Were you once a successful, professional woman who had a significant status level and received adequate remuneration for your work? Have you re-located to a new country where
educational degree you worked so hard to achieve is neither recognized nor considered valid?
As a result, have you now settled for a job for which you are overqualified and living paycheck to paycheck?
If you once had a successful professional career and answered yes to
above, you probaby understand how frustrating it is, to be unable to practice your profession in a new country.
The decision to immigrate to another country is a courageous act which involves leaving everything that you know and everything that makes up who you are. It usually means starting over, making changes and finding a new job or career.
As a skilled professional woman, you already have a unique combination of marketable skills and experiences, optimism about your future prospects in
new country, education, commitment and motivation to work in your field of expertise, language ability and a desire to learn new things expertise...so, it’s really puzzling and shocking when you suddenly find yourself unemployed or unable to find a job in your field.
It is therefore important that you wake up from your slumber and do something about making your life a success.
To start making something of your life in a new country, you need to:
1. Stop being in denial.
Accept change and be ready to change! Your past successful life is always going to be a part of you and no one can take that away from you. However,
rules of
game in
new country may mean that you may no longer be
successful, lawyer, doctor, CEO or professional you once were.
As painful as it may be to accept…don't spend your days talking about who you were in
past and dwelling in
glory of your past success. Don't live in denial any longer than you must. Accept
fact that your circumstances have changed and start looking for constructive ways to make
best of your life in
new country.
2. Take a stand for your life.
When people move to a new country, they usually want to live in a place where they have some contacts, relatives or friends. However, some of these people you know, may have resigned themselves to living unfulfilled lives and may try to prevent you (by their comments or actions) from expecting more for yourself.
If you want to make a success of your life, you must take a risk, go against
negative majority, choose to be different and take a stand for a positive future. The decision to get out from among people, who will hold you back from doing something with your life, is worth it!
3. Don’t lose your sense of self-worth.
Your professional occupation is a large part of your identity and an integral part of your life. However if you have settled for less and are now overqualified for your job, you may feel that
work you are doing is not a valuable contribution to society. As a result, you may start questioning yourself and feeling worthless.
You are not worthless! Find meaning and purpose in what you want to do and begin to pursue it with vigor. After counting
cost, make
decision to do what you have to do to make your life a success. Stop settling for less than you deserve, start standing up for yourself and for your dignity.