When to start looking for a job

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Hi,

I got my CR1 visa approved on Jun 25 and got it from DHL yesterday. I want to start looking for a job online on the weekend, but my husband says I need to be there to apply. I know he wants me in USA as soon as possible. I want to be there too. The thing is that we had problems when he was in Mexico. He could not work because he didn't have a work permission so we used to fight because of money. I think it was the stress. I don't want that to happen this time in USA. I have savings but I am also in debt.

I am a Software Engineer. I have worked with VB6, ASP.NET, VB.NET, C#, CakePHP, SOA, OSM. I am certified on DevOps and Scrum, but I am still practicing.

My questions:

1.- When one should start looking for a job to get more changes of getting hired?

2.- Knowing my field, do you think/know if I need validate my career in USA?

I have friends from here working there, but under TN visa sent by the company I work. So I guess I will not need to validate anything. But maybe you know more about it.

I am not afraid of working in Home Depot (as my husband suggested), but I don't want to do it for a long period of time.

I appreciate you read the post. Thanks in advance for any info.

[kamw 93]

I would start applying the day you enter the country. Save some postings that you qualify for and apply to them after you get here

Instead of home depot another option is going to a temp agency- you'll be able to get something fairly quick and it gives you some US based experience. They are also really good at analyzing your strengths and weaknesses in terms of resume and interviewing techniques.

[wololo 28]

Don't work at Home Depot, or any minimum wage job, check monster.com or indeed.com for Software Engineer/Developer jobs, there are plenty of them and you seem to have enough skills to land a good job.

Also, update your LinkedIn profile, in the US they pay attention to that.

[Darnell 8,478]

legally, you are allowed to work as soon as you have your SSN, as your visa foil stamp in your passport serves as a temporary I-551 document once a CBP human at the POE puts an entrance stamp in it [study that visa foil, the paragraph containing the word 'endorsement']

but to apply? you can apply anytime, suggest you include 'legally allowed to work in the USA without sponsorship' at the bottom of your resume/CV.

what governs your legal work here? the I-9 form and your existence in the E-Verify web-portal (you have a record there after your SSN is issued) - study it a bit this weekend, aye?

[JuliaWlh 0]

What is the best websites to look for work?

Does green card holder is going to be treated equally as other American workers in terms of pay, benefits and etc?

[Eric & Idalia 56]

legally, you are allowed to work as soon as you have your SSN, as your visa foil stamp in your passport serves as a temporary I-551 document once a CBP human at the POE puts an entrance stamp in it [study that visa foil, the paragraph containing the word 'endorsement']

but to apply? you can apply anytime, suggest you include 'legally allowed to work in the USA without sponsorship' at the bottom of your resume/CV.

what governs your legal work here? the I-9 form and your existence in the E-Verify web-portal (you have a record there after your SSN is issued) - study it a bit this weekend, aye?

Thank you for replying. I saw the paragraph with the endorsement phrase. I read about it in here VJ.

I already have a SSN and card. I got it when I was an au pair in USA 2011-2013. I was going to post about it. Because my SSN card has this "Valid only with DHS authorization". And I clicked No in the DS-260 question below So silly. I thought the card I had it was good.

Social Security Number Information

Have you ever applied for a Social Security number? YES

Were you issued a number? YES

Do you need a new card issued? NO

Now I think I need to get a replacement. Or Is that card still valid when the POE officer stamp the visa?

[Darnell 8,478]

that ssn card will be good, that ssn is assigned to you for life.

the 'designation' on you stored at SSN is not an issue, really.

the verbiage printed on the card in your hands, currently? an I-551 document is the DHS authorization. Sure, you can go in and get a new card issued, it won't have that verbiage on it, but hey !

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Don't work at Home Depot, or any minimum wage job, check monster.com or indeed.com for Software Engineer/Developer jobs, there are plenty of them and you seem to have enough skills to land a good job.

Also, update your LinkedIn profile, in the US they pay attention to that.

Thank you. Yes, I have a LinkedIn profile. I already sent the link to the people in know where I am going to move.

[Eric & Idalia 56]

that ssn card will be good, that ssn is assigned to you for life.

the 'designation' on you stored at SSN is not an issue, really.

the verbiage printed on the card in your hands, currently? an I-551 document is the DHS authorization. Sure, you can go in and get a new card issued, it won't have that verbiage on it, but hey !

Just to have it clear. So I can legally work after the POE stamp on the visa and the SSN I have without replacing the card?

What is the best websites to look for work?

Does green card holder is going to be treated equally as other American workers in terms of pay, benefits and etc?

Good question!

About the websites, people have mentioned me LinkedIn.com, dice.com, monster.com

[Darnell 8,478]

Just to have it clear. So I can legally work after the POE stamp on the visa and the SSN I have without replacing the card?

Yup. About 2.5 weeks after you arrive, though, I suggest that you get in and get a new card mailed out, asking for SAVE database lookup (in visa name).

In the end, when e-Verify is used to look you up during any employment screening process, you'll be found, and that's a big plus.

[CowBoE 429]

I've been in Software Development/Management field for a long time.

Software Development field has been in demand for decades now.

It constantly makes best top 10 jobs in America every year.

I suspect you will find a job between 2 to 6 months after you arrive.

Depending on your experience, you can check appropriate salary at

www.salary.com

Here are some top IT job sites

www.monster.com, www.careebuilder.com

It always helps to have college degree(s), industry recognized certifications,

but they aren't always necessary.

Most companies will have you take a technical competent test

to test your knowledge, and also they will grill you with technical questions

during the interview.

Lastly, in US, many IT jobs are referred by a recruiter.

