Foreign-born IT professionals may find these groups to be a good bridge between the new and the familiar. To be able to communicate with someone who knows Thai or a little Thai is useful. Such a person can explain the subtleties of job descriptions and even help by editing r sum s and introductory letters. I can see where alien professionals and their families would have a hard time adjusting to such expedient expectations. Cultural conflicts may occur in areas like food, hygiene and religious practices.
Professional groups can help foreign workers understand what employers expect and offer advice.
Aside from the conflict of customs, there can also be some degree of racism. And there may very well be some elements of resentment by American workers toward these foreign IT professionals. Such attitudes can result in difficulty entering middle and senior-level management, making help from a sympathetic colleague critical to career development. Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Computerworld, Inc. is prohibited.