I must be doing something wrong!?!

[Pursuit 0]

Hi guys.

I received my Green Card in March 2010 and have been looking for jobs ever since then. First I started looking for jobs in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and I was not really able to find anything. Since I didn't receive any response back from companies, I got my resume professionally written in July (it looks way better than before) because I thought this would increase my chances on the job market. In addition, I am looking now for jobs everywhere! But still - I still haven't received any responses. I also called companies to follow up on the status but I will only get transferred to a hotline where I can only leave a message and NOBODY calls me back!? It is getting so frustrating and I really don't know what to do anymore .

I applied for jobs online, checking all websites for possible job openings, applied for jobs at temp agencies, looking in newspapers...

I have about 1.5 years of experience in e-commerce field and have a Diplom degree in Management which is equivalent to Bachelor's.

Do you guys have any other suggestions? Is it normal to have NO RESPONSE whatsoever in 6 months??

Thanks for sharing.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Welcome to America in a recession. Many people with degrees (both BA and MA) can't get or have just lost their job in these past few years. I myself graduated from a very good school with very good grades last year and can't find a full time job in my field. Just keep trying. Try to network and make friends with people in the business. Find out who you know and who they know and who can get you an interview.

Edited September 2, 2010 by amykathleen2005

[Inky 1,110]

I have been looking for a job for 1 year and NOTHING no returned called no returned messages no nothing. I used online, newspapers, handing resumes out, i used friends, word of mouth and even signed up to a company that helps you find jobs / get interviews. I havent had 1 single interview in an entire year of moving here. I applied all over from my degree to shelf stocking jobs and NOTHING.

It sucks big time.

[amykathleen2005 441]

You could also go a different route. Try looking into AmeriCorps which is like the Peace Corps based at home. They have postings all over the country with different not for profit organizations where you can volunteer your time (you do get a stipend, mileage, an education award and health benefits). Check it out. I am going into my second year and have loved it.

[John+Lourdelie 28]

You can try looking for a job outside of your degree profession. It may not pay as well, but at least you will have an income and a job history for when you do find the job you really want.

John

[Pursuit 0]

I have been looking for a job for 1 year and NOTHING no returned called no returned messages no nothing. I used online, newspapers, handing resumes out, i used friends, word of mouth and even signed up to a company that helps you find jobs / get interviews. I havent had 1 single interview in an entire year of moving here. I applied all over from my degree to shelf stocking jobs and NOTHING.

It sucks big time.

Oh my gosh, this is crazy. I hope you are going to find something soon. Can imagine how you must be feeling... It really sucks.

[Inky 1,110]

You could also go a different route. Try looking into AmeriCorps which is like the Peace Corps based at home. They have postings all over the country with different not for profit organizations where you can volunteer your time (you do get a stipend, mileage, an education award and health benefits). Check it out. I am going into my second year and have loved it.

my husband is active duty military so corps is not an option for me, not really interested in that either lol have enough of military already.

Oh my gosh, this is crazy. I hope you are going to find something soon. Can imagine how you must be feeling... It really sucks.

It sucks, hope u find a job fast too. My husbands parents keep calling and asking if I found a job yet too, its making things stressfull since they dont really help they just call to " check up " and press on the situation. Doesnt help anything!

[Pursuit 0]

You could also go a different route. Try looking into AmeriCorps which is like the Peace Corps based at home. They have postings all over the country with different not for profit organizations where you can volunteer your time (you do get a stipend, mileage, an education award and health benefits). Check it out. I am going into my second year and have loved it.

Thanks for your advise. I am going to look into it right now. I have to start doing something!

Unfortunately I haven't really met anybody over here yet who could help me with my situation. I won't give up though.

[trillium13 84]

You're not doing anything wrong. The job market sucks right now and if you're not from here, it's extremely difficult. Here's a thread I started several months ago on just this topic:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/239817-are-we-the-only-ones/

I wish I had some good advice for you, but please at least know it's not you.

Is relocating an option for you?

[Pursuit 0]

You can try looking for a job outside of your degree profession. It may not pay as well, but at least you will have an income and a job history for when you do find the job you really want.

John

yeah, I considered this too and tried but I wasn't successful with this either - I still think I need to find something in a similar area, or at least a desk job.

[Pursuit 0]

You're not doing anything wrong. The job market sucks right now and if you're not from here, it's extremely difficult. Here's a thread I started several months ago on just this topic:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/239817-are-we-the-only-ones/

I wish I had some good advice for you, but please at least know it's not you.

Is relocating an option for you?

Thanks for the link. I just read the thread - it is horrible to see that a lot of people have the same kind of problem. But clearly I am not the only one.

Relocation is definitely an option now but I won't just move anywhere without the prospect of a job. I am going to move for a job but not because I think I might get something out there. My husband has no problem to relocate either. He served in the military and is now a full time student.

[Stann 3]

You are not doing anything wrong - I have been looking since May and I work in retail management - this is normally a very easy industry to get a job in as not many people want to do it (weekends, evenings and holidays - always dealing with the public!) and I have about 8 years experience having managed a busy flagship store in London but I am not having much luck either. I got to the final stages with one retailer and they chose an internal candidate as this is a cheaper option (no training costs or new hire costs just a small pay rise for the person moving up and then recruit someone to fill the lower role). We were in Atlanta when we moved here but have relocated to Miami due to family reasons and I have had no luck in either places. It sucks and is very upsetting - I hate not working - not hearing is the worst part as you are checking emails and the phone all the time. Like you I have tried to call and follow up and all you get is a voicemail or no answer - its so rude that companies these days dont even have the courtesy to send you a 'no' email so that at least you know! As others have said its the economy - unemployment is bad back home (UK) but nowhere near this bad.

