flying_postman

Update: I arrived in the US (Austin, TX) on the 1st April and received a job offer on the 2nd May and started on the 15th after the background check by the staffing agency. It's a contract to hire position as a level 2 data center tech and there's room to move within the organization but I'm not complaining (any port will do when you're in a storm) since this takes some pressure off my savings and can commit to getting a car etc. So hopefully I'm brought on board permanently after my 3 month contract.

Good thread. I'll answer on behalf of my husband. 
 
1. How long did it take you? It took 13 long months. Yes, thirteen. He had a TON of interviews during this time, phone and in person. He had an interview scheduled before we even landed! He'd get to the very end of the process because people were generally very impressed, but they just wouldn't bite. We think part of this was because he'd never worked in the country, but a bigger factor was because his only IT experience was during his first job, more than a decade ago. Everyone really liked him, but larger companies especially have certain boxes they need to tick and so they just couldn't take the chance on him. Finally, a recruiter got him a temporary contract position with the potential for a full time job. He did so well that the agency nominated him for an award, and the company bought out his contract before it was up and brought him on full time. 
 
2. What's your profession? He was a telecommunications engineer back in Latin America and hated it. He decided to move over to doing IT in the states. During his unemployment, he studied his ### off and got the CCNP, CCNA and Juniper certifications. He also took English classes at Rice University to improve his accent, something we thought was maybe a factor affecting his job search. (Funnily enough, a lot of his job is answering client phone calls!) 
 
3. Where are you from? He is from Barranquilla, Colombia but had lived in Medellín and Buenos Aires, Argentina. He also traveled to other parts of Latin America sometimes because of his job.
 
4. Where do you live? We live in Houston, TX, my hometown. 
 
The first year back in the U.S. was extremely difficult for us, individually and as a couple. The most difficult year of both of our lives, actually. We both had a tough time adjusting to life in the U.S. (I'd been abroad for five years) and we both had scary health problems on top of that. Money was extremely tight.  I worked myself to the bone trying to get overtime, and I didn't have any paid vacation time or sick days that year. But we got through it. You know what they say-- if you're going through hell, keep going. I'm so glad we kept going. 
 
We are house hunting now. 

And once you're hired... welcome to the world of trying to understand all the documents they need you to sign!!!! 
What they here call the "privilege to choose" when it comes to health care provider - I call "death by documents" it's just really hard to even know if when push comes to shove, whatever you did choose and payed for, will even cover you.
That's sort of the thing about getting sick. No one knows when and what... so how on earth can you choose an "appropriate" insurance!!!???
Lol oh woooopppsss that's an entirely different topic!!!

So true, I'm currently in Austin and talked with a recruiter on Monday and went into the office for a "face to face". It's a tier 2  data center tech (night shift) role that she wants to place me in but it's $17 an hour during the 6 month contract period but I'll get my teeth and do it if offered. In addition she wants to set me up with a tier 1 role in Cisco that looks interesting but it's $17 an hour on a year to year contract. So the moral is you may be offered a lower salary initially but the important thing is you are getting that "US experience" they ask for, although to be honest IT is transferable to anywhere; a router in the Caribbean is the same as a router in Texas. 

So true, I'm currently in Austin and talked with a recruiter on Monday and went into the office for a "face to face". It's a tier 2  data center tech (night shift) role that she wants to place me in but it's $17 an hour during the 6 month contract period but I'll get my teeth and do it if offered. In addition she wants to set me up with a tier 1 role in Cisco that looks interesting but it's $17 an hour on a year to year contract. So the moral is you may be offered a lower salary initially but the important thing is you are getting that "US experience" they ask for, although to be honest IT is transferable to anywhere; a router in the Caribbean is the same as a router in Texas. 

Right now hiring in oil & gas would be slow based on the low prices. Not sure if you are totally committed to Louisiana but have you tried widening your search to include Texas; I believe your chances would be better there. Also is your resume in the "US" format? apparently HR in the US prefer 1 page (2 pages max) resumes.

