back because I feel like Canada will keep me on my toes. >> so >> sorry just to be clear maybe I was asking about by living in Canada you know you have a choice you can apply for a visa extension and you know continue that versus going back to India take a break and all that stuff. because some people have this wrong perception moving back to India might be considered as a failure or you know it's something that you couldn't success was that something that occurred to you while living in Canada while you're making this that's that's what I was asking about >> yeah yes yes I did have that impression a little bit when it came to my immigration

15:11 >> because it felt like I was here I did study I am doing great in my job I'm I volunteer a lot so I'm like I'm doing all this stuff and then I still couldn't get the PR approval. So, it kind of felt like a little loss of time or like waste of time. there were moments like that. I definitely had because these things about immigration, they keep changing and then you know it's it's always a a little bummer and having to leave all of my friends there, friends that I made or the life that I built or having the job that I had and then having to move back is definitely a little pain. Yeah, for sure.

16:01 >> Yeah. Is there anything that you went through in terms of making that decision or like in decision framework I know it was struggle I think is there a way that you weigh this is the pros and cons or like okay this is the thing how do you come to a decision yeah going >> so I had a chat with my boyfriend and my dad my dad is the person that I always share everything with so I told him like these are the these are the things that I could do like I could like either apply for an extension and I think it might get rejected or I can learn French or I can come back and stay with you guys for 6 months and then move back again to why 6 months is because I'm planning to get married at the end of the 6 months.

16:51 So I'll just go back then. though my dad was like you know what just come back it's fine. come back, stay with us for 6 months or as long as you want. so I think my dad did the bigger picture of it of me deciding and my boyfriend as well he also told me that like you know what you should take the 6 months who else will get these time to like spend time with your family and everything before you jump back into this BS. So I was like, you know what, let me just go back and then so yeah, I decided to like, okay, I'll go back. It was definitely a pain because I have a cat >> and I couldn't bring her here. >> so I had to like leave her leave everything that I've built like my my own room or my apartment and everything and then I had to like move back even if it was for like a short time.

17:49 And how long did it take from a decision to actually moving back? >> I think I was I was thinking about it for like almost 6 months. >> Even after I took a decision, it was a little it was hurting. but I had to like come back. but I thought it's

18:11 It's for the it's for the good. I I can always keep this momentum going. So yeah, >> got it. this is something that you mentioned. so while taking a break for the 6 months, you are trying to build your business, I think you can bounce back and be back in the Canada and this like Yeah. >> First before telling that I want to mention one thing. in Canada, if people want to like find a job or like grow in their career, the most important thing that you do is networking. networking 100% helps. I'm in this group called Monday Girls. It's like women all over the world. and like women help each other and stuff like that. so it's really important who you know and who you network with and stuff like >> so for me when I was in Canada, even though I had a full-time job, I always had a client on the side. but I won't take too many because it will disrupt my

19:14 Daily fun and whatnot. So I usually keep it to like one client or two client for a month or two and then once I'm like done with the project then I take another project. So when I moved back I've decided like I should still do this. that is how I keep in touch with the Canadian roots that I've built. >> and then u I can still keep networking. I can like still be in that space and obviously there is like a currency difference. so I've decided like I should do it and right now I have like three Canadian clients that I'm working part-time with each like 10 hours 15 hours each with every single client. So that kind of gives me 30 hours 35 hours a week. and apart from that I'm bootstrapping my own company.

20:08 It's it's called Fifth Plate. do check it out. so it's a healthy brand and everything. my goal in the 6 months before leaving it, I want to make it commercial. and then I want the clients the customers and everything set up and then I leave. So once I leave my plan is till I hire a business manager and then have this run with very little to minute overlook from my side. >> So right just bootstrapping everything from my savings and then I am working on it at least 20 hours a week. >> Okay, good luck with that. And yeah, >> so sounds like I think you want to go back to Canada after the 6 months after the marriage and all that stuff like so is that like you are expecting a PR is that the plan like to be back in Canada, >> right? I'm also learning my French a little bit or trying to [laughter]

21:10 So hopefully I'll take that exam as

21:13 Well. I'm just looking into like different ways that I could like head back. >> Got it. And I think based on your experience living there for 5 years like what is that Canada actually do better than in India like you know why the pull is there to be back in Canada after experiencing you know we talked about the expectations versus what's the reality and going through the reality and living here for some time you know to understand how India has developed what is that pull factor from Canada. >> Okay. first let me say the pros of both the countries and then I'll say cons of both the countries. as for the pro in Canada I would say work life balance again. 3:00 my work is done. I clock out nobody disturbs me. after 3:00 I don't know who you are.

