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- Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
Explore the challenges faced by Asian professionals and how to overcome them. A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BOOK FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER A NEW ENGLAND BOOK FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER A PINNACLE BOOK AWARD WINNER "A must-read if you're ready to unlock your full potential!" --Tiffany Pham, Founder and CEO, Mogul Find your voice, own your story, and elevate your professional life. In The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers, Chao and Lam deliver an engaging and enlightening treatment of how Asian American professional leaders have powered through the obstacles in their way. Exploring a variety of myths, stereotypes, and problems faced by Asian American professionals, this book will empower you to overcome many of these issues. The Visibility Mindset offers straightforward exercises and strategies, alongside many real-life leadership examples from various industries, to help you succeed as you move forward in your careers. The book explores how to work with others effectively and how to handle microaggressions, how to leverage the power of networking, and how to manage and mentor others while seeking out mentorship for yourself. An indispensable resource for Asian professionals, The Visibility Mindset also deserves a place in the hands of allies of Asian American professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by their friends and colleagues.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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Table of Contents
Cover
Praise for
The Visibility Mindset
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Common Myths
Creating Visibility
Notes
PART I: Improving Yourself
1 Finding Your Own Voice
Learning the Rules of Communication
Recognizing the Steps to Effective Communication
Improving Your Voice by Practicing
Creating Safe Spaces to Speak Up
Interview with Scott Asai
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
2 Knowing Your Worth
Understanding What Self‐Worth Is Not
Knowing the Value You Bring to Work
Negotiating Your Salary
Knowing When to Leave
Interview with Clara Luo
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
3 Building Your Personal Brand
Defining Your Personal Brand
Understanding What Makes You Unique
Learning How to Build a Strategic Personal Brand
Discovering Examples of Strong Personal Brands
Interview with Kevin Yu
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
4 Creating Your Own Career Path
Being a Trailblazer
Considering Your Transferable Skills
Navigating Career Pivots
Reflecting on Your Career Path
Creating Your Own Opportunities
Interview with Ariba Jahan
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
5 Finding Your Optimal Work‐Life Balance
Understanding the Negative Impact of Work‐Life Imbalance
Prioritizing a Healthy Self‐Care Lifestyle
Learning to Say No
Taking Action on Your Work‐Life Balance
Leading by Example
Interview with Bonnie Wan
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
6 Prioritizing Your Mental Health
Understanding the Reality of Mental Health for Asians
Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in the Workplace
Interview with Cassandra Lam
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
PART II: Working with Others
7 Addressing Microaggressions
Defining Microaggression
Understanding the Reality of Microaggressions
Learning Ways to Address Microaggressions
Interview with Jason Ve
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
8 Maximizing the Power of Networking
Learning the Benefits of Networking
Unlearning Asian Cultural Barriers to Networking
Growing Your Network
Creating Your Own Networking Toolkit
Interview with Kenny Nguyen
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
9 Becoming an Effective Leader and Manager
Defining Managers versus Leaders
Understanding the Three Types of Leadership Styles
Acknowledging Characteristics of a Great Leader
Interview with Prashanthi Raman
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
10 Optimizing the Magic of Mentorship
Making the Most of Being a Mentee
Being an Effective Mentor
Using Different Types of Mentors
Interview with Jerry Won
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Note
PART III: Redefining the Future of the Workplace
11 Leveraging Allyship
Understanding Misconceptions about Allyship
Being an Effective Ally
Considering Ways to Leverage Allyship
Interview with George Sycip
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
12 Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Learning and Development
Defining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Examining the Leadership Ceiling
Combining Your DEI Efforts
Interview with Sonali Goel
Key Takeaways
Reflections
Notes
Conclusion
Creating a Visibility Mindset Plan
Index
End User License Agreement
Guide
Introduction
Cover Page
Praise for The Visibility Mindset
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
Begin Reading
Conclusion
Index
Wiley End User License Agreement
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Praise for The Visibility Mindset
“Finally, a much‐needed handbook for the Asian American community and allies. I'm thrilled to have a single resource for students, faculty, and practitioners to learn how to thrive in, compete in, and navigate the workplace. As an educator, I'll be assigning this book. Kudos to Chao and Lam!”
