Just got EAD notice! - Tips for getting hired?

[ChibiBeckyG 21]

Hi all. 

Just got EAD notice today and just working out best foot forward at this point. I know I need to wait for card, just working out next steps. 

I'm accepting for now that I will be starting from scratch to a degree. I have 2 degrees but affording credential evaluation might have to wait till husband gets his tax return. Can I apply for entry level work without having that eval done? Or will it really be pointless till the time I can get my credentials translated into US terms? 

[TBoneTX 43,433]

2 hours ago, ChibiBeckyG said:

Can I apply for entry level work without having that eval done?

No harm in trying.  You can explain the situation to prospective employers.

 

Have you seen this idea, previously posted by the member Darnell?
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Each city has a chamber of commerce. Find it.

Once you find it - talk with the secretary - tell her you want a schedule of events and let her know you'd like to attend.

Then - go in person to the Chamber of Commerce Office - talk with the President of the Chamber, tell him/her you want to volunteer at several of their events.

Attendees at chamber events are business owners and sales geeks, all looking for new business.  It usually is an informal-enough gathering where you can approach people and talk with them.

Now, the cool thing about being a volunteer there - is that you will be talking to everyone at least once - you might be at the reception table, you might be at the greeters table, you might help to run the audio/video system - whatever - but - the point is that you can meet everyone there, face to face.

Attend 2 or 3 of these, and folk remember you. When folk remember you, they will remember you are seeking employment and will consider you, because you're just not some name on a piece of paper - they met you at a chamber event and know that you were volunteering, helping out the chamber.

Go Get Em, and Good Luck!

PS - live in a really small town? go to the biggest town that's within 15 miles of your house.

[yuna628 9,547]

Depeneds on the degree, but my husband certainly got his job without the need of an evaluation. They liked that he had a degree, and had prior working experience for an American company - but honestly I think the accent sealed the deal. 😉

 

Any of the other entry level jobs that did eventually provide interest never asked to see his qualifications. They took his word. Most places aren't going to ask for that unless it's something very high level and specific.

[ChibiBeckyG 21]

I do volunteer for the local city Botanical Gardens which does give me access to the local county stuff a bit tho isn't as close to the city civic stuff. I figured at least that showed I had done something while I've been here + got me a little more into the social network around here.

I do have qualifications in teaching but I know Florida wants proper credentials for that before I can really apply as I only have 2 years volunteer teaching and substitute teaching under my belt. 

[QueenOfBlades 224]

Kind of a bit late chiming in here. I’m a UK expat with 8 GCSEs. No bachelors degree. Never got the eval done. Got a job coordinating international legal publications, then moved on to a Fortune 500 corporation in Seattle. I’m not saying it may not help with getting a job initially, it could well help for US employers to see terms they’re familiar with. Not *absolutely necessary* though. Once I had one good bout of work experience here, beyond having an idea that it’s about high school level, they saw the work experience as much more indicative of my skills and relevant to my application. Never been asked to prove my education or show that translation. Not once.

 

Saying that, I was in a pretty bad financial spot when I moved to Seattle due to my USC spouse suddenly becoming disabled and losing her income, and it was up to me to find a way to compensate for her lost annual income of around $30,000 as best I could so we could afford to even pay rent.

 

I did *a lot* of interviews. With recruiters, employers. At one point it felt like I was going to several a week. Never once was asked for the credential translation.

 

It would only really be relevant imo for your first job or something specialized like engineering. If you put together a really polished, solid resume and sell yourself, an employer is unlikely to get hung up on credential translations if they like the look of you.