Breaking the Barriers: Enablers of Skilled Immigrant Women’s Access to Social Networks for Their Careers

Work-related immigration is crucial for European societies to maintain their welfare systems due to the aging workforce and decreasing population. Skilled immigrants' human capital is vital for innovation and organizational success in knowledge-based European societies. Although skilled immigrant women face more challenges than men and native women and men in entering the labor market and achieving a successful career, some have managed to succeed. This study investigates the social networks of skilled immigrant women as a path to their career success. With the help of 26 qualitative interview research, we aim is to explore skilled immigrant women’s career-important networks, especially the factors that have enabled the building of the networks. Different types of social networks were found to be career-important to the women. Utilization of online platforms like LinkedIn, receiving both formal and informal mentoring, developing trustworthy professional relationships, exhibiting proactive interaction behavior and hard work, receiving support from friends and family members, and conforming to feminine appearance norms were found to enable network building of these women. The study offers novel in-depth information concerning the building of skilled immigrant women’s career-important social networks and conceptualizes the enabling factors of the network building. It shows that building of the networks is not only gendered, but also nationality and age together with gender affect the building. Managerial implications are introduced, and further research topics suggested.

This seminar will take place in T09-67. To join online, find the details below:
https://eur-nl.zoom.us/j/95100568729

Meeting ID: 951 0056 8729