From $16 per hour to a 6 Figure Business Analyst role

Did you know that your previous work experience may be completely useless? Many new migrants believe that if they held a great job in their home country, transitioning into a similar role in a new country will be straightforward. Unfortunately, this is often a misconception. Different countries bring unique expectations, work cultures, and even skill demands that can make previous experiences feel irrelevant. Without the right support, many skilled professionals find themselves struggling, doing menial jobs—spending valuable time, effort, and money—just to try and fit in. Jennifer’s story captures this very challenge and her incredible breakthrough – which includes going from earning $16 per hour as a Customer Service Rep to a fantastic 6 figure package as a Business Analyst.

Jennifer had a brilliant career back in Nigeria as a Lead IT Support Analyst for one of the major Financial Institutions. She has grown through the ranks over a period of 6 years and was very good at her role. When she decided to relocate to Canada, she wanted to hit the ground running and was introduced to TCA then (while she was still in Nigeria); however, due to the pressure of her current work, she couldn’t participate in the program.

Fast forward to 2023, when she landed in Canada, she started applying for IT Support roles (which is her bread and butter), but to her greatest surprise and amazement, she still got rejected for these roles - even for the ones where she got to the final stages. It was then that she knew that something was missing. To make ends meet, she took up a Customer Service Representative job that pays $16 per hour. But she still believed that she was worth much, much more, and this was when she remembered TCA.

Then she reached out and had the most reassuring conversation with Steve who offered lots of FREE guidance. Her thoughts were if this organization can provide these deep insights at no cost, that means they would do much more once I registered – then she joined the April 2024 batch for Business Analysis.

From the moment the program began, Jennifer realized she was exactly where she needed to be. Every concept, from the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to the hands-on project work, was broken down with clarity. "Steve took his time with each concept—nothing was vague," Jennifer recalls. The interactive sessions, group activities, and collaborative exercises were game-changers, helping her not only understand the material but also gain practical experience she could confidently discuss in interviews. In Jennifer’s words: What helped me the most was my notes. I jotted everything down, and this helped me tremendously during my interviews.”

TCA even revamped her resume, transforming it into a reflection of her new skills and experience. When she saw her updated resume, Jennifer thought, "Is this really me? How am I going to defend this resume?" But TCA prepared her well, guiding her through interview scenarios and equipping her with the knowledge she needed to tackle the most challenging interview questions.

After completing the program, Jennifer started applying for Business Analyst roles. Even though she had put in immense effort, the silence, ghosting and rejections still came. Feeling disheartened, she reached out to Steve, who reviewed her resume, provided additional tips, and encouraged her to keep pushing forward. In her words: Talking to Steve was extremely reassuring – there is this aura that he exudes during the discussions that made me feel comfortable and kept on pushing. Together, they created a game plan, with regular check-ins to stay motivated.

Then, she spotted a Business Analyst role that involved Dynamics 365 (D365)—a system she’d worked with briefly in the past. Using TCA’s Resume Refinement AI Assistant, Jennifer tailored her resume for the role and submitted her application. Soon, an email arrived inviting her for an HR interview. She reached out to Steve again to share the progress. Steve provided some guidance and advised her to connect with her mentor – which she did immediately.

She connected with her TCA mentor, Hameed, who helped her prepare for the interview. He reminded her that the interviewers are just as human as she is – with problems, shortcomings and emotions. This statement helped her relax and boosted her confidence.

During the initial interview, the HR representative was so impressed that she immediately booked Jennifer for the next interview – which was with the Hiring Manager. During her second interview, Jennifer leaned on her strengths, skillfully guiding the conversation back to her areas of expertise – a strategy that we teach students at TCA. After the interview and later the same day, she got a call inviting her to the third and final stage. She knew that this could be it – so she reached out to her mentor for one final prep.

During her third interview, she had a great chat with the Directors but was asked a strange question that completely threw her off balance. How do you envision your career path leading to retirement? Luckily, this was discussed during one of the TCA meetings, and Jennifer remembered the sample answer provided and used this. The Director was extremely impressed and made a complimentary remark about Jennifer’s response.

After the interview, Jennifer was expecting some good news.

• 1 week after the interview– no news, this is normal, she thought to herself – maybe they are still interviewing other people…
• 2 weeks after the interview – still no news again; this is still a bit normal, she thought to herself; maybe they are finalizing their decisions
• 3 weeks after the interview – still no news, it was at this point that the anxiety started to kick in and Jenifer started wondering if she has been ghosted.
• 6 weeks after the interview – there was still no news; at this point, Jennifer was fed up and was beginning to consider if this was ever going to happen for her, she was about give up, and then suddenly on the Friday of the 6^th week, she received the email that she has been waiting for from the first day she set foot in Canada which starts with the words…Congratulations, Jennifer. We would like to offer you…

Jennifer’s joy knew no bounds. The company was offering her a Business Analyst role with a fabulous 6 figure package—at the very top of their range, along with full benefits. From earning $16 an hour in customer service, Jennifer had made an incredible leap.

Looking back, Jennifer reflects, “Some people keep saying that the field is oversaturated and there are no more jobs. But the truth is, you need to position yourself to stand out.”

Jennifer’s journey proves that persistence, the right guidance, and a willingness to adapt can lead to unimaginable success. If she can do it, so can you.

Your career transformation awaits, you no longer have to stay underemployed with your university degree, Masters, MBA or even PHD —let TCA guide you to your own incredible success story.

Click here to book a FREE Coaching session with one of our career experts.