First job help

[AnnaUS 4]

Hello everyone.

I was wondering if anyone could share some of their stories with me.

When I get my authorization to work in the US I want to start working as soon as possible. I have a degree and a post graduate one too and I have worked for around 6 years in the insurance/finance industry.

My English is very good so language is not a barrier.

Will I be able to find a "starter" job easily? I really don't care what it is as long as I am making some money.

What was your experience like?

Thanks

Anna

[VOL 425]

Starter Job? Like McDonalds or something in your field.

I would look for something in your field and not accept any type of starter job or starter pay........

[CowBoE 429]

Insurance and finance is such a broad industry? What specialty do you have?

Were you more like independent sales agent of insurance/finance products/services?

Or did you work at a corporate job? .... doing what?

In any case, often foreign education and experience doesn't carry the same respect in US,

so you may be looking at one position below your last job...and perhaps this will give you

edge over other US candidates.

You can also think of getting industry recognized certifications...like CPA, CISA/CISM...etc.

depending on you background/interest.

Landing the first job will the hardest, but once you have few years of US experience,

landing subsequent jobs should get easier.

[AnnaUS 4]

Insurance and finance is such a broad industry? What specialty do you have?

Were you more like independent sales agent of insurance/finance products/services?

Or did you work at a corporate job? .... doing what?

In any case, often foreign education and experience doesn't carry the same respect in US,

so you may be looking at one position below your last job...and perhaps this will give you

edge over other US candidates.

You can also think of getting industry recognized certifications...like CPA, CISA/CISM...etc.

depending on you background/interest.

Landing the first job will the hardest, but once you have few years of US experience,

landing subsequent jobs should get easier.

Thanks, my specific field was Actuarial work. My degrees were statistics, mathematics, finance, economics and so on.

My problem is that, as you say, the US is very different. I know this and expect it to be different.

I have no delusions of walking into the same level as I have been at home - that will never happen in my specialized field because nothing beats hands on experience and knowledge of local statistical modeling, financial instruments and insurance products.

I will definitely be looking in my field but in the mean time... I would like to earn money. I am not lazy.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens

[madtownguy 164]

If you are good with people you could do real estate sales, best potential for high dollar with out a long wait. Otherwise you are in a very ethnic area, with a ton of educated people. Anything is possible, but statistically McDonalds could be a tough job to get.

[AnnaUS 4]

If you are good with people you could do real estate sales, best potential for high dollar with out a long wait. Otherwise you are in a very ethnic area, with a ton of educated people. Anything is possible, but statistically McDonalds could be a tough job to get.

LOL thanks for the laugh...

[jjbandero 39]

You are actually in a very specialized field, are there professional actuary organizations you can join to build a network? This may be a good way to meet people with similar qualifications and perhaps even get referrals for jobs, also make sure you set yourself up with a comprehensive profile on sites such as LinkedIn, as recruiters tend to search for potential candidates this way.

Good luck!

[hyommysone 16]

we both have same degree. i am major in actuarial science too and am currently working here in my country through bpo but under Ace Insurance. The head office is in Philadelphia and my business manager is nice. Hopefully, he will be my reference once I move to the US. Entry level jobs are good enough for me. But hopefully I can land a job that will be close to the career that I pursue here. Best of luck to the both of us!

[Cam54 84]

If you are good with people you could do real estate sales, best potential for high dollar with out a long wait. Otherwise you are in a very ethnic area, with a ton of educated people. Anything is possible, but statistically McDonalds could be a tough job to get.

You joke but Mcdonalds turned me down twice a few years back, Id like to believe my degree and good grades put them off haha