The wall is always there: University-educated immigrants' experiences of communication and bargaining position with employers

Abstract

The objective of this research was to provide an insight into and understanding of the lived experience of immigrants with a university degree working in the Icelandic labor market, focusing on their communication and negotiation position vis-à-vis their employer. Twelve interviews were conducted with immigrants with university degree, nine female and three male from 32-48 years old, who have lived in Iceland from 2-14 years. The majority of the interviewees had considerable work experience in their native country and a few had lived and worked in other countries as well before they moved to Iceland. The main results indicate that the interviewees experience a weak negotiating position because their lack of Icelandic language skills limits their job opportunities and access to a network and social capital. They experienced exclusion from their coworkers and that being a foreigner carried a stigma that prevented them from being accepted members in the network and also prevented that their contribution and education would be accepted. In addition, the immigrants felt that they constantly needed to prove themselves because their employer distrusted them and devalued their skills. Finally, they felt that they were required to be thankful for being employed in the Icelandic labor market, belittling their contribution, knowledge, experience and education.