Are We the Only Ones?

[yuenashleysl 1]

Not sure if there's anyone still reading this thread...but finding work is tough! Even more difficult for a new immigrant who doesn't speak much English.

My hubby came in June, 2010. He's 23 and doesn't have a lot of work experience in his home country--it's enough for his home country, but definitely means nothing here. He didn't have a college degree. He read, understnad and speak some english, but not much.

It's so difficult. He tried but with no success. he's so bored at home and because he didn't have a driver license yet, he's staying home a lot. He went online and look for jobs, but have problem filling in the applcations. We filled a few together, but then he just got discouraged...

At least now he i starting his ESL classes soon, which hopefully will keep him busy for a while. I have a stable full time job, and also doing full time office temp work whenever available. He feels so bad that I have to work 2 jobs to support us...especially because my health is not that good...

Every one always ask why he didn't try to work at the China Town. Every other person I know said if he's lazy or if he just doesnt' want to work. Well, he did. He went in to every single chinese restaurants in CHina town and ask but with no success. I'm just getting tired of other's question now.

It sucks and it seems like no one else understand...All i can do is try to stay positive and help him stay positive. I don't remember how many times I have to tell him that IT IS OKAY....

Sigh...

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

Don't feel bad, the market sucks everywhere. We're in NYC. My wife came here May 2008, got the GC in Nov 2008.

For the first year or so, she didn't look for a job so she could concentrate on learning English. Luckily for us, I make a pretty living (financial services). But she started to get really bored at home and wants to find a job just to get out of the house. But for almost the past year or so, my wife has not been able to find ANYTHING. She doesn't have a college degree and her English is still iffy, so all she can apply for are mostly manual labor jobs and even those aren't hiring. The only thing available is graveyard waitress/bartender jobs which I'm not crazy about since it will mean she'd have to ride the subway late in the evenings and then early mornings. Not the safest time to be on them.

There was an ad on Craigslist job section for a woman to clean a house. But must have "pretty feet". Lots of weirdo pervs out there.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

Not sure if there's anyone still reading this thread...but finding work is tough! Even more difficult for a new immigrant who doesn't speak much English.

My hubby came in June, 2010. He's 23 and doesn't have a lot of work experience in his home country--it's enough for his home country, but definitely means nothing here. He didn't have a college degree. He read, understnad and speak some english, but not much.

It's so difficult. He tried but with no success. he's so bored at home and because he didn't have a driver license yet, he's staying home a lot. He went online and look for jobs, but have problem filling in the applcations. We filled a few together, but then he just got discouraged...

At least now he i starting his ESL classes soon, which hopefully will keep him busy for a while. I have a stable full time job, and also doing full time office temp work whenever available. He feels so bad that I have to work 2 jobs to support us...especially because my health is not that good...

Every one always ask why he didn't try to work at the China Town. Every other person I know said if he's lazy or if he just doesnt' want to work. Well, he did. He went in to every single chinese restaurants in CHina town and ask but with no success. I'm just getting tired of other's question now.

It sucks and it seems like no one else understand...All i can do is try to stay positive and help him stay positive. I don't remember how many times I have to tell him that IT IS OKAY....

Sigh...

My wife is in the same boat. Don't feel bad. As long as you know that he is trying and not just sitting in front of the TV all day, don't listen to your family or friends asking dumb questions. If they have a problem with it, ask them to help him find a job. That's what I tell my family. That usually shuts them up.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

For everybody here, the bottom line is that in the US it matters WHO YOU KNOW, NOT WHAT YOU KNOW.

Get out and network. Meet new people (church, library, parks, etc). They may work for a company who's hiring or may know somebody else who does.

DON'T GIVE UP!

[Ryan_and_Priscy 16]

For everybody here, the bottom line is that in the US it matters WHO YOU KNOW, NOT WHAT YOU KNOW.

Get out and network. Meet new people (church, library, parks, etc). They may work for a company who's hiring or may know somebody else who does.

DON'T GIVE UP!

Yep, it is true. I got a temporary job in a call center through a recruiter company.

[JohnAnwesha 4]

I have been looking for jobs now,It's been a month and nothing much has happened.I know I should not give up hope,things like this take time.But sometimes frustration gets the better of me.

I have a background in software,but I feel like I have not much interest after having worked for a while to continue in this field.Hence I feel my resume is making potential employers hesitant.

I have applied to all possible places,and will keep doing so!

And yes,networking is definitely important here and everywhere too!

[Adrian+Mike 2]

Well, just on my way to get my EAD card in a month or two. I knew before I immigrated here to be with my wife it was going to be an uphill struggle, but seeing this thread just shows me how hard this will be. Fortunatly we have a few contacts, one possibly with my wife that could be something, could be nothing but time will tell, having to wait off till this EAD comes through. As someone else said I think its more to do with who you know - ask you frieds, your SO's work to see if theres an opening there (im sure most of you have already done this).

