Discouraged

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Hi all,

I have had my EAD since the end of April 2012 and got my CG June 2012 so I have been looking for work for a while now. The problem is I never finished college so have no complete degree and my credits do not apply here in CA. This was never really was a problem for me until moving to the US. I have a ton of work history and had a well paying/fantastic job back home based on my work experience but for the last ten plus years it has all been Canadian federal or provincial government. There are job here in San Diego based on my work experience, the snag is that I am not a citizen therefore cannot even apply as they all state citizenship as a base requirement to even apply. My husband and I had decided that because of these factors going back to school might be the best option. However my husband just lost his job a couple of weeks ago and we now can not afford for me to go back to school.

I am so discouraged and don't even know what to do at this point. I have never not worked in my life and feel quite depressed about it especially now that my husband is not working. We have saving that we were going to use as down payment for out first home here in the US and were talking about starting our family. That dream is gone for now and we are just trying to make it. I feel like I failed my husband, he worked so hard to get me here and providing for us and I couldn't find a decent job so that now that he lost his he wouldn't be so stressed out. I have been just trying to stay positive and know there are worse things out there but when your "in it" it is truly difficult at times.

Sorry for the pity party just needed to vent and see if anyone might have any suggestions or kind words to brighten my day up a little bit.

[Peter_Pan 661]

Uff, that is my biggest fear. I have no idea what advice to give to you.

[SAT 9,609]

Hey hang in there lady...keep looking. You'll find something. keep your chin up !!

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Uff, that is my biggest fear. I have no idea what advice to give to you.

Wouldn't wish it on anyone and thanks for posting at the very least .

Hey hang in there lady...keep looking. You'll find something. keep your chin up !!

Thanks for this .

[carocaro 22]

I am SO with you on this. I came from Calgary...left a great job and amazing benefits with never a worry about "health care". I have never been unemployed in Canada...and now here I am. Very humbling. Phoenix has high unemployment, they don't recognize my licenses and all I see are pages of only minimum wage jobs. Really disheartening.

Caro

Edited February 15, 2013 by carocaro

[Redflame2012 32]

Don't be discouraged. First of all, look at your skill set. Yes, make a list of everything you can do to earn a living.

Some suggestions:

1. Apply for entry level jobs ie retail etc. They are good to get your 'feet wet' and to obtain your first American reference

2.Place adverts on Craigs list. For example,

2.1 Offer your services as a private tutor/instructor to help improve someone's English (ie English Conversation) or teach someone to speak English (Use Skype, iPhone or phone for lessons)

2.2 If you type, offer to produce CVs (ie resumes)

2.3 If you have skype, and you can speak a foriegn language, or do something else that people may be interested. Use Skpe to give lessons. You can also obtain a work reference(s)!

3. As well as the other sources for finding a job (ie Career builder in the The Times), check Craig's list frequently for entry level and other jobs. People use that resource quite a lot to post jobs and obtain jobs. For that reason, the job lists change every few minutes or so.

4. Walk around your area - a lot of local shops/stores will have 'help wanted' signs.

Note: go to Craigs List and see what people need and what you can offer. In this way,you will be busy with a sideline while you look for a job.

ps: I know a degree or further training may be required to get a decent job, but if you don't have one for the moment its not the end of the world. A lot of us are facing the same problems with qualifications or work experience that mean nothing here or having to do extended study to upgrade our certificates. And yes, it is a VERY humbling experience as I too had a very good job in the UK and found the job situation very challenging here. But I keep an open mind and do jobs to get references while I'm looking for my 'professional' job.

Don't give up!!! You have work to do!!!

Edited February 15, 2013 by Redflame2012

[SunnySanDiego 17]

I am SO with you on this. I came from Calgary...left a great job and amazing benefits with never a worry about "health care". I have never been unemployed in Canada...and now here I am. Very humbling. Phoenix has high unemployment, they don't recognize my licenses and all I see are pages of only minimum wage jobs. Really disheartening.

Caro

I'm sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation.

I was in Edmonton, small world . The health care thing is really crazy scary. It is going to cost my husband and I just about $1000 a month here in San Diego. It just blows my mind that middle America does not understand that having a free universal healthcare plan would actually save money because they pay for the uninsured anyhow when they go to emergency and it ends up costing even more that way, but that is a discussion for another time.

It's true about the jobs too and who can live off a minimum wage and not have to take government benefits. Is your licence still a Canadian one?

