How Identity Has Influenced An Economist And Energy Analyst At Environmental Law And Policy Center's Career
Saad's experience as an immigrant significantly shaped their career path, requiring adaptation to "the American way of doing things," including communication styles and job application processes. The limited job opportunities available to visa holders presented a "dilemma," forcing a choice between persistent application or pursuing more accessible options, ultimately highlighting the challenges and resilience required to navigate a career in a new country.
Overcoming Challenges, Communication, Job Search, Career Development, Resilience
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Saad Siddique
Economist & Energy Analyst
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Visvesvaraya Technological University, India
The University of Texas at Austin
Engineering - Mechanical
Energy & Utilities, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Data and Analytics
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Saad's experience highlights the importance of adapting communication styles to different professional cultures, a crucial skill for anyone entering a globalized job market.
2. His journey emphasizes the challenges faced by non-US citizens seeking employment in US government-related fields, underscoring the need for persistence and strategic career planning.
3. Saad's story illustrates the significant learning curve involved in transitioning to a new academic and professional environment, requiring adaptability and a willingness to unlearn and relearn certain practices.
Transcript
This question asks about how identity impacted your career.
As someone who was not born and brought up in the US, how has that impacted the way you've navigated your career?
Because I moved to the US as an adult, I had to learn the American way of doing things, the American way of getting a job, or how school and grad school and classes work. I had to forget all that I learned in India while growing up and learn a new way to thrive.
Now that I work in a career where communicating your work is so important, the way I communicate in India is very different from the American way. Learning an American way of communication was challenging for me. Not everybody has the patience to wait for you to learn it, so that was a challenge.
Most of the jobs that I have worked in or applied to involve working with or are funded by the US government. These jobs are mostly reserved for US citizens. For somebody who was on a visa like me, most of those doors were closed.
I had very few options that I could apply to. So, I faced a dilemma: should I have the patience to wait long enough and keep applying until I got that job, or should I give up and pursue something more accessible for someone on a visa?
These are the things that were challenging as someone who was not born and brought up here. But I think it has paid off having patience and learning how to do things.
Advizer Personal Links
linkedin.com/in/saad-siddique