qualified job searching for a hopeless PhD in Canada
Hi there,
This post is going to be a bit vulnerable but hopefully people on here can relate or have relevant tips to help me power through.
I defended my PhD in a niche life science domain in December 2024.
I then moved out of my country, and followed my bf to Canada to try living abroad (because he was granted a work visa).
He got a job offer like 1 month after settling (he had interviews before even leaving our country, he’s experienced in IT… lucky him).
I, on my end, was still deep in finishing my stuff before leaving, and I didn’t even have a work visa so I waited a few months before starting the job search.
When I got my canadian work permit, I was very hopeful. I finally had the authorization.
I knew finding a job in Canada + transitionning to industry from academia was going to be a long and humbling adventure, even more difficult if I’m an immigrant.
I actually didn’t wait that long and ended up finding a remote freelance job in a super impressive startup (in life sciences) in like 3 months of job searching.
I learned so much from those 6 months, got the chance to get out of my niche area to something more relevant to human, and more data analysis.
(Fun fact, I thought they had a permanent position for me but ended up not renewing my contract and advised me *quite* late, my ultimate 2025 heartbreak, but that was one of the risk I was willing to take)
So I started 2026 unemployed again.
Looking for a job, again.
This time: carefully aligning my cv for each offer.
Trying to add more people on Linkedin because network matters, I know.
I thought « Oh now I have some experience, it must be more compelling and reliable for recruiter »… sike!
It’s almost June and I am defeated (not everyday, but at least a few times a week).
118 applications to posted jobs.
24 cold emails.
All quite specific to what I want to do, OR my field OR what I can do.
Some less qualified job than a PhD, a few stretches, but I wouldn’t consider any « ghost applying ».
39 rejections.
1 very condescending interview where I was told literally that my PhD wasn’t professional experience (for a publication-focused post… when I have peer-reviewed articles).
1 interview that didn’t go bad, they told me I was short-listed but had more interviews… then ghosted me 😄
2 technical challenges (one that I really put my heart in and knew it was good, one that I know was cooked) -> didn’t get feedbacks at all because too "too many applicants" or "the process is confidential".
And for now, ghosted for the remaining 99 😄
It is hard to be rejected, but that's part of the game.
It is hard to not get a job you were confident you were a GREAT fit, but that's part of the competition.
But what's especially hard, is not knowing what I am doing wrong.
I keep spiraling. I want to do better, I know my dream job is right around the corner and they'll see my worth. But if I don’t know why I’m rejected, I just have to keep trying to change everything in vain (?).
Is it because I’m under-qualified and they found someone genuinely better in those 200+ applicants?
Is it because I’m over-qualified and they are scared that I’ll leave ?
Is it because I’m a temporary resident ? (And every citizen and permanent resident get ahead of me even if they are less aligned)
Is it because I was not referred?
Is it because they choose someone internally?
Is it my resume ? (I’ve been working so hard on my applications: getting them checked and assessed for ATS, being careful about AI signals and reviewing/editing them myself, staying genuine and honest)
I would love to hear from anyone who's been through something similar.
Or any recruiter in life science / biotech that see the same people doing the same mistakes.
Or any tips or hopeful story as immigrant in Canada finding jobs.
I’m really not complaining about it being less easy as an immigrant, I know the context is complicated, especially right now. It is what it is, I’m not an isolated story. I’m just trying to do my best to be SEEN and get my chance in jobs that I know I’ll be so good at if they just hear me out and give me the chance to talk.
To end on a more positive note: I know I should reach out to people on Linkedin more casually. I have been getting better at that lately. But it’s very intimidating, with the imposter syndrome and feeling so shy, and ashamed of being unemployed for so long, and ridiculous to reach out to strangers.