When to look for a job?

[Eshansmommy 2]

Hey!

To all the November filers (others may answer too ) who have not yet received their SSN or EAD, when will you start looking and applying for a job? I'm expecting to receive my EAD somewhere in February and would like to start working ASAP, so just wondering if I should start applying now, or just wait till I have my SSN. Did you already start applying? And what did you fill on the line "are you authorized to work in the US"?

Thanks!

[Aubrey 10]

I recommend you don't apply until you have your approval notice. I've seen several posts on VJ of people looking prior to approval only to have to turn down a good job because they don't have their approval as soon as they expected. It's a crappy situation to have to wait, but that's the way it is.

[metinil 0]

I plan to go back to Canada to visit family and friends, and start looking for jobs online while I'm there. I want to get a good visit in before I start a job and only have 2 weeks vacation.

I've been checking out craigslist once in a while to see what's out there, but agree about not applying until you can work. I feel like employers wouldn't hold a job for you if you didn't even know when you could start working for them - unless you were an outstanding candidate!

[jundp 191]

We filed in August and my husband waited until about early November to start job hunting, once we'd received the email that his EAD had been approved. We figured it would take a while to get interviews, etc. As it turned out he got an interview and a job offer before we got the EAD card in the mail, but he explained the situation and the company had to do a background check anyway. The company he got hired with has branches worldwide, so they are pretty accustomed to dealing with these issues.

I suppose it depends on your field and where you're looking for jobs. My husband is a software developer, so he was able to look at bigger companies, so maybe you can do that?

Good luck!