Many immigrants come to Canada after building a career elsewhere. Although they have years of experience in their profession under their belt, it doesn’t automatically translate into job offers. Some are told they are “overqualified” or that they need “Canadian experience”. Add an accent to the mix, and at times it seems they need to prove themselves twice. This is a moment that many immigrants experience: the uncomfortable awareness that your voice stands out.
If this is true for you, instead of giving up, shift your mindset. Start introducing yourself with pride. Network with other internationally trained professionals. One thing will become clear: accents aren’t barriers. They’re evidence of bilingualism, resilience and global perspective. Your accent doesn’t make you less. It makes you more.
Gurasis Singh is an example of how someone can shift their mindset to be stronger. When Singh moved from India to Canada to study Media Strategies and Advertising, he walked into a room filled with promise — and expectations. Along with navigating student visas, housing logistics and a new education system, he encountered judgment for something as small as the way he spoke.
People would ask him to repeat himself. Others assumed he wasn’t smart enough. Some even suggested he should “tone down” his accent if he wanted a shot at meaningful work.
Rather than be silenced, Gurasis decided to own his voice. Today, he’s not just in the media—he’s running his own podcast: My Thick Accent. Here, he tells his own story while also amplifying the voices of immigrants who’ve reframed their accents as assets instead of liabilities.
From Barrier to Breakthrough
Canada’s job market isn’t always welcoming to immigrants, even when they come armed with degrees and global experience. Like many, Gurasis discovered that résumés don’t always talk; accents do. But instead of changing his speech, he chose to redefine his approach.
“I faced job rejections, housing struggles and cultural barriers because of my strong
accent,” Gurasis shared on a NewcomersonFire podcast episode.
Instead of hiding, he leaned in, starting conversations about accents, identity and belonging. His platform turned his “thick accent” into a conversation starter, a brand and a community.
Building a Bold Second Act
Gurasis’s pivot into podcasting wasn’t planned. He started talking with fellow newcomers—lawyers, consultants, artists—about how they had turned their accents into stories of courage and resilience.
What began as curiosity conversations evolved into a full-fledged media channel centered on immigrant empowerment.
Now, his podcast features guests who:
● Found jobs in spite of “language barriers”
● Used multilingual fluency to thrive in international roles
● Founded startups rooted in their cultural backgrounds
By embracing his own voice, Gurasis created a space where every accented caller to his podcast is celebrated, not silenced.
It isn’t just about pronunciation—it’s about perspective. Accents are living proof of global backgrounds, flexibility and raw resilience. They signal that you’ve already learned, adapted and pushed boundaries. And yet, in Canada’s workplace, many newcomers still face pressure to erase this identity.
By spotlighting his accent, Gurasis makes visible what others overlook. He invites employers, teammates and listeners to see a spoken difference as valuable, not deficiency.
Canada is a nation of accents. Let yours speak—firmly, proudly and fully. If you’ve ever been told your tone is wrong or your speech is heavy, imitate Gurasis: “don’t soften it—sing it loud,” because what sounds like a barrier to some is actually your first credential.