Workplace Bias???

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

ET-US2004

Where have I suggested either?

I don't think we're talking about a $10.00/hour type job but rather a position that pays at the very least upper 30's worth a salary.

<---- Here

And why'd you put on that pair of shoes if it doesn't fit? What I said was that for a company to go through the trouble of overseas employment verification, the position in question would have to be somewhat substantial. Obviously, if a company is looking to hire a low wage worker, there won't be no overseas employment verification. If the verification takes place, it is a better paid job and the cost of said verification is irrelevant. I don't know where, why and how that involves your job. I haven't suggested that no matter how you slice it.

Here's what I said. Context is a wonderful thing, you know.

I don't know about this. I'd always hire the candidate that best fits the position I'm looking to fill. Never heard about a $25.00 fee for checking foreign credentials but even if that was the case I'd like to ask: So what? I don't know what kind of place and what kind of job level we're talking about. But for a company to contemplate having the background of the candidate investigated overseas, I don't think we're talking about a $10.00/hour type job but rather a position that pays at the very least upper 30's worth a salary. At $25.00 per company checked, even if I check 10 places, that's less than peanuts considering the investment the company makes in this candidate.

Edited May 16, 2007 by ET-US2004

[sxdx79 0]

I don't think many places would do overseas employment verification, since like here references can be fabricated. Many companies will do backround checks looking for criminal history, some will do credit checks, compliance checks and drug testing. Extensive backround verification is done at many companies at all levels of employment.

Some one wrote here in this thread her husband from Canada is a network engineer and not working in his field. That further proves my point there is a hiring bias when it comes to immigrants since there are not enough good IT network engineers out there to fill open positions, i see this in the job market and it has also appeared in articles in trade publications.

The reason this guy can't get hired is the same as my wifes. Because they are immigrants.

[Alex+R 0]

I don't think many places would do overseas employment verification, since like here references can be fabricated. Many companies will do backround checks looking for criminal history, some will do credit checks, compliance checks and drug testing. Extensive backround verification is done at many companies at all levels of employment.

Some one wrote here in this thread her husband from Canada is a network engineer and not working in his field. That further proves my point there is a hiring bias when it comes to immigrants since there are not enough good IT network engineers out there to fill open positions, i see this in the job market and it has also appeared in articles in trade publications.

The reason this guy can't get hired is the same as my wifes. Because they are immigrants.

You're telling me someone can't get a job because he's CANADIAN? Seriously you've got to live in bumblefcuk to experience prejudice against Canadians. Other Brazilians have not been having trouble getting similar jobs in less populous areas, so you might want to check on your wife's strategy a little more.

[broma25 2]

It depends on the country, definitely. My hubby is British, something that is not looked down upon usually(compared to perhaps a non-English speaking spouse). Altho as Bethanie stated, her hubby is having trouble. Also, I have told him to put in his cover letter that he has his GC, so people don't throw out his resume thinking he's an illegal.

Anything less than a professional level job would def. make it harder to find work, I think. (Hubby is a certified architect.)

I had no problem finding work when I lived in London though, strangely enough....

Did the company that you worked for in London do reference checks etc to the degree that they are done here. I think that may be something to consider.

Don't know if this is true or not but I was told that a potential employer has to pay $25.00 to check credentials from another country. That's $25.00 per company. If that's the case. ( I was told this by 2 different places I've worked at)

If a company has an American & an Immigrant applying for a job, the company would much rather take on the person that is American and has been working in the USA rather then taking the time & expense of looking into the immigrants work experience out of country. Yes, it's discrimination but try to prove it.

I don't know about this. I'd always hire the candidate that best fits the position I'm looking to fill. Never heard about a $25.00 fee for checking foreign credentials but even if that was the case I'd like to ask: So what? I don't know what kind of place and what kind of job level we're talking about. But for a company to contemplate having the background of the candidate investigated overseas, I don't think we're talking about a $10.00/hour type job but rather a position that pays at the very least upper 30's worth a salary. At $25.00 per company checked, even if I check 10 places, that's less than peanuts considering the investment the company makes in this candidate.

That said, sure, there are places that shy away from foreign nationals. But then, those aren't really the places you'd want to work at as a foreign national to begin with. Find places where diversity is more than a hollow phrase. Like the place I work at. My team consists of 11 employees (myself included) and we have 9 different nationalities represented. I will consider any candidate from anywhere in the world that fits the profile of the positions we're looking to fill. As will any manager that I know. That team of mine is a pretty good reflection of what teams in my company are made of. It's challenging at times but it's also very rewarding. It's diversity in action. Those are the kind of companies you might want to target.

Thats a truly diverse company. It must be a great place to work!

[broma25 2]

When I came here from England, I found I had to set my sights a little lower than back in the UK.

I have 12 yrs UK exp as a HR Manager, try getting an entry level here in HR its impossible.

Here there is the opinion "well we have different laws here"......yes you do America and they are learnable..the basic principles of HR do not from the UK to the USA.

Try telling that to my boss when I tell him I no longer want to do HR Administration (for almost $1000 less than I made in England) and would like to move up within the dept.

To me some companies have no idea what immigrants have to offer!

[rob&ana 0]

Well…

Would it depend on the profession? Or the kind of work history (as in worked for multinational companies vs. small privately owned companies). I am an accountant, and even before arriving to the US, I had been sending my resume to different recruiters (just to test the market), and I had a wonderful experience, I had more calls and interviews than what I really cared for. Back in Venezuela I worked for international accounting firms, and I since I spoke English I was mostly assigned to multinational corporations that had operations in the US.