—Robin Landa,Distinguished Professor of Design, Kean University, author of The New Art of Ideas
“Jessalin Lam and Bernice Chao clearly articulate how successful Asian Americans stay visible and present as they advance professionally. Their personal stories, timely advice, and thought‐provoking interviews offer readers clear reasons why we should all embrace a mindset that focuses on being seen, heard, and valued. I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of this book and share it with others.”
—Bill Imada,founder and chairman, IW Group, Inc.
“Climbing the career ladder can be a lonely and overwhelming experience. Bernice and Jessalin have distilled the hard‐learned lessons of those coming before us into relatable stories and practical strategies.”
—Gorick Ng,Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Unspoken Rules
“Jessalin and Bernice have written a remarkable and essential piece of work for current and future Asian Americans. From unpacking what it means to be an Asian American to providing critical and radical self‐reflection tools, the powerhouse pair has developed an incredible foundation to break the bamboo ceiling and stereotypes imposed on us by society. Recognizable stories of microaggressions, being overlooked, and never being good enough, Jessalin and Bernice blend history with actionable steps that we can use to resist and disrupt the stereotypes that chain us down. The Visibility Mindset: How Asian American Leaders Create Opportunities and Push Past Barriers is a must for all Asian Americans advocating for social justice that recognizes and supports our community's unique talents.”
—Christian Wu,educational researcher and educator
“As a disability advocate who is also in the AAPI community, I recommend this book for anyone in the AAPI community and those who support, care about, and love us (our allies). The book includes tactical resources and lessons on improving yourself, overcoming stereotypes, and redefining the future of work. A must‐read for all leaders and must‐have on your bookshelf!”
—Tiffany Yu,Founder and CEO, Diversability, Ex Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, REVOLT TV
“What a brilliant and clear way to explain the years of feeling a sense of “unbelonging” as growing up as an Asian American woman. These authors break down how to navigate through Asian American stereotypes and myths—I'm so glad there will be a tool for our future generations to figure out their voices and their roles in society.”
—Mayly Tao,Founder/CEO, Donut Princess LA and author of An American Dream, with Sprinkles: The Legacy Story of the Donut Queen & Donut Princess
“Jessalin Lam and Bernice Chao have written the MUST‐READ handbook, not just for Asian Americans in business, but for Asians in business anywhere—and, quite frankly, for anyone who considers themselves an ally and a supporter of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This insightful, practical, actionable guide will turbocharge your path to leadership—and to better business outcomes for all as a result.”
—Cindy Gallop,consultant and founder/CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn
“A powerful and inspiring book that will benefit everyone who implements it, an invaluable resource both for Asian Americans and allies! The Visibility Mindset is a treasure trove of principles, methods, and concepts that can elevate your life and career.”
—Angela Marie,Hutchinson, showrunner, screenwriter, and author of Create Your Yes! When You Keep Hearing NO: A 12‐Step Strategy for Success
“This is an extremely effective book written by Jessalin and Bernice highlighting the nuisances and struggles of the Asian American diaspora. Jessalin and Bernice are leaders within the AAPI community and offer insight on how to cultivate, visualize and strategize for success. Keep reading from end to end, you won't be disappointed.”
—Bryan Pham,founder and CEO, Asian Hustle Network
“A must‐read if you're ready to unlock your full potential! Bernice and Jessalin have written a manual for how to have the life and career you always imagined. You'll keep going back to this book for takeaways and action points. No matter your gender, race, age, and no matter what industry you are in, this book has something for you.”
