No one discusses Job Insecurity with Global Talent Visas. Find out how Luani dealt with it..
Don’t wait for a crisis to start building relationships..
Happy Monday community! For a number of weeks now we have been discussing the opportunities that Global Access visas present for millions of people in Africa. As these discussions have progressed, a number of concerns have emerged as a result of the conditions some programs offer. One such area is job insecurity and what happens if and when due to no fault of your own, you lose your job and potentially the life you have worked so hard to build while abroad.
The issue of job security is a significant one for individuals migrating from their home countries in pursuit of better opportunities under the Global Talent Visa scheme. Last week, we caught up with Luani Chibesakunda, a Zambian professional who secured a job in the UK through the scheme and thank goodness to her resourcefulness and resilience, she continues to live in and work in the UK. Her story provides a stark illustration of this challenge.
Luani is a multi-faceted Full-stack Developer and certified Financial Analyst from Zambia. She left her home town Lusaka with great enthusiasm, armed with a Global Talent Visa for a highly coveted corporate role for a global banking group at Canary Wharf, London, United Kingdom. The opportunity was a huge personal achievement, because she was the first in her family to complete University and have the opportunity to travel and work abroad and further develop her skills on a global scale.
The first eighteen months flew by, taken up by moving, making cultural adjustments, which was really quite challenging, because of the regular travel required for her job. Just as things started to quiet down, the specter of job security quickly emerged as a major concern for her. The finance industry, while booming, is also highly volatile and roles can often be unstable due to shifts in company direction, budget constraints, and economic uncertainty.
Coupled with the fact that her visa status was tied to her employment, the risk of job loss posed a significant threat to her stay in the UK and the life she had built. Things took a turn for the worse when her company underwent restructuring and announced layoffs, which affected and shook Luani’s confidence. In a foreign country, without the protective safety net of family and old connections, Luani found herself navigating the stormy seas of job insecurity.
Our Interview
W3A: Welcome, Luani! Let's start with how you felt when your job was threatened.
Luani: Thank you. It was a challenging time. The uncertainty and the fear of losing my visa status were overwhelming. I had to come to terms with the reality that despite having the Global Talent Visa, my stay in the UK was not guaranteed.
W3A: How did you manage to overcome this challenge?
Luani: I reached out to the Zambian diaspora in the UK. We have a close-knit community and help each other. I found several Zambians who had faced or were facing similar situations.
W3A: So, networking helped you?
Luani: Absolutely! I realised that I wasn’t alone. Their stories and advice gave me confidence. I started actively networking, both within my company and outside. I made it a point to shine in my role and demonstrate my value to the company.
W3A: That sounds like a great strategy. How did it work out?
Luani: It worked well. Despite the layoffs, I eventually managed to stay in the same company, but was moved to a new department that was growing off. It is actually a more senior role and better paid that the original role I held. It was a real blessing in disguise and I was recommended by one of the contacts I met after I started networking, who was also from Zambia and had just been promoted, so I was coached into their role. It’s crazy to think that I might probably not have heard of this opportunity had the layoffs not happened and the whole thing has changed my view of layoffs and uncertainty. The networking also opened up other possibilities. I realised that if I ever lost my job again, I now had a robust network of friends and the confidence and know-how to find a new one.
W3A: Any advice for other global talent visa holders facing similar challenges?
Luani: Connect with people. Don’t wait for a crisis to start building relationships. And remember, you're not alone. Many are navigating similar paths, and there's immense strength and comfort in shared experiences.
W3A: Thank you for your time and your valuable insights.
Luani: My pleasure. I am actually really happy you are covering this topic, because I think it happens more than we like to think and people should not suffer in silence. There should be more conversations about it, so people can be aware, prepare and know where to go when it happens. I really hope my experience helps others. Remember, uncertainty can be scary, but you're more resilient than you think.
Some Support Organisations
The Zambian High Commission in London | Email: info@zambiahc.org.uk | +44 777 527 8220 | Contact Us
Join us at the next Web3 Africa Town Hall, where we will explore more Global Talent Visa opportunities in China and The Netherlands. Explore the issues of job insecurity, learn from those who have walked the path, understand the intricacies, and find the best fit for your dreams and ambitions. Together, let's explore global horizons!
Set your reminders and be part of the next Town Hall. Your global horizon awaits!