Immigrants with limited English getting jobs

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hey peepz - I am also in Seattle!!!

Your spouses might want to check out the UW temp program: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/roles/mgr/hire/utemp.html

or the UW HR website: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/jobs/index.html

[shadtov 0]

Oh wow. Is your husband from Mexico, too?

My husband loves Starbucks, (he wants to have his own cafe someday) but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

Hey peepz - I am also in Seattle!!!

Your spouses might want to check out the UW temp program: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/roles/mgr/hire/utemp.html

or the UW HR website: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/jobs/index.html

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Oh wow. Is your husband from Mexico, too?

My husband loves Starbucks, (he wants to have his own cafe someday) but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

Hey peepz - I am also in Seattle!!!

Your spouses might want to check out the UW temp program: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/roles/mgr/hire/utemp.html

or the UW HR website: http://www.washington.edu/admin/hr/jobs/index.html

Nope. I am from Mexico , hubby is Oregonian.

And... well... I don't like Starbucks :blush: He could also try Tully's, or Seattle's Best; or perhaps one of the many barista jobs in the area!!! (exception made of the bikini stands )

[bora bora 1]

Reeses16,

I think that the restaurant business is like that - few hours. My husband did that for about a month and had to fight for 30 hours. He would ask for more hours and they'd give him maintenance work (painting) which he didn't mind.

Now they paid him well, but he wasn't working a lot so that job had to go.

[athena_ny 1]

We've been looking at Houston...anyone from Houston have any words on getting a job as an immigrant who DOES speak English?

(M.'s dad was in the oil business, and he has contacts that are in it still.)

[Susita 175]

We've been looking at Houston...anyone from Houston have any words on getting a job as an immigrant who DOES speak English?

(M.'s dad was in the oil business, and he has contacts that are in it still.)

Hey I'm new in this post but I couldn't help reading what all of you guys have written about your husbands (or wives)...

My fiancé will be coming here (we're sending the paperwork in for the K-1 Visa later on this week after I get the documents from him in the mail)... I live in NY in a HEAVILY Hispanic populated area. Luis will have no problem getting a job AT ALL. However, what bothers me is that he'll probably have no reason to ever want to learn English - in Perú he works in his brother's business (family business) and also used to do residential construction, painting etc.

Anyone run into this problem? I'm going to make sure he takes ESL classes, his English is very limited, but I'd almost rather he work with English speakers.

[Mononoke28 135]

We've been looking at Houston...anyone from Houston have any words on getting a job as an immigrant who DOES speak English?

(M.'s dad was in the oil business, and he has contacts that are in it still.)

Have you considered Las Vegas? My family and I lived there for a while and there are plenty of jobs in the casinos for everybody, from security to wait staff to front desk, housekeeping, bartending, banquets, slot machine ITs, etc. The Culinary Union has great benefits and a great health insurance. I'm sure that your husband won't find it hard to get settled since he speaks English and is legal. You can also find work there since it's a city that is growing rapidly and there's the possibility of finding any type of work. Not only that but the city is beautiful and there is a ton of things you can do there.

Diana

[shadtov 0]

Before my husband's EAD came in, my husband volunteered at my job. I work in a medical setting at a nonprofit. He volunteered with filing and data entry. SOme of my co-workers spoke Spanish so they could explain things to start but most people in the office didn't, so he had to practice English. SO that can be an option prior to EAD.

Once he got work he did find work where he needed to speak Spanish to customers. However, he eventually found that the best jobs (highest paying, better work environments) were in jobs where he was required to use more English. That was motivating to him.

THe ESL classes will help, too. They help with confidence. The culture shock of the move is also very hard, so sometimes my husband found he just wanted to speak Spanish with other SPanish speakers just to feel normal for a bit.

Good luck!

We've been looking at Houston...anyone from Houston have any words on getting a job as an immigrant who DOES speak English?

(M.'s dad was in the oil business, and he has contacts that are in it still.)

Hey I'm new in this post but I couldn't help reading what all of you guys have written about your husbands (or wives)...

My fiancé will be coming here (we're sending the paperwork in for the K-1 Visa later on this week after I get the documents from him in the mail)... I live in NY in a HEAVILY Hispanic populated area. Luis will have no problem getting a job AT ALL. However, what bothers me is that he'll probably have no reason to ever want to learn English - in Perú he works in his brother's business (family business) and also used to do residential construction, painting etc.

Anyone run into this problem? I'm going to make sure he takes ESL classes, his English is very limited, but I'd almost rather he work with English speakers.

[Mononoke28 135]

Hey I'm new in this post but I couldn't help reading what all of you guys have written about your husbands (or wives)...

