HR is terrible in the US

[Udella&Wiz 325]

OP - a quick google came up with a Society of Actuaries...it might be a membership worth looking into to make networking easier in your area. They may have monthly meet and greets which would put your face out there with other members.

yes - networking is a necessary evil !

It's not all about who you know and networking and such, but it is a very serious positive. My current job and the one before were "cold" applications and I got both within a matter of weeks. However, having seen how hiring those around me has gone over the years.... it is in one's best interest to work connections.

OP: depending on the nature of your career, and your career level, perhaps you could look into major consulting or professional services firms like KPMG or Deloitte or something? They tend to have a (relatively) even hiring process. But, you are guaranteed that your resume will actually be read rather than scanned by HR if your resume is put into the system by someone who already works there.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Udella&Wiz

[Cathi 5,745]

My husband is an engineer with many years experience in his home country and it took him 10 months to find a job in his field. Even at that it was only a low paying intern position and he had lots of networking. After 6 months they hired him permanently. So 16 months until he got a full time job with benefits in his field. Before he was hired as an intern he took a job loading trucks at Walmart after he was here 5 months, it was his first job offer and he did what he had to do. Truth is, US companies don't want to hire anyone without experience in this country. Be prepared for a long, frustrating job search. As others have said, there are many people with US experience that they would rather hire. Good luck.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Yes, HR depts generally suck but that's just part of the system at this point.

As a bit of a counterpoint to all the "build your network" advice, I would add not to forget the shotgun approach. Use the internet to find and apply for all of the available positions in the greater Boston region. Make your resume as generic as possible so you can apply it and then tailor it to each open position. It's not always who you know. Many times its about knowing of an open position and having the right timing in applying for it. Good luck!

[usame 21]

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies.

Let me share another story with you all. I applied for a position online last Friday evening. I easily met all the requirements, in fact I even put a table of bullet points in my cover letter aligning each and every one of their requirements to my qualifications. On Saturday afternoon a generic rejection letter came to my email address specifically stating I did not meet their requirements. Now tell me - Did a human even bother to read my Resume and Cover Letter on a FRIDAY NIGHT??? It obviously went through an automatic scanner but even if it did it would've picked up all the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities. And this is a Fortune 100 company! Very unprofessional in my opinion.

My Resume is in a US format by the way - that was the first thing I did before even sending them out.

[Darnell 8,478]

somewhere put 'Authorized to work in USA without employer-sponsorship' in yer resume. for that 'matching' to fail, I am thinking they did hits on foreign companies listed in yer resume and came up nil. Automation sucks sometimes.

Edited August 10, 2015 by Darnell

[usame 21]

somewhere put 'Authorized to work in USA without employer-sponsorship' in yer resume. for that 'matching' to fail, I am thinking they did hits on foreign companies listed in yer resume and came up nil. Automation sucks sometimes.

Darnell I put those exact words in this and other applications. I know the first question will be - Do you require sponsorship? So I have addressed that.

As an aside - I get the impression some people on here think I am attacking the US. No, I am not doing that, I am just venting my frustration with a new set of rules. I was frustrated while waiting 18 months to get my CR-1 visa. I vented then too but I survived and I will survive this horrible process as well.

Edited August 10, 2015 by usame

[Darnell 8,478]

coolness !

which campus you visit today? did wife get you a train/rail/bus pass also ?

[usame 21]

coolness !

which campus you visit today? did wife get you a train/rail/bus pass also ?

I went shopping today because I needed a break to clear my head and think of a fresh approach to tackle this mountain. I already have a driver's licence and own a car here so getting around is no problem.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Probably not - many recruiting systems are automated and scan for words in your cover letter and resume. I work in IT where we program that kind of thing....it's based on whatever parameters they may set.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies.

Let me share another story with you all. I applied for a position online last Friday evening. I easily met all the requirements, in fact I even put a table of bullet points in my cover letter aligning each and every one of their requirements to my qualifications. On Saturday afternoon a generic rejection letter came to my email address specifically stating I did not meet their requirements. Now tell me - Did a human even bother to read my Resume and Cover Letter on a FRIDAY NIGHT??? It obviously went through an automatic scanner but even if it did it would've picked up all the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities. And this is a Fortune 100 company! Very unprofessional in my opinion.

My Resume is in a US format by the way - that was the first thing I did before even sending them out.

