Entry level IT/computer jobs for new immigrants?

[Dan J 277]

Oh man. Now I'm stressed. P is finishing his Master's in Computer Science now, working on his thesis in sonar signal mapping. I hope he can find a job....He's been working for his university for the past three years so he has some experience. Gah.

Pattu Rani...good luck!

With a Master's he should have little trouble finding work.

[rebeccajo 14]

I don't see how any time spent overseas in accredidation of any kind is a waste of time. It might not get you a job in the US, but it's training.

Better than sitting on your rear end all day doing nothing.

[The Robinsons 0]

Just want to add that his chances of finding a job will also depend on which state you are planning to move to. Here in NC even U.S. Citizens with degrees are having a very hard time finding employment right now. So you can imagine what it's like for an immigrant.

Personally I have a Certificate in International Business and an Associates Degree in Financial Management. It took me almost 1 year to just get a job working the front desk of a hotel for 6.75 hr.

It seems employers try to steer clear of immigrants. If it's because they just don't want to be bothered or what I don't know. I'm just glad I didn't spend more time and money working on a bigger degree back home because they just don't recognize it over here.

[Dan J 277]

Just want to add that his chances of finding a job will also depend on which state you are planning to move to. Here in NC even U.S. Citizens with degrees are having a very hard time finding employment right now. So you can imagine what it's like for an immigrant.

Personally I have a Certificate in International Business and an Associates Degree in Financial Management. It took me almost 1 year to just get a job working the front desk of a hotel for 6.75 hr.

It seems employers try to steer clear of immigrants. If it's because they just don't want to be bothered or what I don't know. I'm just glad I didn't spend more time and money working on a bigger degree back home because they just don't recognize it over here.

With the exception of a few specialized jobs, you need a bachelors or masters to really get anywhere. But you can probably use the credits from your previous degrees to take a shortcut to a bachelors.

[aidan80 9]

I don't see how any time spent overseas in accredidation of any kind is a waste of time. It might not get you a job in the US, but it's training.

Better than sitting on your rear end all day doing nothing.

I agree 100%!! experience is never a waste of time. Get something US employers recognize and understand any maybe they might (with the right employer) take a look at past experience outside the US and any certifications thats there.

We all had to train/go to school/be an apprentice/get paid next to nothing to start off with. We all started somewhere or in the cases of some of us immigrants restarted somewhere in the US.

[JA Tam 7]

Hi everybody, thanks for all the info that you have all offered on here. I wanted to offer some information that I received from a church member who works with a top University in Florida. She is also an immigrant who works in the HR dept and she offered that for those who have post secondary information to have their credentials evaluated with a reputable agency who can say how your education matches up. It's costly, but it may well worth it; here's one agency you can look into: North American Educational Group.

You can possibly ask someone at an employment agency if they have any information for a location in your area or even if you decide to look into a college in your area, an advisor might be able to advise you of an agency that does this type of work.

[luv2teach77 41]

I would get him signed up with a couple of the big staffing agencies as soon as he is eligible to work. I used TEKsystems and found their input to be invaluable in explaining my situation and experience to prospective employers and think that I'd still be looking for work if I was applying for jobs off my own back.

I had worked for IBM in the UK for 3.5 years in a pretty low-tech role which was totally unrelated to the job that I ended up getting through TEKsystems. While I agree that experience is beneficial, do not underestimate the value of a willingness to learn and an ability to learn fast. Certifications are all well and good but don't mean very much without real world experience to back them up.

Get a resume written up, get it out to some agencies and make sure they understand that although he might have a long list of certifications after his name or years and years of in job experience he is willing to work his way up using the skills he already has and is very open to gaining new skills as he goes along.

Best of luck

Mark

[Mononoke28 134]

I would get him signed up with a couple of the big staffing agencies as soon as he is eligible to work. I used TEKsystems and found their input to be invaluable in explaining my situation and experience to prospective employers and think that I'd still be looking for work if I was applying for jobs off my own back.

I had worked for IBM in the UK for 3.5 years in a pretty low-tech role which was totally unrelated to the job that I ended up getting through TEKsystems. While I agree that experience is beneficial, do not underestimate the value of a willingness to learn and an ability to learn fast. Certifications are all well and good but don't mean very much without real world experience to back them up.

Get a resume written up, get it out to some agencies and make sure they understand that although he might have a long list of certifications after his name or years and years of in job experience he is willing to work his way up using the skills he already has and is very open to gaining new skills as he goes along.

Best of luck

Mark

I agree 100%. The last contract job I had was through Teksystems as well earning a very good salary and having very little problems with them. They also have courses that you can take with them to better your career path and they try to work with you as much as they can because again, in the end you getting a job through them means they get paid big bucks.

Diana