Finding work in the USA (easy vs tough?)

[kc456 0]

Hello Larry:

Thanks for getting back to me. I evaluate each job opportunity individually, based on the fit and attractiveness -- not just solely on compensation. Therefore, I'm pretty flexible. If you have a specific salary range this position fits in in your company, perhaps you can tell me what it is?

Thank you,

XXX XXXXX

On 2/9/06, Larry Sweeney wrote:

Hi XXX,

I am the recruiter responsible for NVIDIA's XXXX opportunity.

Thank you for your interest in this position.

We would like to move to the next step, which would be scheduling an interview with some of our team. Before we can do that, can you share your compensation when you left company X?

I look forward to your reply.

Best regards,

Larry

To follow up on my exchange with the recruiter -- got pretty interesting:

Larry (recruiter) to Me (playing hardball I guess)

Hi XXX,

Thank you for your candor.

We are also very flexible on compensation.

That said, we do want to make sure that we will not be wasting your time if we cannot be competitive with your current compensation.

Best regards,

Larry

Me to Larry (giving the range that is above what I'm currently making, but still below what I used to make)

Hi Larry:

Hmm, I don't want to price myself out of this position since it seems really interesting to me, and I believe I'm a great fit for what you are looking for. But since you insist, I'd like to be considered for a range of $XXXX to $XXXX.

I would appreciate if you could let me know how that fits with what you're prepared to offer to the right candidate.

Best regards,

XXXX

Larry to me

Hi XXXX,

Thank you for your quick response.

This is within our range. Current compensation is just one component of an offer.

We will be contacting you soon to arrange for a site visit.

Best regards,

Larry

I was pretty surprised -- maybe even go for an interview.

[ChristinaM 0]

Well that's great news! Congratulations on handling it that well; I think they'll admire that also.

Good luck if you decide to go for it!

[kc456 0]

Not a peep out of them! Well, big companies always move slow.

[Englishsammy 17]

We immigrants have a tough time don't we! What we do for the ones we love......

I currently freakin' out about my up and coming K1 interview, I'm in my last semester at uni with ridiculous amounts of work, holding two jobs (shouldn't really but not really any other option.... ), generally getting ready to move away AND future job prospects!!!

I guess at least in England I'd still have to job search but its just more intimidating being an immigrant isn't it! I've hopefully got a really good job lined up due to 'networking'....I'm really worried that it won't work out (sounds too good to be true really) though It helps because Roshon knows lots of people (he's on the college football team and we know how the Americans love there sports ) so I'm hoping by networking I'll find something.

I'm currently doing my resume to send over to them........I guess its just a waiting game !

Good luck to everyone

[Oulupair 0]

My husband had a job lined up before arrival in the U.S., but he also kinda had an unfair advantage because it was a transfer position. However, after he had settled in to the job here in New Hampshire, he got another offer from a different company in Maryland that had learned about him via internet, but the offer was an old one because he hadn't checked that e-mail account in a long time since he was no longer looking for work.

I found my job (art gallery, retail) by strolling through a mall and submitting a resume in response to "now hiring" in-store signage.

I'm not sure that it is getting harder to find work here in the U.S.; I think it may be more of a case where many people are more selective about what they do for a living so it makes jobs seem more scarce, especially since it is more common to have a bachelor's degree or masters/Ph.D. than ever before. But as the saying goes "the best jobs are the hardest ones to get".

I think that it also has a lot to do with where you live. Even if the economy is booming, that does not mean that every area in the country has a lot to offer.

[Susannah 0]

Anyone who knows a competent career counselor in the San Francisco Bay Area?

[kc456 0]

I would recommend first looking into services provided by the state through Employment Development Department of California.

I used this center in the South Bay: http://www.novaworks.org/ They offer job search workshops on resume writing, interviewing, application process, etc. They also have drop in career advisors who you can talk to one on one. Best of all, services are free.

You can give them a call and find out if there is something similar in your area. I'd do this first, before spending money on a career consellor.

Here's the EDD link as well: http://www.edd.ca.gov/ONE-STOP/default.htm

Good luck!

Edited February 23, 2006 by kc456

[Susannah 0]

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into these services. I've already spent $95 on one counselor... She was ok, but not that ok as I expected her to have specific knowledge about the compability of international education and work experience in to the Bay Area market. Her profile said she had experience with many different nationalities, turned out it was counseling international students with American education.

I rather use a free service for the more general counseling, you're right about that.

[britbird 4]

susannah, try getting a job at UC Berkeley or one of the MANY other universites around the Bay Area...the UC system has excellent benefits.

[kc456 0]

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into these services. I've already spent $95 on one counselor... She was ok, but not that ok as I expected her to have specific knowledge about the compability of international education and work experience in to the Bay Area market. Her profile said she had experience with many different nationalities, turned out it was counseling international students with American education.

I rather use a free service for the more general counseling, you're right about that.

Yes, be sure to check out these centers. They helped my quite a bit -- workshops for updating my resume, preparing for the interview, and one-on-one advice about negotiating with employers (I was asking for more that they offered), so it was very helpful when they suggested ways I can handle the situation.

[KevandKiki2 0]

I had a job interview with the State of Oregon that was more geared to ward social services than a business background but they asked for a business degree so what the heck?I finished third out of about 40 applicants I was told so close but no cigar..

One thing I've wondered about is since I am a permanent resident should I indicate that somewhere in the cover letter since I think some companies might think..."Are we going to have to sponser this guy?...Forget it..." With "State" ones it is a moot point since the P100 application asks you upfront about your status as a resident..what do you guys think?

Oh..and I use the career centre in Salem quite a bit..lots of resources..

Best,

Kev

Edited February 25, 2006 by KevandKiki2

[kc456 0]

One thing I've wondered about is since I am a permanent resident should I indicate that somewhere in the cover letter since I think some companies might think..."Are we going to have to sponser this guy?...Forget it..." With "State" ones it is a moot point since the P100 application asks you upfront about your status as a resident..what do you guys think?

I've seen people put on their resumes (at the end) something like "US resident with necessary work authorization." That way the employer would know that you reside in the US (no relocation needed) and can legally work (no visa sponsorship needed.) I think that may help people who are in the US only recently and only have non-US work experience.

[KevandKiki2 0]

Good idea....I think I'm going to add a ittle blurb on the end of my cover letter about it...

Best,

Kev

[Susannah 0]

susannah, try getting a job at UC Berkeley or one of the MANY other universites around the Bay Area...the UC system has excellent benefits.

Thanks for the advice, and if you work at some university you can take classes tuition free, isn't that right? Which is also an excellent benefit! I would love to study some again, but finances are not permitting it right now...