Finding work

[mechmirj 0]

I can't believe they treated you like that. I felt the same way "second rated" when I got here and started looking for a job. I dropped down my bar so hard its even hard to believe it. But life goes on. I broke down couple of times already because you know you are more than qualified for the job you are applying for but they will just gonna reject you. As I read your post tears started falling just can't help it because I am on the same boat as you do. We need to fight! We might be shattered at one point but we need to keep going and try and try dont ever give up! Goodluck to us.

[Austin1983 0]

If it makes you feel any better, I can totally relate to what you are going through.

I came to the United States from England back in November and have been applying for work ever since. I have a college degree, high school education and have worked almost my entire life. I have experience in lots of fields and even started, built and sold my own business. I thought at first that i'd be able to walk into any decent company and get a job because i'm clearly qualified and competent, but I just couldn't get a response let alone an interview to get my foot in to show someone my abilities.

I must have filled in over 300 applications online now and had a grand total of 6 responses saying i'm not suitable or they are following other leads. It frustrates me so much that jobs you have applied for and are qualified for are re-posted again and again and yet you can't even get in for an interview.

I tried temping agencies who seem confident that i'm a good candidate but then just never come back with any work. How am I not suitable to answer a telephone in a call center?

About 2 months ago, I realized my course of action was just not working and so have lowered my standards significantly. Looking for work in grocery stores, clothing stores, painting, night shifts, warehouse work, coffee shops, food service.........literally anything! I've made it clear that i'll work for minimum wage........I just want to get my foot in the door, show i'm employable and perhaps work up from there but still I get no responses or 1 in 50 times a rejection! It's just so confusing to go from well paid jobs to not even being good enough to stack shelves in a grocery store. I have tried going to meet with people in person but everyone just refers you to a website and says to apply online.

With every passing week, it's just getting more confusing, frustrating and angering! I find myself looking at people in stores, bars, restaurants, or walking the streets that can barely speak or maintain equilibrium and yet they have jobs!!! Like others have mentioned, it just feels like i'm a second class citizen.............maybe even lower than that because i've seen some very questionable choices working locally!!

I'm lucky that I held back some savings to subsidize my wife's income so that we can live , but that's only good for another few months. I wish everyone the best of luck and if anyone has any further suggestions it would be really appreciated.

[sarah9 14]

If it makes you feel any better, I can totally relate to what you are going through.

I came to the United States from England back in November and have been applying for work ever since. I have a college degree, high school education and have worked almost my entire life. I have experience in lots of fields and even started, built and sold my own business. I thought at first that i'd be able to walk into any decent company and get a job because i'm clearly qualified and competent, but I just couldn't get a response let alone an interview to get my foot in to show someone my abilities.

I must have filled in over 300 applications online now and had a grand total of 6 responses saying i'm not suitable or they are following other leads. It frustrates me so much that jobs you have applied for and are qualified for are re-posted again and again and yet you can't even get in for an interview.

I tried temping agencies who seem confident that i'm a good candidate but then just never come back with any work. How am I not suitable to answer a telephone in a call center?

About 2 months ago, I realized my course of action was just not working and so have lowered my standards significantly. Looking for work in grocery stores, clothing stores, painting, night shifts, warehouse work, coffee shops, food service.........literally anything! I've made it clear that i'll work for minimum wage........I just want to get my foot in the door, show i'm employable and perhaps work up from there but still I get no responses or 1 in 50 times a rejection! It's just so confusing to go from well paid jobs to not even being good enough to stack shelves in a grocery store. I have tried going to meet with people in person but everyone just refers you to a website and says to apply online.

With every passing week, it's just getting more confusing, frustrating and angering! I find myself looking at people in stores, bars, restaurants, or walking the streets that can barely speak or maintain equilibrium and yet they have jobs!!! Like others have mentioned, it just feels like i'm a second class citizen.............maybe even lower than that because i've seen some very questionable choices working locally!!

I'm lucky that I held back some savings to subsidize my wife's income so that we can live , but that's only good for another few months. I wish everyone the best of luck and if anyone has any further suggestions it would be really appreciated.

I wish I could say it made me feel better, in a way it does, but the other side just makes me realise that it's not just paranoia on my part!!

You're right, it's so frustrating seeing other people who clearly aren't the "most capable" workers.... but they are good enough to get a job.... but you aren't!

It makes me really sad to see that you aren't even getting any luck with the grocery stores etc. But I have so much respect for you doing that!