My fiancé will be coming here (we're sending the paperwork in for the K-1 Visa later on this week after I get the documents from him in the mail)... I live in NY in a HEAVILY Hispanic populated area. Luis will have no problem getting a job AT ALL. However, what bothers me is that he'll probably have no reason to ever want to learn English - in Perú he works in his brother's business (family business) and also used to do residential construction, painting etc.

Anyone run into this problem? I'm going to make sure he takes ESL classes, his English is very limited, but I'd almost rather he work with English speakers.

My husband came here with almost no English and what has helped him is going to ESL classes 5 days a week for 2 hours each and working with people who can only speak English. He's forced to use whatever he has learned in school at work so he can get it done. I know I can speak to him more in English at home but every time we start we end up speaking Spanish because we can get done faster, in all honesty.

Bottom line is that being surrounded by English will help them get ahead faster than when they are surrounded by Spanish all day long.

Diana

[bora bora 1]

I agree that the best way to learn English is to live/work/study the language. My husband's first job was with Brazilians and that was good because he learned a lot and the job gave him experience in the country - but he spoke Portuguese all day. His next job(s) was working with some Americans and Hispanics - but then he'd get frustrated because everyone wanted to speak Spanish to him.

Now my husband works only with English speakers and is back to ESL class. His boss is Middle Eastern so he even has to work with understanding his (pretty heavy) accent. That's good for him. He can't study everyday because it's too much with work, but he goes to class twice a week for a couple hours a day.

Another good thing is that I am forcing myself to speak English to him, and it's actually not as bad as I thought . My husband still answers me in Portuguese (most of the time), but it's still better for him because then he goes home and still has to speak English. Of course the TV helps too.

[rebex05 1]

My husband is actually at yet another job interview, though he has not had many. It has been hard for him to get anything thus far and we are not sure why. Some have told him that he is not what they are looking for or that his English level is not good enough for the job. The hardest thing is the no possibility of contacting references as they are all in Cuba and calling there is crazy expensive, plus the language. He is pretty much looking for anything to get him work experience and then will go from there. Hopefully this interview will work in his favor.

[reeses16 8]

My husband is actually at yet another job interview, though he has not had many. It has been hard for him to get anything thus far and we are not sure why. Some have told him that he is not what they are looking for or that his English level is not good enough for the job. The hardest thing is the no possibility of contacting references as they are all in Cuba and calling there is crazy expensive, plus the language. He is pretty much looking for anything to get him work experience and then will go from there. Hopefully this interview will work in his favor.

Maybe you can use your friends and family as his personal references. If you do this, make sure they are familiar with his work history and responsibilities.

[bora bora 1]

My husband is actually at yet another job interview, though he has not had many. It has been hard for him to get anything thus far and we are not sure why. Some have told him that he is not what they are looking for or that his English level is not good enough for the job. The hardest thing is the no possibility of contacting references as they are all in Cuba and calling there is crazy expensive, plus the language. He is pretty much looking for anything to get him work experience and then will go from there. Hopefully this interview will work in his favor.

Maybe you can use your friends and family as his personal references. If you do this, make sure they are familiar with his work history and responsibilities.

That's what we did - and of course they never call anyway.

I think once our hubbies get their feet in the door (like you said) it's easier from then on.

Good luck!

[Mononoke28 135]

My husband is actually at yet another job interview, though he has not had many. It has been hard for him to get anything thus far and we are not sure why. Some have told him that he is not what they are looking for or that his English level is not good enough for the job. The hardest thing is the no possibility of contacting references as they are all in Cuba and calling there is crazy expensive, plus the language. He is pretty much looking for anything to get him work experience and then will go from there. Hopefully this interview will work in his favor.

Rebex,

Try applying on line with him and see if they call him. We're here at Highlands Ranch and I applied with my husband everywhere until Babies R Us called him and I went with him to the interview. I told them that he was a very hard worker and very responsible and that he wanted to learn English with them. They liked what they heard and saw and has been there for over 3 months now. I know they still have the "we're hiring" sign outside the store but I'm not sure if that's something your husband would be interested in.

Diana

[GabachaYucateca 0]

You know, overall the job market SUCKS right now, so our fellows do have added challenges. I work out of the state office for those looking for work/on unemployment and the place is jamming all the time, full of people with solid work history AND native English speakers.

So my best advice to you, Rebex, is to stay strong and stay persistent.

My fellow is working a totally bizarre schedule with FedEx, but I keep telling him to hold on to it with his life. I was psyched that they actually wanted him, because they still continue to do recruitments and tours of the site, but haven't hired anyone on. He's bonded with one white kid, and spends most of his time speaking English, which is great.