22:08 It's it's always been like that. And I had a good way of like using my benefits or like everything like that. And I had a very nice work life balance and obviously people are way friendlier and everything. and there are things like if I complain people actually care about something. I think that is one of the Canadian thing that I really like. Like people do respect, people do a lot of serviceoriented things. Like if I go to a restaurant, if I eat, if I don't like it, they're they're nice to me. You know what I mean? They're like I think that is I don't know if it's their job or if it's them as a person. I think that is the nice thing. 2 years ago when I visited India I was meeting my friend. she made me wait in the restaurant for like almost an hour and a half. we were supposed to meet at 7:00 p.m. and then she met me at

23:08 Around 8:20 8:30 something like that. honestly I wasn't angry. I think I changed as a person. So I wasn't that angry anymore or aggressive anymore. So she came at 8:30 and then she started apologizing. I'm so sorry. I don't blame her because she was caught up in work. so she was supposed to leave work at 6:00 but then she dragged along until 8:00 because her boss being boss and then even after she comes she has the laptop with her and then she opens it and then she's like somia sia 1 minute 1 minute and then she keeps like typing it and I'm like I felt really bad for her like >> I know you're she it's don't get me wrong she's working in a really good company it's not like any company. It's really good company, but it's still like the boundaries. There are like absolutely no boundaries when it comes to work. You're supposed to clock out at 6:00 and then you are sitting in front

24:09 Of me at 8:30 at dinner time and then you're you know, you're doing it and then a boss keeps calling it. So I think it's a very bad boundary when it comes to like work life balance and even when I first moved back to India I applied for like couple of jobs I thought like let me just see what the India is offering right now and I tried to like poke around with my resume and everything. So people do expect you to work 6 days a week. I think I don't know how to interpret this because for me it feels like there are a lot of people out there with no job. So I think you should just hire more people and make it convenient for the people to like actually work for your company rather than making someone work 6 days a week with lesser pay. M >> so I it just after interviewing

25:11 For like two three jobs I got the

25:14 Offers but I just didn't feel like it because I was like you're not offering me all that great and then you're asking me to work 6 days a week and the work timings are horrible. You're asking me to stay in the office from 11 to 8 or 11 to 7. That means 6 days of my life gone. >> There is nothing I could do. I'll wake up. will have the breakfast and then I'll come to you and then I'll have dinner at my house. There's like no life. So I was like you know what I'm not going to do this. so I would say that is like the con. And the second one is I would say people don't take responsibility in some way in in India especially sometimes the customer service and whatnot. So my mom has a sar's business and then we booked an Uber or something and then it was going to another place >> and the guy stole the thing. we tried reaching out to the oop guys and then

26:16 They didn't get back to us for like 5 days. so it was annoying because it was a 12,000 worth parcel and we didn't have to go through all that. It has to be fixed. so I would say like that was something lagging. Now when I say pros about India having the family and advantage of homec court is completely different. because my time I've been in India for the last 2 months now. and then me building a business and everything my family and my cousins have been really really supportive and my sister. it's like even though they have their own lives going on on the side they always came to me when I asked them for help I think that is the kind of advantage or that's the kind of affection love or caring or whatever you will not get in another country >> so it's like few days ago we had like

27:17 A menu tasting and then we we invited like 25 fitness influencers and then like people like that and then all of My cousins were with us in the farm houses and they were helping us. So they didn't have to do it. They could just be like di I have work I have to go but everyone was there. So I would say those are like couple of pros being with the family again. and another pro is India is so advanced right now in a way that I needed a bank account and and the guy came to my house to like get it done. So I'm like that is amazing. because in Canada I had to like sometimes I don't get appointments so I get pushed for 3 days. So do I need to really wait for 3 days to open a bank account to meet an advisor? But here it's like a different thing. I I want get I want to get something done. There are things like it will done in 24 hours as well. So I

28:18 Think that is like a real advantage. and also for the businesses

28:24 Especially food businesses India has a blooming growth. people are hungry all the time. They it's like even like a minimal cloud kitchen selling from house they're they're earning like what 60 70 or up to one lakh like a proper full-time employee. So people are making money if they just want to like make money. So I think India could be a very good investment if people want to like invest in something. so yeah I would say that is the pros of India and if I remember anything I'll pluck it again. >> and as for the cons in Canada I would say the job market is very bad.

