Discussion on employment in the US

[Tew]

I just wanted to start this thread to discuss how to get a job once you get to the US.

I've noticed in a lot of threads that people have given up on getting professional/well-paying jobs using qualifications from their home countries. Here's the thing: it's not impossible. I hate to see that people have given up without trying.

Yes, it's true that American employers want to see US qualifications, however you still stand a chance with your existing degrees if you take some steps. I just don't believe in giving up before you even try.

1. Create a Linkedin profile and start working your network before you get there. I'm sure a lot of you have people in your network who are already in the US.
2. Talk to people in professional jobs in your country who know people in the US. If you know people from your country's diaspora who returned to live in their home country, they are your number 1 resource. They are well-networked in the US so they can give you a MAJOR boost.
3. Register at employment agencies as soon as you get your green card in your hand. They will test your skills, then assign you to temp jobs. These can lead to permanent jobs.
4. Look at NGOs, specifically those who work internationally. This is particularly true for those moving to areas with large numbers of NGOs, like Washington DC and NYC.
5. Apply to international organizations and your country's embassy. It goes without saying that this is also mostly for those in DC and NYC.
6. Try to get an internship when you get there. This will work best for those who have little work experience as opposed to those already past their 30s. Target companies with large numbers of immigrant employees, or companies owned by relatively recent immigrants since they will be more open to your qualifications.
7. Volunteer - this is second best to internships, but it can also open a lot of doors. I'm not talking soup kitchens, but volunteering in organizations that need your professional skills. At the minimum, you'll be able to claim work experience.
8. Go to networking events in your field. Start by joining professional associations on Linkedin, for instance.

Last, but not least:

9. Do go ahead and get some type of certification once you get there. There are many programs that last just a few months. If you have a bachelor's degree, there's no need to start from scratch and redo an entire BA program. The US education system is very flexible, so you can change your field with your master's program, don't redo a Bachelor's if you don't have to. It's totally normal to graduate with a BA in English and do an MBA in Economics, for instance. I can name many such examples. Even if the Master's program requires a particular type of coursework as an entrance requirement, you may be able to just supplement your existing Bachelor's with extra courses in a US college, for instance. So research, research, research before you jump into a BA program. It can be a costly and unnecessary step, not to mention it will take you years to graduate.


I hope this info is helpful to people. I've done my higher education in the US and lived there for over a decade, so I know quite a few resources. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

 

[Crawf33]

As someone who applied for easily 100-200 jobs in the US in the past 18 months, heard back from very few and landed one two months ago, three weeks after I entered on my green card, I'll say this:

Have an American friend (an EMPLOYED one) proof read and edit your cover letters. US job applications are very different, even to Australia, in what they require. Volume of applications means HR people don't have time to read through long-winded cover letters or multiple-page CVs.

Learn and adhere to the correct application format if you want to be considered. There are professional and probably community services that can help job applicants to get their CVs and cover letters in order.

Also learn to adopt the attitude of "what YOU can do for the company", not necessarily just what experience you have. In this economy, companies are hiring sparsely and want a guarantees return on their investment. Tell them what you can do for them and why they should invest in you.

 

[Tew]

Thank you for the PMs, but I think it would be good to post in this thread instead so that everyone gets to follow the discussions.

That's an excellent point Crawf33.

CVs are rarely used in the US and are usually limited to researchers. One-page resumes are the norm. Maximum of 2 pages for people more advanced in their careers.

There are many resources online for those who need to rewrite theirs. American resumes are more about showing what your achievements are rather than listing your work history. American employers want to see concrete achievements, preferably using numbers.

The format I most recommend is:

Job title
- Duties: e.g. Manage team of five
- Select achievements: e.g. Increased team's output by 30% within three months


Cover letters are about why you fit the job as opposed to repeating your job history. A good rule of thumb is to remember it's not about you, it's about the employer's needs. A good way to test your letter is to see if there are too many "I." "I did this" and "I know that" is not the way to do it. Rather, your letter's overall message must be "here is how I'm going to use my experience in order to benefit your company."