—Tiffany Pham,CEO, Mogul
“Bernice and Jessalin's book is a resounding inspiration. Not only did it communicate how I can be an ally to AAPI, but it also spoke to me directly as a woman, empowering me on my own career path. A must‐read for all creatives.”
—Rachel Rabin,“RAIGN,” singer, songwriter, and founder of Millionaire London Records
“Bernice and Jessalin have done a phenomenal job with this book by giving practical tips that anybody can use to become a leader. As someone who encourages our AAPI community to speak up, I know it can be challenging due to our cultural upbringing, and this book can help you come out of your shell. This book is a must‐read and a great guide to finding your voice in your business and career.”
—Sheena Yap Chan,host of The Tao of Self Confidence and author of Asian Women Who Boss Up
HOW ASIAN AMERICAN LEADERS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND PUSH PAST BARRIERS
THE VISIBILITY MINDSET
BERNICE CHAO | JESSALIN LAM
Copyright © 2023 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per‐copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750‐8400, fax (978) 646‐8600, or on the Web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748‐6011, fax (201) 748‐6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data
Names: Chao, Bernice M., author. | Lam, Jessalin, author.
Title: The visibility mindset : how Asian American leaders create opportunities and push past barriers / Bernice M. Chao and Jessalin Lam.
Description: First edition. | Hoboken, New Jersey : Wiley, [2023] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022032474 (print) | LCCN 2022032475 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119890492 (cloth) | ISBN 9781119890812 (adobe pdf) | ISBN 9781119890508 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Leadership—United States. | Career development—United States. | Asian Americans—Social conditions.
Classification: LCC BF637.L4 C433 2023 (print) | LCC BF637.L4 (ebook) | DDC 158/.4—dc23/eng/20220914
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022032474
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022032475
Cover Design: IVAN KATHIA FELIZ GESTIADA / 99designs.com
Cover Image: © kinggodarts/Pixabay
To our incredible families for believing in us, to friends and community for their unconditional support, and to those who want to take a seat for themselves at the table.
Introduction
Our story is a commonly shared one. We are Asian Americans born in and living in the United States. While we are part of the American culture, we are still balancing the culture of our ethnic origin. We speak English fluently, but because of the differences in how we look, we are often seen as not quite “American” enough and since we are not being raised in our origin country, oftentimes, we are also not “Asian” enough. Throughout this book, we will be using the term Asian Americans to include all individuals of Asian descent but recognize that there are many other terms that can be used to mean the same thing, including Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and often simply Asian.
Speaking generally, Asian parents teach us that we will succeed if we work hard. However, most of us know that hard work in this day and age is just not enough to succeed. We've learned that working hard usually means getting assigned more work instead of praise, raises, or promotions. We see others who did not put the same hours and dedication into their workload as we did, and they excel and get promoted without a clear explanation as to why. We look around and see those of Asian American descent leaving their corporations and starting their entrepreneurial endeavors because they couldn't work within the established system. Asian Americans are often not given the opportunities they deserve in the workplace, and we are here to break down these stereotypes and myths to help guide you through the challenges you may face along your career journey.
The two of us spent our careers in advertising and media, and we both were faced with the same upward momentum challenges. Through many years of struggling to be seen, we realized that we needed to apply what we knew from our work to ourselves in order to succeed. We realized that the same things that gain brands presence and recognition could also work for us. We found that rather than being passed over for opportunities, by implementing a brand strategy for ourselves, a new world of potential could open up to us, and we wanted to share this realization with others.
We created a nonprofit organization called Asians in Advertising to help advance Asian Americans into the c‐suite. We did this by hosting community networking classes, spotlighting Asian American talent, and creating practical, career‐enhancing lessons based on what we learned from our experiences and industry leaders. As a result, we saw many in our community were using these pointers to get new jobs and advance in their careers. Asian Americans began reaching out to us from many different industries and from all areas of the world.
