Ok for all the MENA couples in Michigan. How easy was it for your hubby to get his first job. My husband is an Engineer, Civil. He is willing to do anything.. travel anywhere.. however not even a call on a job. Is it who you know anymore?????

Esalaam with all the foreigners esp MENA in MI and his excellent profession I do not see why no call backs::: maybe try looking in Dearborn asking around there:

Prior to my husband's EAD approval we put together a resume for him and sent it out to several potential employers (my husband holds a degree in computer engineering). No one wanted to give him a chance because he had no prior work experience in the US. No one...not even Target or the local grocery store. Right after he received his EAD he met a couple guys from the mosque who knew other guys who owned a gas station about 30 mins from home. That lasted a week because the owner of the gas station was such a shyster. At the end of that week he met another guy who owned a gas station a mile from home. He's been working full time as a manager there since mid October.

To answer your question...sometimes I guess it is who you know even if that's a job at a gas station. Michigan economy is such crap anymore that it is pretty difficult to find work even if you hold a degree. Has your husband done any networking at the local mosque or church? Where in Michigan do you live, if you don't mind?

I am glad your husband found a job. We are willing to move where-ever to have him work as an engineer.

We live in West Michigan...My husband got a job right away after receiving his EAD at the restaurant where I hold my second job...sadly its not about what you know its about who you know....and like Moody said the economy is sooo bad right now here that the jobs ie.. good paying jobs are few and far between...

We're going through the same thing! If you check out monster.com and careerbuilder.com there are LOADS of engineer jobs all around the country if you are willing to relocate. my husband does not want to relocate so we've been trying for engineer positions in southern california but he hasn't had any calls back yet. I keep telling him we need to expand his search to other cities............. good luck! I think being foreign, combined with little work experience, and a foreign degree have made a bad cocktail of no calls!

The only call we got from Monster re: engineering jobs was a lady who wanted to send my husband to Iraq to be a linguist. Yeah, no thanks.

If your husband is seeking a job as an engineer its going to be very tough if he didn't have any schooling in the US. He should really look into getting a Master's degree and that will make all the difference.

Also recruiters are the best place to start not job boards. They want to get paid which means they have to find you a job. I would suggest trying companies in Northern California as well, it's a very diverse area and comapnies don't tend to shy away from foreigners.

Ok we live in Lansing, the capital.
Where are the listings for headhunters?
We need a student loan for him for his masters... we are trying

Hi. he should look at city websites. he needs to do some networking. Maybe take a job at an arabic owned engineering firm. Take a drive down to Dearborn. ACCESS might be able to help him. Also ACC in Southfield. Also many places offer educational reimbursement as part of the benefits to employees.

Anywhere you say? http://www.dice.com - best bet for highly skilled jobs.

Go for it.

I searched for "civil engineer" and got 581 matches.

Oh, and this one listing here: Honolulu, HI

times are rough here in Michigan, i wish something good happens soon.

Oh wow, you guys are just reinforcing what my Dad has been saying for some time... I grew up in the Detroit area, but have not lived there since 1993, and now that I am coming back to the US with my husband, we wanted to be close to family to start off, but it sounds rather hopeless!

My husband has been working for Microsoft for the last 3 years and before that has 3 years of experience with HP and other MNC's. Any opinions on whether or not that will help in his job hunt? Is it really really that bad in the Detroit area?? A ray of hope, anyone?

have you tried any temp agencys? i am sure there are some in the lansing area and maybe they can place him with his line of work.

I second that.... one of the reasons I had left. But I really pray it gets better.... and soon

oops forgot to add;
But also another suggestions might be even for the short term::: the local cell phone shops ::: I would any have been hiring in the past esp the ones with foreign owners.
I know I have told my husband that he should take some tax prep courses since he is in finance as a starter. Hoping he can take some equilvency exam or some classes at the uni to get accreditted.
But if anyone is looking to relocate high skilled ppl I mean there are so many leads in the NorCal area::: it has always been booming. Well also the south Atlanta::: but its just suggestion* Good Luck everyone.

C. was just there on business for six weeks (Cadillac, MI), and said it was unbelievable. He met a guy who helped him clean off the treads (without asking, just started cleaning) on his rig and then disappeared. He caught up with him later and gave him $10 for his trouble (about an hour's work) and the guy said he normally makes $5 for cleaning out the grates at the car wash, which takes him 3 hours. Since the factory closed he bicycles around every day, makes about $40 in odd jobs and they squeak by on his wife's salary.