getting the first job in USA

[daphne2109 0]

Hi all,

I've been reading experiences about getting the first job here in USA by people from UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand which is good and I'm happy for them, but for them it's easy for sure because their first language is english like the american citizens. I would like to get any experience from people who come from countries where english is their second language like me. Any personal experience and suggestion how to get a job, how to set the resume in order to find a job, best way to get it through temporary agencies and so on?

Thanks!!!!!

[bombay 0]

Hi,

the best thing you can do is apply for a linguist or a translaters job there are many places who need people who know foreign languages

best of luck

bombay.

[liska 0]

Hi Daphne,

my native language is Czech and I have been looking for a job for few weeks now. I think it is a little bit harder for us, who are not native speakers.

In my opinion, a lot of it depends on what kind of job you are looking for. My English is not 100% perfect, but I applied in department stores like Dillards, JC Penney and I had no problem on landing a job. They offered $ 6/hour and I turned it down.

Also, there are not many immigrants in New Orleans and that makes me feel feel a little bit uncomfortable. But i am starting ESL to improve my English.

As for translating jobs, i think this mainly applies to Spanish speakers.

I wish you good luck

EVA

[daphne2109 0]

Hi Daphne,

my native language is Czech and I have been looking for a job for few weeks now. I think it is a little bit harder for us, who are not native speakers.

In my opinion, a lot of it depends on what kind of job you are looking for. My English is not 100% perfect, but I applied in department stores like Dillards, JC Penney and I had no problem on landing a job. They offered $ 6/hour and I turned it down.

Also, there are not many immigrants in New Orleans and that makes me feel feel a little bit uncomfortable. But i am starting ESL to improve my English.

As for translating jobs, i think this mainly applies to Spanish speakers.

I wish you good luck

EVA

Hi Eva,

tks for yr reply...........my english is ok, I studied english when I was younger and back home I used it for my job, but even

if I know it, it won't be 100% like a native speaker. I will see when I'm able to start working, but for sure I won't go anymore to take any class or whatever just to give AGAIN money to the US country no way........ I will probably start looking for a job in a store, and hopefully later I will look for something better, translation offices are good if you speak probably spanish, chinese or maybe japanese.................tks anyway for yr reply.............just curious to see if any other

not from english mother tongue countries has been having difficulties to find a decent job like to get for exemple a job in a office.............it doesnt have to be necessarily a job with a degree...........anyway a degree from a different country won't be even recognized in USA...............any other suggestion?

Thanks!!!!!

[daphne2109 0]

Hi,

the best thing you can do is apply for a linguist or a translaters job there are many places who need people who know foreign languages

best of luck

bombay.

Tks Bombay, I was thinking about it..............but unfortunately my native language is not really very requested...........

it might be an idea, but I don't know...............thanks anyway for yr suggestion.

Good luck to you too!!!!!

[Garfield fan 0]

I am in similar situation with you language-wise. My native language is also not popular here. I think here being a bilinguist can boost your chance to land a job if you speak Spanish, or in some areas maybe speak Arabic or Somali, other than that it does little in increasing your competitiveness in the job market. Job opportunity also highly depends on where you live, big cities have more opportunities than small ones and also more "welcoming" to people that speak English as second language.

I myself started out with temp agency doing some office/secretarial work, just submitted my resume and they called me and gave me a job. The pay was not great, but not as bad as if you work for dept store. Two agencies later, I got rolled over to the company where I work at and the pay increased along with the benefits. Currently I work in a call center setting and being able to speak Indonesian doesn't really help as the most requested language is Spanish. But I'm quite proud that I can land a job where usually they want someone that speaks fluent English to answer their phones and I can beat some of the native speakers here

[daphne2109 0]

I am in similar situation with you language-wise. My native language is also not popular here. I think here being a bilinguist can boost your chance to land a job if you speak Spanish, or in some areas maybe speak Arabic or Somali, other than that it does little in increasing your competitiveness in the job market. Job opportunity also highly depends on where you live, big cities have more opportunities than small ones and also more "welcoming" to people that speak English as second language.

I myself started out with temp agency doing some office/secretarial work, just submitted my resume and they called me and gave me a job. The pay was not great, but not as bad as if you work for dept store. Two agencies later, I got rolled over to the company where I work at and the pay increased along with the benefits. Currently I work in a call center setting and being able to speak Indonesian doesn't really help as the most requested language is Spanish. But I'm quite proud that I can land a job where usually they want someone that speaks fluent English to answer their phones and I can beat some of the native speakers here

Tks alot for yr reply, that gives hope to people whom their second language is english......you know it is easy if english language is the native language, it is not a big "event" to get a job in US if your native language is english......actually I would be very disappointed if a native english speaker (not from US) couldn't find a job...... but for us it's not that easy, because besides to getting used to another country there is the second barrier, which is the language, and although we might speak english fluently, it will never be like being from U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand................thanks again, and good luck with yr job!!!! :energetic:

Any other experience from you guys?

