My Job interview in "AMERICA"(the good, the bad, the ugly)

[Unchained 37]

The daunting quest for a decent Job in America is truly overwhelming. Having barely gotten a temporary freedom(EAD)from uscis,I did not know that's just half of the first phase of moving to America.

Job search to me nowadays is like a job on its own, but lately i feel there must be something wrong with me or with the system. I have had quite a few interviews but at the end, all i take home is " we are still interviewing more candidates and will get back to you". I have done a lot of research and someone once told me that most companies have EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) quota that they have to meet and the don't have to actually hire someone to meet that quota, they just have to interview different people of different races and have it on record to show that they at least tried to but the candidates were not good enough lol, I still can't wrap my head around that. I have a bachelors from overseas in IT with 8years in the game but that hasn't really helped in anyway.

Anyways my last ordeal was in retail, my father always told me that "when the desired is not available, the available becomes the desired." So i took a shot at retail and i got an interview appointment after about a month of applying, i got there and the lady asked me if i have any experience in sales/retail, i said no but i have experience in customer interaction as in my last job, I was a Technical support and besides the retail job didn't require experience as i saw on the advert. She says ok, she asked whats my favorite product in the store, i said "orange juice" she asked why "i said its healthy and taste good". She says ok and went on. After the interview, i was told the same old story and it been 3 weeks and nothing yet. The job is a minimum wage job and i still didn't get it? Lol

Guyz i would like to hear some of your interview experiences(the good, the bad or the ugly) before you landed that job you really like after moving to "AMERICA". I want to know how best to break this ice.

[Adrian-Gloria 43]

Took me about a month and 4 interviews with the City to get the job. I sent applications to a bunch of places, this was the only one that contacted me back and I got it. Try a call center?

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

My wife is currently going through the same sort of experiences in applying for work here in the US. Her background is working as a nurse in her home country, but she is willing to work retail prior to getting all the necessary certifications to work as a nurse again.

With your IT education and experience, you might try applying with some specialized temp worker agencies. These assignments are often not that long but can get you valuable experience while you're looking for a more long term job.

Good luck!

[Amhara 460]

Unchained, don't worry, buddy. I'm born in America and we all still have your problem. You need to apply to several places at a time and keep looking each day or at least each week. It gets frustrating, especially if you think you had a good interview. Managers will hire someone they think will fit in their group well. Try asking about what it's like to work there, what the manager likes best about the work environment, how often do employees tend to stay at the job (or another more appropriate question that will tell you about the employee morale), and any other professional, yet questions that reveal your personal interest related to the job. Show your personality in a professional tone; meaningful questions help them remember you.

Not getting a minimum wage job can be frustrating, but there will be plenty of other options. Keep trying - is the best advice I could give to anyone in the job market!

[Unchained 37]

Thanks guyz for your advise.

I am not going to give up becos thats not what i do best but its sometimes very difficult to comprehend. I will surely keep my head up. I know i will get it somehow.

Cheers

[TBoneTX 43,195]

Some excellent advice is here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/449151-the-steveandtiff-stupremacy/?p=6471637

[Unchained 37]

Some excellent advice is here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/449151-the-steveandtiff-stupremacy/?p=6471637

Thanks TX.

[mymercy 85]

You're not the only one in this situation ... I spent not less than 4 hours or more filling applications everyday but yet all to no avail.

Although I already had an interview with some recruitment agencies and filled some papers with them but about 2 or 3 of them promised to call me for placement once something of my role comes up.

I am an accountant with over 5 years experience from my home country.

I have even applied for several menial jobs out of my field just to help with bills at home but still hoping for the best and to hear from them.

It could be depressing. ..scoffs

[meowmix66 3]

Oh gawd....

My Tour De ####### Job Interviews thus far:

I'm getting a decent amount of interviews relative to the job availability in my field (think 1-2 companies looking for someone in my field each month). Interviews go well, they ask me lots about my Canadian citizenship. We chat, laugh, nearly hug it out at the end of the interview, and then they tell me "we'll call you back for sure". And then radio silence. I follow up, ask for second interviews, do second interviews, thank them, send thank you letters.... Radio silence.

[TBoneTX 43,195]

Sometimes, corporate wheels move bureaucratically through molasses.

[Blue Bianchi 77]

When I was looking for a proper job (sending two to three quality applications per day all over the country), I was also looking for a part-time food service jobs and some retail jobs to keep the savings account healthy. Sent applications to Michaels, to a couple of grocery stores, to Panda Express, to a Starbucks branch in a university, to KFC among others. The university Starbucks hired me, I think because they are used to hiring current or just graduated international students who are on OPT. I think that was it. I was deemed a good fit because my overall situation was shared by others in the team. Kept that job for two months and would have stayed if I hadn't snagged a full time job in another state.

