How soon did you find your first job?

[waiting561 5]

Along with finance this is one of topics that gets full on convos.

 

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

2 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

I suggest slowing down.  Take about 6 months or a year to adjust.  Learn the way of the USA, our culture, our tax system, the people to avoid.

 

When I brought my fiancé to the USA I had no desire for her to go work,  You have you entire life to work,  enjoy the ride and experience life.  Life is not about working, it's about living.

 

I feel sorry for the people who I see come to the USA and go directly to work, what kind of life is that?  I also see people posting stuff like when can my fiancé or husband work?  I think to myself did you marry for love or marry for an extra income, jeez.

 

 

 

This might have not occurred to you, but some people want to work right away because they enjoy the socialization or contributing financially.  

 

I think it is also a reflection of the sad state of America's finances that often times a household really needs two working members to function well.  You and I might be blessed that we live in a family that can subsist with one income, but others aren't so lucky.  

 

 

[POA 175]

3 hours ago, Chris Duffy said:

I suggest slowing down.  Take about 6 months or a year to adjust.  Learn the way of the USA, our culture, our tax system, the people to avoid.

 

When I brought my fiancé to the USA I had no desire for her to go work,  You have you entire life to work,  enjoy the ride and experience life.  Life is not about working, it's about living.

 

I feel sorry for the people who I see come to the USA and go directly to work, what kind of life is that?  I also see people posting stuff like when can my fiancé or husband work?  I think to myself did you marry for love or marry for an extra income, jeez.

 

 

1

I hear you but some people like myself can't imagine life without working. I need a job to stay sane and cannot just let my husband work alone. My other reason is, I didn't get married just to be taken cared of. I want to be able to take care of my husband too if a time comes that he is not able to. We are back up to each other.  For people like us, working is self-fulfilling.  For some, being a full-time housewife is fulfilling. Not to mention for us Filipinos, most of us usually have the "responsibility" to our families. 

[Springrain22 427]

It took me two weeks with very weak English level. My salary was around $2,000/month.

 

Now, 10 years later, I have good English and about $300,000/year salary. USA made me do it!

 

Edited April 17, 2018 by Springrain22

[doggieandsam 765]

6 minutes ago, Springrain22 said:

It took me two weeks with very weak English level. My salary was around $2,000/month.

 

Now, 10 years later, I have good English and about $300,000/year salary. USA made me do it!

 

what field are you in?

[Springrain22 427]

1 minute ago, doggieandsam said:

what field are you in?

IT (web dev)

[POA 175]

9 minutes ago, Springrain22 said:

It took me two weeks with very weak English level. My salary was around $2,000/month.

 

Now, 10 years later, I have good English and about $300,000/year salary. USA made me do it!

 

Wow!!!! Hopefully, I can make as much as that too.  Good job!

[Springrain22 427]

3 minutes ago, POA said:

Wow!!!! Hopefully, I can make as much as that too.  Good job!

Thanks Yes, just work on yourself every day. Before you go to sleep, ask yourself: "what did I do today to make my tomorrow better? what can I do tomorrow to make the next day even better?"

 

In a few years, you will see a significant difference (of course, if you know what you're doing).

[doggieandsam 765]

9 minutes ago, Springrain22 said:

IT (web dev)

do you have a masters or mba too?

[POA 175]

2 minutes ago, Springrain22 said:

Thanks Yes, just work on yourself every day. Before you go to sleep, ask yourself: "what did I do today to make my tomorrow better? what can I do tomorrow to make the next day even better?"

 

In a few years, you will see a significant difference (of course, if you know what you're doing).

That is a very good advice!! I will keep that in mind. I am also in the process of getting to the development career.  

[Springrain22 427]

2 hours ago, doggieandsam said:

do you have a masters or mba too?

No, I have not even finished my university  It's not really needed in IT, to be honest. I am a completely self-taught guy.

2 hours ago, POA said:

That is a very good advice!! I will keep that in mind. I am also in the process of getting to the development career.  

Good luck! You will get there!

Edited April 17, 2018 by TBoneTX
circumventing language filter

[POA 175]

2 hours ago, Springrain22 said:

No, I have not even finished my university  It's not really needed in IT, to be honest. I am a completely self-taught guy.

 

Good luck! You will get there!

Thank you! Crossed fingers and hard work!  You must be very good! 

Edited April 17, 2018 by TBoneTX
language in quote

[doggieandsam 765]

2 hours ago, Springrain22 said:

No, I have not even finished my university  It's not really needed in IT, to be honest. I am a completely self-taught guy.

oh wow. my husband has a masters of computer science from an ivy league university and doesn't make 300k. his classmates from the same ivy league are VPs at fortune 500 companies and the highest paid is not yet at 300k. you must be really lucky or nyc pays web devs so much more.

Edited April 17, 2018 by TBoneTX
language in quote

[Springrain22 427]

3 minutes ago, POA said:

Thank you! Crossed fingers and hard work!  You must be very good! 

Trying to be better every day!

[moosy 139]

Been looking for 4 months in my field now (social research). Been very close a few times to the point where they decided between two people but the others person got it (so far, actually based on our research, they said). 

 

I tried looking for a job before I got a work authorization, but one of the first questions I kept getting online is "are you legally allowed to work at this moment", and then I had to answer "no", because I do not want to be dishonest. That obviously disqualifies you. For a domain that is very slow-moving like academia, this basically means I am adding months to my job search. Luckily I have savings.

 

I have to note that I have been looking for jobs suited to my field and only to jobs that got me excited to apply, so I think in total, I applied less than 30 times over the past 4 months.

If I hit the 6 month mark without getting close again, I might change tactics, but for now, I have time to look for a job I actually want to do.

 

I have been writing some more articles on data I still had, and learning a few new skills and programs that are sometimes asked.

 

For higher education jobs, the competition is quite tough. You're looking at thousands of competitors in larger cities, if not more.

 

So far, I do not get picked out by the recruiters, but by the company people themselves because "my resume is interesting" and "caught their eye" (I used illustrator to make it stand out a bit, but not too much).

I do wonder what recruiters look for instead (I looked online a lot, and do not see any discrepancies with what I am offering).

It makes me wonder if they assume it is just easier to pick a native speaker. So far, I've always been the only non-native speaker. But it is anyone's guess.

 

In addition, some told me they had never heard of my university, despite it being ranked very high in all the global university lists; so if you have a great degree from a great university, do think about this and perhaps add ranking numbers from a few good ranking lists.

 

One more comment if you are in a similar situation as I am, wherein you want a job that fits your degree and abilities:

if you are running into fellow expats who are not supportive, just cut them off.

Unfortunately, I learnt by experience that some expats are frustrated and angry that they were not able to do the same (taking the time to get a job like that), and had to start from scratch. 

I have been TOLD (almost demandingly) by some other expats that I "should just get a job" and that I need to "get off my high horse if I think I deserve a job that actually fits my degrees". "You must feel so much better than us".

I have even been mocked by an expat peer for having a certain degree, and was told I must think I am sooo much smarter than anyone else (despite not naming the degree in the expat group nor implying I am in any way smarter; I am not; I married someone without a degree, so I know how many faces intelligence has other than just academic skills haha).

If you are unsure if it is you, or them, go through the forum or website you are on, and look at how they react to others in a similar job search. That will tell you all you need to know.

If you are in a similar position, consider moving away from your expat community and only retain the expats that are supportive or have gone through a similar search path. The negative ones can really drag you down and make you wonder.

This is VERY common, by the way.

 

Good luck!