On the Job With Asian American Professionals
September 19, 2008
Asian American employees are stereotyped as passive, unwilling to participate in organized activities and apathetic about doing what it takes to get promoted. They are the overworked, underpaid, under-respected workhorses who toil away and then cross their fingers when eligible for a promotion. They can’t be bothered, the stereotype goes, with connecting with other Asians in our company or lobbying for more Asians to be hired or put in the pipeline for management positions.
But a closer look shows that Asian Americans are indeed active in professional career development, from the thriving Asian employee networks and leadership programs to professional associations. AsianWeek lists almost 40 of the most prominent Asian employee groups from companies across the United States in a special section in this issue, and it is not a comprehensive list by far.
The American tendency is to organize around play or politics. But this passion among Asian American professionals for career development and engaging with our colleagues is perhaps an extension of our community’s high concern for raising a family and cultivating a stable job. Strong ties to the Asian American community may also play a role, and many of these employee groups have demonstrated a dedication to serving this community, donating time and money to causes like Sichuan earthquake relief, local scholarships for Asian American students and Project Michelle, an effort to increase the number of Asian American bone marrow donors.
Inspired by employee resource groups like the Corporate Asian American Employee Network (CAAEN) and Wells Fargo’s Asian Connection, AsianWeek has even started its own organization—the Fabulous AsianWeek Contributors and Employees (F.A.C.E.) to outreach and network with other Asian American associations, recognize and appreciate employee’s successes, construct and strengthen work relationships, provide services that give back to the community and embrace and share our Asian cultural heritage.
Today in a multicultural and global job market, it is important for Asian Americans to learn to embrace their heritage and identity to further themselves in their professional careers. One way to do this is to join your company’s Asian employee resource group.
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