Discrimination and lack of US experience
Due to the challenges faced by Africans in the US which include racial discrimination, little or no knowledge about the hiring process in the US, and no recognition of qualification and skills of the African educational system, Opportunities are almost out of reach to skilled Africans living in the US. The hiring process in the US favors more those who received an education from the US rather than those who had their education abroad. This has been a major barrier for skilled Africans in the US as illustrated by the case of Mr. Olawale. Mr. Olawale is an Electrical Engineer from Nigeria. He previously worked in the Oil and Gas industry before arriving in New York City. Because of a lack of US experience and a lack of job opportunities in the Oil and Gas field in New York City, Mr. Olawale had to take a baggage handler job at the airport where he earned only $10 an hour. This is the fate of so many skilled and qualified Africans in the US. Many have to work 2 jobs just to keep up with the daily cost of living and all the expenses of a consumption society.
Skilled African workers also face racial discrimination in the US. Yes, the United States is tagged a free world country, but racial discrimination against Africans or other people of color still stands, thereby limiting Africans in securing their dream job. Discrimination is still one of the greatest challenges faced by Africans in the Diaspora in this 21st century.
Success stories
While many face numerous barriers in getting their dream career job, some are eventually successful. This is the case of Daniel Ajema, born and raised in Ethiopia who now owns and runs a successful law practice in Seattle. However, Daniel’s story tells the many challenges he had to battle, just like many other African immigrants in the US.
It takes years of struggle and in most cases going back to school and earning a US accredited degree to be able to secure a stable job. Daniel Ajema eventually broke even by finishing and acquiring a US degree which helped him secure a qualified job in a law firm, and later on, open his own law practice.
Entrepreneurship is also an alternative for skilled immigrants, including Africans. if the system cannot they give them a job which is a basic human right, then why not create their own job? Thousand of skilled Africans have opened hair salons, restaurants, import-export businesses, franchises, tax preparation or event planning services. America is a free market society that encourages and makes entrepreneurship easy. Small and medium businesses are indeed the backbone of the American economy.
Other African immigrants who have been able to secure their dream jobs, did it through communities or organizations that help skilled immigrants integrate into the US workforce. Upwardly Global, one of these organizations supporting skilled immigrants helped Mr. Tayou find a job after attending a career summit in Chicago, just after relocating in the US from his native Cameroon where he was an IT Engineer. These non-profit organizations provide career advice services, resume writing and mock interview workshops, coaching and mentoring, as well as connections with potential employers. These non-profit also work with US companies that promote diversity and more inclusive hiring practices. Using these services, some African immigrants in the US have scaled through and beaten the survival job status the US hiring process placed them into.
