help for immigrants looking for work?!

[sereia 0]

My husband and I are currently in Southern California. He has had a difficult time adjusting and finding a job in his field (Mechanical Engineering). I think employeers see his out of country degree/little experience and just flip the page to someone else. I have absolutely NO experience in this field (I'm in a more creative field and going about getting a job in what I do is totally different) So I just feel like I'm not helping him in the best way possible.

Does anyone know if there are services for helping new immigrants get started here? Any other advice?

[~krakatoa~ 27]

Temp agencies might be helpful. Just tell him to hang in there, never lose hope and keep on applying. Things will come around one way or another.

[yukfou 0]

My husband and I are currently in Southern California. He has had a difficult time adjusting and finding a job in his field (Mechanical Engineering). I think employeers see his out of country degree/little experience and just flip the page to someone else. I have absolutely NO experience in this field (I'm in a more creative field and going about getting a job in what I do is totally different) So I just feel like I'm not helping him in the best way possible.

Does anyone know if there are services for helping new immigrants get started here? Any other advice?

How much experience does he have? Dang I am scared now, I am moving to southern cal my self with my fiance in a couple of days. I have a m.b.a degree and 4 years of experience but from Pakistan? So I am going to be probably in the same situation. Tell him to open an account on careerbuilder.com, monster.com and you can also go to Cal state website. Contact some good head hunters, they will definetely help you out look for a job. Good luck.

[Imua 0]

I think even if he works at a gas station/grocery store in the beginning it is valuable, he is building references here in the USA which will help when he looks for a job in his field. Even volunteer experience is useful for this reason while he is job hunting.

[shadtov 0]

I think even if he works at a gas station/grocery store in the beginning it is valuable, he is building references here in the USA which will help when he looks for a job in his field. Even volunteer experience is useful for this reason while he is job hunting.

look at http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/

They're a nonprofit I heard about on NPR. My husband only had 1 year of experience post-college in Mexico so he didn't fit into their qualifications. I think that you need at least a few years post-college. But they help immigrants who've come with experience. They're in san francisco, but I think they have weekend/weeklong classes that people from out of the area can take.

I hope this is helpful. My husband worked in HR, but has taken a different path here.

[Lansbury 19]

I have over 30 years experience in my field and have applied for 9 jobs and not even got an interview.

The last one I applied for I did so because someone working there suggested it. In fact I found out that when my application was read and it was obvious I was from overseas it went straight in the reject pile.

[sereia 0]

My husband and I are currently in Southern California. He has had a difficult time adjusting and finding a job in his field (Mechanical Engineering). I think employeers see his out of country degree/little experience and just flip the page to someone else. I have absolutely NO experience in this field (I'm in a more creative field and going about getting a job in what I do is totally different) So I just feel like I'm not helping him in the best way possible.

Does anyone know if there are services for helping new immigrants get started here? Any other advice?

How much experience does he have? Dang I am scared now, I am moving to southern cal my self with my fiance in a couple of days. I have a m.b.a degree and 4 years of experience but from Pakistan? So I am going to be probably in the same situation. Tell him to open an account on careerbuilder.com, monster.com and you can also go to Cal state website. Contact some good head hunters, they will definetely help you out look for a job. Good luck.

He has about a year of stages in his home country and a bachelors (but a moroccan bachelors!). At least you have an MBA. I imagine that would hold more weight regardless of where you're from. Did you use any program yet to transfer your credits to an American accredited degree? Does anyone know if thats even important?!

My husband did do a profile on monster AND careerbuilder. He has only had two calls.. both from people wanting to recruit him for some sales scheme. No calls having to do with Engineering at all.

I would contact head hunters if I knew where to look! If you end up finding any around SO CAL when you get here, let me know. I've done a google search but nothing seemed promising.

I have over 30 years experience in my field and have applied for 9 jobs and not even got an interview.

The last one I applied for I did so because someone working there suggested it. In fact I found out that when my application was read and it was obvious I was from overseas it went straight in the reject pile.

Geez even someone from ENGLAND? I would never have imagined someone from there would be rejected instantly.

[dolphin1 5]

I think even if he works at a gas station/grocery store in the beginning it is valuable, he is building references here in the USA which will help when he looks for a job in his field. Even volunteer experience is useful for this reason while he is job hunting.

