There is nothing like the excitement and potential opportunities that come from moving to a new country. Entering 1st grade my parents made the decision to move from Mexico to Miami in order to pursue a better education for me and my brothers. Despite not knowing a word of English, I like to believe that I established myself as a genuine leader in my community but it definitely didn’t come easy.
Many people believe that arriving as a foreigner is a setback but I believe it’s a huge advantage that if exploited correctly gives you a unique competitive edge, unlike any other.
My parents modeled for me through moving, that there is no reward without risk and it has become evident to me that through the initial hardships: what I once saw as a challenge I now see as an opportunity for growth and resilience. International talents bring to companies and markets a distinctive perspective, remarkable adaptability, and unshakable resilience which are qualities that are highly sought after by employers across the world. I hope that through the strategies I share, my blog will be a guiding torch for anyone in a similar position and will truly prove to them that the “foreigner” label is not something to shy away from but something to embrace.
Take it from me, being different is what makes you special, own that!
I want to share the obstacles and setbacks I experienced along the way not to incite fear or make you doubt yourself but to show you that true strength comes from facing struggles head on and that every setback lays the groundwork for an incredible comeback. Some of the bumps I encountered along the way include but are not limited to:
Although I was learning English with a tutor, navigating the language barrier when trying to connect with business professionals from America was difficult. Simple slang or phrases from Mexico didn’t translate directly into English and local expressions in Miami took time to adjust to.
- Cultural Norms: Unbeknown to me was that there are serious differences regarding time and punctuality between the Mexican and American Culture. I was used to “latin time” when arriving at meetings or social events which meant getting there significantly late, this was definitely a learning curve.
- Networking Struggles: Leaving from a place where you know everyone and coming to a new place with new people made me feel lonely and vulnerable. Creating a new network literally from scratch was very difficult and it took time to build.
- Prejudices & Stereotypes: The hard truth is that people judge and have underlying assumptions about your nationality and background. This made attaining internships difficult as my abilities were constantly being undervalued due to stereotypes.
Now let’s talk about how as a foreigner you stand out. Here’s a snapshot of the advantages that come from having international experience:
- Personal Growth
- Professional Growth
- Problem-Solving
- Leadership
- Adaptability
- Teamwork
- Global Networking
- Cultural Sensitivity
- Improved Communication
- Confidence-Building
- Bilingualism
- Resume Content
- Career Opportunities
- Life Experience
With a lot of gratitude to everyone who helped me along the way I am proud to share some of the strategies and lessons I have learned. I’m sharing these game-changing insights in the hope that they’ll inspire action and lead to long-term success for others. I want to once again reiterate that these lessons and insight didn’t come to me overnight but are a result of years of hard work and perseverance. If I could leave you with some lasting advice it would be:
- Embrace Humility and Perseverance
- Success, without maturity and solid principles, leads to arrogance and pride, and that’s when things slowly start to fall apart. Being a foreigner, it’s very important that you keep yourself down to earth as you overcome the challenges that are thrown at you in order to ensure that your ability of “being open to growth” doesn’t dissipate.
- Take Responsibility for Your Path
- Every decision you take must have passion as its common denominator, trusting that obstacles had to be overcome. Anytime you find yourself in unfamiliar waters and foreign environments like moving countries, it’s vital that you make sure that you are the author of your own story while also being proactive in attacking challenges.
- Prioritize What Truly Matters
- If you dedicate all your time and energy to small things, then you will never have time for the things that are important to you. Want to stand out as a global talent? Focus on what really matters: sharpen your skills, build genuine connections, and chase goals that play to your strengths.
- Foster Collaboration and Respect
- The best talents, without the right culture, never mix well. Sticking to the values of respect, education, honesty, and integrity almost always leads to triumph. Coming in as a foreigner with different norms, it’s key that you show a level of cultural sensitivity and abide by the dynamics of the workplace as people will take note of this and will lead to the cultivation of meaningful workplace relationships. Overall, the best way to handle these cross cultural situations is simply by being respectful and learning about the cultures of the people you are engaging with in order to have a smooth adjustment.
- Value Feedback and Constructive Criticism
- I made it a habit to always thank my critics. They lit a fire inside me and motivated me to keep pushing and for that I’m forever grateful. To the people that doubted me when I first arrived in America:
- Thank you for always bringing out the best in me
- Thank you for not allowing me to get tired
- And Thank you for not letting me give up
When I first arrived in the United States I viewed my differences as a bump that I would have to overcome in order to succeed; but reflecting on that now I’ve realized that without those hardships I would not be the person I am today. All it took was a shift in perspective and I began seeing my status as a foreigner not as a disadvantage but as an opportunity to add distinctive and important input. To all the foreigners, don’t forget to own your story and leverage your differences in order to create positive change in the world.
Your global experiences are your secret weapon, use them to succeed!