[Karen_L 1]

Ciao Daphne! Come stai?! Non abbiamo parlato da molto -- ti mando subito un PM

My husband got his first job through family members he has here. Granted, it was construction work and probably nothing like what you have in mind, but it paid pretty well. The job he has now, he got through a co-worker of mine. It's all about the connections. AND I think language skills are huge bonus -- are there any Italian areas where you are where a bi-lingual translator might be necessary? From my own experience, I can also tell you that art galleries/museums often need people with a fluency in Italian too, or at least knowing it is a plus.

[AnaAndDaniel 0]

my wife went trough a temp agency. she recently got hired on full time with the company she had been temp-ing for. her knowledge of spanish hasnot been 'utilized' as her english is not great. she does well enough to understand and respond to instructions and carry on small conversations.

she told me that the ppl at the temp agency were very nice and definitely knew that her english was not the greatest. so they assigned her to jobs where dominance of english was not required.

know she gets more exposure to english speakers and gets to practice her english there.

good luck and don't give up!

Daniel

:energetic:

[daphne2109 0]

my wife went trough a temp agency. she recently got hired on full time with the company she had been temp-ing for. her knowledge of spanish hasnot been 'utilized' as her english is not great. she does well enough to understand and respond to instructions and carry on small conversations.

she told me that the ppl at the temp agency were very nice and definitely knew that her english was not the greatest. so they assigned her to jobs where dominance of english was not required.

know she gets more exposure to english speakers and gets to practice her english there.

good luck and don't give up!

Daniel

:energetic:

Daniel tks so much for yr message it gives me hope & cheers me up, as my job back home was anyway an office job in an export/import dept., so for sure I will follow the advise of temporary agencies for sure.

Good luck to you guys too!!! I won't give up!!!! TKS :energetic:

[daphne2109 0]

Ciao Daphne! Come stai?! Non abbiamo parlato da molto -- ti mando subito un PM

My husband got his first job through family members he has here. Granted, it was construction work and probably nothing like what you have in mind, but it paid pretty well. The job he has now, he got through a co-worker of mine. It's all about the connections. AND I think language skills are huge bonus -- are there any Italian areas where you are where a bi-lingual translator might be necessary? From my own experience, I can also tell you that art galleries/museums often need people with a fluency in Italian too, or at least knowing it is a plus.

Ciao Karen, e' vero e' da un po' che non ci sentiamo, tutto ok!!!!

Unfortunately where I live I haven't seen anything that might be interested in my native language, I guess I will try to see through a temporary agency when I'll have the EAD or green card, it's just that I wanted to know in advance how difficult is for a NON native english speaker to get a job in US.

Grazie per il tuo messaggio a presto!!!! ciao, daphne

[Nancy2015 2]

My first (and only ) job here was an on-campus job I got when I was an F-1 student. It was a receptionist/admin assistant position. My English is very good though... I have very little accent, so it's never been a problem. My problem is lack of experience - I'm young

Also, I've heard many times, that you have to know people to get good jobs around here It's true. I was fortunate enough to get to know a couple of influential people (instructors) when I went to school, and they've done quite a bit to help me out. I got 2 VERY decent job offers through them - offers that I couldn't have possibly gotten by just applying on the internet. Of course, I had to turn them down, since I don't have work authorization :(

[daphne2109 0]

My first (and only ) job here was an on-campus job I got when I was an F-1 student. It was a receptionist/admin assistant position. My English is very good though... I have very little accent, so it's never been a problem. My problem is lack of experience - I'm young

Also, I've heard many times, that you have to know people to get good jobs around here It's true. I was fortunate enough to get to know a couple of influential people (instructors) when I went to school, and they've done quite a bit to help me out. I got 2 VERY decent job offers through them - offers that I couldn't have possibly gotten by just applying on the internet. Of course, I had to turn them down, since I don't have work authorization :(

Tks Jewel12 for yr reply......well I think that in order to get a good job you have to know the right people probably everywhere not only in US......I wish you good luck as soon as you get the work authorization/green card.

[cessna_inspiron 0]

Hi all,

I've been reading experiences about getting the first job here in USA by people from UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand which is good and I'm happy for them, but for them it's easy for sure because their first language is english like the american citizens. I would like to get any experience from people who come from countries where english is their second language like me. Any personal experience and suggestion how to get a job, how to set the resume in order to find a job, best way to get it through temporary agencies and so on?

Thanks!!!!!

how to get job without ead?