Hi

Just wanted to hear experiences of Job hunting in the US. I have a standard UK education with no college or university degree but have plenty of employment and life experience !

What do employers say when you haven't got either a High School diploma or GED ???????????????

Any comments would be most welcolme

Don't call us, we'll call you.

Not true.....I have had no problems without a High school Diploma oe GED, the amount of years that i have worked compensate for not having them.I have had 7 interviews in the last week and i have been offered all 7 jobs. If you have experience in a particular field and alot of it ,you should be alright.

It is alot easier coming this way, I can tell you.

We looking into me moving to the UK and even though I have 20 years experience in my field, I would not have been able to work unless i had a certificate.

If they think you have the equivalent here you will be fine.

Unless you are looking to work in a field where your educational credentials are of high importance, then I am sure that your experience will be taken into account.

After speaking to a number of recruiters when I was looking for IT jobs, they told me that employers look favourably at people with in job and related experience. Someone can have a handful of certificates and a degree but unless they have any experience applying that book learned knowledge to real world situations then an employer won't have much confidence in their skills.

They key is to impress on any potential employers that while you might not have gone to college or got a degree, you have been doing what you've been doing for x number of years and you do what you do well. Confidence in your own skills and ability goes a long way in giving others confidence in you !!

Best of luck

Mark

When you say a standard UK education do you mean you have GCE's or O Levels?
5 of either is roughly equivalent to an American High School Diploma so you might be able to say on applications that you have the equivalent.

I have to agree with Mark and Sheila on this one and I am not even there yet. My daughter passed my CV to her HR Manager and was told that I should have my interview with them as soon as I have my ssn which should be relatively quickly and that I should be looking at a Centre managers position with my experience, so it is all down to me. As Mark says, your experience and confidence will still go a long way.

And, as long as you have applied for your SSN (you will the moment you enter the US), you can be hired---HR does not have to wait until you have the actual card.

(get to work, woman! gots to earn them qualifying quarters!)

Depends on the field. I've been showing my fiance's CV around and he's got several interviews for when he gets here. He's a personal trainer, wanting to be a gym teacher. Giving up on teaching for now (stupid no child left behind...) but the PT isnt a prob. His experience is really valued

I don't think it matters. The 'normal' UK education (GCSEs/O-Levels) is the same as the GED, I think. Unless you want to work in the upper echelons of management, a degree isn't so important, IMHO, as long as you have decent experience.

You have the advantage of having a British accent. That's got me a lot of leeway, for some strange reason. People over here love it!

Ain't that the truth! As the USC I find it a bit embarrassing! My finace and I consulted with a male attorney who kept telling G how much he loved his accent and how happy he was that his wife wasn't there as she'd be undressing for him. It was all a bit much! With that said, if it helps you guys to get a job here, great!