Pursuit

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!

Thanks for your advise and it sounds good. I havent been that aggressiv yet because honestly this is not what I am used to but I need to change it drastically. Gosh, I wish it just would be easier...

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.

Thanks for all of your suggestions - I do use almost of them: Careerbuilder, Monster, Linkedin, Simplyhired, Temp Agencies... You name it. I haven't put any information about my work permission on my resume but I did on some online applications where you are able to put in this kind of information.

I guess, I just have to keep trying and start networking more...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 guys,

we just got a notice that our case has been approved and our NOA2 will be sent in the next days via mail!!

Now I want to get my paperwork ready and I am wondering how the translation of my birth certificate has to be made. This is my situation:

I was born in South-Korea but my family moved to Germany a long time ago and I am holding the German citizenship. Since my birth certificate was translated in German by the Korean embassy I am not sure if I have to get it translated again by them in English. Or could I also go to a translation agency and get the German document translated in English.

On the checklist which you have to send once you have everything ready for the interview it is instructed the following: "A certified copy is a photocopy of a filed document, legal or other, in its entirety (everything within a staple) that is sworn to be a true copy by a court clerk or solicitor."

--> Does this mean I have to get my translations notarized?

If anyone was in the same situation, I would be very grateful if you could share your experience.

Many thanks.

No need to translate BC again into German. Make sure there are stamps or seals on it that say it's for official use or made by an official. Yours should have it since you got it from the Korean Embassy.

As for the original BC in Korean language: Make sure you get a second copy or go to the next "Notar", let him/her copy it. They usually sign the copy and state that this is a true copy and hasn't been tampered with. It's quite expensive, sometimes the "Rathaus" does it too. Ask for a "beglaubigte Kopie". This is just for safety reason, it's always good to have a certified copy of something handy, in that case you can do everything with the copy and the original is safe at home. I have done that with my only copy of my degree, it feels so much better. (Maybe do that with the German translation as well)

Here in the States you'll need a translation into English unless the Korean Embassy is able to issue you an international one or can cough up an English translation in no time. Ask the Amtsgericht in your district about a list of translators or go to a translation agency, if they find a translator doing it from Korean into English, perfect, otherwise you'll have it done from the German one. In Germany every translator translating official documents is able to do "Beglaubigungen" on his work. Look for "staatl. gepruefte und beeidigte Uebersetzer". Those translate you documents, put their stamp and signature on the translation and a remark saying that they are translators with the necessary certification and are sworn in by the court and swear with their signature that the translation is true and accurate. This is called a "beglaubigte Uebersetzung" and the only one you could use for official purposes in Germany. No need for getting those translations certified, they already are.

Little note about translators: Ask for a price quote and ask if they do it from the German translation. Since the translation is not the original some might act up a little, but since it's just a birth certificate it shouldn't be a problem. It would be more difficult to get translated court documents (for example divorce decrees or other court papers with lots of text) translated again since they are required to do it with the original in front of them.

Also ask for the price for additional copies of the translation, they might be cheaper than the first one since the translator just has to print them out and sign them. Translators in Germany are also required to store a copy of every translations they did for a couple of years. So keep a business card of the translator somewhere, when you need a copy they can find it in no time and send you an additional copy.

For your Interview and everything official: Take your original BC and the translations, certified copies of you original BC and the translations

Hope I was able to shed some light, otherwise just ask again

good luck for the rest of the journey!

Wow! Thanks for taking time to explain everything. It sounds like a lot of paperwork...

I am going to consider your advises.

Thanks so much.

moved from K-1 case filing reports to Consulate forum as more likely to get responses here

Thanks

Hi guys,

we just got a notice that our case has been approved and our NOA2 will be sent in the next days via mail!!

Now I want to get my paperwork ready and I am wondering how the translation of my birth certificate has to be made. This is my situation:

I was born in South-Korea but my family moved to Germany a long time ago and I am holding the German citizenship. Since my birth certificate was translated in German by the Korean embassy I am not sure if I have to get it translated again by them in English. Or could I also go to a translation agency and get the German document translated in English.

On the checklist which you have to send once you have everything ready for the interview it is instructed the following: "A certified copy is a photocopy of a filed document, legal or other, in its entirety (everything within a staple) that is sworn to be a true copy by a court clerk or solicitor."

--> Does this mean I have to get my translations notarized?

If anyone was in the same situation, I would be very grateful if you could share your experience.

Many thanks.

When do I expect my NOA2?

2-3 months ago

Wow, this must be really hard for you. I already feel like it is taking forever. But for you it must be even longer...

Hopefully we will get your NOA2 soon...

Hi guys,

I am a new member here and I really like this site. It helped me a lot to prepare our I-129F.

I am dying to receive our NOA2... Did anybody already receive it from this group? I do believe that is's coming soon but my fiance thinks it will take longer according to the timetable on this site.

What do you think?