abstract
| - It's not a constant occurrence, but it's been seen on a few occasions (mainly in Sit Coms): Whenever there's a foreigner who's a janitor/plumber/other mediocre job, they occasionally mention that "In old country, I was neurogeneticist/aeronautical engineer/other fancy job." Sadly, this is Truth in Television; professionals immigrating often find it difficult to use their native accreditations to keep doing their jobs. Not to mention that law degrees usually have the unfortunate consequence that, apart from being country-specific, they're often state-specific. They don't even have to want to do the job. It's often believed, especially by Americans who have never been outside their country, that professionals in poorer countries immigrate to the West because they live in abject squalor in their home countries. The reason for this "interesting" belief is that a professional in a poor country may earn less than a cab driver in the United States. However, this fails to take into consideration that the cost of living is massively higher in the United States. In many poor areas it's possible for a large family to live in comfort, even luxury, on a monthly salary that's less than the average daily salary in New York. (Some capital cities in poorer countries are very expensive for expatriates, but expats have specific needs that locals rarely have - security above all.) Most professional immigrants either have a Western education and are able to enter the job force, are unaware that their credentials aren't transferable, have been sold a story by an "immigration consultant", or are escaping something other than poverty such as lack of freedom, political instability, or war. Often overlaps with Did Not Do the Research, especially when universities from Eastern and Central Europe are mentioned. Most graduates from such countries have little trouble nostrificating their diplomas, especially if they come from renowned universities and their profession is in high demand. If anything, this trope is the result of bureaucracy or a case described below. When it's language skills rather than job skills, the character is Eloquent in My Native Tongue. This can be a justification for Almighty Janitor. Examples of Worthless Foreign Degree include:
|