Intro to Tech: How Priyanka Found Employment

How Priyanka Landed an Analytics Role at J.D. Irving, Limited Through Intro to Tech in NB 

The Intro to Tech in NB program, led by TechImpact in partnership with Envision Saint John, the YMCA of Southwestern New Brunswick Newcomer Connections program, and WorkingNB, helps job seekers transition into the province’s growing tech industry. The program provides structured training, hands-on coaching, and direct employer engagement, bridging the gap between skilled professionals and hiring companies. 

For Priyanka Bhamare, a data-driven professional with a Master’s in Computer Science specializing in Data Science and Analytics, breaking into the Canadian job market wasn’t easy. Originally from India, she had 3.5 years of experience as a Software Developer. 

However, when she graduated with her master’s degree from the University of New Brunswick, the job market was slow and she struggled to land interviews despite her strong technical background in Python, SQL, AWS, and statistical modeling. 

Determined to make the most of her time, she kept learning, refined her resume, expanded her portfolio, and applied to as many jobs as possible, but without industry connections, breaking through was still a challenge. That’s when she discovered Intro to Tech in NB, a decision that changed the course of her job search. 

Facing the Challenges of a Competitive Job Market 

Despite having an impressive 4.0 GPA in her master’s program and hands-on experience in machine learning and data analytics, Priyanka struggled to secure a role. 

The biggest challenge? The job market itself. 

With many companies slowing down hiring, she found herself in a cycle familiar to many job seekers: 

• Sending out countless applications with no responses
  
  
• Wondering if she was missing something in her job search strategy

Instead of waiting, she took action. She: 

✅ Worked on personal projects to enhance her portfolio 
✅ Refined her resume and LinkedIn to highlight key technical skills 
✅ Attended career fairs and started networking more intentionally 

That’s when she discovered Intro to Tech in NB, which provided the support, strategy, and industry connections she needed. 

How the Program Helped Priyanka Get Hired 

Through Intro to Tech in NB, Priyanka learned that job searching is about more than just applications, it’s about strategy, positioning, and relationships. 

“The program provided valuable insights, but one of the most impactful aspects was realizing that I wasn’t alone in this journey. It reassured me that while I could always work on improving my approach, some factors, like the job market, were beyond my control.” - Priyanka 

Here’s what made the biggest difference in her journey: 

• Networking & Career Fair Insights – At the Tech Job Fair, she reconnected with a recruiter she had met at a UNB career event. When they recognized her name and mentioned that her LinkedIn kept appearing in their searches, she realized her profile was making an impact. 

• Resume & LinkedIn Optimization – The program helped her fine-tune her resume to align with local employer expectations, ensuring her technical skills stood out. 

• Employer Engagement & Confidence Building – Learning about hiring trends, employer expectations, and the New Brunswick tech ecosystem helped her approach job applications more effectively. 

Two months after the job fair, that same recruiter reached out to her with a job opportunity. That connection led to her current role as an Analytics Solution Designer at J.D. Irving, Limited! 

Thriving as an Analytics Solution Designer at J.D. Irving, Limited 

Now working at J.D. Irving, Limited, Priyanka is in a role that perfectly aligns with her passion for data analytics and machine learning. 

Her role involves: 

• Analyzing complex datasets to uncover meaningful business insights 

• Designing analytics solutions to support data-driven decision-making 

• Working with modern data tools like Python, SQL, AWS, and Power BI 

Her first month has already been a rewarding experience, with an incredibly supportive team, exciting challenges, and opportunities to contribute to real projects. 

"The team is extremely helpful, and I’ve been able to apply my skills right away. Even in my first month, I’ve had the chance to work on impactful projects and gain a deeper understanding of the company’s analytics ecosystem." 

She sees huge potential for career growth in New Brunswick’s evolving tech industry, especially as demand for data professionals continues to rise. 

Want to know more about the program? Click here.