How exactly did you find your job in the States?

[Loveissweet 0]

Hello VJ family!

I got my EAD in the end of January and started looking for a job. I applied online for 4 job openings so far (office jobs) but 2 of them weren't even forwarded to the interview (I've been already notified). I try to stay optimistic, and I know I just gotta have faith and keep applying and looking. So, I was wondering HOW did you find your job after relocating to the United Sates and what was it? (if it was any relevant to your education and experience). If it was online, what web-site exactly did you use?

Thanks for all replies in advance and good luck everyone looking for a job like me!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

My husband got a great job in his field after looking for about a month. I told him that looking for work sucks... it's hard to send out your information and never know what is going on. You will get rejected. It also only takes one employer to be interested to get a position. I encouraged him to apply to 5 jobs a day, mostly online (he probably did one or two a day). It's hard to tell if the jobs are even real or not - a lot are for recruiters who put up fake job postings (or old job postings) to try to get a resume pool. I taught him to look for clues in the ads - for instance, do they mention a real workplace, or just "high-profile XYZ office" or something. Do they offer a salary that is unrealistic compared to other ads for similar work? He looked through monster.com and craigslist (craigslist in particular needs extra screening).

If you are looking for office work, you could also try your local temp agency and work week-long jobs and hope that one would lead to a full-time position. You could also look for a local recruiter to try to match you to a position.

If you've only sent out 4 resumes, I'd send some more!!

Also, make sure your resume is US-standard. A temp agency or recruiter will let you know if it looks bad, so it's good to try them out at least for the resume help.

Good luck!

[Loveissweet 0]

My husband got a great job in his field after looking for about a month. I told him that looking for work sucks... it's hard to send out your information and never know what is going on. You will get rejected. It also only takes one employer to be interested to get a position. I encouraged him to apply to 5 jobs a day, mostly online (he probably did one or two a day). It's hard to tell if the jobs are even real or not - a lot are for recruiters who put up fake job postings (or old job postings) to try to get a resume pool. I taught him to look for clues in the ads - for instance, do they mention a real workplace, or just "high-profile XYZ office" or something. Do they offer a salary that is unrealistic compared to other ads for similar work? He looked through monster.com and craigslist (craigslist in particular needs extra screening).

If you are looking for office work, you could also try your local temp agency and work week-long jobs and hope that one would lead to a full-time position. You could also look for a local recruiter to try to match you to a position.

If you've only sent out 4 resumes, I'd send some more!!

Also, make sure your resume is US-standard. A temp agency or recruiter will let you know if it looks bad, so it's good to try them out at least for the resume help.

Good luck!

Thank you for your time and advice! I appreciate it! I am sure planning on sending more applications I haven't tried any recruiting agencies yet, do you know how much they charge?

[Harsh_77 718]

You will have to look online like Monster, careerbuilder. so far its not bad you only had your EAD for 3 weeks and you applied for 4 and you got interview call for 2 out of that is not bad at all.

You will have to keep on looking it takes a while, fortunately I was working with MNC back home so I got transferred to my current position from home so I had a job next day when I landed.

You will also have to develop some relation with recrutiers (specially m talking about IT industry) and they can lead you to contract to hire positions.

[Y&E 12]

I'm lucky, I have a specialised skill. Aside from my 'real' job back home I have always coached gymnastics. I just approached some of the gyms in my area and one got back to me asking if I'd coach for them. I've been coaching voluntarily since September and they are paying me now that I have GC. It's good because it's part-time but I can build up hours or sub for people to get more money, but I don't want to work full-time. Pay isn't wonderful but has room for improvement and depends on the gym. I was just very lucky to have this skill otherwise I would be doing the temp agency and online rounds.

[Liam and Kara 6]

It certainly is not easy and takes time, I was lucky in the fact that a week after i got my EAD

I got a job through a local temp agency, it was nothing great, but, it took the pressure off finding that

great job that i wanted to build a career with.

I registered with all on-line sites, Americanized my resume, and then sent it out in to internet world.

I also registered with every local agency in my area, got interviews with each one so they could put a

face to the name and accent, then kept in touch with them all on a weekly basis.

I also took up coaching soccer and found a lot of friends through that, who would inform me of local companies

taking people on and who to apply to etc etc after a while i began to get nearly an interview a week but

was able to choose which ones i wanted due to having a job so could pick and choose, I eventually after

many months got the job i had been trying to get into since last May, I start this Monday.

things do get better, put in the effort, get yourself out there, make friends and socialize and word of mouth

will get you that one job your looking for.

good luck.

