Immigrants with limited English getting jobs

[athena_ny 1]

I hope that my husband can get a higher education here in the States too - when he learns English better. For now, he has to find jobs (which is the hard part) that will allow him to practice.

Luckily, he got an opportunity to begin a job working with ONLY English speakers. (I got the phone call after 5 p.m. last night!!) The guy who interviewed him, well us, told me that he wanted to give my husband a chance, and that limited English is not a problem. We're very grateful. He begins on Monday.

I'm a teacher so I earn a decent (cough cough) living - but help is always needed.

Haha, I audit yellow pages...27K a year, but I'm going back to school full time next year, so we'll be living off his income and whatever I can make part time (I shouldn't even say part time, because I'd be needing at least 30 hours a week). I guess I'm just saying that getting better English isn't the secret key, since M's is fabulous.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

I have been living here for almost two years and a half and have to say that I have been very lucky, I got my first job the first day I went job hunting and right now I'm making pretty decent money. Hubby says that because I speak both languages fluently (read and written) I'll be making more money than him someday.

I would recommend this websites : www.craigslist.com and www.monster.com, both worked great for me.

Tell your husband's not to give up, there is something for them here, there are opportunitites for everybody, is a little bit difficult in the begining but not impossible.

Good Luck!!

Vi

[pereira 0]

This is a timely topic for my husband and myself. He is hoping to get a position as a bell person, but I am not sure if his English is up to par. He had his first interview on Thursday. Hopefully, he will land a job soon.

[bora bora 1]

We used www.careerbuilder.com to find the job that my husband will go to tomorrow. He's actually employed by an agency and will receive his checks from them.

Hubby will be working for a family and they wanted to give him an opportunity - but they're "testing" him out for a week. That obviously makes us nervous but he'll do the best he can.

My husband is a VERY hard worker so I know that they'll see that.

He also applied at hotels but he has to work in positions where English is not such a problem.

It's frustrating but we're not giving up and so far he's been offered jobs....

[HAL 9000 96]

My wife sees English still as a bit of a challenge, even though her understanding is awesome. Contrary to the norm with regards to immigrants to this country, she's had it pretty easy thus far, but the place she worked at as a "Spanish-teacher" (for a small boy) is only a start... even though the hourly wage fits around $14/hr. I see this thing as quite contrary to her experience, but since it will take a while for her professional psychology credentials to move over to the USA, then it will have to be related jobs in the meantime.

I'm trying to get her a campus job with me so we can commute together and be done with extra travel stress.

######, even *I* don't even make 14/hour. (Okay, not that I'm well educated.)

She has had it pretty easy. Lucky!

I'm almost happy M is getting his degree here, though - a lot of people I know had problems with their foreign degrees not being accepted.

Its all about insisting until it comes through...

[GabachaYucateca 0]

reeses...the temp agencies hubby is looking to work through are all just a step above day labor joints, and some in fact are day labor places. These places )manual labor/light industrial) don't do computer tests. I do know why you're asking though...I used to do administrative temping and I'd always have to take a computer test.

[Fandango 1,439]

As the English proficiency grows, he will become a v strong asset to any company....there are so many places that advertise for jobs with 'Bilingual Spanish a plus'! I can't see how that wouldn't actually be an asset for him!

[bora bora 1]

As the English proficiency grows, he will become a v strong asset to any company....there are so many places that advertise for jobs with 'Bilingual Spanish a plus'! I can't see how that wouldn't actually be an asset for him!

True, true...

Even though my husband's English is limited now, I still include on his resume that he's fluent in Portuguese and understands (can communicate very well) in Spanish. The languages are close enough that hubby speaking Portuguese can talk to Spanish speakers with very little difficulty.

He's left for his first day of work today and I just checked my e-mail to find the phone number of a potential employer. I've e-mailed his resume to so many places that I've forgotten to whom. I'll call them soon to find out if he can go on another interview.

[Mononoke28 135]

My husband and I went to an interview at a big store a few weeks ago. I was very forward with them and told him he had been here a little over 2 months, was currently going to English classes and that he was very responsible. They liked what I said and how he answered their questions during the interview and called him on Monday to start today. He was supposed to be there at 10AM, it is now close to 12 noon and he still hasn't called me. I'm really worried about his first day at work with limited English and no one else around who speaks Spanish. We'll see how it goes.

Diana

[reeses16 8]

Mononoke28,

Congrats on the new job! So you went on the interview with your husband? I never thought of doing that. Had you tried that at other employers? Was it received well?

[*JG* 2]

Nope. Andre did just fine.

[Mononoke28 135]

Mononoke28,

Congrats on the new job! So you went on the interview with your husband? I never thought of doing that. Had you tried that at other employers? Was it received well?

Oh yeah, I went with him everywhere and told them that I was his wife and was there to translate. Some of them looked at me like "oooooooook... whatever" and others really appreciated it. I also told them that they could call me any time if they had any questions whatsoever and I'm pretty sure me being at the interview helped him get this job because they saw how serious and interested we were.

Diana

[athena_ny 1]

Nope. Andre did just fine.

I thought Jamaicans speak English.

[Kang Lang 7]

my husband has a job in a specific industry that does not have to compete w/ english speakers with a very decent wage which is wonderful for us! he can speak conversational english but cannot read english well at all. last semester he went to school 4 days a week and next semester will be five days. we are planning on him getting at least an Associates degree which will likely take him 3-4 years given his english.

[bora bora 1]

Mononoke28,

I did the same thing as you did for your husband. Mine has gone on a few interviews and I had to accompany him on most. I also told the potential employer that I was there to translate - some were relieved while others just talked to me and ignored him, so I don't take that as a good sign. On one interview, after translating and giving hubby's answers, I also said that as I knew him well I could speak on his behalf for some of the answers and the interviewer seemed pleased.

I'm now back from vacation so I hope that the job he has now is permanent because it's hard for me to take off of work.

As for your husband - Congrats on the new job! I also told my husband that it could be helpful for him to repeat back to his boss what he thinks he said so that if it's incorrect the boss can let him know. Sometimes he misunderstands a question and gives the wrong answer - but if I'm there I can correct him. Now where he's working everyone speaks English, which is good for him, but more of a challenge.

I'm proud of my husband - as I'm sure you are.

Edited January 2, 2008 by Bora Bora