The resume/CV length is experience and job specific. The "It has to be one page" mantra maybe true when applying for an entry level job, but certainly not universal.
 
If you are an academic and applying to research type positions in either academia or industry and this is not your first job 2 pages are very common, and so are three. My resume has three pages (I am biomedical pharmaceutical research scientist) and I have had no issues with it in the US. I deal with lots of applications in my job as well and have never seen a resume with less than two pages.
 
So don't bang yourself up too much concerning the length.

Definitely go for levels lower. I went for positions two levels lower than my role in Australia and got a job within five weeks. Yes, it was two levels lower and a lot less salary, but it got me in the door. Within six months I was promoted and up just below the level I was in Australia and earning the same money. My is, by end of next year, to be at the same level as I was when I left Australia and earning more.
As others have said, network. Get onto LinkedIn. Find people in your area. Reach out to them. Ask them to have a coffee with you. You can not only establish a contact, but you will find out about the local market, what they are looking for, and how you can position your resume.
Make sure your resume is in the US format and have someone proof read it for you.
Don't get disheartened! You'll get there!

My husband (USC, also PhD in ChemEng, used to live/work in Texas) says that 99 % of jobs are filled through networks. His advices are to attend career fairs, reach out to companies and ask for "informational interviews", reach out to professors in the area and ask for insights (since they usually have knowledge of who is hiring). One way or another you need to get past HR, since they will rate your all-foreign education and experience low. Good luck, Texas should be an eldorado for someone in your profession!

Steve Jobless. I feel you...Moving here is really tough at the start. I am too experiencing some Adjustment period issues and homesickness. I am very happy being with my husband and I love him so much but since I am not allowed yet to apply jobs I feel so worthless not being able to help him in the finances which I love doing and been doing that (helping bills in my family when I was still single). I enjoy doing house chores but since I'm used to working my body is looking for that "busy life" I used to have.
The funny thing is before I came here, I had been reading a lot of article on how to cope with this adjustment period and I thought I am fully equipped but I was wrong. It is truly different once you are in the situation. So many things to adjust...from being single to being married and living with someone whom both of you were raised differently and had different life experiences from the past, adjusting to new life style,new environment, trying to make new friends. Regaining the "Established you" is such a process.. I am going through that process and I am thankful my husband is very supportive but it really needs TIME AND PATIENCE.
Extend your patience, hopefully you will be able to find job soon and regain your confidence and self-esteem. Always remember IF THERE IS LIFE, THERE IS HOPE. Look for your happiness, YES! but DON'T GIVE UP TOO EASILY. A new year might bring new opportunities for you and for the job you have been looking for.
Be happy and STAY HAPPY!

They said they would call back people get, busy they didn't forget you. Other important things are cropping up right now too with the holidays and year end deadlines. They'll call you don't give up so quickly. I dealt with lots of recruiters just when I thought I had the job locked up I blew it with a question that caught me off guard so. Be prepared never know. Good luck though I moved from Ohio to AZ took a job here after 30 years in Ohio up and moved the family. Anything is possible.

Get out of Los Angeles. Everyone thinks its still the Hollywood it once was but that time has passed. There are amazing places in the US and in California. It's not easy but things will get better.

Not to have you worry about your daughter but that daycare needs to be reported. You noticed she was acting weird when you picked her up, they should have noticed also. Even if they didn't realize she broke her arm they failed to tell you she fell, heck they didn't even say a thing to you until you told them she broke her arm. The daycare should have contacted you or your emergency contact person after a fall.

