From India to Canada Amid the Pandemic: A Digital Marketer’s Account

[box] “Grit is having the courage to push through, no matter what the obstacles are, because it’s worth it”- Chris Morris[/box] Living by the principles of humanity, striving for pluralism, a passionate advocate of progressive values, a digital marketer, with an aspiration to become a neuroscientist. That is my life story in short.

Bumpy Road

The only child to a single mother, I learnt life lessons early on. One incident that left an indelible mark on me was when my mother fell seriously ill. That moment on, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. Unfortunately, despite attempting the NEET exam twice, I couldn’t qualify. During the process, I completed my degree in B.Sc. in Life Sciences. There was a time when I didn’t have enough to eat. Whatever I set out to achieve, I experienced hurdles. I had to change my path. Yet, I was undeterred. Determined, I moved on. In my spare time, I learnt adhoc skills. I worked as a data transcriber for a humanitarian aid organization. As part of a social action project, I organized inter-faith and gender sensitization sessions. This was when I was offered content writing related roles. Initially, I was quite reluctant. But when the employer egged me on to give it a try, I complied. When I sat down to write, I knew this was my calling. I burnt the midnight oil trying to understand the digital marketing arena. Digital marketing is a component of marketing that delivers advertising through digital technologies. Digital channels include search engines, websites, social media, mobile apps, and email. By using combinations of search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, e-books, etc., digital marketing campaigns have become more prevalent. As I delved deeper into the field of digital marketing, I was completely absorbed in it. My determination to reach the epitome in this field fuelled me to give it my best. The next five years flew past as I was sucked into working day and night. I began freelancing via professional websites for international customers. My work was constantly appreciated, and things at home began improving. During one of my Canadian gigs, my contractor casually asked me if I wanted to move to Canada. Until then, I hadn’t planned on moving abroad. The casual remark got me thinking.

The magic happens when you don’t give up, even though you want to.

About the Profession

Digital marketing is fast gaining popularity worldwide. As internet users surge, digital content is fast becoming an important tool to create an impact. Marketing experts are progressively spending their budget on digital channels to promote their businesses. Digital marketing is quickly becoming the extended arm of the marketing department at every company. In 2018, alternative media and worldwide digital revenues grew an estimated 11.6%. This year, estimations state that global revenue from offline channels will reduce by nearly 20%. Canada is fast catching up on this global trend and is now one of the world’s biggest advertising markets. In 2020, approximately 8.45 billion Canadian dollars were spent on digital ad campaigns. By 2024, the advertising spend is all set to cross the 12-billion-dollar mark in Canada. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RELATED

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Path to My Goal

My job was quite demanding. To achieve what I had set my mind to, I needed to seek an experts help. An expert who could advice and guide me through the process. In short, freeing my time up and releasing the pressure of my mind. Y-Axis proved to be the answer to all my questions. This immigration and visa consultancy helps clients with completing documentation and getting all the right permits necessary to move to another country. The amount of process clarity, patience, and knack for asking the right question impressed me the most. There is a lot of finer detailing that goes into preparing your visa application, resume, etc. Immigration consultants like Y-Axis know how to get the visa application right the first time around. If your application is submitted correctly in the first go, it increases your success rate, and your application is enhanced fittingly. Since I had an offer letter in hand from my Canadian employer, we decided to apply under the Express Entry system. In 2020, approximately 8.45 billion Canadian dollars were spent on digital ad campaigns. By 2024, the advertising spend is all set to cross the 12-billion-dollar mark in Canada.

BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Overview

High-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs can gain permanent residency in BC through the BC PNP program. There are three major categories under which candidates can apply:

1. Skills Immigration (SI)

Skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in BC fall under this category.

• Skilled workers may have prior work experience.
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled applicants need prior BC work experience.
• International graduates might not need any work experience. It entirely depends on the job being offered.

The application process for the SI category includes registering and applying online for the BC PNP. Post which, a paper application process is required for permanent residency (PR).

2. Express Entry

Explained below in detail

3. Entrepreneur Immigration

This category can be sub-classified into three streams:

4. Entrepreneurs who plan to expand their business in B.C. This is a points-based invitation system. Entrepreneurs should have the defined personal and investment funds.
5. Entrepreneurs who want to start a new business can apply via the Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot program.
6. Companies looking to expand and looking to get Canada PR for prominent employees can also explore this category.

Express Entry System

If you have relevant work experience and meet other requirements like education and language, then you can apply under the federal Express Entry system. This is a quicker way for eligible skilled workers planning to immigrate. Entry through this category is via points-based invitation system. The registration and application process for both BC PNP and Canada PR is web-based. Canada Express Entry system is simply an option via which the Canadian Immigration selects candidates for permanent residence visa. Professionals looking to migrate to Canada can do so through the Federal Skilled Worker visa and Provincial Nominee program. The Express Entry system is curated for professionals immigrating for work is streamlined and transparent. Some of the program highlights are:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Traders Program, and Canadian Experience Class Immigration Program; are the programs covered under this category
• This online program is open throughout the year and there isn’t a cap on the number of applicants
• Your profile is examined based on points and placed in the applicant pool
• Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR is sent to the highest point holders
• ITAs issued is related to the Annual Immigration Level

Under the Express Entry for Canada Immigration points, your points are determined using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system’s goal is to identify candidates who have the highest probability to succeed after they migrate to Canada. The points scale has a maximum score of 1200 on which the candidate and their spouse (if any) are evaluated:

• Age
• Education
• Language skills
• Canadian and other work experience
• Skills transferability
• Online registration CAD: 300 non-refundable (4 weeks)

An important point to remember is that once you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from Canada Immigration, you have only 60 days to file an application. So, get your skills assessment done beforehand. This doubles as your red seal qualification, meaning you are eligible to work as a journalist in Canada from day one.

Global Pandemic

As the world grappled with the coronavirus pandemic, people were forced to self-isolate. Self-isolation in a way was good, since it gave me the time to reflect and improve. But two months into the lockdown, my worries grew. In June 2019, when air travel started to open up, I contacted Y-Axis again. They explained how a few embassies were still not functional and what hurdles I could experience. The overseas immigration and placement consultancy did a fine job of keeping my worries at bay. Timely updates on travel restrictions and my work permit application convinced me that my hopes and aspirations were on track.

Fast-Forward 2021

As I inhale the fresh air and sip my early morning coffee, a sense of pride fills my head. The peace, the snow-covered trees, the multi-cultural city, the hustle-bustle around me is mesmerizing. The office culture in Canada is a mix of French, British and American; it varies depending on the region. Equality, diversity, opinions, and justice are the pillars on which the business environment functions. I am loving every aspect of my job. If it weren’t for Y-Axis, I wouldn’t be sitting 1000’s of miles away giving shape to my dreams.

Have Any Questions?

I hope my experience helps you answer any unanswered questions that you might have. Having been in a similar situation once, I can imagine the excitement, questions, apprehensions that you might have. Y-Axis has been very helpful in guiding me in the right direction. Check Work in Canada to know more about work permit visas, eligibility criteria, documents required, etc.