A peculiar aspect within the American job market that many African expats only begin to grasp after some time in the country is the encouragement of specialization within particular fields.
Although employees with general skills do succeed within the job market, it’s clear that companies prefer to hire individuals that are highly qualified in a particular area. Likewise, channeling your selected skills towards a smaller range of fields will make it easy for you to target your job search, make you stand out from the competition, and therefore increase your chances of getting hired.
However, the most significant benefit of pursuing specialization for expats and immigrants lies in its advantages for acquiring a work visa. Most work visas are easier to get within the U.S. if you display specific skills or qualifications—be it academic, work-related, or even speaking more than two languages.
This information might be discouraging if you do not believe you fit the requirements. However, this is merely a trend and not the rule—employees with a broad and general range of skills still can find work due to the vast range of the American job market. However, there is a benefit in understanding American culture’s preference for specialization and preparing accordingly within your means and possibilities.
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