Looking for first job in the US

[Old Dominion 26]

Of course, there is no better way to obtain a specialized job than by getting to know people who are doing that kind of work. They will be the first to know of real openings and also help you get in the front door for the interview. Second-best is going straight to a temp-help agency's office. In this rotten economy, simply using the internet is far too impersonal and scattershot.

[tallcoolone 102]

Are your skills transferable to the health care industry? I think it is one of the few industries that are recession-proof. I am a health science grad (non-clinical) and found a job very quickly after I arrived in the States last August. We just recently moved and I found a new (and better) job again very quickly. Maybe I am just one of the lucky ones.. who knows but I'm now on the right track with my career and I know that with hard work and networking I can work my way up into management quickly

So yeah, if you think your skills are transferable to the health care industry, definitely look at what the hospitals around you have to offer.

I would say health care and teaching are the two industries that will NEVER have enough people to work in them!! That's actually not bad to keep in mind - my future MIL keeps suggesting I get a nursing degree (super easy to obtain in NY) - maybe she knows that will be the fastest way to get a job

Nursing Degree? As in RN not CNA? Easier said than done.... It's tough to become a Registered Nurse but its a rewarding career. Money and job security.

To the OP, try considering becoming an RN (Registered Nurse) - A 2 year of hardwork will definitely pay-off than getting a job now and you'll have a limited salary range of $8 - 15.00/hour.

Try to consider venturing in a Pharmacy School... Retail Pharmacy are paying 6 figures anualy to fresh board passer Pharmacist.

Goodluck...

CNA is not a Nurse, Just a Certifed Nurse Assistant, and it only takes a few weeks of class to take and pass a test, Pretty basic and simple.

RN in USA only have to have 2 year Associate Degree to be a RN, and I would say the path is pretty easy. You can also go the Bachelors and become a RN also.

You can be LPN and it takes about 1 year.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

I received my green card last month and since then I've been looking for a job. So far, I had only one interview. I don't know why, but it looks like my resume with more that 10 years of administrative experience, has not let any headhunter impressed. I've been looking for anything, even in stores like macy's, even if I have a degree in Business. I was wondering about other immigrants experiences looking for their first job in the US. I don't know if it is the economy or if it is really that hard to get started. I spend hours every day posting my resume on the internet or sending them out, answering ads from websites like monster or craigslist. Please, if you have been there, would you give me some hints about how to find my first job in this country. I appreciate any help.

Do not give up. Google... career - (name of company) and do the online application.

Go apply in person. Seriously, if you're not that arsed about what you do for your first job, dress professionally, and go knock on doors. After becoming more than a little pissed off at suffering the exact same frustrations as you (i.e. sending applications, posting my resume online, etc) and getting precisely nowhere, I thought, "#### it" and hit the streets. I was hired, on the spot, at the second place I went to (a night auditor's position in a hotel).

The key is getting people to actually SEE you.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

To the OP, try considering becoming an RN (Registered Nurse) - A 2 year of hardwork will definitely pay-off than getting a job now and you'll have a limited salary range of $8 - 15.00/hour.

Sound advice. And if you don't fancy the ickyness of nursing (I'm not wiping anyone's ####### for all the tea in China) then you might want to consider a more administrative role within healthcare. I am currently enrolled on a 2 year associates degree course in Health Information Technology at my local community college. In its 20 year history, the program has a 100% job placement record, and you end up working Monday-Friday doing something like medical coding. You either end up working for a hospital ensuring it receives full reimbursement for treatment rendered, or an insurance company trying to make sure said hospital receives as little as possible!

Gotta be better than giving bed-baths, right?

[tallcoolone 102]

To the OP, try considering becoming an RN (Registered Nurse) - A 2 year of hardwork will definitely pay-off than getting a job now and you'll have a limited salary range of $8 - 15.00/hour.

Sound advice. And if you don't fancy the ickyness of nursing (I'm not wiping anyone's ####### for all the tea in China) then you might want to consider a more administrative role within healthcare. I am currently enrolled on a 2 year associates degree course in Health Information Technology at my local community college. In its 20 year history, the program has a 100% job placement record, and you end up working Monday-Friday doing something like medical coding. You either end up working for a hospital ensuring it receives full reimbursement for treatment rendered, or an insurance company trying to make sure said hospital receives as little as possible!

Gotta be better than giving bed-baths, right?

You don't need any schooling to learn how to do medical coding, you can be trained to do that on the job.

If your gonna invest 2 years in college, Might as well be a Registered Nurse or a Dental Hygentist.

Nurse position you can earn close to $100,00 per year right out of school if you want to work 5 days per week with each shift being 12 hours. Or you can just work 3 days per week, and that is considered full time as well.

