My wife's interview turned out okay for her but she's quite apprehensive of the results. I can understand how stressful job interviews can be. Meanwhile, it would be great to know your (non-USCs) first job (title/position and salary) in the US. Did you land the job of your choice or liking, or settled for something else irrelevant to your education/previous work history in your country? What were your main compelling reasons back then? If you choose to share your personal experiences to us, thanks so much!

My husband is a Systems Engineer (IT), but since he doesn't speak English our plan is for him to work with my brother in-law who's a general contractor while he goes to night school to learn English. Once he feels comfortable with it, he plans to get certified in other IT courses and then get a job in his field.


Diana

My husband's first job of any mention was as a jeweler for a small company that hand crafts and sells fine jewelry whole sale. He got it before he had work authorization and he started at very close to min. wage but is up to what still isn't considered fabulous, but pays the bills. He tried to find another job when he got his GC but nothing paid close to what they were paying him, which is sad.

warmup at mickey d's @ the grill for 1 month.. then asst manager at the Rshack!!

Claudeth worked in the kitchen for the Hyatt. She is very petite so some of the lifting requirements were very strenous for her. One of the supervisors didn't like all her blabbling either so she finally got fed up with it all and quit.

@Mononoke28,

That seems to be a good plan! It is best to let your husband decide when he will be most comfortable to enter the job market. That is what I'm doing for my wife. Moving to another country is stressful enough, add the USCIS paperwork, DMV, SSA office, bank trips, and marriage adjustments, job applications and I get one very unhappy wife! And all I can do is support her the best way I can.

@meow,

Very sad indeed. In our area, we are hopeful (if not hopelessly wishful) that my wife gets the job she truly deserves, and will make her happy. Easier said that done I know but I have to keep my hated job to pay the bills & to give her more time and flexibility in making career choices.

Update:

My wife just called, she got a call from the HR dept. and is negotiating her hourly pay (she did this on her own), the final approval is yet to happen within a day or two. She's now wishing she kept her mouth shut and negotiated for the lowest range.

Yes, sad. But, hopefully when he gets his degree things will be better. His dad brought him here when he was 17 and he couldn't afford international student rates, so the only classes he's taken are ESL. So hopefully now his earning potential can increase once he's done with school in a few eyars.

Same job in the US as back in Canada - Office Management

I actually got a raise which the increase cost of living promptly took care of

I'm the non-USC and my first job was and still is at a coffee shop (seattle's best coffee) when I started it was min.wage and it's still half what I used to get every 2 weeks back home but it helps out a lil and I get tips too. it's not my ideal job. but it's on the mil base where my hubby's stationed it's more convenient than antything else. I want to work with animals, I'm also thinking about starting a course in computers (don't know much now) which should be good in the long run as well.

Tegan

After hearing how hard it can be to geta job here, it gave the choice to rethink my career path (customer services - which i hated) and I decied the way forward to work in health care over here. Paid well and almost always in demand. Luckily I've had the chance to attend college full time to train as a Dental Assistant, which is almost guarenteed me a job after 9 months, so I'm hoping the 1st job I work in the states iwill be as a Dental Assistant. I plan to work my way towards becoming a hygienist in the future.

My first job was in Victoria's Secret as a sales person. I worked there for 5 months while looking for something more challenging and rewarding. My next job was in high school working with ESL students (because I am a linguist). My present job is an executive assistant. You can certainly see a positive trend but I am still not where I want to be.

It is really hard to find a job if you don't have any experience in America. So any experience counts!

Special Education instructional assistant.

Love love LOVE my job, but it doesn't pay nearly enough and the school's not giving me full-time hours.

I'm making 1/4 of what I used to make as a certified teacher back in Canada. Took this job because California doesn't recognize my teaching credentials and I'm not sure if I want to jump through all the hoops again.

Used to have my career path all planned out, but now I'm kind of lost

All the best to you! In a matter of time you'll have more opportunities knocking at your door.

