Today we’d like to introduce you to Abhisikta Bhowmick.
Hi Abhisikta, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hi, I am Abhisikta Bhowmick and today I’m here to share my journey as an Indian-born, Bengali immigrant woman who is now living in Texas.
I was born and raised in the state of West Bengal, where I completed my master’s degree in chemistry and worked for almost 6 years before getting married. I met my husband on an online matrimonial platform and we tied the knot after a year. I moved to the USA with him within a month of our wedding. He was already working here for quite a few years, but it was my first time traveling abroad.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The real challenge was accepting the fact that I was leaving my whole family, my hometown, and a major part of my life to stay 8000 miles away where nobody spoke my native language. It took me more than a year to adapt to this new country – its culture, people, food, music, festivals, and lifestyle.
Moreover, I had to leave my job in India and come here on a dependent visa, which doesn’t allow you to work until you obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). It was a 2-year waiting period, which took a toll on me. It felt overwhelming to decide where to start – building a new life and preparing for a career one more time. I had no friends or family living here in America, people weren’t socializing that much since it was right after the pandemic, and everybody in the neighborhood spoke English in a different accent than mine – I had too many things to pick up on. My introverted nature didn’t come in handy so I had to go out of my comfort zone, pushing myself to start networking in the local area. And I’m glad that I did this. Even though there have been a lot of obstacles for sure, it has been quite a rewarding experience for me.
Thanks – So, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right after finishing my master’s degree in organic chemistry, I started working as a synthetic chemist in a research lab in India. I worked on a project with a senior researcher, and our research was published in an international peer-reviewed journal.
After that, I worked as a high school chemistry teacher for 3 years and taught over 250 students in each academic session. I enjoyed my time as a teacher, but I had to leave the job when I decided to move to the USA.
Working in the cosmetic industry was a lifelong dream. For this reason, I pursued higher education in chemistry in the first place. I have always wanted to study the chemistry behind skincare formulations. America is a land of opportunities, and there is a job for everyone who works hard. So, I started planning on working towards this dream of mine – I participated in an immigrant mentoring program that is specifically designed for first-time job seekers in North America and attended virtual networking events, and webinars by numerous scientists from the industry while looking for a job to restart my career. I connected with cosmetic chemists from all over the country on LinkedIn and learned about their experiences in the personal care industry. I am grateful to my husband and our family for the enormous support that I received from them during this phase of my life. After a couple of interviews, I succeeded in landing my first full-time role as a Research and Development Technician in the Formulation Development team at a skincare contract manufacturer here.
My work focuses on stability testing of cosmetic formulations, managing a database of scientific results, data analysis of cosmetic specifications, technical report writing, and maintaining the raw material inventory. I am also training to be a Cosmetic Chemist by assisting in the formulation development of a range of products – serum, gel, facial cream, foaming cleanser, and sunscreen. It makes me happy that my personal skincare regimen is now a case study in my professional life.
Right now, I am most excited to be joining the University of Cincinnati this fall. I have enrolled in the cosmetic science program there, and I look forward to a rewarding academic journey once again. I will be taking online classes as a part-time student to gain advanced education in this field and help improve my contributions at my current job.
When I am not wearing my lab coat and safety goggles, I like to rearrange my bookshelf, watch a few episodes of my favorite sitcoms, and brew a mean cup of hot Darjeeling tea. I am a regular visitor to the local public library, where I participate in book club discussions which gave me an opportunity to make new friends. On the weekends, I like visiting new bookshops and cafes. I have recently started guest blogging as a volunteer at an immigrant mentoring platform where I intend to share helpful guidelines for my fellow immigrants. New immigrants are often clueless when it comes to restarting their careers – that’s where I want to help them so that they can have some basic guidance instead of being overwhelmed thinking about where to start.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I am sharing a few pieces of advice based on my own experience as an immigrant woman in America so far.
1. Try to learn the essential domestic skills since you won’t be getting any domestic help here.
2. Work on your communication skills. It is the key to expanding your social and professional network. Join the immigrant groups on social media to connect with fellow immigrants in your locality.
3. While waiting for your work permit, utilize the time by taking up volunteer projects. I worked on three such projects before receiving my EAD, and those experiences boosted my confidence when I was interviewing for jobs.
4. Learn to drive – this is something I am still working on. People rely on personal vehicles more than public transport for their daily commute, which is why driving is an essential skill here.
5. Find an immigrant mentor. Seek guidance from someone who has gone through a similar situation. I have been fortunate enough to find mine – I participated in her mentoring program, which made my job search a lot easier.
6. Optimize your resume and LinkedIn profile. These are the two most significant tools for job seekers in this country.
7. Connect with people from your industry on LinkedIn to seek advice as a first-time job seeker. I connected with a lot of peers who guided me during my job search and university application procedure.
8. Pick up new hobbies – do something that will help to find your mental peace.
I urge all the immigrant women in America reading this article to have faith in themselves. And if you need help, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghroddurr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhisiktabhowmick
Image Credits
Abhisikta Bhowmick
