The 1st job in America!!!

[dave_ehssa 0]

If a new immigrant REALLY wants to work as soon as possible after getting the EAD, my advice would be to volunteer somewhere upon arrival. Not only is that instantly gaining "experience" in America, but it also gives a "reference" for a prospective employer to call. My wife did this, and within one-week of getting EAD, she had a job.

hi sleepybears..u can also do volunteer work in schools! This might help! this is our plan before, me, to volunteer in schools like for a week or 2 weeks or one month. Then look for job around. you can do this! Goodluck!

[*JG* 2]

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?

Probably most everyone else has had this problem.

Andre had a really rough time. Once he finally got his green card and SSN (5-6 months later), we worked on driver's permit and licensing while he looked for work. He was overly qualified for most of the jobs he was turned down for. We learned to navigate the bus system and share the one car we own. Eventually, he found a job at Jack In the Box (7 months after arrival in the US) and tomorrow, nearly 7 months later, he will have worked his way up to shift leader. 6 months from now, he will, hopefully, have worked his way up to assistant manager. I asked that he work somewhere, anywhere, for at least a year and then the sky's the limit from there. Hopefully, by the time he is done with this job, he will at least be an assistant manager, if not a manager, and use this US experience and references for bigger and better things.

Patience is definately a virtue in this entire process.

[blair&judith 0]

Yeah i know we should start at the bottom. So i'm just applying sales in the stores or teaching/ office assistants. I didn't even apply those which require a lot of experience/ specific qualification. In their job requirement, they just said that you need to be a high school graduate with little or no experience. But then they still didn't consider me. I also want to find a job which need my bilingual skill, but my bilingual is English/ Chinese. Here there're many Chinese professionals who have better English/ Chinese than me... sigh... I also want to find a Chinese company cuz I know it'd be easier. But there aren't any that I know here. The Chinese who work in here are all working in big companies.

I arrived new york city i got my work permit stamp for 120 days, glad that they give me enough time even without asking for the stamp the officer so nice to me . Staying at home at least one month when i got my first job first experience housekeeping why not try housekeeping thinking why not i grab this i dont want to be picky, i feel homesick only i missed my family if i am at home and i feel bored id rather to work than to stay at home. I would say, first job to start my new life i have a degree of accounting but didnt get chance to take a board exam even once . After graduated i start working in phils. and UAE (where my fiance visa apply). From housekeeping after 3 months turn to head housekeeping (turnover for supervisor off) aside that i am earning, i didnt know that housekeeping is fun my co-workmet are nice, even is tired. I didnt know how to drive but im glad my work is close to my house walking distance 5 minutes (another reason i accept)

And now, i got my greencard and work permit in hand Its time to apply for a new job that related for my degree and my experience prior to my previous job and at the same time still working with my first job hopefully i can find soon and im excited to start my driving lesson .

Sleepybear' just keep looking and submit resume. Hopfully you can find soon too. GOODLUCK!

Edited August 15, 2007 by blair&judith

[Elmira 1]

I am moving in U.S. in 2 months and I am so scared that I will not find myself in U.S. But I believe my Fiancé will support me allot I worry because I have very good job here in Kazakhstan. I work at British Embassy and have very good position and big experience here… My native language is Russian but I am fluent in English… but again I never worked in U.S., so I am scared if I don’t find myself…

[fish 0]

Hello,

I had the education and experience to get a good job here. I worked as an Accountant back home in one of the big American companies. My only trouble is we live in a small town an hr away from the big city where the jobs on my field abound. IBM called me twice but it was two hrs away from my placeso I have to decline the job interview because of it's proximity. My only chance to get work in America at this time is to work in our county office or the community college. I had my first real job interview last monday at the county for Assistant Assesor (Tax Department). I don't know if I'l get the job because my experience is corporate accounting but the interivew went well and I told them I'm willing to learn and go to school to learn about county tax assessment.

Like most of first time job seekers I also get a little frustated that I could'nt get a job that I really like because of we live outside the city but im very much happy and content with my life with my wonderful husband that working is only secondary (just don't want to get bored at home but he keeps reminding me that we're not starving yet hehehe) I think we should be patient and tried to keep looking and looking until we land on the job that is perfect for us.

Good luck everyone!

[Nancy2015 2]

My only chance to get work in America at this time is to work in our county office or the community college.

These are my target employers. I have been trying to get a job with our local government or community colleges for a long time now, no luck so far. Starting salary of a regular admin assistant in our city government is 51K/year. If it's the same way where you live, then you should feel lucky