My wife was in the same dilemma a few weeks ago. My father actually suggested that she grab whatever opportunity that comes her way, my mother, on the other hand, coached her to try another industry, healthcare. But she decided to test the waters first by using her previous education and work experiences in her country, regardless of what she has had been told (she's mildly stubborn, yes). I don't want to burst her bubble, at least not yet. I want her to try it on her own and see how it is finding a job here. All her firsts can be her powerful teacher, I just hope it's positive news!

Teaching is one of the best professions there is, aside from being a parent It is unfortunate that most teachers (except in the universities) are underpaid, at least those that I know of.

That is what's killing my wife, she's torn between choices: having a job that she hates but with a decent pay OR having a job that fulfills her but pays poorly. It isn't easy for her to find one that pays and is rewarding at the same time, this first interview, days ago, seemed to be "it". I really hope she gets good news, nothing but!

Best of luck to those searching for jobs here in the US!

So life is fair after all How was your wife when she got home after quitting? This is what I'm afraid of, she can get cranky and frisky to take it on me!!

My first job in the U.S. - and actually, first serious job in my life, since I graduated college only a couple of years ago, - was administrative assistant. Later I was promoted to a coordinator. It's at the University where I was studying for a certificate after completeing my degree. I hate this job, and I'm looking for another one. It pays the same as any job of this level in this market, and it's not what I want to be making. I'd like to move on to HR or to project support - this is what I studied in the U.S.

My first job in the United States was a collections agent for a banking company. It had nothing to do with my previous career, which was in the heritage preservation field. Since then, I have worked in medical records for a home healthcare agency, and am currently working in retail. I miss my former career immensely.

If I had to rely on my job and income I wouldn't make it. Fortunately my husband makes a good living, so myh work is more for the enjoyment rather than the necessity. It is little over minimum wage in the heritage field as a docent at an historic plantation. I have to provide all of my own Civil War clothing, etc. but the people are good and I work about 2 days a week.

My first job over here is working for an internet advertisement company. My primary responsibility was to upload images all day. They paid me $34,000 per year then. After two years and several promotions, I'm still working for the same company. I get paid $55,000 year as a technical lead of junior programmers. I'm still a junior programmer myself! I just took the first job offer I got because people tell me it's hard to find a job over here. I figured I'd start from the beginning, work hard, and work my way up. By January, I have another increase scheduled for me or so my manager told me. It's a good thing I wasn't picky initially.

That's a very interesting and enjoyable job!! I almost volunteered to become a docent one time in the preserved Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA. One thing I like about it is that I can incorporate my own and unique approach and experiences to interpret history. One challenging aspect of being a docent is having to use a strong foundation of expertise in interpreting varied resources. I would have had no problems with the Civil War paraphernalia if I had the chance. To forget history is such a shame. Glad to see someone re-living history and enjoying the job! Nice work.

You started off with a good pay if you were working the regular 8 hours and 5 work days! That must be something to feel happy about. Most immigrants struggle with min. wage (or just a little over it) from most stories I suppose, in most jobs including technical jobs. Of course, I can't speak for a small margin who had been luckier! Consider yourself lucky too. And to work for the same company for xx number of years is compensation enough, for a job well done. More luck to you. Or maybe send some luck to my wife! She definitely needs it.

Update:

My wife didn't get a call today. Oh well...........It's hard to say "maybe tomorrow". I don't want to set her up for a disappointment.

I did tell her "Maybe tomorrow."

If you consider 34K per year a good salary, then I guess I should shut up and be extremely happy with my job

Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, it's the employer's market right now - job search can take a long time... She should keep trying.

This is what concerns me about moving to California. I've been teaching equivalent of HS for three years now over here and I'm frightened at the prospect of being set back to zero on the teaching career route simply by moving to the states. I jumped through plenty of hoops to get qualified here as I'm sure you did. I'm having to make a lot of sacrifices for this process but I know it will be worth it to me personally. What bugs me about this is that California is desperate for teachers. I reckon a good percentage of those teaching now are uncredentialed substitute teachers. It seems like the system is shooting itself in the foot not recognising that teacher training in other countries is just as comprehensive.