Nurse can basically make their own schedule, If you work night on the weekend you will receive a extra $10 per hour extra for working that shift. Usually Weekend shift pays an extra $6 per hour, and night shift pays a $4 per hour.

I am not saying a RN will not bathe a person or clean up after them, but usually that role is more for CNA to take care of.

[kaffy 2]

You don't need any schooling to learn how to do medical coding, you can be trained to do that on the job.

Good luck finding an employer willing to hire you if you are inexperience and uneducated! My last job was in Health Info Mgmt and we only hired coders who had their RHIT, or at least a CCS certification

[Big Papa Zone 93]

You don't need any schooling to learn how to do medical coding, you can be trained to do that on the job.

Good luck finding an employer willing to hire you if you are inexperience and uneducated! My last job was in Health Info Mgmt and we only hired coders who had their RHIT, or at least a CCS certification

Spot on, Kaffy. TCO, medical coding is only one facet of what the program teaches you. It also all leads up to you taking the standard examination, enabling you to become a Registered Health Information Technician. That's the stage you reach at Associate level. Another couple of on-the-job years, and you become a Registered Health Information Administrator - that's Bachelor's level.

You're correct, TCO, in that RNs earn more, but they also have to work anti-social hours. An RHIT works Mon-Fri, 9-5. And that works just fine for me.

[tallcoolone 102]

You don't need any schooling to learn how to do medical coding, you can be trained to do that on the job.

Good luck finding an employer willing to hire you if you are inexperience and uneducated! My last job was in Health Info Mgmt and we only hired coders who had their RHIT, or at least a CCS certification

Spot on, Kaffy. TCO, medical coding is only one facet of what the program teaches you. It also all leads up to you taking the standard examination, enabling you to become a Registered Health Information Technician. That's the stage you reach at Associate level. Another couple of on-the-job years, and you become a Registered Health Information Administrator - that's Bachelor's level.

You're correct, TCO, in that RNs earn more, but they also have to work anti-social hours. An RHIT works Mon-Fri, 9-5. And that works just fine for me.

RN's Have the best work hours I can think of.

They can work from 7am to 7pm, only 3 days per week and that is considered Full time. If I knew when I was younger I could be RN and only have to work 3 days out of 7 days per week, I might of chosen a different path in life.

[Marilyn. 340]

I used to have a job where I would work 4 days on 4 days off and about 11 to 12 hours a day...

yeah it is nice to have those 4 days off but working 11 to 12 hours a day is tough... I felt like a zombie by the end of the day...

and also your days off are not the same every week and sometimes you have to work weekends.. which kind of sucks..

[Big Papa Zone 93]

You don't need any schooling to learn how to do medical coding, you can be trained to do that on the job.

Good luck finding an employer willing to hire you if you are inexperience and uneducated! My last job was in Health Info Mgmt and we only hired coders who had their RHIT, or at least a CCS certification

Spot on, Kaffy. TCO, medical coding is only one facet of what the program teaches you. It also all leads up to you taking the standard examination, enabling you to become a Registered Health Information Technician. That's the stage you reach at Associate level. Another couple of on-the-job years, and you become a Registered Health Information Administrator - that's Bachelor's level.

You're correct, TCO, in that RNs earn more, but they also have to work anti-social hours. An RHIT works Mon-Fri, 9-5. And that works just fine for me.

RN's Have the best work hours I can think of.

They can work from 7am to 7pm, only 3 days per week and that is considered Full time. If I knew when I was younger I could be RN and only have to work 3 days out of 7 days per week, I might of chosen a different path in life.

I'll take 5 days of Mon-Fri, 9-5, over 3 days of evenings/weekends any time.

[php2 0]

Hi guys, I'm wondering if I have a bachelors degree in Accountant from my original country, do I need to take more classes just to work as an accountant/staff accountant (not a CPA) here? Thanks in advance

Hi lilies.

I asked Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA) to assess my academic qualifications like college transcript of records so that they could match/compare the record to US bachelor's degree. The good thing about BS Accounting curriculum in the Philippines is that it is equivalent to US BS Accounting major. But try to do some research if it is the same as Indonesian Accounting curriculum.

php2

[ThreeC 0]

Since im still searching for a job for almost 2 months now...Im thinking of taking a healthcare course this mid-fall ..what can you advise me to take lvn or medical assistant? Im a little confuse. M.A. is more of a m-f job (which I prefer) but LVN earns more (which is of course better financially)...help!

[kaffy 2]

where do you want to work? a nursing home or a physicians office?

[ThreeC 0]

^ Physicians Office

[kaffy 2]

then go and study to become a MA

Edited October 22, 2009 by kaffy