Larchmont Gazette.com: Career Doctor - A CASE OF DISCRIMINATION?

The Career Doctor™

by Dr. Jacqueline Hornor Plumez

Looking for a first job? Thinking of changing careers? Facing a lay-off? The Career Doctor™ is a Larchmont psychologist specializing in career counseling. If you'd like to ask a question of your own, use our anonymous form, and she might answer you here. Read more about the Career Doctor here. Contact information is here.

A CASE OF DISCRIMINATION?

Dear Career Doctor:

I am Russian with experience and good skills in PR and marketing. I'm capable of so much more then I am doing at the moment.

The problem is I want to live and work where I am, but this part of the country is quite discriminating when it comes to getting a good job in my sector. Hence I work in a hole. I have to switch off my mind otherwise I’d go mental. The level of stupidity of my ‘work colleagues’ and the actual business and the way they do it drives me mad. I find it utterly degrading here, but I'm afraid to leave as then I won’t have money.

There’s always a chance of going back to my home country, but this is complicated by the fact that I am not ready to return there for good yet, and my relationship would be badly affected, as it would be real hard for my partner to go with me.

What shall I do? I can’t stay here any more but I don’t want to leave for ‘nowhere’ and find myself in a situation with no funds.

Elena

Dear Elena:

When you use the term "discriminating" I don't know whether you mean you are discriminated against as a "foreigner" or the employment situation is very competitive. Regardless of which you meant, you may be facing both.

Smart, well-educated "foreigners" can face discrimination in fields like marketing and public relations if their language skills are not excellent. While you clearly have mastered a lot of jargon, I suspect your English needs some polishing. So, here are some suggestions:

1. Get some coaching in written English and spoken English. For the latter you could hire a diction coach like actors use.

2. Consider moving into a more technical area where language is less important for success.

3. Research Russian firms working in your area, or firms in your area that deal with Russia. Your language skills could be an asset there.

4. Stop doing stupid work. Ask for more challenging assignments and volunteer to work overtime if that is the only way to get better experience. The stress of being unhappy and bored hurts health as well as careers.

5. Regardless of what else you do, stop complaining. Complaining drains the energy you need to make positive changes.

6. I agree that you should not quit before you have another job. But I do think you should begin an active search for something better.

The Career Doctor

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The Career Doctor™