It really depends on the field and how well the qualifications transfer, and the area the person moves to. My husband got a job in his field straight away. Had we lived in my home state, he would probably not find work (hardly anyone can find work there). So don't decide that your life will change so much before you are sure.
People have different opinions on this and different experiences. Some people say you need a low level job in the US to get experience, but I think most often it's best to try to find a similar job and use your foreign experience. But with some fields, admittedly, it can't work. I saw someone who was a research librarian in Germany or something and they moved to a small town in Iowa. They were not going to find a job as a librarian in their town no matter how hard they tried. They didn't want to move either. They were sort of indignant, like "why can't I work in this very special field in every town in the USA?!?"

Honestly, in my experience, you need to be here to get a bite. I tried applying before I got here and was rewarded with a wall of silence. Once I was here and had a US address, cell phone and could turn up to interviews with a day's notice, I started getting traction.
One thing you can do before you get here though is work your networks. I trawled LinkedIn and found fellow professionals in the same geographic area we were moving to. I introduced myself, sent my resume and asked to connect on LinkedIn. I got a great response and, once I arrived, I followed up that contact with a coffee or lunch. This definitely helped in increasing my credibility and in opening doors. It also meant that, in interviews, I could speak confidently about the local industry, key players and the work being done in the area: it showed I had hustle and that I had worked to become part of the local industry.

Girl you will adjust....relax you been working hard alone supporting your family be proud of who you are....and you are now in America wait till you go to Walmart and see someone in slippers and rollers and pajamas....
AMÉRICA WHERE WE CAN SHOP IN OUR UNDIES LOL

Never just go by "what you hear". Do your own research, seriously. A lot of these doom and gloom stories you see about student debt are from people who made very bad life decisions and are only just now realizing exactly what the consequences are (this, by the way, is the same as a lot of the immigration doom and gloom stories from people here, by the way). This is not to say that the system (or lack thereof) that we have is good, and I'm not defending the cost of higher education in this country, but I *am* saying that there are options available, many of which have been spelled out to you here, and often you find that the people with $100K in student debt failed to use the options available, for whatever reason.

Hie, I am in the same boat as you.I am leaving for the States in January and I have a wonderful boyfriend who is staying behind.We are hoping to eventually make a plan for him to follow.My decision although hard was based on this ~ My country is facing a major economic downturn I am employed as an attorney and make a reasonable salary but it is not enough to plan for the future or obtain any assets my boyfriend is a computer programmer and he also makes a reasonable outcome.If i stay and we get married and pool together our incomes it will just be enough to get by , throw in kids into the mix and we will most likely begin to struggle and wont be able to even dream of saving to buy a house or a car.
Staying will only make me happy for a few months but the reality of what i gave up will perpetually haunt me everytime Im short of money or when the economy in my country keeps sliding backwards and i will begin to resent my boyfriend for what I gave up which will be unfair.I decided to take a chance becz i know by staying the chances of making it are slim because of the economy and these are powers beyond my control i want a chance to make it using powers within my control and i believe the u.s can give me that and IF it does not work out i could always come back home its not like once you go to the States you are barred from returning to your home.
You know your situation better for me my country is too bleak to think about staying.And if what you have with this girl is real love like what i have then you will conquer the distance and find a way to be together.

That's okay. I mentioned a real fact. In America you have more respect and dignity as a cashier in a grocery store than the treatment you get and discrimination you face at Engineering workplace in India or Pakistan !

Have you considered moving to another state or do you have roots in Michigan and are committed to staying (Spouse/kids etc)?
Depending on your specialty (software development,networking etc) you might have more options in NYC, SF/Bay area ,RTP or Charlotte in North Carolina, Austin, Dallas or Houston.
If you are having difficulty in Michigan you may have to cast a wider net nationwide..

DC can be a bit tricky, since the majority of their tech jobs/ IT contractors work with the US government and require a high level security clearance which is not available to green card holders but only to US citizens. If you don't have responsibilities in DC I suggest you try other cities/states.