There are indeed community centers that help with writing resumes as pointed out by Crawf33. If you don't mind paying some money, there are professional resume writers as well. You can also hire people on Fiverr.com for just $5 to rework your CV into a resume, but the quality could reflect the price.

 

[SusieQQQ]

As someone who applied for easily 100-200 jobs in the US in the past 18 months, heard back from very few and landed one two months ago, three weeks after I entered on my green card,

I've heard quite a few people with similar stories by the way. It seems pretty rare to land a job from outside the US, even if you don't need a visa sponsor, but once you're actually there it seems much easier.

Also as you say/imply - a lot of people from outside seem to think "resume" is just the American term for "CV". But it's not, in the sense that it's a much condensed version of same.

 

[c1984]

The biggest difference between a CV and a resume is that is the former one is just to TELL about your work experience, the later to SELL your work experience.

When it comes to writing a resume, the first rule of thumb is "sell it to me, don't just tell it to me."

 

[Crawf33]

CVs are rarely used in the US and are usually limited to researchers. One-page resumes are the norm. Maximum of 2 pages for people more advanced in their careers.

Apologies for the confusion - when I said CV I did mean resume. They're colloquially interchangeable where I come from.

I've heard quite a few people with similar stories by the way. It seems pretty rare to land a job from outside the US, even if you don't need a visa sponsor, but once you're actually there it seems much easier.

I think the biggest hurdle (for me, at least) is that my industry is a tough one where there are so many more job-seekers than there are jobs, even though there are a ton of jobs. Written communication is a huge part of what I do, so I feel that not having American work experience (writing in American, rather than British, English) may very well have been a deciding factor in my unsuccessful applications.

I feel confident now though that when I go back into the job market, because I have a US employer at the top of my CV, it'll be a whole lot easier to get in the door.

 

[SusieQQQ]

I think the biggest hurdle (for me, at least) is that my industry is a tough one where there are so many more job-seekers than there are jobs, even though there are a ton of jobs. Written communication is a huge part of what I do, so I feel that not having American work experience (writing in American, rather than British, English) may very well have been a deciding factor in my unsuccessful applications.

I hear you, but I've heard similar stories from people with a variety of backgrounds including finance, accounting and IT - companies are just much more open to applications if you're actually there. One person suggested setting up a Skype account with a US number to make it less obvious one wasn't actually in the US at the time.

 

[Britsimon]

I hear you, but I've heard similar stories from people with a variety of backgrounds including finance, accounting and IT - companies are just much more open to applications if you're actually there. One person suggested setting up a Skype account with a US number to make it less obvious one wasn't actually in the US at the time.

That is very much my experience - even from clients I already knew very well. Until you are in the US and even in the area you want to be in, you really don't get taken seriously....

 

[lillshai]

I’m so grateful for this thread and the great advice! This is something I’m freaking out about actually, so the more info the better – thanks!

 

[Crawf33]

I hear you, but I've heard similar stories from people with a variety of backgrounds including finance, accounting and IT - companies are just much more open to applications if you're actually there.

Oh don't get me wrong - the troubles I had weren't just when I was applying from Australia. I barely got a look in edgewise once I'd relocated permanently either! I would only have heard back from probably 10-15 per cent of the jobs I've applied for in the past six months.

One person suggested setting up a Skype account with a US number to make it less obvious one wasn't actually in the US at the time.

Yeah I've also read examples of people using Google Voice to set up phone numbers to achieve the same thing. But then what happens when you're caught in the lie, or when you're asked when you can start and you have to say "two months" because you need to relocate, etc? Seems like a dangerous game to be playing, that's all. Better to be up-front.

Speaking of which, another piece of advice I'd give is to be very clear in your cover letter that you have full work authorization in the United States. As I said earlier, foreign experience and qualifications could potentially make an employer overlook you, assuming "it's too hard to bother with visas and sponsorship" without understanding the situation. Make it obvious that your employment eligibility is no different to that of an American citizen.

 

[Fagelot]

Hi all,
Thanks for the information concerning the employment in US.
I am totally agree with @Tew, never give up 'till you get enough (MJ).

What I want to ask is, could you post some link of employment agencies that you see more good !?

Thank you in advance for your help.