语言是影响加国新移民收入的重要障碍

WingYin

I've worked for a couple of Canadian bosses, and that's what I think....

I feel that when Canadian employers looking for new people to hire, they look for people who will join their parties.  They want people who watch The American Idol, follow the hockey games, like to drink together at the pubs, and show up with a bottle of wine at the parties.  

They do not necessary want to hire people who do math without fault.  And they certainly don't want to hire people who get too many "A"s at school but do not do anything else.  

At the beginning, I didn't like to join the parties.  I didn't have a high tolerance towards beers and wine.  But later, I understand.  At Canadian workplace, you have to respect your bosses and supervisors, but they don't want you not to go to them if problems occur or you have new ideas to suggest.  You need those friendly gathering between the co-workers and the supervisors to break the ice.  (And now, I would show up at parties, but I would limit myself for one drink per night.)

I think what new immigrants face in this situation is that the employers don't know if they fit into the parties.  The employers know you can do the work, and your university degrees or college diplomas have proved that point.  But they don't know if you have the communication and interpersonal skills to speak up.  They test if you have those skills by bringing up the hockey games and talking about certain TV shows.  

At the end of the day it is the cultural differerence that set Chinese and Western workplace culture apart.  Chinese culture demands upmost respect from the juniors (employees) towards the seniors (bosses).  Western cutlure demands respect, but they also want communications and exchange of ideas between the juniors and the seniors.  And I guess most of us the Chinese still perfer Chinese TV over English TV.