29:15 People don't get back to you. I think I've applied for almost like 400 500 applications. only couple of them got back to me. even though they are rejections. I do appreciate rejections but I I want to hear something back or else I'll just keep expecting right. so I think that is one of the con like people don't like get back to you and you won't get an opportunity to talk with the HR and let them know what you are >> unless you actually connect with people. but Canada do have those few networking events, clubs and everything that you can join. you just need to find a way to like go in. >> Yeah, >> I would say that is the little con about Canada. the job market is really tough and having to live paycheck to paycheck and healthcare. Oh my god, healthcare is really bad. It's like a friend of mine, he he had a problem with

30:16 His foot or something and then we had to go and then we had to like wait for like a full day in the emergency care just to be looked at and for him to write soft massin on the on the prescription paper. So it was really bad. it shouldn't have been gone to that. So it's I think that is something I would say like a con from Canada. Canada's infrastructure, Canada's weather, everything is amazing. But it would be much much better if they had a better health care system as well. >> immediate attention and all that. >> Ko, thanks for sharing that. So, sounds like I think it's the work culture, the lifestyle that's the critical factor I think you know for you to move back.

31:05 So if someone is considering moving to Canada right now as a student what would be your advice from your experience? >> Okay. from my experience, I would say definitely join the college that you that that is doing really well or people coming out from that college are good in like career-wise and also I would say like pick a proper course that you actually want to do. This is the problem that I had with my course as well. the course that I took global business management it is something that I actually want to do I wanted to like know about learn about how businesses grow globally and stuff like that but a lot of people who took it just because it's a easy course to get in so I would say don't do that pick a course that you actually want

32:05 To do >> don't pick it if you feel like oh it's just an easy course to get in no and network a network a lot as as much as you can. Network with your professors, network with your fellow students, network with your seniors. join all the clubs. Don't don't feel like oh if I don't go to a club I might as well go work another hour at the parttime. Don't do that. go to a club and make friends. It's it's when you're away from your home, it's always important to build your own family. friends that will become your family. And the other thing I would say at least start looking for a job or dipping your feet into the thing at least when you are in your third semester before a semester finish. dip into everything look look for what kind of career roles you want to do in so I

33:05 Would say these are like the main important things. and I also have a tip for part- timerrs. This is the way that I look for a part-time job whenever I look I was looking. I was never jobless throughout my five and a half years in Canada. Even though I was look, I was working wherever. don't go randomly and give a resume. it doesn't work. it will end up in a pile of because I was I worked in a manager as in a in a restaurant as well and then that's how it's usually treated because we will never use it. so instead pull out a Google map and look for target an area and look for the the restaurants or like the places that you want to look go for. Give them a call. sit in the home, give them a call and then be like, "Hey, like I'm Sia. I just wanted to check in. Is

34:07 There a manager in?" And then you ask them if the manager is in or not. If the manager is in, you ask to speak with him and then you just ask him like, "Hey, like I'm like so and so. I'm going to so and so university." I was just wondering if you guys are hiring. If they say yes, we are hiring, then you can just set up an appointment right then. Be like, "Okay, can I come see you tomorrow? can I come see you today around like 3:00?" If they say yes, write it down. If they say no, then it's a no. But rather than you going around walking, which is which is very tiring and everything, call people. People are nicer. They will answer your phone. They will actually tell you if they're hiring or not. in that way, I think I always found employment no matter what the situation was for me. it always works. and you giving them a call is smart enough and you showing them your communication skills and you talking to the manager beforehand is is just going to be like when you go there you can just be like hey I'm Sam I gave you a

35:07 Call remember and then he goes like yeah yeah yeah I spoke to you sit down so you can just like go on with it so I would say that is something I tell a lot of other immigrants that come after me when they're finding a part-time that's how it helped me for almost 3 years during my college and everything as >> Got it. So, wish you all the best you know with the marriage, with the business and then the move back to Canada. And thank you very much for taking the time to share your story, share your advice, insights to our audience. So, really appreciate it.