So, whilst I'm waiting on my K1 approval I'm looking into retraining. Again

When we lived in Charlotte there were absolutely no job opportunities, but not only for foreigners, for nobody. I worked for 4 weeks at a Dillards, all my coworkers had college degrees and were saving money to move to a place where there are jobs. It was very sad and extremely frustrating.
I worked in New York before as a communications trainee right after grad school, but we moved then to NC. We then in June moved to CA, Bay Area. Here are tons of jobs, however, nobody employs me in my area since I am not a native speaker (communications area, such as public relations, advertising, surveys, etc). I found a kinda well paying job in the computer industry, but I am not doing what I want to do. Next year I will start to get my prereqs for molecular biology (only need very few classes, jippi) and then will apply for it. I think an American degree is necessary to be successful and actually do jobs you were educated for (prepared for, I mean 5 years at college and then minimum wage just does not seem fair). I have friends here who struggle equally - you just do not even considered for many jobs.

Just my 2 cents.... But switching careers and getting American degrees/certification seems to be the way...

I am still doing my first job. It is in the same field (finance/accounting) that I did before. The position is one step downgrade from my last job in homecountry. To me, it is a good job because I could not deal with the stress of job & adjusting at the same thing.

I've just started training on my first job today (having been here almost 5 months now and having got my green card in mid-August) - working as a server in a bar not far from here. We'll see how that goes... it seems like a nice place to work, with nice people, but whether it will bring in anything like enough money to make it worth the effort remains to be seen. Hopefully people around here tip as generously as my husband does - I'll be rich in no time, if so!

I'm just glad to have a reason to leave the house, anyway - I'm looking forward to having something to do for once! I can't see myself doing this for too long, but it could be fun for a while, and hopefully will mean I don't have to start desperately applying for every job advertised. I'd rather be earning mediocre money (I know it's possible to earn a ton if you're working in a bar or restaurant, but I can't really imagine it's going to be like that with this place) doing a job like this than earning mediocre (or worse) money doing some office-job-from-hell.

As for work 'in my field'... hm, there's an entry-level position (just what you want when you've been working in that industry for 9 years) I could take, but the pay is $8/hour, 20 hours per week, and involves 3:30am starts/midnight finishes/other hours I'm not prepared to work for that money (and I can't negotiate better pay, as I know full well there'll be an endless supply of graduates who think it's a fantastic opportunity - they can have it!) I'm hoping I might eventually find something remotely connected to my experience, but I'm not prepared to go back to earning a pittance in order to do so. No way!

I've found the job-searching thing rather depressing... I must stop converting every salary/hourly rate I see advertised into pounds, because when I think of working in some job I don't even want for WAY less than I was earning in my first job after I graduated a decade ago... that depresses the hell out of me! I know I'm not the only one going through the same thing (and I've only just started looking, I might get lucky) - it's good to read everyone's experiences. Thanks for starting the thread, OP, and I hope your wife has some good jobhunting luck soon!

Hey, feather, good luck with the job. I hope your customers tip at least 20% every time...

I am starting to think that I should get off my bum and look for work. I am keeping my eyes open but I am fairly limited here in Greencastle. Small town, small jobs, paying no where near what I was making in the UK...

Thanks, Mags... and yeah, 20% sounds good to me! Right now I'm just grumpy that I'm going to be working (training) all bloody weekend so won't get to hang out with my boy AND won't even be getting any tips, what with only being trained and all. Bah.

Hope you can find something you like the look of (and get them to give you the job, obviously!), I have to say I'm (mostly) looking forward to starting work again after having nearly five months of sitting on my arse doing, um, nothing.

You have a FAR better chance of getting 20% in a big city like Cincy than in my little town where the average tip is approximately $2...

Anyhoo, no one has said it yet so.....the drinks are on feather!

Umm my very first job when I migrated in US is rolling hot dogs on the grill, replacing french fry shortening, wrapping chili dogs @ weinershnitzel fastfood restaurant and working as a carwash boy on weekend making $4.25 per hour. I was 17 then .. still in High school........eventhough I graduated high school in phil. Now I work as technician/administrator ...here in silicon valley..I'll still wanna go back to school...if I had a chance (changing career). Now my priority is to bring my wife and son here..since my wife work as a Nurse for 3 years......trying to encourage my wife to review NCLEX and take exam. so she will find a job what she loves.....and not to go through experienced that I have....