I was going to write this but u wrote it before me.It's so reasonable and right.I m from morocco i didnt continue studying at the university although i was doing so well in my studies "english literatures" (i was stupid to leave many opportunities).I was studying Accountancy too but i left that, when i am here now i regret that but sometimes i say ''Oh well ,whatever diplomas i would get in morocco wouldnt help in here as in morocco we use french in lots of studies and here in america everything is english .A friend of mine knows a guy who came here by the visa lottey he had a electricity diploma in morocco but when he came here he worked in anything and after he continued his studied and became an electricity engineer .I still dont have the EAD but i think i will catch any job i will find the important is to get experiences .my thoughts for you is to tell your husband to focus on getting any job and later to continue his studied to get much improve and his degree will be much acceptable.good luck

[thesnowman 1]

I am from the Uk and when I first arrived in the USA, it took me around 5 months to get a job and even then it wasn't really what I wanted and was a lot less money than what I wanted. The US is definetly WHO you know and not necessarily WHAT you know. My advice to be would be to sign up for all the websites (e.g monster, careerbuilder, DICE (for IT jobs), hotjobs etc) and also use craigslist.com extensively. Dont set you sights too high, you will probably end up taking a job a bit further down the ladder, but then sign up for www.linkedin.com and make your profile on there and add in all your recruitment contacts in there.

When you finally get a job stick with it for at least 10-12 months and then using your years experience and the contacts that you have made, put some feelers out there and apply for the job you wanted when arrived.

It has taken me over 15 months to get a job where I actually get paid better than what I did in the UK. Now I am doing what I was in the Uk and the company I am working for are going to put me through my masters and get some certs (cissp, CCNA etc).

Just hang in there, it is quite demoralising, but you have to get some American work experience.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I have over 30 years experience in my field and have applied for 9 jobs and not even got an interview.

The last one I applied for I did so because someone working there suggested it. In fact I found out that when my application was read and it was obvious I was from overseas it went straight in the reject pile.

9 jobs is nothing though. Because of the wonder that is the internet, most places can get between 40-100 applications for one job. With that in mind, it may not be anything personal. My husband has applied for about 25 jobs and finally got his first interview last week. That seems about right for me. I applied for probably over a hundred positions and went to about 20 interviews over the course of a year before I got the finally good job I have now (vs the ####### jobs I had to work in the meantime). I am the USC!

Edited April 13, 2008 by Wacken

[SqdnGuns 21]

The job market isn't so great right now anyways.............

[sara..... 371]

we know ahead of time before perviz gets here that he wont be able to work as a doctor because he has to take the tests the USA requires to practice here........so what we have done is have my brother in law talk to his boss about hiring perviz until he has passed his exams.......he builds mobile homes so is a far cry from being a doctor........but its work......and sometimes as we found when looking around before he ever gets here some of the potential employers didnt want to even consider him because they know he wont stay with them for more than about a year..........

[Lansbury 19]

I have over 30 years experience in my field and have applied for 9 jobs and not even got an interview.

The last one I applied for I did so because someone working there suggested it. In fact I found out that when my application was read and it was obvious I was from overseas it went straight in the reject pile.

9 jobs is nothing though. Because of the wonder that is the internet, most places can get between 40-100 applications for one job. With that in mind, it may not be anything personal. My husband has applied for about 25 jobs and finally got his first interview last week. That seems about right for me. I applied for probably over a hundred positions and went to about 20 interviews over the course of a year before I got the finally good job I have now (vs the ####### jobs I had to work in the meantime). I am the USC!

I agree with what you say. Fortunately I am in the very enviable position of being able to pick and choose so I'll only apply for a job if it interests me. I'm sure I could get a job as a $9 an hour security guard but it would be extremely boring work and I prefer to enjoy what I do. Also I not willing to sell my skills and experience that cheap nor put my personal safety on the line for people who only consider I'm worth that little. Hence I volunteer with the Red Cross.

The point I was making in my previous post all be it none too well is really what you were saying. Employers have to whittle down the number of applications they receive and not being bothered to deal with people with only overseas experience is one of those ways.

