From HR to Caregiving: The Transferable Skills Immigrant Women Bring to Every Role
I’ve navigated office corridors filled with spreadsheets and policies in Nigeria, and hospital halls filled with human stories here in Canada. At first glance, these worlds couldn’t be more different. Yet, the lessons I’ve learned as an HR professional abroad and a personal support worker (PSW) here converge in ways I didn’t expect and they reveal the unique strengths immigrant women bring to every role they take on.
When I worked in HR in Nigeria, I spent my days listening to employees’ concerns, explaining policies, and helping resolve conflicts. It taught me the power of empathy; understanding what people really need, even when it isn’t stated outright. I quickly realized that being able to read situations, interpret emotions, and respond thoughtfully was just as critical as any policy or procedure.
When I moved to Canada and began working as a PSW, that same empathy guided me in caring for patients; understanding their fears, listening to their stories, and providing support that went beyond basic care. I saw firsthand how communication, when clear and compassionate, could make someone feel seen and respected, whether in an office in Lagos or a home in Toronto. Both roles demanded organization and multitasking.
In HR, I juggled onboarding, payroll, and recruitment deadlines; in caregiving, I managed medication schedules, appointments, and the unpredictable pace of daily care. Both environments taught me to prioritize, adapt, and keep people at the center of every decision.
Problem-solving was another constant. In HR, I navigated workplace conflicts and compliance issues. In caregiving, I responded to sudden changes in patients’ conditions. In both, success came from observing carefully, thinking quickly, and acting decisively.
And leadership? I discovered that leadership isn’t always about a title. In HR, I led initiatives and mentored colleagues. In caregiving, I guided patients and coordinated with healthcare teams to ensure the best outcomes. Leadership shows up wherever responsibility meets action.
Being an immigrant adds another layer to these lessons. Learning to navigate unfamiliar systems, adapt to new cultural contexts, and advocate for myself strengthened my resilience and adaptability - skills that make me effective in every professional setting.
Through these experiences, I’ve realized a truth: the skills that make someone excel in one role such as empathy, communication, organization, problem-solving, leadership are transferable, universal, and invaluable. As immigrant women, we often carry these skills across borders, across jobs, and across life challenges, and they shape the impact we make in every space we enter.
Today, I invite other immigrant women to reflect: what skills have you brought across worlds? How have they shaped your career and impact?
