difficulties of applying jobs

[monalisa 0]

Hi to everyone!!

I am new here in the United States and i found out that its really hard to get a first job here if you doesn't have any U.S work history and its so sad that there are some employers here who do not consider your work experiences in the country where you came from. and you know what makes me pissed off? is that even if you have had a Bachelors Degree in your country they didn't even consider that too. it makes me think that for them, it doesn't count. plus the economy in the U.S is not in a good condition at this time.

I've tried many times to submit an application directly to the store/company who are hiring but sad so say i haven't got a call until now. How are they going to know if you are qualified or not if they did not even give a chance to interview or give time to talk to the person who are applying for that specific job. it is ridiculous!! I'm so pissed off..

Has everyone here having difficulties for applying jobs? does applying online is effective? and what site would you recommend? Thank you for you time..

your response is highly appreciated..

[Boorai 0]

Have you contacted you local PHil-Am community? There are contacts within those groups that can network for you or even in a position to offer you a job. Especially if you have a college education(as long as that education does nto require certification in the states), there would be oppurtuniies from inside that group.

Is a good place to start.

Have you contacted you local PHil-Am community? There are contacts within those groups that can network for you or even in a position to offer you a job. Especially if you have a college education(as long as that education does nto require certification in the states), there would be oppurtuniies from inside that group.

Is a good place to start.

[kaffy 2]

I think it's a matter of knowing where to look, having the right qualifications/skills that match the job, and tailoring your resume for each application. A strong application is really important. Do you know anyone who can review & proof read your resume and cover letter for you?

Edited November 18, 2008 by kaffy

[Boorai 0]

Kaffy...VERY good points. I agree 100% with you. But it does not hurt to have an insider to help as well.

[jennk55112 0]

Hi to everyone!!

I am new here in the United States and i found out that its really hard to get a first job here if you doesn't have any U.S work history and its so sad that there are some employers here who do not consider your work experiences in the country where you came from. and you know what makes me pissed off? is that even if you have had a Bachelors Degree in your country they didn't even consider that too. it makes me think that for them, it doesn't count. plus the economy in the U.S is not in a good condition at this time.

I've tried many times to submit an application directly to the store/company who are hiring but sad so say i haven't got a call until now. How are they going to know if you are qualified or not if they did not even give a chance to interview or give time to talk to the person who are applying for that specific job. it is ridiculous!! I'm so pissed off..

Has everyone here having difficulties for applying jobs? does applying online is effective? and what site would you recommend? Thank you for you time..

your response is highly appreciated..

I had been applying for jobs here for months!! I contacted a Phil-Am Community but they can't help me. Yes, I am a Bachelor's Degree holder, finished 3 courses which I also thought it wasnt considered when I applied for jobs here. I got called for interviews but they seemed not impressed with work experiences from another country (especially 3rd world). I also tried to apply on line, only 1 company contacted me and that fast food company hired me as a crew for $7/hour. How can I complain, I was desperate to get a job. The funny thing is I didn't type in my corporate experiences in the Phils. when I applied on line at that fast food company. I just left them blank because I was so pissed off. My advise to you, get yourself trained again here, on line school or anything that would be useful in applying for a job here. Let me know if you need any more advise.

misery

[DeadPoolX 9]

I've encountered a similar problem in Canada. I'm the USC in the relationship and instead of my Canadian wife immigrating to the U.S., I moved up to Canada.

The main issue -- like you said -- is a lack of work history and professional references in the country you're residing in. I've actually taken a job on a seasonal basis simply to acquire some work history and a professional reference here in Canada. It's not the most fun work ever, but it'll net me what I need to move on to something much better.

You might want to look at doing something such as that. With Christmas coming up, retail stores are hiring like mad. Your best bet is to get hired before Black Friday (the day right after Thanksgiving in the United States), since the "shopping spree for gifts" starts that day.

A job like that might not be to your preference, but it will gain you what you want (work history, references, etc) to do something more enjoyable later on.

[Corbin 0]

Finding a job in America can be hard for even an American these days. Part of the reason is the economy stinks right now. Companies want people that can walk into the job and do it all without any learning curve. The best I can say is don't give up and keep at trying to find a better job.

[Carlawarla 1]

You mentioned about them not considering a Bachelor's degree? One thing you might want to look at is having your transcripts read so that you can find out if your degree is an equivalent. Sometimes the degrees don't translate into the same degree here in the US, and there might be some upgrading, certification, or exams to do here that will then ensure your degree is looked at, at the same as an American.