Looking for a job is hard, they always say, it's easier to find work when you have a job then when you don't! If you can find some part time work doing anything that looks better to any employer than having nothing. There are several volunteer opportunities that while it isn't a job it would look really good to an interviewer, and later on can lead to a career opportunity! Some of those are:
Volunteer firefighter Neighborhood watch Animal Rescue Shelters National Parks Food Pantries Habitat for Humanity Local Libraries Political Campaigns Art Museums YMCA Retirement Homes Red Cross Some of these volunteer opportunities have perks, contact the local office that handles the chosen volunteer work, and ask if they require a citizenship, and how start! Some (such as a volunteer firefighter) require a citizenship, depending on the town/city. Others do not! My state and city do not require a citizenship to be a volunteer firefighter, but I know New York City does!

When you're looking for work, it can be hard, jobs are more competitive, and things can get very "cut-throat". If your English could use work, I'd recommend looking into lessons. How you present yourself will either land your application/resume in the reject list, or the accept list. You can get called back for 2nd, 3rd, even a 4th interview! Don't put all your eggs in one basket (that means don't count on one thing), keep your options open. Isolating yourself to a specific field, or salary requirement may end up working against you. You can always get a job outside your field, a part-time position, or below your salary requirement, and still look for a better opportunity. Remember above? It's always easier to find a job when you have one! Also if you're breaking into the US job market, or a new field don't dismiss an internship!

For anyone looking for a job I, personally, recommend the following:
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, breaking back into the job market after a long break (or newly unemployed after being with the same company for a long time) and those who are new to the US. There are many cultural expectations you may be unaware of, and times change! You do not have to be a citizen, just legally able to work in the US. After you get those classes have your resume reviewed by a resume specialist (also FREE). 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. Check out Robert Half International. It's a temp agency and they have offices all over the country, typically have work in many different office fields. If you're more of a blue collar worker, you can visit http://www.tradesmeninternational.com/ Pick out your interview outfit, you want to go in dressed appropriately for both the dress code of the company, but also for interviewing. Below I have dress code tips, if you need help! Have a friend who's brutally honest interview you. You need honest criticism not someone who'll play nice. 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, it's always impressive when you've done your research on a company and makes you stand out from the hundreds of other applicants. Write down a list of questions to ask them at the interview. Intelligent, well thought out, and relevant 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!

