IndiaPost.com - Upwardly Global helps immigrants use their foreign degree

New York: Meenakshi Bhatt of India left her last position as a Consultant for Oxfam in China to join her husband in the US. She was confident that with five years of international experience working for non-governmental organizations in several countries and two Master's degrees, she would not have difficulties securing a professional position in the US.

She soon learned she was wrong.

"I was very surprised that my international experience and my foreign degrees did not attract employers to interview me. I did not even get a call for volunteer opportunities that I applied for," recalls Bhatt. She started to think that her foreign degree and experience would not count in the US and that she would need an American degree before continuing her career.

Fortunately, she learned about Upwardly Global from New York City Young Professionals Network. Upwardly Global is a non-profit organization that specializes in helping highly-skilled immigrants apply their foreign degrees and experience to a professional position in the US.

Bhatt worked with Upwardly Global to revise her resume, make connections with professional peers, and learn American professional culture. "Upwardly Global gave me back my confidence and assured me that my foreign degree and experience are applicable in the US.

I also learned that networking is an important element of your job search in the US. This is completely different in India, where employers rely heavily on your resume to learn about your experience and qualifications," says Bhatt.

Jane Leu, Executive Director and Founder of Upwardly Global says, "Many companies and employers overlook candidates whose academic background and professional experience were gained in a foreign country.

In addition, lacking a well-developed professional network and familiarity with cultural norms of the American business environment, immigrant professionals often struggle to find professional positions in their field."

"Our mission is to help US employers benefit from the hidden talent pool of immigrant professionals, and to equip these under-employed individuals with the skills and resources necessary to rebuild their careers in the US.