As someone else said try and get into another industry where your previous experience may have cross over skills. Dont give up hope I totally feel for you, sorry about the rant I just really identified with your frustrations!

Good luck

Stacey

[Pursuit 0]

You are not doing anything wrong - I have been looking since May and I work in retail management - this is normally a very easy industry to get a job in as not many people want to do it (weekends, evenings and holidays - always dealing with the public!) and I have about 8 years experience having managed a busy flagship store in London but I am not having much luck either. I got to the final stages with one retailer and they chose an internal candidate as this is a cheaper option (no training costs or new hire costs just a small pay rise for the person moving up and then recruit someone to fill the lower role). We were in Atlanta when we moved here but have relocated to Miami due to family reasons and I have had no luck in either places. It sucks and is very upsetting - I hate not working - not hearing is the worst part as you are checking emails and the phone all the time. Like you I have tried to call and follow up and all you get is a voicemail or no answer - its so rude that companies these days dont even have the courtesy to send you a 'no' email so that at least you know! As others have said its the economy - unemployment is bad back home (UK) but nowhere near this bad.

As someone else said try and get into another industry where your previous experience may have cross over skills. Dont give up hope I totally feel for you, sorry about the rant I just really identified with your frustrations!

Good luck

Stacey

I totally understand your frustration...Goodness. I also hate not working and I wish this could come to an end. If you can't even find anything in a big city like Atlanta, I wonder if they even consider my application. I am also applying to jobs which are not close to my residence and even though I specify that I am willing to relocate, they obviously prefer local people. It's really bad.

I hope you are going to find the right job soon.

[obnancy 5]

Hi guys.

I received my Green Card in March 2010 and have been looking for jobs ever since then. First I started looking for jobs in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and I was not really able to find anything. Since I didn't receive any response back from companies, I got my resume professionally written in July (it looks way better than before) because I thought this would increase my chances on the job market. In addition, I am looking now for jobs everywhere! But still - I still haven't received any responses. I also called companies to follow up on the status but I will only get transferred to a hotline where I can only leave a message and NOBODY calls me back!? It is getting so frustrating and I really don't know what to do anymore .

I applied for jobs online, checking all websites for possible job openings, applied for jobs at temp agencies, looking in newspapers...

I have about 1.5 years of experience in e-commerce field and have a Diplom degree in Management which is equivalent to Bachelor's.

Do you guys have any other suggestions? Is it normal to have NO RESPONSE whatsoever in 6 months??

Thanks for sharing.

Hi, you may want to try by passing human resources. Their job is to fill current job openings for the managers/departments that have an immediate need. They are very subjective and can rule out your resume for any silly reason.

I suggest you call the companies you are interested in working at and find out the name of the person who that type of position would be reporting to. Call the general line first and ask questions to find out who this would be. Then see if you can get their extention number. If they won't give it out, call back after hours and see if they give you a listing of people to be connected to and sometimes you can get their extension that way. Then call early in the morning or right around quitting time and see if you can get through to them directly without going through the assistant. Once you get them on the phone, tell them the truth. You know they don't have an opening right now, but you have relocated to the country and would really appreciate any advise they can give you to get back into the work force. Offer to take them to lunch.

After they talked to you, regardless of what they say, send a thank you card, direclty to them via mail. Keep touching base. Offer to come in as an unpaid intern for a couple of days so they can get to know you and how you work. If they end up liking you and they don't have a position for you, they may have a counter part at another company who has something available.

If you work through the decision maker, they will inform Human Resources they want to hire you and will make it happen. HR is the gatekeeper. You must bypass them to get any answers.

I used this strategy when I wanted to move back to my home town. I worked in Hotel Sales at the time and came home for a one week visit. There were only two hotels with active listings posted. I applied for them and then I got on the phone and called every Director of Sales and Marketing in the area I wanted to live. I let them know I would be in town for the week and would like to stop by and meet them briefly because I was interested in relocating back to San Diego so they could keep me in mind if anything opened up. I spent all week going to meetings, interviews, etc... By the time I left, I had four solid job offers, two from the open positions and two from openings that were never posted anywhere. I took one of those because it was the best offer.

To everyone reading this, PLEASE do not just sent out resumes, call the job hotline, etc.... Work from the top down, people want to help you and will if you ask them nicely.

You may want to consider starting your own business. My husband just moved here from Australia and received his EAD card. He started his own handyman business and has solid work lined up for the next two months. He got those jobs by telling everyone I know, he knows, etc... that he will be legal to work in a couple of months. He went and looked at the jobs, bid on them and started his first one last week. He has been slowly buying tools at yard sales, flee markets, through craigslist, since he got here. Eventually he will join me in my real estate practice and be in charge of flipping houses.

Good luck!

[Bibi and Beebti 4]

Wow it really is quite scary ! I've only been here for 3 months and I'm already going nuts with not much to do, I can imagine what it feels like for you guys having been out of work for 6-months to a year I really hope you find work soon. I hope I will too in the near future.

Other options I've considered is getting into feilds that may not really be what my professional background is in. and I've been scoping the market of where I live. what the market here requires (im in Miami) and I notice for example 'Health and Wellbeing' is a big thing here, so I've thought I could get into some classes on integrative nutrition, or learning oriental massage (i'm serious ) I think we need to think outside of the box and most importantly, scope out the labor market of the palce you're in, and what's needed, and what it requires. I've been trying to also see if I can meet and pool together some talented people and start a small thing..but that requires meeting people which hasn't been easy, and having some cash to start, which also is not really an option considering my funds are depleting and my husband is an employee...oh well we'll see ...

It's really frustrating having lived independently and doing well in your career, and then suddenly trying so hard to implant yourself elsewhere, having to build new roots and new networks all over again. specially starting a new profesional network at 32..its scary