Parminder Dhiman

"When my husband and I decided to move to Canada ten years ago, it wasn’t an easy choice. After finishing my masters, I worked for a couple years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I was happy, but we had dreams for our life in Canada, so we made the leap.

I started a course which helps newcomers find their place in the job market and soon got an internship at a bank. Being new to Canada and banking, I had a lot to learn. I had to rebuild my trust in my own abilities. I taught myself some things, but I also learned a lot through my coworkers. Supporting my team made me feel more like myself and made me want to be a people leader. My husband helped me realize I was ready for that. He encouraged me to apply for new jobs I thought I was underqualified for and showed me how capable I was.

I want to share my story because I know how hard things can be as a newcomer or someone re-entering the workforce. It’s scary to leave what you know behind, but remember that all of your experience is valuable, even if it’s not on a resume. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and the example I’m setting for my daughters."

Parminder (she/her) is Manager Client Advice at the Guelph and Mountainview Banking Centre team.