“ESL (English as a second language) must be the reason, I can’t compete with those local candidates who write and speak English perfectly. And I can’t improve my English in a short period of time so I am not sure even if I get an interview, I can pass it or not. I am kind of like Tom Cruise, ya know, and getting an entry-level finance/accounting job is my Mission Impossible” – Andy was upset and depressed after 1 month into the job search.

He felt worthless because it’s just another day that he received tons of email rejections, no interview. As an international student who just graduated with an accounting degree, he told me:

“But I really need a professional accounting job man cuz I am so tired of my part-time job at the restaurant where they treat me like 21^st century labor slave”

I don’t want him to spend the next 3 years working at that restaurant, until his work permit expires and he will just go back to China. I used to be like him and I am sure that he is good enough to do an entry-level accounting job. So, I started to ask him some questions:

“Does any employer really tell you that your English is not good enough for the job?”

“No, they just sent out rejection email, sometimes no response at all.”

“Then why do you think ESL is the problem?”

“Because I can’t speak English perfectly man, and local students can do that perfectly, so they must prefer to work with them, not me.”