You Sponsored My Visa, but Do You Really Want Me to Stay?

As an immigrant, you can be the most talented and awarded creative at an agency, but if you’re not in a workplace that fully supports who you truly are, you might get the title you want without the voice you need. Coming to the U.S. feels like a school cafeteria: Everyone sits with those who are just like them. If you’re lucky, you’ll end up working at an agency with enough immigrants to make you feel at home, sharing dreams and frustrations, presentation coaches and immigration attorneys. But without that network, the challenges for immigrants can be overwhelming after they're hired. It’s not just about getting a green card, building a credit score or working hard to get rid of accents. Agencies are always ready to import talent but not willing to help them succeed, grow and sit at the C-suite table. It’s time to disrupt this mindset and give immigrant creatives a clear plan for development. Take the lead, connect with other immigrants in the industry who have climbed the ladder and apply all of their learnings—and struggles—to create a solid plan that will help fellow immigrants succeed. Here are areas where you can focus your efforts: Try a little empathy English will likely be an early stumbling block for newcomers, and while conventional language lessons are important, the industry has its own jargon. It takes time to get used to business terms, colloquial language and slang. Rafael Paes, director of global brand creative at Nike, once described it best: "We always have an internal battle saying we will never be able to sound smart, funny or even feel we are fully being ourselves. Try to focus beyond the grammar mistakes, the messed up ‘ins,’ ‘ons’ and ‘ats,’ and try to see the journey behind it. Most of us have great histories … and a lot more to bring to the table than our accents indicate." Learning a new language is stressful. It’s on the agency to create an environment where people are comfortable with different accents and grammar mistakes. Agency culture should be based on empathy instead of corporate impatience. Extend a helping hand There's a reason it's called culture shock. After mastering industry jargon, company culture is the biggest challenge for foreign workers. For example, it was a surprise to have meetings scheduled at lunchtime. For many immigrants, lunch is the time to get together with coworkers in a more casual environment and create bonds beyond work. Immigrants need someone to talk to without judgment, a native to their new culture to help understand workplace processes and local and national customs. More importantly, these meetings should be cultural exchanges so that it is not just the immigrant who is learning and growing. The global knowledge that immigrants bring to the table can enrich the lives and work of colleagues. Cut the red tape The alphabet soup of taxes, retirement plans, 529 savings accounts, W-4 forms, health insurance and everything else that you have to fill in, sign up for and make decisions about can be overwhelming. Agencies can help by explaining the choices, terminology and requirements of all those forms. Create a series of classes or seminars suited to various life stages. Not doing this has cost people thousands of dollars, which is a tough way to end your first year in America. Immigrants in advertising Advertising generally does a poor job reflecting the impact of immigrants on American culture, while relying on cultural appropriation and lack of authenticity. Bringing immigrants to U.S. agencies can help, but that’s just the first step. Agencies must bring immigrants to advertising at every level. Have a clear and effective plan to help them succeed in their new job and country. Only then can immigrants use their own experiences to create authentic work and truly help reflect today’s America. So, fellow immigrants: Next time someone offers you the job you really want, make sure it comes with the opportunity to speak your mind and effect change. Only then will you be able to be your full self.