Hope you find something soon! Remember, with Christmas coming up, sometimes getting your foot in the door for that extra seasonal help might be a good way of starting!

[Stardust72 0]

I have a totally different experience. I came here with a temporary EAD and started looking for jobs right away. I used the Careerbuilder website and just applied to as many jobs as possible. It took me 3 weeks to find a job. I quit that job after several weeks because the place had not been honest with me about the weekends I would be working and the times. So I started applying to jobs again. I was invited for interviews and had another job 2 weeks later. I worked at that place until my EAD expired. They said they would rehire me once I get my EAD, but with the current economic situation I am not sure they actually will. I have a bachelor's degree too, but I basically looked for jobs that required at least a high school diploma and companies with growth possibilities. I realize I probably have to take a step back and that's fine with me as long as there are growth possibilities. So once I get my EAD card, I may have to start looking for a job all over again. Hopefully the search will go as smooth as before, although I do realize it may take a while longer because of the economic situation.

[Todd-Leah 0]

I have a masters degree and taught college courses for about 10 years in Malaysia. I have been looking around for instructor position at local community colleges and universities, they all required three recommendation letters from people who know you professionally and three personal references, and these referees cannot be relatives.

Being new in this country without knowing many people, that's like mission impossible!

So the current non options I have:

(1) get a job beneath my qualification and work experience

(2) go back to school to get a second American masters degree and get to know some professional references along the way

(3) have a baby and stay home. :-)

My husband says I do not have to work if I choose to. Though he makes enough money for us to live comfortably in this small town, a second source of income and getting out of the house to meet people will be nice! We will see what happens once we are done with the suckers at social security office and DMV.

Leah

[DeadPoolX 9]

I have a masters degree and taught college courses for about 10 years in Malaysia. I have been looking around for instructor position at local community colleges and universities, they all required three recommendation letters from people who know you professionally and three personal references, and these referees cannot be relatives.

Being new in this country without knowing many people, that's like mission impossible!

So the current non options I have:

(1) get a job beneath my qualification and work experience

(2) go back to school to get a second American masters degree and get to know some professional references along the way

(3) have a baby and stay home. :-)

My husband says I do not have to work if I choose to. Though he makes enough money for us to live comfortably in this small town, a second source of income and getting out of the house to meet people will be nice! We will see what happens once we are done with the suckers at social security office and DMV.

Leah

Except for the third option (I'm male), your story sounds remarkably like my own. I didn't even come from a distant country. I moved to Canada from the United States and we share a border! It's been very frustrating.

[kalina 0]

This resource can be useful to some of you http://www.upwardlyglobal.org/

[sweetbutterfly326 0]

I do agree monalisa of what you've been experiencing this time economy, i got here in the states 1 year and 7mos ago and after 3 mos of stayin in the house i finally decided to apply a job of anykind cause i know that no matter what you are & what you got in the Philippines still not a matter here so i wasn't being picky then my first job was @ macys as a sales associate & it went well I couldn't ever believe that day they hired me, I mean you know its very competetive that was a panel interview & 2 sets of interview but i told myself "you have to show them that your able to take watever it takes" there were 3 filipinas including myself but I was just the only one got hired cause I talked to them afterwards so just be patients & pray to God cause no matter what we do if God won't let you, then that's it..I could tell your a bright person its just part of what happening now of the economy so yeah if you like to take any short courses that helps a lot here...good luck in you search & God Bless you...

[kaffy 2]

I have a masters degree and taught college courses for about 10 years in Malaysia. I have been looking around for instructor position at local community colleges and universities, they all required three recommendation letters from people who know you professionally and three personal references, and these referees cannot be relatives.

Can you get references from Malaysia?

I wasn't required to obtain any letters of recommendation since I work in a different field but after I had my job interview and HR was ready to contact my references, they understood I was new to the country and were happy & willing to contact my references who were in Australia & Japan

[MrsCat 6]

So the current non options I have:

(1) get a job beneath my qualification and work experience

(2) go back to school to get a second American masters degree and get to know some professional references along the way

(3) have a baby and stay home. :-)

My husband says I do not have to work if I choose to. Though he makes enough money for us to live comfortably in this small town, a second source of income and getting out of the house to meet people will be nice! We will see what happens once we are done with the suckers at social security office and DMV.

Leah

Sounds like we're living the same life! Save option 3, thats what hubby wants not me.