Learning curves in NYC
Hi guys,
So here are a few of the things I learned the hard way when moving over here. It might not necessarily apply to all cities but definitely in NYC.
Finding employment:
The SSN. Your social security number doesn't always get issued even when you tick the box in one of the forms to request one. Do it sooner rather than later. It's a quick process (after the long wait at the SSN office that is) and all you need to the Visa in your passport if you don't have your greencard yet.
The one page single sided resume. That's all you get. 1 A4 page to document your entire employment and educational background. It gets a bit more lenient for director levels and above when it expands to a double sided A4 page. Work on this now because you'll want to hit the ground running when you get here.
The interview process. I'm not sure if it's only the company that I now work for but I've heard similar experiences. For background I work as an marketing analyst so it's an office job. I had 4 interviews back to back in round one. Each of them was one on one and the only question they asked was "tell me about yourself" which in hind sight isn't even a question. You are given this time to "sell yourself" so be confident and speak up.
The drug test. Most large companies will make you do a drug test and background check against your new SSN even when you reason with them that it's a brand new SSN and therefore has nothing marked against it. They love their red tape.
The documentation. The first greencard you get is usually issued very quickly. If you need another one reissued to you (because they printed your country of birth as "French Polynesia") but don't fear. The Visa in your passport will act as a temporary greencard for 1 year after the issue date.
The culture:
Tax. Not included in the price that's advertised. Make sure you take that into consideration before you scoop up that "deal".
Tipping. Still don't get it. Even for bad service. Easy calculation is to double the tax. Or if you are a math whiz then it's always calculated on the pre-tax total. Not a hard and fast rule but: If you don't sit - you don't tip.
Our accent. Yes they really do love it. It will get you places and be a general conversation started. Don't lose it.
Finding an apartment. This is impossible in NYC. Pray to whichever god you believe in and hope for the best. I got lucky on Craigslist with a roommate who thankfully is sane and really nice. I've heard horror stories. Best to stay at a temporary place (like the ones on airbnb) and then look in person. Brokers fee is normally 10% of the yearly rent.
Food. The food over here is good and value for money. They have over 160 Michelin star rated restaurants in NYC alone compared to the 1 we have in Australia. The things you WILL miss are: pies, dim sims, vegemite, KFC chips, mint slices, burger rings, tim tams and good Asian food (especially Vietnamese pho). Stock up now while you have the chance.
The cold. It's cold. Getting colder. I lived in London for 2 years and thought I was prepared. I was wrong.
The subtle differences in language that normal people would be able to decipher but Americans refuse to budge on. Case in point. Go to a fast food place and tell them you want to have it "take-away". *blank stare*. repeat it in a clear and loud voice. "what?". Say it with some authority. "huh?". finally give in and say "take out" and all of a sudden there is that spark in their eye when they suddenly unlock the mystery of what it is you've been trying to say to them.
Other:
Contacting home on the cheap. Use the net as much as you can. Skype is a godsend. A app called whatsapp on your phone is good value too if you don't have a blackberry for BBM. The cheapest phone plan is probably the T-mobile $50 pre paid phone that gives you unlimited calls, text and data in America to other US lines. Bad coverage though.
Credit history. You don't have any over here and so you can't apply for a lot of things like credit cards, store cards or apartments. Speak to your bank ahead of time to see if you can transfer your history from back home. Otherwise when you get here and open a bank account, get a secure card. You basically put money on it in advance and it acts like a credit card and starts to build your history.
Imperial measurements. Feet, Inches, Miles, Gallons, Ounces, Fahrenheit. The only one I know is a Pint! It would be good if you knew them or knew how to convert them.
That's all I can think of for now. I hope someone out there finds this useful. As for the general feel here in America. Don't believe what you see on the news (or do, who am I to know what you've heard) it's a great place to live. People are actually friendly here, the economy isn't that bad, there are plenty of people hiring (they're just being more selective in the process so it might take longer) and there is a general feeling of hope for the future. I hope you all have even half as much fun as I have had over here in the past 5 months.