Job searching has never been easy — it requires a tremendous amount of time, effort, and to some extent, luck. This year has only exacerbated the situation for job seekers, faced with a global pandemic among other political and economic challenges.

For Asian Americans in particular, recruiting has always looked a little different, and increasingly so with a rise in anti-Asian sentiment fueled in part by COVID-19. Navigating the current environment can be tough, and we want to help. Asian Student Achievement (ASA) sat down with several recruiting professionals to bring tips and tricks to help you land your next dream job.

1. Be more assertive
   “Work hard and your work will speak for itself,” Kevin Bradley, Senior Advisor at Zebra Technologies, recalls his grandparents saying. Culturally, as Asian Americans, we are often taught to be quieter and avoid drawing attention to ourselves.
   
   American work culture is quite the opposite. Kevin Zhao, Global Executive Compensation Specialist at Boeing, recommends you stand out as much as possible, make yourself known and make a good impression.
   
   Bradley suggests having an elevator pitch ready, to quickly summarize who you are, what you do, and what you are interested in. Practicing a general introduction is a good idea to ensure any time an opportunity arises because you are prepared and not tongue-tied on the spot.
   
   Asian Americans also tend to have additional burdens, possibly put on by family members or even peers. Ning Zulaf, Global Recruiting Strategist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, encourages Asian Americans to practice confidence in making our own decisions. Zulaf emphasizes recognizing we are all on different journeys and career paths, and not comparing ourselves to others.
   
   
2. Be open-minded
   When looking for opportunities, it’s important to keep an open mind. Zulaf recognizes it can be difficult to make the first move out of fear, but reminds us we all have to start somewhere. We should continue to learn and find opportunities while self-reflecting on long-term goals, and often we discover our passion along the way as part of the process.
   
   
3. Tell a good story behind your job gap
   Especially in the midst of a global pandemic, we may find ourselves out of work for a period of time and struggling to explain the gap in future interviews. Echo Yang, Talent Acquisition Specialist at The Nature Conservancy, suggests learning new skills or earning certifications that you can put on your resume. Companies such as LinkedIn and Coursera offer easily accessible ways to grow and develop in your free time.
   
   
4. Decide between using your legal vs. preferred name
   As Asian Americans, many of us have a legal name which is a direct phonetic translation from our native language, as well as a preferred name that is Americanized and easy-to-pronounce. Whichever you choose to go with in the workplace comes down to what you are personally comfortable with.
   
   Bradley suggests meeting in the middle as an option, for example using one name and putting the other in parentheses. Depending on the situation, you may choose to open a conversation and ask what someone may prefer.
   
   Yang reminds us that as diverse candidates, coming from a different background can be our strength. Our ability to bring other points of view is an advantage, and we should not shy away from owning our identity. Yang says data shows a diverse workplace typically sees greater innovation and higher employee engagement.
   
   
5. Establish your social media presence
   In the modern world, social media presence is increasingly important not only in casual situations but also in professional settings. To manage your LinkedIn presence, take time to share your thoughts, share articles and insights, and interact with your network.
   
   Yang says updating your LinkedIn profile with a brief summary, background, skills, experience, and job interests can go a long way. Another tip from Yang is to follow the social media accounts of companies you are interested in if you are actively job seeking.
   
   
6. Find mentors and allies
   People can be an invaluable resource to provide guidance and knowledge to help excel in your career, either as mentors or as allies. Professional contacts from within and without your company can offer advice or a second opinion on what you are going through.
   
   Bradley encourages getting a mentor, and not to have only Asian but also non-Asian mentors. Maintaining diversity in your professional network can offer a greater variety of perspectives.
   
   When it comes to allies, Zulaf reminds us we have all struggled in similar situations and to find others who are willing to support you. Through conversation, we are able to brainstorm new ideas and feel less alone in the challenges we face.
   
   
7. Join professional organizations
   Finding and participating in professional organizations opens up learning opportunities to enhance your business profile, and chances to develop connections with others in your field.
   
   Bradley names a few Asian professional organizations to consider joining:

• Ascend: Founded in 2005, Ascend is a non-profit Pan-Asian organization for business professionals in the US and Canada. The organization has 60,000 people with 40+ student chapters and 18 professional chapters, offering professional development and career enhancement programs.
• Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE): Founded in 2007, SASE aims to help Asian heritage scientific and engineering professionals to connect, support each other, and reach their greatest career potential.
• National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP): Founded in 1982, NAAAP inspires Asian and Pacific Islander leaders to make meaningful impacts to both our workplace and community. The organization offers leadership opportunities and programs as well as informal and formal mentoring. For those interested, NAAAP is hosting a virtual career fair on August 19, 2021.

Recruiting and job searching can be daunting, but we hope these seven tips help get you started. For those seeking additional resources, ASA offers soft skills coaching for students and professionals alike. Please reach out to us on our Contact page through www.learnasa.com for more information. Whether you are a job seeker or working professional, be sure to sign up on our diversity-driven job board to stay up to date on upcoming opportunities. To all job seekers out there, best of luck!