Difficulties in finding job

[Jacob&Rachel 6]

Hi, i am an immigrant from indonesia. I have my EAD and relocated to the US (baton rouge) on June 2016. I speak and write decent english, have college degree (pharmacy) and 6 years of work experiences. I have been trying to find a job here, applying to almost anything in my capabilities, (from store clerk to medical sales) but have no luck. I must have appplied over 100 jobs but only called for 2 interviews. 

 

I am getting crazy, i used to work almost 50 hours a week and now feel desprately useless and unwanted. 

 

Any advice or tips? Any other immigrant feel the same way?

[mallafri76 1,012]

Did you change your CV into an American style resume? 

 

Have you looked into supplementing your pharmacist degree here in the US? I assume you'd need some kind of license to work as a pharmacist here?!

 

You say you have six years work experience. In what field/s?

 

You're not putting any personal information in the resume like age and stuff?

[aaa2zzz 27]

Easiest way to find a job is through personal contacts. Welcome to the USA. There is very high real unemployment now. It is almost impossible to get a job from sending out resumes.

[Dutchster 1,107]

Yeah, it's difficult. I have another job interview tomorrow which is the same as what I've been practicing back home, nine years overall experience. Technically seen US employers are forbidden to discriminate against you based on nationality or religion, so if you would apply for a job they at least have to consider you as long as you meet their requirements. You might need to get your US pharmacy license.

[Dutchster 1,107]

23 minutes ago, aaa2zzz said:

Easiest way to find a job is through personal contacts. Welcome to the USA. There is very high real unemployment now. It is almost impossible to get a job from sending out resumes.

That really depends. You can also just go into a store for example and drop off your resume and motivation letter. I seen on Friday that a clothing store was hiring, spend Saturday morning on creating a new resume, motivation letter, etc. Dropped it off at the store, made a nice talk to the manager and two hours later they called if I was able to have a job interview Monday. Just go in to places where they're hiring or not even and just talk to the manager and give them your resume.

Edited January 29, 2017 by Dutchster

[databit 328]

Why don't you take the National Pharmacy Technician exam until you can be a US Pharmacist? You don't need Lousiana schooling yet (but students will after 01/2018). You could take the test now:

 

http://www.ptcb.org

[usmsbow 802]

On 1/29/2017 at 8:00 AM, Jacob&Rachel said:

Hi, i am an immigrant from indonesia. I have my EAD and relocated to the US (baton rouge) on June 2016. I speak and write decent english, have college degree (pharmacy) and 6 years of work experiences. I have been trying to find a job here, applying to almost anything in my capabilities, (from store clerk to medical sales) but have no luck. I must have appplied over 100 jobs but only called for 2 interviews. 

 

I am getting crazy, i used to work almost 50 hours a week and now feel desprately useless and unwanted. 

 

Any advice or tips? Any other immigrant feel the same way?

 

1. Your degree doesn't mean anything here, sorry. 

2. As someone else stated, how does your resume look? Have you had an American look over it? My wife had a lot more success after I helped her revise her resume.

3. Have you contacted employment (temp) agencies? That is how my wife got her foot in the door, so to speak. 

4. I think the economy in Louisiana isn't doing as well as elsewhere in the country due to the relatively low price of oil right now. That probably is making things more challenging for you. 

5. As others said, it helps to know people. Are you active in any groups or organizations? Volunteer work can help you a) network b) get "experience". My wife did volunteer work for a non-profit that assisted the homeless while waiting for her EAD. Didn't really help her make connections, but they were a good reference for her. 

 

 

 

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

6 hours ago, usmsbow said:

 

1. Your degree doesn't mean anything here, sorry. 

2. As someone else stated, how does your resume look? Have you had an American look over it? My wife had a lot more success after I helped her revise her resume.

3. Have you contacted employment (temp) agencies? That is how my wife got her foot in the door, so to speak. 

4. I think the economy in Louisiana isn't doing as well as elsewhere in the country due to the relatively low price of oil right now. That probably is making things more challenging for you. 

5. As others said, it helps to know people. Are you active in any groups or organizations? Volunteer work can help you a) network b) get "experience". My wife did volunteer work for a non-profit that assisted the homeless while waiting for her EAD. Didn't really help her make connections, but they were a good reference for her. 

 

 

 

"1)" That's a very general and untrue statement. Plenty of foreign degrees carry a lot of weight in the US.

 

OP, just a few weeks ago a person from the Philippines, also with a pharmacy degree was telling their story and they were successful in finding job after getting their license here. As others have suggested this along with networking and getting help with your resume is rly good advise. Perhaps also as Dutchster suggested walk into pharmacies and have a chat and leave your resume. If you are going to go for the exam, you can let them know that you will be taking it but that you are looking for a job that doesn't require the license until you are done with that. Maybe some ppl working there can also give you some more tips and pointers. Much luck to you

 

PS. If you haven't already done so upload your resume to indeed and monster... I had recruiters call me after doing that. 

Edited February 15, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[usmsbow 802]

33 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

"1)" That's a very general and untrue statement. Plenty of foreign degrees carry a lot of weight in the US.

 

 

Actually it is a very specific answer. I was only referring to the OP. And I concede I should have added the caveat that it is useless in the eyes of employers. It isn't useless to get into grad school or qualify for taking some license exams. 

 

The OP is from Indonesia, as is my wife. Ask any Indonesian here in the US if their Indonesian degree helped them get a job, and the vast majority will probably laugh before saying no. 

 

 

[NikLR 13,228]

~~moved to finding work from AOS family based~~

Edited February 15, 2017 by NikLR

[Dutchster 1,107]

What usmsbow states is kind of true, actually. But it might depend on the employer. One employer told me on the interview "It's nice you went to school but your degrees carry no value here since it's not American. You are one of the few I picked out based on experience." School systems often work different in different countries. If you want it to have more of a value, you still need to submit your current degree to an institution to find out what the equivalent is to the American system.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

9 hours ago, usmsbow said:

Actually it is a very specific answer. I was only referring to the OP. And I concede I should have added the caveat that it is useless in the eyes of employers. It isn't useless to get into grad school or qualify for taking some license exams. 

 

The OP is from Indonesia, as is my wife. Ask any Indonesian here in the US if their Indonesian degree helped them get a job, and the vast majority will probably laugh before saying no. 

 

 

Oh right got it! I assumed you meant in general. Sorry

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

1 hour ago, Dutchster said:

What usmsbow states is kind of true, actually. But it might depend on the employer. One employer told me on the interview "It's nice you went to school but your degrees carry no value here since it's not American. You are one of the few I picked out based on experience." School systems often work different in different countries. If you want it to have more of a value, you still need to submit your current degree to an institution to find out what the equivalent is to the American system.

Well I know this not to be true in my field, but I misread the comment as a general statement.

[ayuness 39]

I feel exactly the same way. I've been here for almost a month and it's already driving me crazy  I used to have a crazy work schedule as well, I didn't even like my job that much but I'm kinda missing it now. The only things I do here are just cooking, cleaning, sleeping, watching movies and waiting for my husband to come from work. It's still hard to adapt with things since I feel so alone, hopeless, worthless and depressed.

[Marc_us82 49]

Like others said, try looking for jobs on indeed, I found mine through them and I have only started job seeking one month ago. I have zero experience in the airline industry and I will be working for Delta, looking forward to those travel benefits!

 

Stay hopeful.