It drives me crazy hearing someone we know telling me - "oh it'll be fine, I didn't go to college, or do well at school, but I still got a good job" And I feel like screaming "BUT I DID DO WELL AT SCHOOL & HAVE A GOOD DEGREE" I do struggle with feelings of bitterness, it just doesn't seem fair!!

It's very upsetting, but it does feel like the only reason i can't get a job is because of where I was born!

I even went along to the interview I had suggested to me at the career fair, as a receptionist for $10 an hour..... now the interview went very well, and i thought i had it in the bag...... found out I'm not even good enough to answer some phones and greet the visitors! And the sad thing is, that's been my only interview - in 6 months!

Reading the new UK immigration rules have devastated me, as it was always my back up plan to move home if things didn't work out here. Me not working means we have enough money to pay the bills, but that's it! I left behind a very high quality of life, and now that's a distant memory! Under the new rules I doubt it will ever be possible for him to join me in the UK, as all my savings are long gone!

Anyway, this is just a bitter rant I wish I could offer you some advice, but clearly i'm not the best person to give it! The only thing I can suggest is looking out for any opportunities to meet employers face to face, career fairs etc. It didn't get me a job, but it did get me further than all the online applications.... only problem is they don't seem to happen very often!

I really wish you the best of luck

[Austin1983 0]

Thanks for the reply Sarah. I said the same thing to my wife last night. It made me feel better for a few minutes to know that someone else was going through something similar but then it made me realize that it wasn't just me being paranoid.

I applied for some volunteer positions this week as I thought that it would be a way to network and have some current experience on my resume while hopefully doing some good and even got rejection replies from them as they weren't currently taking any more applications! Seriously?! I have never heard of anyone turning down volunteers!!

Today I found a job in a coffee shop online, but i'm questioning whether or not it is worth the effort to apply with dozens of others to work evenings and weekends, never seeing my wife, possibly face another rejection, all for the possibility to earn $2.19 per hour!! I'm trying to decide if things really are that bad yet!!

I told my wife your story and she asked if you ended up going to the receptionist interview. Not sure if I want to report to her how it went.

It's my experience (and i said this to the recruiter at one of the temping agencies, to which he agreed with me) that when American's hear the English accent, they pay attention and are interested in what you have to say, even if it isn't very interesting. And my point was that any job that involves speaking to people, especially selling something, should give us a little extra notch to make us stand out as candidates............but I guess they don't see it that way.

Right now returning to the UK just isn't an option for us. We have invested too much into this new life, both financially and emotionally that going back is the very last option on the list. I'm not sure what the new laws are that you speak of but I assume it has something to do with US citizens having a hard time moving there? My wife actually lived with me there before we moved to the states. We found that by tracing her european heritage back that it was actually quite easy for her to get a european passport and so didn't have any issues with staying without any visa at all. But no-one here wants to have to resort to that anyway.

I'm going to give it the weekend and then i'm lowering my standards again. Going to start targeting my least preferable jobs on monday if I still have heard nothing back. Will be heading to Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and Burger King and see if they have anything going. Surely even a lowly immigrant with a Bachelor of Science degree and 10 years experience in management is good enough to clean windows, sweep the parking lot and bus tables????? I guess we'll see on Monday!!!

[TracyTN 237]

Have a read of this thread, Austin. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/372449-before-you-permanently-move-to-the-us/

As of July 9th, it is now much harder for UK citizens with non EU spouses to return there to live. If your wife has EU citizenship, you may be ok though. (I found the 'rules' to be about as clear as mud)

My husband can relate to what you and Sarah are talking about. He emigrated in 2007 and got his work permission in early 2008 and started looking. Same results as you guys. I don't think the economic downturn at that precise moment helped matters either - but still.

When I got pg, we decided that he would be daddy day care, because any job he could find would likely have to go right to a day care center anyway and then what's the point?

I do worry about him finding something when our daughter is school aged, though. Sure, he'll be a US citizen who has been here a while - but he'll also have an even longer time of not working despite his quite varied employment background back home. I think the only way we'll get him employed is through someone we personally know giving him a break. Or maybe if he decides to go into real estate, but that will take time and some $ out of our pocket to get there. Guess we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

[Austin1983 0]

Hi Tracy. Wow that is quite a read. I hadn't heard about that until today. The benefit it seems, is that if your non-uk spouse can get EU citizenship then there is no restriction if i'm correct? From my experience, quite a few of the EU countries allow you citizenship if you can prove that your parents or grandparents were born there. My United States born wife was able to move to and live in the UK without restriction because her grandparents were born in Portugal. A couple of trips to the portuguese consulate and she was able to get a passport with little fuss or financial commitment. I know it won't apply to all but it gives hope to some.