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

It's been really hard for me too. I arrived in the US March 2010, got a job offer after my very first job interview at a renewable energy company. I thought I was lucky. Got laid off after 6 weeks because that industry is let's say still a "baby" industry so not a lot of clients. I have applied everywhere. Banks, fastfood, retail, administrative, hotels, casinos, etc. I had been to only 4 interviews since June 2010, all unsuccessful. The fact that NV has the highest unemployment rate in the WHOLE nation doesn't help. I have a BS degree in Business Management in my country and I had a good job working in the TV Commercial industry, a job that I loved. I have also tried staffing agencies but even they are saying there are not a lot out there right now. I accepted a 3 week temp job with one of these agencies but after that, NIL. I have only worked a total of 9 weeks for the year 2010. I have never been unemployed before so this is really hurting my pride. I have been contemplating going back to school and get an Associate's Degree for maybe a Pharmacy Tech. But my hubby is also in school. We are living with his mom right now and it's really getting to me. I am not one to mooch, not even from my own mother. I am really frustrated. I don't feel so lucky now

Edited January 25, 2011 by abbielovesjeremy

[TracyTN 237]

I am so sorry to read that, Abbie. It is so hard.

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

I am so sorry to read that, Abbie. It is so hard.

Yes, it is But one must keep trying. We are thinking of moving to another state (not sure which state yet) but after reading some threads here it's not so great in most places either. My brother in Fargo, ND says there are a lot of jobs there and that they have, if my memory serves me right, the second lowest unemployment rate in the US. He is trying his best to convince us to move there, but oh boy, I fear their weather Harsh!!

[tallcoolone 102]

It's fascinating what a difference two things can make: 1) US work experience and 2) US educational credentials. Without either, employers told my husband to forget it.

Just depends on what industry. My wife was educated in Philippines, She had her Bachelors of Nursing by age 19, Never worked a day in her life.

She came to Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex 2 years ago from Philippines, and had a high pay job within 2 weeks of job hunting, She got 2 offers.

She worked at her first job 1 year, We moved to another part of D/FW and she resigned and found another job last year with in weeks. She also wanted to have a 2nd job so she went to another hospital in our area and was offerd part time job there.

So it all depends on what you study and where you live, My wife could quit her job today and have 3 job offers within a month.

Move if you need to, and be flexible.

[thatbritishlass 2]

It's definitely still tough out there. I haven't even got my EAD yet but I am well aware of what I'm up against. I was a business manager (read: executive assistant/project manager/communications manager/employee relations manager/you name it, I did it!) for a telecoms company back in the UK for two years. But although I know the value of the experience I have it is extremely difficult to sell on my CV because I did a bit of everything. My best bet is a lead on a job in NYC (see separate thread about that). But it involves a big move to a vastly more expensive area (76% more, according to bestplaces.net!) and although I think I personally would have a blast, my hubby is not a big city type. Plus it's not even an offer yet...

My husband works in hospitality (as does, literally, everyone else I know in Orlando) and has spent the last 4 years trying to get into management so our income would be a bit more stable and he'd have some career prospects. But in the company he works for (hint: he works for a mouse ) not only have an absolutely ridiculous promotions system, but for every opening that comes up you are up against 64,000 other people also trying to get ahead. He's been looking elsewhere but the competition is brutal. Entry-level manager positions demanding 5-7 years of experience. It's tough on his confidence because he wants to provide for me but feels he isn't: and tough on me because I want to contribute but can't. And that fact that just getting the EAD does not an income make is being really driven home at the moment. We went to a job fair last Wednesday and it was like a riot. Soooooo many people - we're not the only the ones!

I wonder why USCIS even both with EADs at the moment - they should just give you the right to work off your K1/K3, cos it's not like you're going to get a job anyway . I appreciate the situation is a lot worse in many parts of the world, but who would immigrate just to work in this economy?

Good luck to everyone

[Adrian+Mike 2]

Just an update. Been looking for work for the past 3 months now, Not a single interview. At the moment I'm lucky to even get a rejection letter never mind a response. As another said the job market is really brutal - seems there's many more people going for the same job than before so they have a much bigger base to choose from. Unless you have experience and at the very least a degree,which I don't, then you are pretty much at the bottom of the pile.

[SpelaD 4]

Just depends on what industry. My wife was educated in Philippines, She had her Bachelors of Nursing by age 19, Never worked a day in her life.

She came to Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex 2 years ago from Philippines, and had a high pay job within 2 weeks of job hunting, She got 2 offers.

She worked at her first job 1 year, We moved to another part of D/FW and she resigned and found another job last year with in weeks. She also wanted to have a 2nd job so she went to another hospital in our area and was offerd part time job there.

So it all depends on what you study and where you live, My wife could quit her job today and have 3 job offers within a month.

Move if you need to, and be flexible.

What is she working as?

[trillium13 84]

Just an update. Been looking for work for the past 3 months now, Not a single interview. At the moment I'm lucky to even get a rejection letter never mind a response. As another said the job market is really brutal - seems there's many more people going for the same job than before so they have a much bigger base to choose from. Unless you have experience and at the very least a degree,which I don't, then you are pretty much at the bottom of the pile.

Sorry to hear about that. I honestly don't know what employers are looking for sometimes. They'd rather hire some complete idiot, just because they have a US high school diploma, than to even interview someone like you (or my husband). I run into these hired idiots every day, and I think to myself, how do THEY get a job? Then employers wonder why all their employees suck. Hmmmmmmm.