Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

Hi all,

I need to start applying for jobs in the US while in the UK, mostly because of the domicile issue and of course the need to have health insurance, but I'm wondering how to approach this with prospective employers.

My husband's interview is in January and we hope to move over in March but how do I put this to prospective employers in order to get a response. Unfortunately, my skill set is not one that I would be head hunted for and mainly I'll be looking for work in Social Services, non-profits, or admin type roles so not really jobs that I think they would want to keep open for an indefinite period. I did apply to a job that I was extremely qualified for but I don't think I got a look in because I'm not even in the country. I offered to ring them from England if they wanted to arrange an interview but nothing. Realistically there could be other factors as to why I didn't get an interview but I think being out of the country is really a big deterent.

How do othe people tackle this issue? Do you sign up with Monster.com and temp agencies using your US address (i.e. in this a family member's address) and do you explain that you're not in the US but hope to be there soon or do you just use the US address and apply as if you were living there?

Any suggestions, advice, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Kat

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

First, don't mention that you're in the UK... not even a hint. Give an address and phone number in the US. Find out the name of the person who has the authority to hire you (not the person in HR who screens the resumés in advance) and follow up with a phone call to them a week or so later.

Second, if they want to see you or contact you for an interview, you make yourself available to them... and if that means a trip to the US on short notice, that's what you do.

Ian

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

k-nap, I've moved your post to the USA forum to be in the right place.
Since you are a US citizen, everyone won't need to ask you 'what visa are you on?' :D
There are a couple of good threads running right now regarding your questions.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

So uh what visa are you on?

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

I contacted the owner of a franchise that I would like to work for back in July, explaining that I was expecting to relocate back to the US sometime between Dec-Feb and wondered if they might be hiring. She wrote back and said she was happy to receive a resume. I sent a resume, a cover letter and a letter of reference via email. She wrote back a few weeks later (I had to do a followup message, as I hadn't heard anything) and invited me to contact her for an interview when I arrived. My interview will be this Friday.

I was able to use the email correspondance, particularly the bit about coming for an interview, in my domicile package.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

+1
Applying for jobs from a different state can turn off employers, let alone a different country.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

Get down to different city even (depending on the job). I've got a woman who's been in touch with me for two years now about a job; she wants us to hire her before she lives in town, so she has the security of a job to go to, but we need her to be established in town before we can hire her (housing being an issue for us there locally).

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

Im doing the very same thing as we speak.

I've been looking for just over a week, and had some very positive feedback even already.

I had a chat with a company who are quite keen. Second company have told me to come back when I have a firm relocate date.

No point in mistruths and of course, unless you can drop everything and start, so IMHO I don't think there is much point in skirting around the issue. Plus, for some industries and training, you have to be there already anyhow....

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

I understand what people are saying about not mentioning that I'm still in the UK, especially with the current economic climate but how will I explain that on my resume I've listed my current employment with date started to present with a UK address but listing a US address for the resume.

Should I email the HR department and find out if they would consider my resume or should I just explain what is happening on the cover letter?

Thanks in advance.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

Just remove UK references, you don't need addresses for the companies, just company name and dates of employment.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

I don't even put the company name, just

Employer: Available on request

and the dates, or date to present on the last one.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

I have two jobs, one fulltime admin role for a private company that does work for the local council and the other as a casual support worker for the local council, unfortunately the name of the council will be a give away that it is not in the area.

I really want to stress my local authority employment as that is the type of work I will be looking for when I move back to the US. I guess I could not list the employer as BritishGuy said, but I've never not listed an employer's name on a resume and to me it appears strange.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

In my neck of the woods, UK stands for University of Kentucky and not United Kingdom. If you were to use initials for some parts of the company name, most folks in the US wouldn't even bat an eye let alone put 2+2 together.

Ian

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

In fact I'm wearing a 'UK' t-shirt as I type this. :thumbsup:

They make very comfortable shirts.

Re: Applying for jobs in the US while still in the UK
 

I have a rather natty UK hoodie. I'll be wearing it back in Ky tomo as I'm back over there for the hols. :D