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Don't be discouraged. First of all, look at your skill set. Yes, make a list of everything you can do to earn a living.

Some suggestions:

1. Apply for entry level jobs ie retail etc. They are good to get your 'feet wet' and to obtain your first American reference

2.Place adverts on Craigs list. For example,

2.1 Offer your services as a private tutor/instructor to help improve someone's English (ie English Conversation) or teach someone to speak English (Use Skype, iPhone or phone for lessons)

2.2 If you type, offer to produce CVs (ie resumes)

2.3 If you have skype, and you can speak a foriegn language, or do something else that people may be interested. Use Skpe to give lessons. You can also obtain a work reference(s)!

3. As well as the other sources for finding a job (ie Career builder in the The Times), check Craig's list frequently for entry level and other jobs. People use that resource quite a lot to post jobs and obtain jobs. For that reason, the job lists change every few minutes or so.

4. Walk around your area - a lot of local shops/stores will have 'help wanted' signs.

Note: go to Craigs List and see what people need and what you can offer. In this way,you will be busy with a sideline while you look for a job.

ps: I know a degree or further training may be required to get a decent job, but if you don't have one for the moment its not the end of the world. A lot of us are facing the same problems with qualifications or work experience that mean nothing here or having to do extended study to upgrade our certificates. And yes, it is a VERY humbling experience as I too had a very good job in the UK and found the job situation very challenging here. But I keep an open mind and do jobs to get references while I'm looking for my 'professional' job.

Don't give up!!! You have work to do!!!

Thank you a lot for these ideas, it's great to get another perspective. I will definitely put them into practice and hopefully they will net me some result . I will never give up!

[Blondie-CO 8]

Hi, I am so sorry this has happened to you. Please check out "eLance.com"

I don't know what your job background is exactly, but you can create a free profile and bid on all sorts of private freelance work -including translating, illustrations for childrens' books and IT work. If you know any other languages fluently, it's an easy way make a few bucks

I hope this helps-

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Hi, I am so sorry this has happened to you. Please check out "eLance.com"

I don't know what your job background is exactly, but you can create a free profile and bid on all sorts of private freelance work -including translating, illustrations for childrens' books and IT work. If you know any other languages fluently, it's an easy way make a few bucks

I hope this helps-

Just checked it out, looks neat. My husband is an IT guy so I will have to get him hooked up. Thank you!

[carocaro 22]

I'm sorry to hear that you are in a similar situation.

I was in Edmonton, small world . The health care thing is really crazy scary. It is going to cost my husband and I just about $1000 a month here in San Diego. It just blows my mind that middle America does not understand that having a free universal healthcare plan would actually save money because they pay for the uninsured anyhow when they go to emergency and it ends up costing even more that way, but that is a discussion for another time.

It's true about the jobs too and who can live off a minimum wage and not have to take government benefits. Is your licence still a Canadian one?

Thank you fellow Albertan, Sunny :-) Yes, I have maintained my Canadian licences, not that it helps here. I need to get studying if I want to write exams to try to be able to ever practice here. (wrote them 20 years ago when I graduated so no, don't really want to!)

Caro

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Thank you fellow Albertan, Sunny :-) Yes, I have maintained my Canadian licences, not that it helps here. I need to get studying if I want to write exams to try to be able to ever practice here. (wrote them 20 years ago when I graduated so no, don't really want to!)

Caro

You are welcome! Yeah I hated not driving so I got my licence here as soon as I could. I just read the book through a few times and looked at tests for California on line, only got one wrong. The tester for the driven part was pretty easy on me since I had been driving so long in Canada with no accidents.

[dandk 72]

You can also try to temp agency such as Apple One or Volt.

[Piefre 15]

Seems us Albertans might have bad luck or something. I've been in the US for over a year now. Had lots of trouble finding work health insurance was crazy too. Finally, I now have part time work and I'm doing some self employment on the side. My husband lost his job recently and now we are worried about losing our home.

[SunnySanDiego 17]

Seems us Albertans might have bad luck or something. I've been in the US for over a year now. Had lots of trouble finding work health insurance was crazy too. Finally, I now have part time work and I'm doing some self employment on the side. My husband lost his job recently and now we are worried about losing our home.

Yeah I don't know what it is but I am still trying!

Sorry to hear about your husband, I would be so scared if we had a home and couldn't pay the mortgage. I hope things work out and he can find work so you can get by till things get better.