[kutakendra 3]

I don't know what field you are looking in, but craigslist.com is huge in Chicago, even if you are just looking for something to pay a few bills and get your foot in the door.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thank you for your time and advice! I appreciate it! I am sure planning on sending more applications I haven't tried any recruiting agencies yet, do you know how much they charge?

Recruiters are free for the job seekers The employer pays a fee for the service to fill their opening, no charge to you. Good luck!

[M.O 6]

I got my first job 4 months after i got my GC,and i kept sending resumes every single day, the jobs i was applying for,didnt have anything to do with my college degree,..and i went to several interviews until i got a job my first job at jcpenney, now im at my second job for about 6 months and im pretty satisfied, i work at a Chase bank...

Just dont give up..keep going and u will see results...

my main job sites were www.indeed.com and www.simplyhired.com

Good luck...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello VJ family!

I got my EAD in the end of January and started looking for a job. I applied online for 4 job openings so far (office jobs) but 2 of them weren't even forwarded to the interview (I've been already notified). I try to stay optimistic, and I know I just gotta have faith and keep applying and looking. So, I was wondering HOW did you find your job after relocating to the United Sates and what was it? (if it was any relevant to your education and experience). If it was online, what web-site exactly did you use?

Thanks for all replies in advance and good luck everyone looking for a job like me!

Alla has been mainly a student since her arrival but she did have a part time job at a mall in a women's clothing store for a while. She just went from store to store and got the job in about the 4th place she visited. They gave her the job on the spot. She worked there until her class load made it impossible.

She has also done some modeling. She sent some photos to agencies. Two of them offered her contracts.

She also does interpretations and translations. (Russian/English) She got the interpreter job when I was in the hospital and had a Bosnian roommate. The roommate had an interpreter every day and Alla asked that interpreter what she needed to do to get that job. He took her down to the office to the woman that hired the interpreters and she came back with a signed contract! That "client" led to others and she now does 4-5 interpretations per week at $35 per hour, minimum 1 hour, for each session. She works it around her class schedule.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Craigslist. I tried sites like monster and careerbuilder for weeks, but I didn't feel like I was getting noticed. I applied to a few dozen jobs with no response at all. I screen Craigslist pretty closely, applied for 2 jobs, and ended up getting interviews with both. I work as a personal lines insurance agent at a local agency. It's true that craigslist is filled with scams, but for every scam there is something worth looking at. You just need to read carefully and be cautious with what you sent out.

[Cybele 0]

Thank you for your time and advice! I appreciate it! I am sure planning on sending more applications I haven't tried any recruiting agencies yet, do you know how much they charge?

The temporary agencies here charge fees based on a percentage of your hourly wage and have a 6 month work period where you will be charged those fees. The good side of this is that should you impress an employer, they will contact the temporary agency and offer to buy your contract. The temporary agency will tell you that you have been offered a full time position and ask if you would like their help in negotiating a salary.

[N M 96]

Craig's List was great - it's amazing how many public sector jobs are on there. Non-citizens will find Federal jobs hard (though not impossible) to win, but it's much easier for lowly Green Card holders to get State or City jobs.

I applied for the first 2 State jobs I saw advertised in my field - and was offered both. So it was lovely to be able to choose - very fortunate in this economy.

Edited February 27, 2011 by N M

[Haarp425 26]

Hello VJ family!

I got my EAD in the end of January and started looking for a job. I applied online for 4 job openings so far (office jobs) but 2 of them weren't even forwarded to the interview (I've been already notified). I try to stay optimistic, and I know I just gotta have faith and keep applying and looking. So, I was wondering HOW did you find your job after relocating to the United Sates and what was it? (if it was any relevant to your education and experience). If it was online, what web-site exactly did you use?

Thanks for all replies in advance and good luck everyone looking for a job like me!

You can apply to hundreds of application but what usually gets you in is from someone inside. It is basically whom you know inside the company that give you a chance of getting in. Even if you have all this degree and certifications, there are hundreds of people competing for those same jobs. I suggest to network with friends and find friends. Don't aim for high paying jobs yet but you can try. Those information regarding high paying jobs are for people who are already working on that position for many years. If you are just starting, don't expect to get that high salary. You will start at the minimum pay for that skills.

[Nica_In_Love 98]

I found my job on craigslist. I looked for a month and a half and got 3 interviews, the offer was made on the 3rd. It's hard to know people and network when you're new in town, it's true that your spouse's relatives might be able to help but in my case I like doing things on my own. Good luck!