Also, during that interviewing phase (with recruiters mostly), I was able to find out which were my strengths and which were my weaknesses, remember that this people is making money for placing you, they shouldn’t care where you’re from as long as you’re marketable. Recruiters are a fountain of knowledge if you know how to ‘use’ them, they coach you to go to big companies, and they can be raw when it comes to telling you what the heck is wrong with your resume or with your interviewing skills.

Definitely do search for companies with operations in different countries, definitely include in your cover letter what’s your immigration status and make clear that you are allowed to work anywhere, since you’re holding an EAD or GC. Play your assets and exploit your resume depending on the company and position you’re interviewing, it’s amazing how a bit of tweaking can make your resume shine (tweaking as in playing some tasks more than others, I am not implying in any case that you should lie to get a job).

Other than that, confidence let who ever is interviewing you know (or think) that you can do and handle whatever is presented in your plate. And if you’re a chicken (like me), take a job where you might be a tad over-qualified for, and say its because you want to get used to the new environment, since you think that it might be a bit different working in NY than working in Brazil…

I hope this helps a tad, frankly I am the immigrant and I haven’t found any problems at all finding a job…

ETA: I had background and credit checks made, of course by the time I had my credit check made I had absolutely no credit history, that wasn’t a problem. During the recruiting days, I received a couple of calls from the companies that perform background checks to double check phone numbers, they couldn’t check my bachelor’s degree (apparently there was no one at the University Office that spoke English). And I still got the job… so it’s not lack or excess of background check. Also, the references I used, I made sure knew how to speak English.

Edited May 16, 2007 by rob&ana

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Did the company that you worked for in London do reference checks etc to the degree that they are done here. I think that may be something to consider.

I never had the same level of reference checks in all the jobs I've worked in the UK other than merely calling references. I was actually kind of shocked when I came back how much info they wanted on me!

I do think it's the references, the lack of understanding about education credentials from other countries, etc, rather than immigrant bias. Though I suppose some employers may be concerned about a candidate not getting the "American" way of doing things.

Whenever I hire, someone from another country often has an edge, especially if they speak languages. But then, we are a very international company. I hired a Brazilian girl last year who speaks 3 - and her english (and work ethic) is better than some of the Americans.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I also think the whole way of looking for jobs is very different in other countries as well - few jobs are advertised, permanent positions seldom are hired through agencies, often it's about networking. People do have to adapt to that.

[broma25 2]

I also think that you have to be pushy without making a nuisance of yourself when applying for jobs here in the US. That was something I found difficult to do, as its not normal practice to do that in the UK

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

That's true - something very difficult for my DH and a lot of British people I suspect

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You're telling me someone can't get a job because he's CANADIAN?

I'm dying to find a Canadian with relevant experience and US work eligibility.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

You're telling me someone can't get a job because he's CANADIAN? Seriously you've got to live in bumblefcuk to experience prejudice against Canadians. Other Brazilians have not been having trouble getting similar jobs in less populous areas, so you might want to check on your wife's strategy a little more.

I think it is immigrants in general having a difficult time finding a job.

The words in bold is just what I did yesterday. The more I thought about all of the resumes he has put out and the very few calls he has received the more I wondered what he is doing wrong. Soooooo I did my lil wifely duties and called one of the employment agencies that specializes in Professional IT postions, with whom he happens to have been registered with for four months. So this is what she and I came up with....for one he is being his very reserved English self and making very few follow up calls with this particular agency, rather than calling his consultant he applies directly online for the positions skipping her all together, he isn't tweaking his resume for each individual possible employer but leaving the resume just as it has been from the get go. Her being the very American HR officer thought he had lost interest. Long story shortened she now has an understanding of his past job searches, how a CV is written (containing every minute detail) vs. a resume, and that he is very enthusiastic about employment. She also pointed out to me that though she hasn't seen him in months she immediatly knew who he was by name. So he was very memorable and that in itself is one step ahead of the game than anyone else applying for the positions. She told me to tell him to use it to his advantage, which I have pointed out over to him only for him to laugh at how silly that was. Anyway hopefully now he has more of a feel of how the US job market works and things will make a turn soon.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think it is immigrants in general having a difficult time finding a job.

That's a pretty broad statement there, isn't it? Each time Nani wanted to find a job (we moved a lot because of my jobs), she had one within a matter of 1-2 weeks.

[no name 1]

Did the company that you worked for in London do reference checks etc to the degree that they are done here. I think that may be something to consider.

They checked references, yes. I had several jobs.

Also, I've never had more than references checked here & I am a designer.

I think it is immigrants in general having a difficult time finding a job.

That's a pretty broad statement there, isn't it? Each time Nani wanted to find a job (we moved a lot because of my jobs), she had one within a matter of 1-2 weeks.

And that's a misleading statement. I've never lived anywhere & gotten a professional job within 1-2 weeks of moving.

I'm dying to find a Canadian with relevant experience and US work eligibility.

And that's just a rude statement.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think it is immigrants in general having a difficult time finding a job.

That's a pretty broad statement there, isn't it? Each time Nani wanted to find a job (we moved a lot because of my jobs), she had one within a matter of 1-2 weeks.

And that's a misleading statement. I've never lived anywhere & gotten a professional job within 1-2 weeks of moving.

I must have missed the word "professional" preceeding the word "job" in the statement I replied to. In fact, I still don't see it. Will have my vision checked.