As for the job front for your husband, hopefully if he has already been here a few years he will have built up at least some network of friends that he can turn to for recommendations.

[TracyTN 237]

I believe so, but I'm not as familiar with it as I maybe should be. Rebecca Jo who started that thread could probably tell you if you want to ask the question in the thread. I don't have that option being a third generation American. Not that hubby and I would want to move back anyway, and even if we did, the job he had when he left wouldn't pay enough to bring me over. Luckily our daughter is a half Brit so I think we'd be exempt from the extra amount needed to bring a child with us. But I hope it doesn't get to that point for you. I'm sure you had your reasons for wanting to be the one who emigrated so...!

I hope you're right. He has had trouble making close friends though he does have a lot of acquaintances at this point. Plus I've lived in our town for over 20 years so hopefully that will help some too.

[sarah9 14]

Thanks for the reply Sarah. I said the same thing to my wife last night. It made me feel better for a few minutes to know that someone else was going through something similar but then it made me realize that it wasn't just me being paranoid.

I applied for some volunteer positions this week as I thought that it would be a way to network and have some current experience on my resume while hopefully doing some good and even got rejection replies from them as they weren't currently taking any more applications! Seriously?! I have never heard of anyone turning down volunteers!!

Today I found a job in a coffee shop online, but i'm questioning whether or not it is worth the effort to apply with dozens of others to work evenings and weekends, never seeing my wife, possibly face another rejection, all for the possibility to earn $2.19 per hour!! I'm trying to decide if things really are that bad yet!!

I told my wife your story and she asked if you ended up going to the receptionist interview. Not sure if I want to report to her how it went.

It's my experience (and i said this to the recruiter at one of the temping agencies, to which he agreed with me) that when American's hear the English accent, they pay attention and are interested in what you have to say, even if it isn't very interesting. And my point was that any job that involves speaking to people, especially selling something, should give us a little extra notch to make us stand out as candidates............but I guess they don't see it that way.

Right now returning to the UK just isn't an option for us. We have invested too much into this new life, both financially and emotionally that going back is the very last option on the list. I'm not sure what the new laws are that you speak of but I assume it has something to do with US citizens having a hard time moving there? My wife actually lived with me there before we moved to the states. We found that by tracing her european heritage back that it was actually quite easy for her to get a european passport and so didn't have any issues with staying without any visa at all. But no-one here wants to have to resort to that anyway.

I'm going to give it the weekend and then i'm lowering my standards again. Going to start targeting my least preferable jobs on monday if I still have heard nothing back. Will be heading to Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and Burger King and see if they have anything going. Surely even a lowly immigrant with a Bachelor of Science degree and 10 years experience in management is good enough to clean windows, sweep the parking lot and bus tables????? I guess we'll see on Monday!!!

I completely agree with you, moving back would be the last resort for us too, after investing so much time & money into my move here! But I'm not sure I can cope with the prospect of being unemployed/ underemployed for the rest of my life!!! It was my back up plan.... and now it looks like i don't have one... Arrrgh!!

My husbands grandmother was polish.... may look into the possibility of a getting him a polish passport incase that is an option lol

I really hope you have some luck before monday, but let me know how you get on.... if it turns out you aren't qualified to work in burger king I think I may well give up job hunting! (if you don't want to post publicly feel free to pm)

But I think what others have said is true - it's WHO you know that helps people like us find work.... but so far i haven't found anyone who has enough "push" to get me in. Oh well

I am in shock about getting turned down for voluntary work.... all i can say is wow

And to Tracy - I'm not at all surprised that your husband hasn't made close friends, as adults the main way to meet new people is through work - it's one of the main reasons I'm unhappy now.... I need my own life! I get along very well with all of my husbands friends, but I want to know people that I haven't met through him. I hope that when the times comes for your husband to look for work that it will be easier for him Please don't take offence to my statement, i'm not trying to imply that he is not happy, I was just thinking about how I feel not working

[Peter_Pan 661]

My United States born wife was able to move to and live in the UK without restriction because her grandparents were born in Portugal. A couple of trips to the portuguese consulate and she was able to get a passport with little fuss or financial commitment. I know it won't apply to all but it gives hope to some.

