The 1st job in America!!!

[V&J2005 0]

If you are looking for a job (the very 1st one) in this country, It's hard to get one for Us "the new residents" because We don't have employment experience, maybe we don't have referents, for a while we don't have driver lincense and maybe other factors can make it difficult our search.

Anyone else had the same problem?

[Perseverance 1]

OH I can only Imagine, I am so sorry, do you have any personal references you can use? Also try and talk to the person who does the hiring and interview process when you hand you application back in. Explain your situation, and that you have personal references, if you make an effort for them to remember you it really helps. Show them that you have interest. You may have to work at some jobs that maybe are not exactly what you wanted untill you can get the experience and create the work refernces that way. Kind of like when you look for your first job ever, you did not have experience then either. Keep trying you will find someone who is wiling to give you a chance.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Hey Veroka!!

I'm peruvian too, and to be honest I didnt' have any problem finding a job here (NYC) the fact that you are bilingual helps alot.

Try some web sites monter.com, craiglist.com,Hotjobs.com, I didn't have any reference but my experience in Peru ( I was a tour guide and worked with different travel agencies) was enough, the only confusion I had was when they asked about my last salaries, I never mention the amount in soles or dollars. I put the equivalent in dollars.

Good Luck!

Vi

Edited November 3, 2006 by Vi Mazzella

[V&J2005 0]

I was looking a job for a week but I give up when they want me to work far from where I live and now I dont have a driver lincense, I'm taking a driving class and I hope after that I could be able go anywhere.

But before I wasn't talking only about me, I have some friends here who have problems to get a job, so one of them have to work as a caregiver to get the work experience that they want it.

[Anastassia 0]

Veroka,

you need to be patient and keep looking. It took me 3 months, and believe me, I was doing nothing but looking for a job very very actively. I registered with a temp agency and they gave me a job for a month, shortly after that they had another offer that I didn't take, but it was available, so I assume if I didn't get my regular job I could work through them off and on, which is something when you need money.

So keep trying and good luck.

Ana

[Garfield fan 0]

Job hunting can be tricky for us, immigrants. Don't get discouraged by other people that can find a job quick, because the opportunity greatly depends on where you live and how far you are willing to commute. Regarding references, you can always use personal references if you have one. If you haven't had any friends here, maybe you can use your spouse's friends ?

A temp agency is a good place to start if you really want to work ASAP.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I took a temp job... working with an agency that got me so job refrences that I was able to use.... but as it turned out I got my current job by going to work for them as a temp it was only my 3 placement and they offered me a full time job with wonderful benefits and good salary......

Kezzie

[Ephesia 0]

I got a temporary job assignment through a staffing agency in Feb this year. I had signed up with the agency two weeks before they found me that assignment.

The assignment has since evolved into a full-time job with benefits at the company.

Have you tried staffing agencies?

[aidan80 9]

I know one thing from searching for a job here is that most applications (that I’ve filled out) required or at least ask about a valid driving license… even for jobs were you never have to actually drive anywhere? I ended up using a friend of a friend as a personal reference on some but not all applications to try and help.

I’ve completed god only knows the exact number now.. maybe 35+ paper applications for open jobs, posted in the paper and on various webpage’s.. e.g. City, State, County, Private Companies and on the Monster.com’s out there. I don’t even know the number of resumes I’ve sent out.. in addition to the number of online applications I’ve filled out online! Out of all of this effort I’ve gotten 2 job interviews and 2 outright thanks but no thanks letters/emails.

Out of both job interviews I was asked the same thing.. do I have a valid driving license? Even though both jobs I applied for stated travel wasn’t required although a driving license is? Insanity and stupidity, a driving license and the ability to drive appear to be the corner stone here to finding a job. well at least that’s how I feel personally.

Good Luck!

[sarah and hicham 3]

I know that this won't work for everyone but what my husband did is he found a job working for Moroccans. They were really nice to him and happy to have him since he is from Morocco like them. They even asked him if he wanted to start working with them soon after they met. I think it helps to know someone from the same country at least for language purposes. Hicham met his boss in an English class and they have become good friends.

Good luck!

Sarah

[Nikita2Charles 32]

References can be tricky, you can use your husband friend or acquaintances as personal references, you can ask your husband to talk to his friends and all if they get a call from a recruiter and all. The other thing, my wife took some adult education classes just so to meet people, then The professor there, the person in charge of the program offer their help and say to please use them as reference if needed.

[yogib37 3]

I know that this won't work for everyone but what my husband did is he found a job working for Moroccans. They were really nice to him and happy to have him since he is from Morocco like them. They even asked him if he wanted to start working with them soon after they met. I think it helps to know someone from the same country at least for language purposes. Hicham met his boss in an English class and they have become good friends.

Good luck!

Sarah

I have a couple good friends that are from Morocco. I enjoy their company and I also like to listen when they speak abric.

[moelarrycheese 0]

Keep trying, don't give up. My wife's first job was part-time at a local non-profit agency that provides community outreach and support for latino immigrants. It was only answering phones, and it only provided enough income for her to send something home each month. This was for a few months, and provided valuable work experience...now, just a couple weeks ago, she landed an excellent job with union bennies and $35,000/yr working at a visiting nurse's association, translating for the patients/nurses, and doing data entry and other office-type work. She got her driver's licence three weeks ago, and I bought her a used car to use to get back and forth. With her new job, she can support the ordinary expenses of owning a car (insurance, gasoline, maintenance, and repairs-free labor since I am the repairman). Needless to say, she still doesn't quite believe it.

Also, if you don't have a driver's licence yet, be open to using public transportation. It may require a bit more time to get back and forth, but at least it's something, and something is better than nothing!

[chuckandkim 0]

Kim found her current job through a bulletin board in a Vietnamese supermarket near us in Philly. TEMP Agency was hiring for a company. After working at the company for 3 months, Kim was offered a full-time position with full-benefits, 401K, Medicals and Health Insurance, very good salary.

Keywords hiring manager likes to here: quick learner, dedicated worker, responsible employee, motivated service representative etc. Reference: Tell them what you did in your country as your job reference. If they want to obtain and track down your company in the country, be my guest!

[patricks 0]

Chuck,

You gotta love those hard working, smart and beautiful Vietnamese women.

That's a well earned congratulations for Kim