Looking for a Graphic Design Job near Pittsburgh, PA...

[Heather&Ramy 22]

Just posting out of slight desperation, as my husband has been in the US for going on 7 months now and hasn't found anything remotely related to his field yet. He's been working at Walmart for the last 2-3 months, so he has some official US experience, but I'm not sure whether this will help him at all besides just keeping us going in the meantime.

Ramy has a bachelor's degree from Alexandria University in Graphic Design and he had 7 years experience working for 3 different big companies in Egypt in graphic design, as well as TONS of freelance design/marketing work experience for various local restaurants, stores, etc. and photography. His last job was as "Art Director" of a real estate company in a resort town in Egypt and so that meant he was creating a quarterly magazine, printing it, creating the ads, doing the photography, doing all company design including logos, ad campaigns, etc.... He has a TON of experience! His designs are really cool too, if I do say so myself, having an art background as well.

He has a LinkedIn and profiles on Monster, etc... and he has been sending his resume everywhere. He had a few interviews right off the bat, which was encouraging, but in the past 2-3 months he hasnt had any at all!

His English is passable, easily understandable, but honestly it could be improved. But spending the time and money to do that now before he gets a job we can live on is going to be a stretch.

His dream would probably be to work for a company that publishes a magazine, as that was his speciality, but he would love to do photography and design for any company, or even get into the printing side of things as he has some experience in that as well.

Any tips... ideas... connections... job offers? lol Although seriously, Rami would LOVE to do some free designing for anyone who owns their own business or anything like that, just to be able to put it on his resume and get his name out there to get references.

We're hanging in there and excited to be in America, but hoping that he can find something with a liveable salary and benefits so that we can breathe a little (and start a family!)

[Cheryl-Hossein 25]

Check out that local community colleges in your area. My husband has been going to ESL classes twice a week for 4-5 months now. It really helps -- and, at least in California, they're free. He took an assessment test and they placed him where he needs to be. We also found some free ESL classes through the library system, but the college ended up being much closer to our home.

Edited October 14, 2014 by Cheryl-Hossein

[Soloenta 2,218]

Just posting out of slight desperation, as my husband has been in the US for going on 7 months now and hasn't found anything remotely related to his field yet. He's been working at Walmart for the last 2-3 months, so he has some official US experience, but I'm not sure whether this will help him at all besides just keeping us going in the meantime.

Ramy has a bachelor's degree from Alexandria University in Graphic Design and he had 7 years experience working for 3 different big companies in Egypt in graphic design, as well as TONS of freelance design/marketing work experience for various local restaurants, stores, etc. and photography. His last job was as "Art Director" of a real estate company in a resort town in Egypt and so that meant he was creating a quarterly magazine, printing it, creating the ads, doing the photography, doing all company design including logos, ad campaigns, etc.... He has a TON of experience! His designs are really cool too, if I do say so myself, having an art background as well.

He has a LinkedIn and profiles on Monster, etc... and he has been sending his resume everywhere. He had a few interviews right off the bat, which was encouraging, but in the past 2-3 months he hasnt had any at all!

His English is passable, easily understandable, but honestly it could be improved. But spending the time and money to do that now before he gets a job we can live on is going to be a stretch.

His dream would probably be to work for a company that publishes a magazine, as that was his speciality, but he would love to do photography and design for any company, or even get into the printing side of things as he has some experience in that as well.

Any tips... ideas... connections... job offers? lol Although seriously, Rami would LOVE to do some free designing for anyone who owns their own business or anything like that, just to be able to put it on his resume and get his name out there to get references.

We're hanging in there and excited to be in America, but hoping that he can find something with a liveable salary and benefits so that we can breathe a little (and start a family!)

I heard a lot of good things about this website and a dear friend of mine here on VJ is a professor and engineer he has used in the past and others also this

website which is a reputable American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) http://ies.aacrao.org/

They will evaluate your husbands education, name of University city and country etc this is used for further education and job seeking. This assures prospective companies that your husband didn't just buy a piece of paper thus making a just easier to find. Much luck to both of you. Prices aren't bad either.

[d3adc0d3 186]

For anyone looking for a job I, personally, recommend the following:

1. Go to your local unemployment office and sign up for FREE classes on how to write a resume and interview. It's HUGELY informative for people trying to break into a new field, re-enter a field, or those who are new to the US. There are many cultural expectations you may be unaware of! You do not have to be a citizen, just legally able to work in the US.
2. After you get those classes have your resume reviewed by a resume specialist (also free).
3. After your resume is reviewed submit your resume to 3 or more of the major job search databases: Monster.com, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, GlassDoor, Indeed, etc. There are many to choose from, a simple google search will link you to the major ones.
4. Check out Robert Half Technology. It's a temp agency and the tech department specializes in IT, and Design. They have a base in Pittsburgh and Philly. They typically have work.
5. Pick out your interview outfit and have a friend who's brutally honest interview you. You need honest criticism not someone who'll play nice.
6. When a company or recruiter contacts you, look up the company's website. Inform yourself of who they are, and what they do. Check them out on GlassDoor, find out their employee reviews.
7. Write down a list of questions to ask them at the interview. Intelligent, well thought out, and relevent questions make you stand out. Examples are:
   • What can I expect in my day-to-day tasks in this position?
   • How would someone succeed at <company name> in a <position title> position?
   • What are your favorite things about working here?
   • What kind of hurdles will I need to overcome at this job?
   • What is the long term goal of this new position?

This is the best way to prepare yourself for an interview, and I have always been complimented on my skills on interviewing. Rarely do I interview without the company offering me the position, and have always interviewed well!

Good Luck!

[Heather&Ramy 22]

Thank you all so much for your thoughts! I had no idea that there were FREE ESL classes... that is awesome. And I never thought about free classes on resume building or interviewing. We will definitely check those out. I'm also one of those who have always been really good at interviewing, but it was hard for me to think about how to help my husband when it is just so different culturally. Hopefully these ideas will help. We will also be looking at that temp agency specializing with a tech department, that is perfect!

Thanks so much!