In my current proper job, I was hired by a lady who likes cats. She knew I brought my cat along with me from Manila. So now I work with a team of crazy cat-lady writers. It's been great!

Bottomline: Don't forgot about the things you love or your hobbies and show a bit of your personality in your resume (no I didn't include that detail about my cat in my resume, it came out during the onsite interview. Lots of people are qualified for jobs. But hiring managers want someone who will fit harmoniously with their teams.

[Niceb 2]

My husband and I are going through the same thing. He is an engineer with 15 years experience, an MBA and speaks multiple languages. I have 10 years experience in International Marketing and also speak another language. I am applying for all kinds of jobs at my level, below my level, admin style and still no bites. I've had two interviews with employers, and two with recruiters in seven months. I've had my friend who is a professional writer even help me rewrite/restyle letters and resumes. The crazy thing is the experience fits what they are looking for, I always do a good interview (and 9 out of 10 times got the job in Ireland/Australia) but here I get the radio silence. My husband does too. I put in hours filling out paperwork, rewriting resumes, cover letters to their specs,have six good referees, do background research, on the companies before the interview. All goes well, I tell them what they want to hear and always sound positive (though it is starting to get hard to stay that way at the moment). They say they will be in touch and never do. What is that with interviewers not communicating with candidates that they have not been successful? I've lived in four other countries and have never seen that before.

I really thought that I would, at least, be able to pick up some admin temp work, but that doesn't seem to exist here.We have been in Philly since March and will run out of savings by January. Now it is down to the Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Walmart style jobs we are thinking of applying for . The problem is even working 40+ hours each between the two of us we will struggle to pay our bills. I am seriously stressed out about the whole situation. I love it here and really don't want to leave but we may be forced to return if one of us doesn't pick up some kind of semi professional job soon.

[Unchained 37]

My husband and I are going through the same thing. He is an engineer with 15 years experience, an MBA and speaks multiple languages. I have 10 years experience in International Marketing and also speak another language. I am applying for all kinds of jobs at my level, below my level, admin style and still no bites. I've had two interviews with employers, and two with recruiters in seven months. I've had my friend who is a professional writer even help me rewrite/restyle letters and resumes. The crazy thing is the experience fits what they are looking for, I always do a good interview (and 9 out of 10 times got the job in Ireland/Australia) but here I get the radio silence. My husband does too. I put in hours filling out paperwork, rewriting resumes, cover letters to their specs,have six good referees, do background research, on the companies before the interview. All goes well, I tell them what they want to hear and always sound positive (though it is starting to get hard to stay that way at the moment). They say they will be in touch and never do. What is that with interviewers not communicating with candidates that they have not been successful? I've lived in four other countries and have never seen that before.

I really thought that I would, at least, be able to pick up some admin temp work, but that doesn't seem to exist here.We have been in Philly since March and will run out of savings by January. Now it is down to the Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Walmart style jobs we are thinking of applying for . The problem is even working 40+ hours each between the two of us we will struggle to pay our bills. I am seriously stressed out about the whole situation. I love it here and really don't want to leave but we may be forced to return if one of us doesn't pick up some kind of semi professional job soon.

Niceb, all you have said is very understandable, the stress, pressure and anxiety that comes with being unemployed and having bills to pay is immeasurable. Sometimes i feel like i am jinxed and may never find a job here. Nothing kills me more than staying at home everyday and watch my spouse do the hustle to pay the bills, it is not how i was designed.

I recently received an offer from a company I interviewed at some weeks back, and I am grateful to God for something. I didn't mention it here because i haven't started the job yet, It is a Technical Support role, the pay isn't all that but it will surely save my bank account from the spirit of negative balance. lool.

please do not give up just yet, you have come a long way to give up now, I can assure you something will come up very soon if you believe.

Try ziprecruiter.com , upload your resume and you can apply to multiple positions quickly by the click of a button, the site really works

I know someday we will all look by at this day and smile, never to forget the hassles of "moving to America"

[spahawk 10]

I work in IT and recently received my Employment authorisation through. This was the method I used.

1) Update your LinkedIn profile, make sure it is fully complete. Ask previous work colleagues for recommendations if possible.

2) On your resume, include a link to your LinkedIn profile so employers or Agencies can find out more about you if they want to. Make sure your resume is as polished as possible.

3)Register with ZipRecruiter and Monster.com and any others you think are relevant. If they give the option to upload your resume or create another profile then do so. Make sure it is complete.

4) In some job adverts on jobsites you will see links to send a resume now through their own system. However, if the job description gives you a contact at the company or agency then email them directly and always include a cover letter or at the very least a professional email. They are more likely to respond to a personal email than to a resume submitted by monster.com.

I hope the above is of some use and good luck.

Paul

[Unidentified 2,930]

I really recommend networking and see if your contacts or your spouse's contacts can help you.