We quickly realized that career enhancement strategies were useful not only to Asian Americans in the advertising field but also to Asian Americans in all business roles. Our reach had expanded globally, so we decided we needed to share what we had learned and to spread knowledge from others who had figured out tips for visibility. This book lays out many actionable steps to help you become seen in the workplace and to facilitate the opening up of many more opportunities to you, possibilities that would not necessarily have been available to you before. In the beginning of each chapter, you will see that each one is written by one of us as we wanted to include the personal nature of our own experiences that led us to write those specific chapters and integrate our own stories and perspectives.
We created this book as a guide for Asian Americans and see this book being used as a resource in schools, organizations, employee resource groups, book clubs, and friend groups, among others. We want anyone who has felt that they lacked visibility in the workplace to be able to have the tools to be seen. This book will also be an essential guide for employers, managers, and anyone interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you are a non‐Asian reading this book, we appreciate you being an ally to our community. Nothing in this book is the silver bullet, but we have found common issues and shared solutions. Feel free to take as much or as little as you need from it.
Common Myths
Before we go into what we have the potential to do, it is important to understand how we got to where we are and to break down the myths and stereotypes that run across the Asian American community. Asian Americans are too often a tokenized afterthought, getting pulled in when more diverse faces are needed.1 Asian Americans are often perceived as successful due to the misconceived model minority myth.2 On the whole, Asian Americans are sometimes classified on one hand as White and on the other hand as people of color. This complex set of conflicting stereotypes has rendered us invisible in America.3
Myth 1: Asian Americans are a single monolithic group
Asian Americans are not a monolith. They have a population of nearly 23 million, with a diverse group originating from more than 20 countries in East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They include many subgroups:
East Asians: 4.9 million Chinese, 1.9 million Korean, 1.5 million Japanese, and 204 thousand Taiwanese;
Southeast Asians: 4 million Filipino, 2.1 million Vietnamese, 322 thousand Cambodian, 313 thousand Thai, 309 thousand Hmong, 261 thousand Laotian, and 182 thousand Burmese;
South Asians: 4.3 million Indian, 515 thousand Paki‐stani, 188 thousand Bangladeshi, and 168 thousand Nepalese;
Pacific Islanders: 600 thousand Native Hawaiian, 209 thousand Samoan, 159 thousand Guamanian, and 253 thousand Other Pacific Islanders.
According to the US Census, the Asian American population is the fastest‐growing racial or ethnic group in the United States, growing by 81 percent from 2000 to 2019.
Myth 2: Asian Americans are high earning and well educated
The income inequality in the United States is rising most rapidly among Asian Americans. Asian Americans displaced Black Americans as the most economically divided racial or ethnic group in the United States, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data.4 In fact,
12.3 percent of Asians live below the poverty line.
5
Asian Americans represented 17.9 percent of people living in poverty in New York City and had the highest poverty rate of any racial or ethnic group at 29 percent.
Nearly 1.1 million Southeast Asian Americans are low‐income, and about 460,000 live in poverty.
6
Myth 3: Asian Americans are fairly represented in leadership positions
When it comes to Asian Americans in the workplace, most Asian Americans are hired at the bottom and not promoted to leadership roles. According to the Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change 2021 STAATUS index report7, nearly 50 percent of non–Asian Americans believe Asian Americans are fairly or overrepresented when in fact Asian Americans are significantly underrepresented in senior positions in companies, politics, and media. According to DiversityInc, Asian Americans make up only 2.6 percent of the corporate leadership of Fortune 500 companies.8 Many Asian Americans face the challenge of not getting promoted in the workplace. For example, representation of Asian American talent is inconsistent across advertising agencies as reported by the Agency DEI Database, where Asians occupy only 13 percent professional, 6 percent management, 8 percent senior executive, and 5 percent c‐suite roles. This is a snapshot of only one industry and an example of why we need change to ensure that Asians are recognized as leaders in the workplace.