Once you post your resume on the job sites I mentioned above,

you will be flooded with emails and phone calls in first few weeks,

and they will help you to find a job. Often this is quicker way to

get an interview than sending resumes directly to the company.

Why? That's because HR staff can't handle the load of incoming

resumes, so they often fill IT jobs through agencies, who does

resume filtering and selection, and initial qualification checks.

Good luck.

[UnaMexicana 153]

1.- When one should start looking for a job to get more changes of getting hired?

Not a specific timeframe. The urgency with which you will be hired will depend on the area you are in and the demand for the profile you have. My husband took only 3 days to land a job for CSR, which is Customer Service.

2.- Knowing my field, do you think/know if I need validate my career in USA?

You could... but I don't see the point unless required by the company. From your post I see that you are still practicing, does that mean you are fresh out of college? If you explain a little further maybe we can give you a better opinion.
For example, I have an established career where I worked for a big US company branch in Mx. I would never pay a dime to have any school paper certified unless required by a company once there is a formal offer. Most would never require unless its a government job.

Why would your husband suggest you work at Home Depot is beyond me! Does he mean a retail entry job? That is no place for somebody with an engineering background.

You are a software engineer and as such I suppose you understand english, read, write and speak at a level that would allow you to look for job and interview without any problems. If I were you and already had my visa, I would start sending resumes and see where that goes. Kind of test the waters of US employment. Once you have your social, then you can move from email sending and interviews to actually being hired.

You mentioned you had friends working in the US on TN Visa. Is there any chance you can be employed by that company now that you are a fully able resident? I know it was not in the stars for me, which was sad... but there is plenty of opportunity in the US with your background!!!

Good luck!

UnaMexicana

[Eric & Idalia 56]

I've been in Software Development/Management field for a long time.

Software Development field has been in demand for decades now.

It constantly makes best top 10 jobs in America every year.

I suspect you will find a job between 2 to 6 months after you arrive.

Depending on your experience, you can check appropriate salary at

www.salary.com

Here are some top IT job sites

www.monster.com, www.careebuilder.com

It always helps to have college degree(s), industry recognized certifications,

but they aren't always necessary.

Most companies will have you take a technical competent test

to test your knowledge, and also they will grill you with technical questions

during the interview.

Lastly, in US, many IT jobs are referred by a recruiter.

Once you post your resume on the job sites I mentioned above,

you will be flooded with emails and phone calls in first few weeks,

and they will help you to find a job. Often this is quicker way to

get an interview than sending resumes directly to the company.

Why? That's because HR staff can't handle the load of incoming

resumes, so they often fill IT jobs through agencies, who does

resume filtering and selection, and initial qualification checks.

Good luck.

Thank you!

[Eric & Idalia 56]

My answers in blue:

1.- When one should start looking for a job to get more changes of getting hired?

Not a specific timeframe. The urgency with which you will be hired will depend on the area you are in and the demand for the profile you have. My husband took only 3 days to land a job for CSR, which is Customer Service.

2.- Knowing my field, do you think/know if I need validate my career in USA?

You could... but I don't see the point unless required by the company. From your post I see that you are still practicing, does that mean you are fresh out of college? If you explain a little further maybe we can give you a better opinion.
For example, I have an established career where I worked for a big US company branch in Mx. I would never pay a dime to have any school paper certified unless required by a company once there is a formal offer. Most would never require unless its a government job.

I graduated nine years ago from college here in Mexico, but I have seven years of experience because I spent two years being an au pair in USA. By saying that I am practicing DevOps, I mean I took a course and tests for two certifications about it and I passed them, but I am still doing exercises and practices using the different tools related to DevOps.

When I came back after being an au pair, I felt out-of-date. It took me two months to get a job in Mexico. But I have to admit that I didn't accept some and I didn't want to go back to where I used to work before leaving. Later I realized it was a good decision, but that company offered many things more than the company I work now.

In my career I have worked with many tools and the last two years have been very active talking about reading and training about many things that I haven't actually used yet.

Why would your husband suggest you work at Home Depot is beyond me! Does he mean a retail entry job? That is no place for somebody with an engineering background.

My husband works in Home Depot. He hasn't attended college yet. He suggested I could apply there while looking for another job.

You are a software engineer and as such I suppose you understand english, read, write and speak at a level that would allow you to look for job and interview without any problems. If I were you and already had my visa, I would start sending resumes and see where that goes. Kind of test the waters of US employment. Once you have your social, then you can move from email sending and interviews to actually being hired.

I am working on it. This weekend I will check the websites people have talked me about.

You mentioned you had friends working in the US on TN Visa. Is there any chance you can be employed by that company now that you are a fully able resident? I know it was not in the stars for me, which was sad... but there is plenty of opportunity in the US with your background!!!

My friends are working for the same company than me (they get paid in Mexican pesos), but this Mexican company sent them to work to an American company. To do that, they needed a TN visa. They are working on St Louis, Missouri and my husband lives in Santa Fe, NM. I don't remember IT companies in Santa Fe.

It's a little complicated. But here I go: While my husband was in Mexico, he couldn't work. He didn't have the work permission and after months waiting for it he INM (Immigration Institute) denied it. The company's lawyer forgot about the offer and didn't confirm it to the INM. My husband is finally working in Santa Fe in a Home Depot and he seems so much happier. He said he is willing to move if I get a job offer in another city. I just don't feel comfortable asking him to leave that job soon.

I will try to look for a job there and I will check Dallas too as it is closer to where my family in Mexico lives.

Good luck!

Thank you!

UnaMexicana

[minions2 24]

As soon as i got my GC and SS card i looked for a job especially with my line of work