She speaks the truth

somewhere put 'Authorized to work in USA without employer-sponsorship' in yer resume. for that 'matching' to fail, I am thinking they did hits on foreign companies listed in yer resume and came up nil. Automation sucks sometimes.

[Pennycat 880]

Hey everyone, thanks for all the replies.

Let me share another story with you all. I applied for a position online last Friday evening. I easily met all the requirements, in fact I even put a table of bullet points in my cover letter aligning each and every one of their requirements to my qualifications. On Saturday afternoon a generic rejection letter came to my email address specifically stating I did not meet their requirements. Now tell me - Did a human even bother to read my Resume and Cover Letter on a FRIDAY NIGHT??? It obviously went through an automatic scanner but even if it did it would've picked up all the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities. And this is a Fortune 100 company! Very unprofessional in my opinion.

My Resume is in a US format by the way - that was the first thing I did before even sending them out.

This is exactly why it is your best interest to network. If someone who knows you and your skillset emails HR and specifically asks for your application to be taken out of the pile for further review, and if you're as qualified as you think, then that should do the trick.

Also, it is entirely possible that someone at a Fourtune 100 company was reviewing your file on a Friday night. Major companies have 'round the clock support offices and staff, worldwide. Or they provide flex-time for their employees, and it was someone working from home. Or maybe it was just a scanner, who knows. What is known is that getting to know people and networking more can be a major factor in finding a job. You can control that.

[Darnell 8,478]

I went shopping today because I needed a break to clear my head and think of a fresh approach to tackle this mountain. I already have a driver's licence and own a car here so getting around is no problem.

double coolness ! I highly recommend purchasing a gym membership at a local university, as well, one of the bigger ones. Come On, Boston ! I mean, it's BOSTON !!! Great place to meet folksen who can verbally steer you to the right human on campus.

[southcoast 27]

As an aside - I get the impression some people on here think I am attacking the US. No, I am not doing that, I am just venting my frustration with a new set of rules. I was frustrated while waiting 18 months to get my CR-1 visa. I vented then too but I survived and I will survive this horrible process as well.

Reread your OP and I think that it is fair that people had that impression. First impressions are important, and frankly you come across as a bit entitled. If I were combing through dozens of resumes and cover letters, It is quite possible that I would reject one simply for "tone". Good luck with your job search.

[tomyka81 95]

I am from South Africa, but I am an Actuary and my exams are accredited world wide and mutually recognized in the US. When I hired talent in South Africa, I looked at every resume myself because HR is ill equipped to understand the job at hand. Putting highly skilled individuals through a HR computer system seems ridiculous to me.

No wonder, unless you are networked into the insurance business or fortune 500 corporate America, there not very many actuary jobs out there. Join clubs like toastmasters, the actuary professional organizations, church is a good place to network.

[Chief Mrs. Edeh 11]

Hey everyone,

I would just like to vent my disappointment at finding suitable employment in the US. I am a highly qualified business professional and I am having a hard time dealing with all the red tape in the US. I recently interviewed with a company for a role I would enjoy but it seems as though the HR department just wants to drag their heels. I have been on both sides of the table when it comes to interviews and I know that there is always 1 or 2 candidates who stand out. That is when you STOP the process and make an offer. What I have experienced thus far (I have only been in the US for a few weeks) has been the most unprofessional hiring process in my entire life.

People are telling me I need to "network" but that is impossible since I only know my spouse and a few friends. I feel like this supposedly great country is anything but great. Interviewers are ill equipped to interview and HR departments are very disconnected from Hiring Managers. I was expecting better.I will not stop my job search but it's getting to the point where I am very disappointed.

If you've only been in the US for a few weeks and have already landed an interview you're doing great. Especially after going through the immigration process, just draw on the patience you've had to develop before getting here. America has A LOT of opportunity, just give it a little time.

[Cathi 5,745]

double coolness ! I highly recommend purchasing a gym membership at a local university, as well, one of the bigger ones. Come On, Boston ! I mean, it's BOSTON !!! Great place to meet folksen who can verbally steer you to the right human on campus.

We are from Boston, one of the best parts of the country for high tech, still took hubby a long time. My sister is in HR in high tech industry and she wrote his resume and helped him network big time, and still nothing. I ended up looking through craigslist late one night and saw an add for a intern position and sent his resume for the heck of it figuring they wouldn't hire an intern with several years experience. I thought with a intern position it would be an in and a way to fatten up his resume. They called him the next morning for an interview and hired him on the spot. His job is amazing with great benefits and pay, but it took a long time