How Did You Find Work In The US Without US Work Experience?

[Canadianmade 1]

Hi everybody how are you? I just want to ask you guys, for the people in the process of finding work or to the people who are working right now, where did you look for work, and how long did it take you guys to find work? I also want to ask and for us immigrants, we have no US work experience or references here, so did it make it tough for you guys to find work and what kind of jobs were you aiming for?

Here's a little background on me: I am in the process of looking for work here in the US, and we all know that the economy is terrible right now. I did get my EAD in the mail last friday, and I am waiting for my SSN to come in the mail. My work experience is in Customer Service, so I am trying to aim for jobs in that area. I am willing to take anything right now, to gain work experience, and to make money. I do have a 2yr diploma back in Canada in Accounting, but I have no desire to persue it at all. I do plan to go back to school to become a social work while working to get a bachelors degree because nowadays you have to have an education. Can you guys share any tips and info about your stories on finding work in the US?

Thank you in advance.

[trailmix 77]

My Husband and I moved from Canada to outside Orlando last April.

I would really recommend that you start with employment agencies - this is how he found several contracts (up to a months duration) - which he could then put on his resume'.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to translate Canadian experience to American - but based on the non-interest he received from employers contacted outside of an agency - it appears to be the case.

Why employers would be more willing to interview through an agency - I have no idea.

Edited January 16, 2009 by trailmix

[payxibka 10,044]

Why employers would be more willing to interview through an agency - I have no idea.

I wonder if it is because these "agencies" say they do a good job of screening potential applicants

[Lyuba 0]

My first job was in Victoria's Secret. Retail is a good place to start.

[Gemmie 142]

I hear it's hard if you have no US work experience.

I've volenteered to the local animal shelter because I figure it will help me get a volenteer job in the US when I get there (looking after animals)... then I'll have some US history when the EAD comes in.

That's the plan anyway, hopefully it will work out.

[kaffy 2]

I want to share my positive experience so that you know it isn't always difficult.

My educational background is in health science but as I am a recent grad, I have little work experience in this field. So when I started job hunting I aimed at finding an entry level position in a hospital - I applied online to 2-3 hospitals around where I live, mostly to admin/patient relation roles. 2 weeks later I received a call for a job interview. I went in the following week and had the interview, they called me the next day to verify the contact details of my references and 2 days after that I was hired. Easy as that!

oh and not having US references wasn't a problem. Mine were in Australia & Japan and HR simply contacted them through email.

My best advice is to first know where to look, and secondly make sure you put good effort into your resume.

[DeadPoolX 9]

My Husband and I moved from Canada to outside Orlando last April.

I would really recommend that you start with employment agencies - this is how he found several contracts (up to a months duration) - which he could then put on his resume'.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to translate Canadian experience to American - but based on the non-interest he received from employers contacted outside of an agency - it appears to be the case.

Why employers would be more willing to interview through an agency - I have no idea.

Because temp agencies get jobs for people on a temporary basis. Employers have less to worry about than if they hired someone on as a full-time employee. Many U.S. employers provide benefits (i.e. healthcare, paid vacation, sick days, etc), but when gaining a temporary employee from an agency, none of that is applicable.

It's certainly possible for a temporary employee to become a full-time employee or in a worst case scenario, part-time. But unless you're doing exceptionally well at whatever job you were placed at, the chances of that occurring are slim.

[britty 1]

Could you use your career in Canada to help with a job in the US ? When I received my greencard, I put the word out with ex-colleagues and associates in my home country (UK) that I was back on the market. The job I have now is a direct result of an ex-colleague passing my details to an associate of his in the US, and that guy calling me. I actually got three interviews that way and was offered the job with all 3 companies. I recommend that particular course of action, especially if like me, you have some skills which are fairly specialized. Good luck !