[moeenzo 0]

My husband and I are currently in Southern California. He has had a difficult time adjusting and finding a job in his field (Mechanical Engineering). I think employeers see his out of country degree/little experience and just flip the page to someone else. I have absolutely NO experience in this field (I'm in a more creative field and going about getting a job in what I do is totally different) So I just feel like I'm not helping him in the best way possible.

Does anyone know if there are services for helping new immigrants get started here? Any other advice?

Hi Sereia,

I was in the same shoes, I have a BSME from overseas, I just moved to the US, my 2 pennies for your husband is

If his English is good, and there is no problem for him to speak, write and read it, he should look for jobs in his field here in the US. he can use websites like monster.com, careerbuilder.com, www.thinkenergygroup.com, www.thingamajob.com or Aerotek.com "the last twos pretty much the same". then needs to create an e-mail alert on his profile. he should be open for relocation and moving out of states, because so sorry to tell you that most of the engineering jobs here in CA is contracted by DoD and they need security clearance. and a small # is for the state and they need PE "license from the board".

If his English is not good, he needs to join school here in CA, to get any degree or certificates in ME. Of course while he is working any job just to get some cash in.

In general, he needs to be patience, it could take up to 5 months before he can get an interview and then get hired, hiring an engineer is a long process.

I applied for almost 200 job before I got my current one. at the end best of luck to your husband.

[franklie 0]

My husband and I are currently in Southern California. He has had a difficult time adjusting and finding a job in his field (Mechanical Engineering). I think employeers see his out of country degree/little experience and just flip the page to someone else. I have absolutely NO experience in this field (I'm in a more creative field and going about getting a job in what I do is totally different) So I just feel like I'm not helping him in the best way possible.

Does anyone know if there are services for helping new immigrants get started here? Any other advice?

Hi Sereia,

I was in the same shoes, I have a BSME from overseas, I just moved to the US, my 2 pennies for your husband is

If his English is good, and there is no problem for him to speak, write and read it, he should look for jobs in his field here in the US. he can use websites like monster.com, careerbuilder.com, www.thinkenergygroup.com, www.thingamajob.com or Aerotek.com "the last twos pretty much the same". then needs to create an e-mail alert on his profile. he should be open for relocation and moving out of states, because so sorry to tell you that most of the engineering jobs here in CA is contracted by DoD and they need security clearance. and a small # is for the state and they need PE "license from the board".

If his English is not good, he needs to join school here in CA, to get any degree or certificates in ME. Of course while he is working any job just to get some cash in.

In general, he needs to be patience, it could take up to 5 months before he can get an interview and then get hired, hiring an engineer is a long process.

I applied for almost 200 job before I got my current one. at the end best of luck to your husband.

The job market for engineers is pretty tight right now. If your husband has eny experience with CAD (Computer Aided Design) that could be useful in him getting a job as a designer/drafter. If you are from SoCal and his emphasis at the university was in fluid flow or areas that relate to petroleum he might consider applying at Bechtel or Fluor. Definitely have him check out the following website Monster.com. In addition have check out some of the temporary job agencies for technical jobs. Many companies use temp agencies to screen for long term employees. Volt Temporary Agency I have used in the past with good success.

In addition, have him study for his EIT/FE exam and pass it. That will go a long way to show potential employers that he didn't buy or steal his degree from a different country. (This is NOT a denigration of your husband but there is widespread suspicion about degrees from foreign countries especially in a tight job market) Here is a link w/ info on that. CA EIT Application

If he has NO CAD experience and you can afford it, sign him up at a local community college for CAD classes. When he gets the certificate of completion, put that on the resume. Look for CAD classes that cover such CAD programs as SolidWorks, Pro-Engineer, IronCad, AutoCAD. Google those names for more info.

Have the husband apply for membership in the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). It's a way to network with the local chapter of ASME, getting contacts, hearing about opportunities, and volunteering at the local chapter. Here is a link to the national organization ASME

Rules of thumb for getting a job,

Send out 5 resumes a day,

Searching for a job if you do NOT have a job is a full time job unto itself and both the searchee and the spouse should treat it that way. Researching potential companies and tailoring the resume for specific jobs takes time. Call backs and thank-you letters also take time.

The job search will take on average a month for each $10k of salary that you are looking for. $60K= 6 month search

Hopefully something of what I wrote will be of use to your husband in locating a job in his field.

Good luck