Creating Visibility
Visibility is not only about the act of being seen by others. It is also about actively seeking opportunities to see ourselves. We are not asking you to change who you are but to create a framework of access and understanding. We believe that by keeping visibility at the forefront of your mind, you will be able to create opportunities for yourself and make sure your employers see you in the roles you desire.
Why did we choose the title The Visibility Mindset? Because Asian Americans are still an invisible minority, and to be visible you must keep an active mindset. In this book, we separate the visibility mindset into three parts: improving yourself, working with others, and redefining the future of the workplace.
Improving Yourself
This section provides strategies to improve yourself. You will discover how to nurture a lifelong learner mindset and how to activate a growth mindset in how you approach life. The Asian American community must unlock more opportunities by reframing their mindset and focusing their energy on self‐improvement by shifting perspectives and reactions. The chapters in this section include topics on finding your voice, knowing your worth, building your personal brand, creating your own career path, finding your optimal work‐life balance, and prioritizing your mental health.
Working with Others
This section covers stories of how we work with others throughout our career journeys and provides tips on how to navigate our career paths while learning from leaders who became successful by collaborating with others in the workplace. The chapters in this section include topics on addressing microaggressions, maximizing the power of networking, becoming an effective leader and manager, and optimizing the magic of mentorship.
Redefining the Future of the Workplace
We are writing this book as an essential career guide for you with the hope of improving the future of the workplace. We need to reimagine what our future looks like, and through our stories, we share how we can continue to reshape and improve the workplace to help Asian Americans thrive and flourish at work. The chapters in this section include topics on leveraging allyship and integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into learning and development.
At the end of each chapter, reflections will help you to integrate the lessons from the chapter into your life to help get you to that job or position you've always imagined for yourself.
Notes
1.
Clara Luo, “
A Challenge to Our Industry from an Invisible Minority
,”
Campaign
, March 29, 2021.
https://www.campaignlive.com/article/challenge-industry-invisible-minority/1711249
2.
Connie Hanzhang Jin, “6 Charts That Dismantle the Trope of Asian Americans as a Model Minority,” National Public Radio, May 25, 2021.
https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/999874296/6-charts-that-dismantle-the-trope-of-asian-americans-as-a-model-minority
3.
Nguyen Ngan and Kim Euna, “Model Minority Myth and the Double‐Edged Sword,” Ascend Leadership Foundation, April 2021.
https://www.ascendleadershipfoundation.org/research/model-minority-myth-double-edged-sword
4.
Rakesh Kochhar and Anthony Cilluffo, “Income Inequality in the U.S. Is Rising Most Rapidly among Asians,” Pew Research Center, July 18, 2018.
https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/07/12/income-inequality-in-the-u-s-is-rising-most-rapidly-among-asians/
5.
Victoria Tran, “Asian Americans Are Falling through the Cracks in Data Representation and Social Services,” Urban Institute, June 19, 2018.
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/asian-americans-are-falling-through-cracks-data-representation-and-social-services
6.
Agnes Constante, “Largest U.S. refugee group struggling with poverty 45 years after resettlement,” NBC News, March 4, 2020.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/largest-u-s-refugee-group-struggling-poverty-45-years-after-n1150031
7.
STAATUS Index, "STAATUS Index Report 2021," 2021.
https://www.staatus-index.org/staatus-index-2021
8.
Barbara Frankel, “Asian Divide in the C‐Suite,” DiversityInc, April 13, 2022.
https://www.diversityincbestpractices.com/the-asian-divide-in-the-c-suite/
PART IImproving Yourself
1Finding Your Own Voice
Bernice Chao
If people were silent, nothing would change.
—Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
When asked to speak at the Omnicom Precision Marketing Group's (OPMG's) Asian Pacific Islander Collective, I was stunned that Van Tran, a principal at Credera, and Cathy Butler, the chief executive officer at Organic, had picked me to talk about charisma. As someone who constantly feels like a fish out of water no matter what room or conversation I am in, this would have never been a topic I would have chosen for myself. I discovered, however, that others see me as charismatic because of the strategies and techniques I consciously employ while speaking with others.