[DeadPoolX 9]

Could you use your career in Canada to help with a job in the US ? When I received my greencard, I put the word out with ex-colleagues and associates in my home country (UK) that I was back on the market. The job I have now is a direct result of an ex-colleague passing my details to an associate of his in the US, and that guy calling me. I actually got three interviews that way and was offered the job with all 3 companies. I recommend that particular course of action, especially if like me, you have some skills which are fairly specialized. Good luck !

You have your answer right there. As the old saying goes, "It's not what you know, but who you know."

[trailmix 77]

My Husband and I moved from Canada to outside Orlando last April.

I would really recommend that you start with employment agencies - this is how he found several contracts (up to a months duration) - which he could then put on his resume'.

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to translate Canadian experience to American - but based on the non-interest he received from employers contacted outside of an agency - it appears to be the case.

Why employers would be more willing to interview through an agency - I have no idea.

Because temp agencies get jobs for people on a temporary basis. Employers have less to worry about than if they hired someone on as a full-time employee. Many U.S. employers provide benefits (i.e. healthcare, paid vacation, sick days, etc), but when gaining a temporary employee from an agency, none of that is applicable.

It's certainly possible for a temporary employee to become a full-time employee or in a worst case scenario, part-time. But unless you're doing exceptionally well at whatever job you were placed at, the chances of that occurring are slim.

Yeah, I do know this. This comment was more about the point:

Why are U.S. employers not very interested in interviewing applicants with Canadian experience.

I keep forgetting to spell-every-single-thing out in these conversations.

Edited January 17, 2009 by trailmix

[Krikit 1,163]

I keep forgetting to spell-every-single-thing out in these conversations.

[Jasman0717 8]

Claudeth had no work experience but was immediately hired at the Hyatt and after that Sears but she didn't like the work at either place.

[aidan80 9]

I was last job hunting before things got this bad but what I did was:

• Checked online Monster, Dice, Career Builder, Local Papers, Regional Papers.. etc
• Checked City, County, State Websites for anything I'd do or could do (these jobs have decent benefits, holidays and pay sometimes)
• Sent in applications everywhere from Office Depot to the local Court House! lol
• Read the local papers just in case, asked people to keep an eye out for anything they seen posted anywhere e.g. signs, in windows etc..
• Walked (had no car then) to nearby stores and dropped in a CV's.. just in case..
• I was going to try some agencies but never got to it at the time.. plus I had no stupid car to get anywhere!

I had my wife Americanize my CV as much as possible.. I hadn't a single bit of US work history and to be honest 3 out of the maybe 30 - 35 places I applied at responded. My experience I don't think was counted nor was my qualifications to the majority but... to be expected. One was an interview, second was a stop by and fill out another application (Office Depot lol) and the third was another interview as an office person. First interview never heard back, Office Depot was a second choice and the second interview went well.. followed up by a second then a phone call and an offer to start! The hiring manager had lived for some time outside the US which was a massive help!.. without that I'd been at office depot packing boxes! Still a start and nothing wrong with it but.. boxes or air conditioned office?... plus air conditioned office started $3.00 more than office depot! lol

Two years later I'm still there.. not doing what I'd prefer to be doing but it's opened up a lot of opportunities and I've moved closer to what I used to do. I've been promoted a few times, got time and some cash to study and recertify here maybe college if I wanted to... etc. I've been allowed to expand what I do and moved past being a general office person and allowed to deploy my skills in other areas which is excellent. If I sit tight where I'm at I can happily prepare for my next move into the type of job I'd really like to do or expand out from where I'm at in this organization.

Good luck!

[Damian P 92]

Man, am I tired of reading these horror stories!

Somebody PLEASE tell me that the fact I have a U.S. college degree, and work experience on campus (complete with glowing references) means I won't have to stack shelves at WalMart!!!!

[kaffy 2]

Man, am I tired of reading these horror stories!

Somebody PLEASE tell me that the fact I have a U.S. college degree, and work experience on campus (complete with glowing references) means I won't have to stack shelves at WalMart!!!!

Read my story above. Not every new immigrant has to work in retail or fast food