My Job interview in "AMERICA"(the good, the bad, the ugly)

[flying_postman 6]

I work in IT and recently received my Employment authorisation through. This was the method I used.

1) Update your LinkedIn profile, make sure it is fully complete. Ask previous work colleagues for recommendations if possible.

2) On your resume, include a link to your LinkedIn profile so employers or Agencies can find out more about you if they want to. Make sure your resume is as polished as possible.

3)Register with ZipRecruiter and Monster.com and any others you think are relevant. If they give the option to upload your resume or create another profile then do so. Make sure it is complete.

4) In some job adverts on jobsites you will see links to send a resume now through their own system. However, if the job description gives you a contact at the company or agency then email them directly and always include a cover letter or at the very least a professional email. They are more likely to respond to a personal email than to a resume submitted by monster.com.

I hope the above is of some use and good luck.

Paul

I also work in IT (More on the networking and virtualization side). The RTP region in North Carolina is one of the areas I'm strongly considering in addition to Austin and DFW Texas. Although I received my GC in August I won't be relocating to the US until possibly the 2nd quarter of 2016. Can you give any feedback on the IT job market in Raleigh and what if any any challenges you've had as a foreigner. I've being probing sites like Dice and Indeed and RTP area has jobs that match my background (10 years experience, CCNP, VCP certified, Msc in Network security from the UK etc) but I don't have any idea what it's really like on the ground.

[Boiler 45,715]

Years ago SWMBO was a DBA at Playboy.

That always got her an interview.

[spahawk 10]

I also work in IT (More on the networking and virtualization side). The RTP region in North Carolina is one of the areas I'm strongly considering in addition to Austin and DFW Texas. Although I received my GC in August I won't be relocating to the US until possibly the 2nd quarter of 2016. Can you give any feedback on the IT job market in Raleigh and what if any any challenges you've had as a foreigner. I've being probing sites like Dice and Indeed and RTP area has jobs that match my background (10 years experience, CCNP, VCP certified, Msc in Network security from the UK etc) but I don't have any idea what it's really like on the ground.

Hi

The IT job market around the RTP area is incredibly buoyant.

I started my job search 2 weeks ago looking for Windows Systems administrator positions, having worked for UK police forces for 14 years. The IT recruitment agency business around Raleigh is cutthroat and they literally fall over themselves trying to fill positions as quickly as possible. I had so many things in the pipeline that I hid my Monster profile after a week. The past week I got called for two interviews and got offered both jobs.

With your experience and qualifications I'm sure you will have no problem in finding employment. Just make sure your Resume, LinkedIn and any other profiles you create are faultless, as they do research you and a 2 page resume is very restrictive! (I put a link to my LinkedIn profile on my resume)

Strangely enough I got a job contracting at CISCO. The agency CISCO use to fill positions is called Experis who provide over 1000 staff for CISCO at the RTP campus. They may be worth contacting when you arrive over here. Good luck.

[flying_postman 6]

^ Thank you for that informative insight,and the info about Experis I'll definitely contact them a month before I touch down in NC and polish up my LinkedIn profile. Based on my research the job market in addition to the low cost of living is what attracted me to NC and Texas. Thanks again!!

[Unchained 37]

Hello fellow vjers, just a quick update on the job hustle, i have been working for one of the telecommunication companies and have been very busy, however i received an offer from the company of my dream i signed and returned the offer but in the offer letter it states that hey will need to get approval from government security council before they can communicate a start date to me. I do not know what GSC means and they haven't gotten back to me. Im worried it may fall through the cracks as im still in EAD and have not received GC. Someone called from the company to ask abt it, i told him that i am still awaiting it; that made me even more worried. Please what should i expect?

[TBoneTX 45,569]

Thanks for the update with the good news. Others might answer your specific question; I wanted to congratulate you on seeing results from your persistence.

[Amhara 460]

GSC - would that stand for Government Security Clearance?

If the job requires you to have a security clearance, that could be tough. That would mean that you are exposed to potentially sensitive government information. I don't think the company would hire a permanent resident for those jobs, and those jobs normally post in the job description "must be able to earn security clearance". So probably not. I can't see which country you originate from - some country's citizens have an easier time getting clearance than others.

[Unchained 37]

GSC - would that stand for Government Security Clearance?

If the job requires you to have a security clearance, that could be tough. That would mean that you are exposed to potentially sensitive government information. I don't think the company would hire a permanent resident for those jobs, and those jobs normally post in the job description "must be able to earn security clearance". So probably not. I can't see which country you originate from - some country's citizens have an easier time getting clearance than others.

Thank you so much for you reply, yes GSC as written on the offer letter is "Government security council" a part of the letter states "Our offer is conditional upon Government Security Committee hiring resolution approval and you securing and maintaining the right immigration approval to work and reside in the united states"- the job was opened to permanent resident & those with indefinite work authorization. The first time i spoke to the company's recruiter i had informed her that i was on ead awaiting GC but this was me thinking i would receive my GC by December. I just don't know what to expect now. When the recruiter called me to give me the verbal offer, she told me i will be starting this Monday 4th. But on the offer letter it states that start date will be communicated upon approval from GSC.

Thank you Tbone. I have missed VJ.

[Chris and ZhiJia 146]

Another place to look into is Thorndale Partners (http://www.thorndalepartners.com/)

Our company has used this agency on multiple occasions to staff skilled positions (SQL Developers, SQL Anaylsts, HL7 Analysts, .Net programmers, Senior level Support Desk reps, Network Administrators, and various other positions). Thorndale staffs across the country.

[Amhara 460]

Unchained, you may be okay. That 'council' sounds like it's a committee internal to the company. So if you don't need full-blown "secret clearance" or "top secret clearance" from the Federal Government conducted by the FBI or DoD, then you are good. It sounds like that company has government contracts and need to make sure you are vetted at some level, but might not be directly assigned to those contracts. There may be a possibility that you could earn that at some point in your career with them, but let's just hope you get your foot in the door first!

[Henley1989 10]

Jumping in here to share my experience. Ive been interviewing at this company for a mid senior level role. Im on my SEVENTH call (one face to face the rest skype). Its all very positive but ive spoken to literally every person at this company including the CEO. I understand they want to find the right person, but is this excessive? Thoughts? Also some of the people didnt even know I had spoken to others so that is definitely a sign of internal comms issues..

Edited January 28, 2016 by Henley1989

[TBoneTX 45,569]

Internal communications woes, organization possibly so large that they get "wrapped up in their own underwear," thorough hiring practices (or so they think)...

If they keep jerking you around, insist on a commitment (perhaps saying that you have another pending offer). As an alternative, contact the CEO directly; tell him that you perceive problems with internal communications in regard to your interviewing process, and offer some concrete solutions. Doing so might prompt an executive decision to make you an offer.

A positive, humorous way to couch the approach is to begin with a smiling "In the life cycle of any project, there comes the time to shoot the engineers and go into production. I have another offer; if you plan to make me an offer, I need to hear now, please."