From Washing Dishes to Business Analyst: Ubong’s Story

Introduction 

Imagine working 12-hour shifts for 11 days straight, being promised a visa sponsorship that never comes, only to discover that your employers were just taking advantage of your desperation. This was Ubong's reality when he was working as a security guard in Ireland, clinging to false promises while his dreams of a better life seemed to slip further away.

The Harsh Reality of Starting Over

When Ubong moved to Ireland in 2018 to pursue his master's degree, he had big dreams. Coming from a professional background, he expected his qualifications would open doors. But the reality hit hard.
After finishing his master’s degree, the clock started ticking. The government gave him two years to find a job that would sponsor his visa. If he failed, he’d have to leave or be deported.
He tried everything.
Even with his master’s degree, he found himself washing dishes as a kitchen porter, then transitioning to security work, anything to survive while searching for that elusive professional job that would sponsor his visa.
"I was doing 12-hour shifts, and one week I worked 11 days straight," Ubong recalls. The organization kept dangling the visa sponsorship carrot, saying "Don't worry, we're going to sponsor you."
But the sponsorship never came.
That’s when Ubong realized the truth: they were never going to help him. They were exploiting his vulnerable position as someone desperately needing visa sponsorship to stay in the country.
And his time in the country was running out.

Failed Attempts and False Starts

“You should go into tech,” a friend told him one night. Ubong laughed.
“I don’t know anything about tech.”
Still, he gave it a shot. He paid half the fees upfront, attended intense Saturday classes from 9 AM to 6 PM, but when it came time for the practical project work, he was mysteriously excluded from all groups. When he reached out for help, they ignored him completely.
"They were just out for the money rather than actually helping students succeed," Ubong reflects. This experience left him skeptical about training programs and wondering if tech was even possible for someone like him.
So, there he was. Rejected by employers. Failed by a training center. Deportation looming.
That’s when he heard about TCA – still from a friend.

The TCA Turning Point

Despite his previous bad experience, something felt different about TCA from the very first conversation he had with Steve.
From the start, TCA felt like a family. "The entire TCA team did care about wanting to see that we had this success story that I am giving right now rather than just all in there for the money," Ubong said. The TCA program was challenging, especially since he was in Ireland and the classes were based on Canadian time. This meant Ubong was often studying at midnight after a long day of work, determined to make a change. He knew he had to get a job within three months of finishing the training because his time was running out.
TCA provided amazing support. Ubong especially remembered the advice on how to improve his LinkedIn profile and the game-changing tip for interviews: how to answer, "Tell me about yourself." "I kid you not. I wrote down word for word, everything you [Steve] said," Ubong confessed, explaining how he used that script, tailored to his own CV, in his interviews. The hands-on CRM project at TCA was also exactly what his future employer was looking for.

From 400 Rejections to Dream Job

Armed with his new skills, confidence and a TCA optimized resume, Ubong began applying for jobs, at least 5 applications every single day. The rejections poured in. "If I search 'unfortunately' in my email, I'd probably find 400+ rejection emails," he laughs now. But he remembered Steve's words: "It's a numbers game. You only need one yes."
Then a recruiter reached out on LinkedIn about a CRM Business Analyst role, which coincidentally was the same project that he worked on via TCA’s live project experience. Using the exact introduction script he'd learned at TCA, Ubong nailed the first interview at 1 PM on a Tuesday. By 3 PM the same day, the recruiter called with news that the hiring manager wanted a second interview. After the second interview on Thursday at 1 PM, his phone rang at 5:50 PM: "I have good news, they want to offer you the job!" and the best part, they were willing to provide Visa Sponsorship.
Ubong just stood there, phone to his ear, stunned.
"At that point the smile on my face was like... if she could see me, she would know," he remembered. The next day, the written offer arrived. He had done it. He had secured the job. And with it, crucially, came the visa sponsorship that would allow him to stay and build his life in Ireland.

A Transformation Beyond Imagination

From washing dishes and working security for minimum wage to becoming a Business Analyst with visa sponsorship, Ubong's life completely transformed.
"Never be afraid of change," Ubong advises others in similar situations. "I could have stuck with security work, believing those empty promises. But taking that leap with TCA changed everything."
Looking back, Ubong says his biggest lessons were to "never be afraid of change" and to always "ensure that you have the drive, and you have the motivation." He emphasizes that success comes from within and how much you're willing to push. For anyone hesitant about making a change, Ubong’s advice is simple: "You can do it as well... Do not have those doubts... All you need to do is put that one foot forward... once you take the first step, then you realize that…indeed, you can."

Your Transformation Awaits

If Ubong can go from working 11-day stretches as a security guard to becoming a Senior Business Analyst, what's stopping you? Whether you're washing dishes, working as a Personal Support Worker, Customer Service Rep, driving Uber, or stuck in a dead-end job with false promises, your breakthrough is just one decision away.
Don't let another year pass watching others transform their lives while you stay stuck. Your visa/work permit, your future, your dreams might depend on taking action today. Book your FREE coaching session today and discover how TCA can help write your success story.