Haha - they probably will be... I'm a clumsy cow like that, y'know!

But yeah... gin & tonics all round!

If it's that bar behind you, on 3rd, I know the owner's GF!

What, that sports bar place? Nope, not that one... we only spotted that place on the way to the airport to get my mum the other week, had no idea it was there before. Was thinking we should check it out! But anyway, my new place of employment is over the river in Newport - the Irish(ish) one... looks like they get pretty busy, which can only be a good thing!

Ah! Gotcha. Maybe I'll come visit at Xmas!

That sports bar is great. Divey but fun. Just don't go when it's gameday.

Yay!! Sounds like a plan to me.



'Divey but fun' is my kind of bar... will definitely have to wander down there soon. Can't believe it took me 4 months (and C. 8 months) to realise it's right there behind us. Duh! Will make a change from the constant Tina's/Plum Street Cafe rotation when we're after a quick drink of an evening...

Oops, serious thread derailment! (But how are you, anyway, D...?)

Software engineer. They gave me about 40% more that I earned at a university in Ireland. And cost of living seems to be lower here

Data Administrator. Started as a temp and got hired 8 mths later. Manager pulled me aside two months ago to tell me she's really happy with how I have been working and pulling my weight around here. I am on track for a promotion and raise during our performance evaluation at the end of the year.

I NEVER thought I'd enjoy a career in numbers, but here I am thoroughly convinced I am in the right place. And for the first time in my life, I actually care about the success of the company I am working for.

So you committed without benefits for your first 8 months, my wife can also do this since she's covered by my insurance. It is imperative that the new immigrant be added to the spouse's insurance policy/plan so she/he can have the flexibility of career choices.

I'm glad to know you're part of an organization (of people & system) that you actually enjoy working with. Isn't it extra nice to be working for a company that has a good set of initiatives that also mirrors your own goals in life in general? That way you can live in a manner that's consistent with your values, and earn a great income at the same time.

So thanks & congrats with that wonderful experience, my wife and I are happy to read about it.

Thank you for the encouragement.

I was not on my husband's insurance when I started working. Because of his health problems at that time, we decided not to 'muddy the waters' where his insurance was concerned. I chose to buy my own short-term insurance from Anthem through the temp agency that gave me the job assignment. We're still not on each other's health insurance at this point in time because of the hike in premiums we'd have to fork out. We are on our own individual insurance plans with the companies we work for coz it's cheaper to do so. He's the beneficiary of my life insurance policy, though.

Thank you for the kind words on my job. It IS very nice to work for a company that actually values the work I do. It's great to wake up every morning to go to a job that is positive. Granted, the environment here is not perfect (we could do with a smarter and less gossipy sales team), and sometimes there is a lot of pressure because my job is time-sensitive. But I have very little to complain about. I still wonder some days if this bubble is gonna burst. lol.

As I was enjoying my second cup of coffee I heard from my wife. So she did get the job. YAY! I, the husband, is her fan. It's her first job interview too in the US so you can imagine how ecstatic (I went ballistic with her during the call, while at work) we are right now. They are willing to give her a rate far more than what she initially bargained for.

I hope she'll still have time for me and this thread to share her experiences with us. Why not?

Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woohoo! congratulations!

Congrats!!!

Good for her!

I use to work as cost engineer in a real estate company in the Philippines. I am glad i got to find that kind of job opportunity here in Las Vegas. I got my first interview few days ago from a construction company and it turned out good, so im looking forward for a second interview and to finally get that job.

I applied to a retail company and i was interview last sept.11 and second interview was Sept. 14..the last interviewer told me to wait their call after background check is clear and will be start working on 2 weeks..but till now 1 week from my last interview no call yet..My husband said give them another week..im just being so worried I need to work so badly on that company..Please enlighten me guys ..Itt is sound Im hired or not? I already signed papers about background check,drug test and I cant take leave on thanksgiving and christmas day..


Oh well, I really hope they call for good news.


Roxy

If its been a week I would suggest you call them. At least to if anything, keep in touch.