Many immigrants entering commission-based careers in Canada are hardworking and willing to take risks, but many underestimate how long it takes to build stable incomes and trust in a new market.
Over the years, I’ve worked with many newcomers preparing for real estate licensing in British Columbia, and one pattern appears consistently: the challenge is usually an expectations mismatch.
Many newcomers believe that passing an exam or obtaining a licence means they are fully prepared for the career ahead. In reality, obtaining a licence does not automatically create career success. Commission-based professions such as real estate often require months or even years of relationship-building, networking, and financial uncertainty before achieving stable incomes.
This gap between expectations and reality creates significant pressures for many immigrants who are already trying to adapt to a new country, culture, and financial system.
I’ve worked with students from many professional backgrounds — engineers, business owners, accountants, managers, and MBA graduates from around the world. Many are highly capable individuals, with a strong work ethic and impressive educational backgrounds. But success in commission-based careers in Canada often depends on factors that are very different from what they previously experienced.
One of the biggest challenges is financial pressure.
Many newcomers arrive in Canada with savings they carefully built over many years. They invest those savings into education, licensing, transportation, and living expenses while trying to establish themselves professionally. During this period, many continue working other jobs to support themselves and their families.
It is common to see students driving Ubers, delivering food, working in restaurants, or taking evening and weekend jobs while studying for licensing exams or trying to build a client base. There is nothing wrong with this — in fact, it reflects determination and resilience. However, many underestimate how exhausting it can become to balance survival jobs, studying, and career-building all at once.
Another challenge is misunderstanding how commission-based work actually functions in Canada.
In salaried professions, effort and time often produce relatively predictable income. Commission-based careers are different. A person may work for months without seeing meaningful financial results while they build trust, relationships, and experience.
This can be particularly difficult for newcomers because they are not only building a career — they are also building a reputation from zero in an unfamiliar environment.
Many also underestimate the importance of guidance and community involvement.
The newcomers I see succeed quickly are usually not the ones with the most impressive resumes or the highest confidence at the beginning. Often, they are the ones who become actively involved in their communities, build genuine relationships, and focus on earning trust over time.
Community involvement creates familiarity, referrals, and credibility. People naturally prefer to work with professionals they trust and feel connected to. As newcomers begin helping members of their own communities, they slowly build experience and confidence. Over time, that trust expands beyond their immediate circles, allowing them to grow more broadly and establish themselves professionally.
Another important factor is patience.
Many newcomers enter commission-based industries hoping for quick financial success, especially after hearing stories online or seeing social media content that highlights only successful outcomes. What is often missing from those stories is the long period of uncertainty, rejection, and learning that must happen before achieving income stability.
This does not mean newcomers should avoid commission-based careers. On the contrary, many immigrants succeed in industries such as real estate, mortgage brokerage, insurance, and sales because they are adaptable, resilient, and highly motivated.
For those considering commission-based careers in Canada, a few practical steps can make a major difference:
- Prepare financially for a potentially slow start
- Build relationships before expecting income
- Seek guidance from experienced professionals
- Stay involved in your community
- Focus on long-term trust rather than short-term results
- Understand that passing an exam is only the beginning of the process
Canada continues to benefit enormously from immigrants who bring ambition, courage, and professional experience from around the world. Many eventually build highly successful careers and businesses here.
But success becomes far more achievable when newcomers understand not only the opportunities in commission-based careers — but also the realities that come with building them from the ground up.
Meran Gugasyan
Meran Gugasyan is a Vancouver-based real estate educator who has worked with many newcomers and career changers preparing for licensing exams and commission-based careers in British Columbia. He runs the Excel Realty Academy.