Didn't she consequently lose her US citizenship?

[Austin1983 0]

Peter Pan - No she didn't lose here United States Citizenship, she has duel citizenship. The same as if I become a full fledged citizen here I will be a duel citizen as i'd never give up my european passport.

Have to agree again with Sarah and Tracy that it seems that employment is better found through being recommended by other people but making many friends has been tough as I have always had friends through work, work colleagues or school. I thought volunteering may open up some doors but as yet that isn't coming up with too much fruit as yet!!

Anyway, i'm still holding onto the optimism that as soon as I get that first job, whatever it may be, i'll be able to move up. It's just getting the first inch of your foot in the door and showing that you are infact employable!!

[Peter_Pan 661]

Umm, as far as I know US citizens cannot apply for citizenship of any other country, so it isn't the same. Dual is accepted by birth or if you naturalize from another one. I hope I am wrong, my fiance has 3 European grandparents.

POTENTIALLY EXPATRIATING ACTS

Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

obtaining naturalization in a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a) (1) INA);

taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration to a foreign state or its political subdivisions (Sec. 349 (a) (2) INA);

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

Edited June 29, 2012 by Peter_Pan

[Austin1983 0]

Interesting. She got her national ID card through the portuguese consulate in the united states and then applied for her passport at the one in England. She travels with both passports and has travelled all over the world including in and out of the United States on several occasions. No one has ever mentioned that she couldn't be a dual citizen.

In fact I also know another American living in England that just passed her citizenship test there to become a duel US-UK CItizen so not sure why no one would have picked up on those rules at any point in either process if they were applicable.

[TracyTN 237]

And to Tracy - I'm not at all surprised that your husband hasn't made close friends, as adults the main way to meet new people is through work - it's one of the main reasons I'm unhappy now.... I need my own life! I get along very well with all of my husbands friends, but I want to know people that I haven't met through him. I hope that when the times comes for your husband to look for work that it will be easier for him Please don't take offence to my statement, i'm not trying to imply that he is not happy, I was just thinking about how I feel not working

You're probably right. He has recently become friends with our across the street neighbors, so that's helping him some. Esp. as the wife is a stay at home mom, so they can relate a lot. I think he is as happy as he can be with being out of work and not having a lot of friends. I tell him all the time that I'm not sure how he does it, but his answer is that his life here is still better than what it would have been had he stayed in the UK. Plus he has a daughter now that he would not have had either.

Umm, as far as I know US citizens cannot apply for citizenship of any other country, so it isn't the same. Dual is accepted by birth or if you naturalize from another one. I hope I am wrong, my fiance has 3 European grandparents.

POTENTIALLY EXPATRIATING ACTS

Section 349 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1481), as amended, states that U.S. citizens are subject to loss of citizenship if they perform certain specified acts voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. citizenship. Briefly stated, these acts include:

obtaining naturalization in a foreign state (Sec. 349 (a) (1) INA);

taking an oath, affirmation or other formal declaration to a foreign state or its political subdivisions (Sec. 349 (a) (2) INA);

A U.S. citizen may acquire foreign citizenship by marriage, or a person naturalized as a U.S. citizen may not lose the citizenship of the country of birth.U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one citizenship or another. Also, a person who is automatically granted another citizenship does not risk losing U.S. citizenship. However, a person who acquires a foreign citizenship by applying for it may lose U.S. citizenship. In order to lose U.S. citizenship, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign citizenship voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. citizenship.

Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct.The U.S. Government recognizes that dual nationality exists but does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries on dual national U.S. citizens may conflict with U.S. law, and dual nationality may limit U.S. Government efforts to assist citizens abroad. The country where a dual national is located generally has a stronger claim to that person's allegiance.

What I've always understood from reading around here for years, and from what you quoted above, US citizens can apply for citizenship in other countries and not lose their US citizenship. The US simply doesn't recognize or encourage dual citizenships - which goes to the point you quoted above (first bold statement). You'd have to voluntarily give up your US citizenship in order to lose it. Most countries are this way. They do not recognize dual citizenship. If you happen to be a dual citizen, great, but that only affords you advantages when you're in or seeking to emigrate to the second country.

It only matters if you march into the embassy, denounce your citizenship and turn in your passport. Of course, I'm sure some countries are more fickle or strict about this than others, but that's how I've always understood it.