Learning how to communicate is vital for Asian Americans because they face a strong stereotype as technically competent, diligent, and quiet. Because of this perception, Asian Americans are less likely to be promoted into management and leadership positions.1 In western workplaces, those in leadership positions typically are praised for having qualities of being outgoing, bold, and sometimes even brash, which is at complete odds with how Asian Americans are seen in society.
A New York Times article reported that more than 160,000 student records showed that Harvard consistently rated Asian American applicants lower than others on traits such as “positive personality, likability, courage, kindness, and being widely respected.”2 This news was a painful reminder to Asian Americans of the ethnic stereotype that though they are hardworking, they are not perceived to possess communication skills.
Asian Americans must acknowledge the bias that exists and proactively combat it. It is not our responsibility to change society, but we can definitely challenge the stereotype of our individual performance by building charisma and developing interpersonal skills. As we collectively use our voices, we will start to reduce the stereotypes and redefine how we are perceived. This chapter will teach you how to find your voice and break the barriers that limit opportunities in the corporate world for Asian Americans.
Learning the Rules of Communication
To improve your social skills, it is essential to start where you are by acknowledging your personality traits and your communication style before you consider where you want your voice to be. No matter where you are in the process of learning communication skills in your professional career, you can always practice ways to improve and cultivate your voice. In other words, communication skills can be learned and refined whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. As an introvert, you may have traits that can benefit you such as being observational, a good listener, and more contemplative before speaking. As an extrovert, your skills can include being enthusiastic, extra friendly, and social.
Once you understand your personality traits, think about how you communicate through verbal and nonverbal cues. Having strong verbal and nonverbal communication skills demonstrates to your manager and leaders in your workplace that you can bring out the best in others, which is essential for career advancement and promotion into leadership positions.
Dr. Albert Mehrabian, a psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, published the book Silent Messages, in which he discusses the 7‐38‐55 communication rule: 7 percent of meaning is communicated through the spoken word, 38 percent of meaning is communicated through tone of voice, and 55 percent of meaning is communicated through body language. This means that 93 percent of how you communicate comes from nonverbal communications, which you can refine and practice.
Recognizing the Steps to Effective Communication
Interpersonal skills or soft skills are the behaviors and tactics a person uses to interact with others effectively. Communication skills are crucial in your personal life and essential in your work life. Interpersonal skills seem to come naturally to some people, but even if they don't come naturally to you, you are capable of learning these skills with practice. Having effective interpersonal skills helps build trust and collaboration between team members and managers.
The steps to effective communication include knowing your audience, practicing active listening, improving verbal communication, focusing on nonverbal communication, and asking for feedback.
Knowing Your Audience
In my experience as an Asian American in a White male–dominated career, I quickly realized I did not have the same cultural reference points as my colleagues. I didn't have the same music, sports, or movie knowledge because in my household my immigrant parents didn't expose me to those things at a young age. Any references I had, came after I went to college and started forming my own interests. Consequently, I often was unable to recall famous names of songs, quotes, or sporting event outcomes, which many of my colleagues used in peer‐to‐peer conversation. I had to adapt and learn ways around that by finding other reference points that I could expound upon to find commonality.
According to Drake Baer in his Business Insider article “If You Want to Get Hired, Act Like Your Potential Boss,” managers hire and promote people based on people who remind them of themselves. If you want to work at a consul‐tancy, law firm, bank, or elsewhere in the professional elite, landing a job may not require you to be the best qualified. Instead, it could depend on whether you have a “spark of commonality” with the hiring manager you interview with.3
In some American workplaces, knowing movie quotes and having an affinity for sports helps. However, if that's not in your interests, there are other ways to find commonality.
Strategy for Finding Commonality