Dress code DO'S:
If they are business formal: LADIES: suit pants or skirt, a nice blouse or button down shirt, pumps or dressy flats. MEN: a well fitting suit, button down shirt, a nice tie, and dress shoes. If they are business casual: LADIES: suit slacks/skirt, a nice shirt, a blazer, and pumps with a low heel. MEN: slacks/dress khakis (NO CARGO PANTS), button down shirt, dress shoes that are comfortable. Tie is optional. If the company is casual (jeans allowed): LADIES: clean dark jeans (no holes, no stains, no faded spots), a blouse, plain t-shirt, or button down shirt, a blazer, and pumps or dressy flats. MEN: clean dark jeans (no holes, no stains, no faded spots), a plain t-shirt, or button down shirt, a blazer, and dress shoes. Always be well groomed: freshly shaven/trimmed facial hair (men); clean, freshly trimmed hair; natural hair colors, light & natural looking makeup (women), minimum jewelry. Always make sure your clothes and shoes are clean, ironed/wrinkle free, free of holes, stains, tears, and in good condition (no scuffs, fading, etc). Keep in mind knowing what the dress code at the company is, is hugely important. Call HR, and if in doubt, go business formal! Wear clothes as if you're going to be judged on your appearance! Keep is dress code appropriate, wholesome, and tidy! Dress code DON'TS: LADIES: Do not wear short skirts! You should always wear a skirt that is at least at the knee. Not above... at. That is for a club night, not an interview! MEN: Do not wear sneakers! That is for the gym, not for an interview. LADIES: Do not wear low cut blouses and shirts, you should never show more than 1" of cleavage! That is for a date, not an interview! MEN: Do not wear graphical t-shirts. No sports jerseys, no printed shirts. That is for at home, not an interview! LADIES: Do not wear sneakers, clogs, sandals, open toed shoes, or very high heels... keep the pumps to 3" heels, and make sure they look professional, clean, and not too beat up, ballet flats and Maryjanes are okay! MEN: Do not wear work/bike/cowboy boots! Those are far too casual for an interview! LADIES: Do not wear heavy makeup! Keep it natural! Foundation, blush, mascara, lip gloss and a little naturally colored eye shadow. You want to look like you woke up fresh and dewy, not as if you're going out on a date! BOTH: Do not wear heavy cologne, or perfume. Some people have allergies and this can leave a bad impression. Clean skin is all you need! BOTH: Do not wear heavy jewelry! Keep it simple, excluding your wedding rings, keep it to 1-2 necklaces, a nice watch/bracelet, and one additional ring on your right hand. Men: no earrings. Women: Nice diamond/CZ studs. BOTH: Do not wear facial piercings! Remove them all, for the interview, you don't know how the interview will respond to them, and better to leave a good impression than a bad over something as small as a piercing! Job to AVOID:
Door-to-door salesmen jobs. They usually offer "a guaranteed amount" but this is only if you do "x" amount of shows per week, and they'll avoid scheduling you with that many shows if they can! Any job that requires you to purchase a kit, pay a fee, or otherwise invest money into it. This does not count for jobs which require a license, permit, or formal education. Any job that says "Earn $xxx a day/week/month" That is typically a "pyramid scheme" type job. Not many people succeed at those, and it would be a waste of your time and effort. Unsolicited email jobs: Especially one that requires you to process payments. Chances are it's some shady person hoping you'll process unauthorized payments so they don't get caught and you take the fall! "We made a mistake". Example: You're told you have been hired and will be paid a weekly salary for an online marketing job. Then, the company sends another email saying that there was a mistake and they had accidentally sent four times the amount of your paycheck. You're told to wire the rest of the money to someone else when you receive the check. If anyone asks you to send money back to a 3rd party, it's a money laundering scam. RUN!!! Work from home jobs: Unless you're in IT and working as a freelancer, these are typically scams or very hard to make a decent living. Don't even bother. Under the table: This is illegal, and can mess with your immigration if you get caught! Not to mention you often get paid much less, and are expected to work harder. You can't use them as an employment reference, and if they violate your rights, you can't really file a complaint! Best to avoid these jobs. Options to CONSIDER:
elance.com : This is a website which allows people to post short term "contracts" up an for potential contractors to bid on the contracts. Being in the US typically gives you an edge on these postings! there are jobs from data entry, to programming, to graphic art, to marketing, to translation services or even writing! Elance works as the middleman to ensure everyone gets paid for the work they do! freelancer.com : much like the above. Temp Agencies: Great way to get your foot in the door at a job, many will hire a contractor and if they like them, they'll hire them full time when their contract runs out! Recruiters: They have access to jobs which are not posted! Try contacting several recruiters and send your resume to them! Ask your friends and family if they know any and can refer you! Many times recruiters offer bonuses to those who refer someone who is hired! Online search engines: These are a huge database of job postings, it can be confusing at first, but if you use the "advanced search" you can really narrow down a job. Search for job titles, or skills, and narrow it down to your local area. Expand the area if you find nothing. Craigslist: Keep in mind the jobs to avoid, but there are some legitimate job postings on craigslist. Most search engines charge companies to post their jobs there... craigslist doesn't.

Darn thing won't let me fix the Dress Code Don't's which should not be on the Dress Code Do's list.

LADIES:
BUSINESS FORMAL WORK ATTIRE EXAMPLES:


BUSINESS CASUAL WORK ATTIRE EXAMPLES:


CASUAL WORK ATTIRE EXAMPLES:

GENTLEMEN:
BUSINESS FORMAL ATTIRE EXAMPLES:


BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE EXAMPLES:


CASUAL WORK ATTIRE EXAMPLES:
\