General hello and question on qualifications
Jun 27th 2006, 10:58 pm
#1
Twice half his height
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Central Mississississippippi
Posts: 443
General hello and question on qualifications
Hello there,
I've posted a little in the marriage based immigration forums to get answers to specific queries on the clerical side of things, and thought I would now take a moment to introduce myself and ask some culture related questions (it's not much use to know how to get there, but not have a clue once I am there!).
I'm Adam, I'm 23 and from the Northeast of England. The other person in my life, Robin, is is Mississippi (a little west of Jackson), and this is where I hope to end up. For the past 5 years I have worked in software engineering doing work for the British Government, working for a big US outsourcing company. it's my hope that my experience and my employment in both government work and with a US company will help me get a job over there.
My main question is to do with qualifications. My employer currently is paying for me to do a bachelors degree, which will be finished a year from now. This will give me a BSc (Hons) Information Systems. I have read on this forum that when making a resume that it is adviseable to put down US equivalents of qualifications to help employers understand what you have to offer. Is there a guide, or can someone help me understand how UK academic qualifications (I also have some NVQs I gained while working here) map onto US qualifications?
Things like GED, high school diploma, the difference between college and university and the rest of the school structure confuses me.
I appreciate any advice I get, and I look forward to talking to some of you a little more.
Regards,
Adam.
I've posted a little in the marriage based immigration forums to get answers to specific queries on the clerical side of things, and thought I would now take a moment to introduce myself and ask some culture related questions (it's not much use to know how to get there, but not have a clue once I am there!).
I'm Adam, I'm 23 and from the Northeast of England. The other person in my life, Robin, is is Mississippi (a little west of Jackson), and this is where I hope to end up. For the past 5 years I have worked in software engineering doing work for the British Government, working for a big US outsourcing company. it's my hope that my experience and my employment in both government work and with a US company will help me get a job over there.
My main question is to do with qualifications. My employer currently is paying for me to do a bachelors degree, which will be finished a year from now. This will give me a BSc (Hons) Information Systems. I have read on this forum that when making a resume that it is adviseable to put down US equivalents of qualifications to help employers understand what you have to offer. Is there a guide, or can someone help me understand how UK academic qualifications (I also have some NVQs I gained while working here) map onto US qualifications?
Things like GED, high school diploma, the difference between college and university and the rest of the school structure confuses me.
I appreciate any advice I get, and I look forward to talking to some of you a little more.
Regards,
Adam.
Jun 27th 2006, 11:52 pm
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Get your UK qualification translated into American by companies such as
http://www.wes.org/
http://www.wes.org/
Jun 28th 2006, 12:32 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 1,865
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Ray
Get your UK qualification translated into American by companies such as
http://www.wes.org/
http://www.wes.org/
PS: have you read the FAQ at the top of this forum about immigration to the US? That's a good place to start.
Jun 28th 2006, 12:49 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Welcome!
Enjoy the ride
Enjoy the ride
Jun 28th 2006, 12:52 am
#5
Twice half his height
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Central Mississississippippi
Posts: 443
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Celsius
Bear in mind, these companies are not regulated so anyone can provide this service. Caveat emptor!
PS: have you read the FAQ at the top of this forum about immigration to the US? That's a good place to start.
PS: have you read the FAQ at the top of this forum about immigration to the US? That's a good place to start.
Yes, I have read the FAQ. Using them I think I am now pretty much ok with the main process of the K1 visa application and then the AOS application. It's just been small details and dates that I have had to question, mainly things relating to my own circumstances.
Thanks for the help on this matter.
Regards,
Adam
Jun 28th 2006, 12:58 am
#6
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
I've looked at this WES service I am less than impressed. $100 for them to say a bachelors degree is a bachelors degree. Sure.
Jun 28th 2006, 1:09 am
#7
Twice half his height
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Central Mississississippippi
Posts: 443
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Ray
You may not get far without it .......
Has anyone else had experience of this, or come across any problems for not having it?
Originally Posted by WES website
If you completed your education outside of the U.S., you must have your credentials evaluated in order to have them understood and recognized by educational institutions, employers, licensing and certification boards in the U.S.
This is a little more complex than I first thought.
Jun 28th 2006, 1:10 am
#8
Slight chance of Showers
Joined: May 2006
Location: Norfolk,UK ->Memphis,TN
Posts: 1,158
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
Hello there,
I've posted a little in the marriage based immigration forums to get answers to specific queries on the clerical side of things, and thought I would now take a moment to introduce myself and ask some culture related questions (it's not much use to know how to get there, but not have a clue once I am there!).
I'm Adam, I'm 23 and from the Northeast of England. The other person in my life, Robin, is is Mississippi (a little west of Jackson), and this is where I hope to end up. For the past 5 years I have worked in software engineering doing work for the British Government, working for a big US outsourcing company. it's my hope that my experience and my employment in both government work and with a US company will help me get a job over there.
My main question is to do with qualifications. My employer currently is paying for me to do a bachelors degree, which will be finished a year from now. This will give me a BSc (Hons) Information Systems. I have read on this forum that when making a resume that it is adviseable to put down US equivalents of qualifications to help employers understand what you have to offer. Is there a guide, or can someone help me understand how UK academic qualifications (I also have some NVQs I gained while working here) map onto US qualifications?
Things like GED, high school diploma, the difference between college and university and the rest of the school structure confuses me.
I appreciate any advice I get, and I look forward to talking to some of you a little more.
Regards,
Adam.
I've posted a little in the marriage based immigration forums to get answers to specific queries on the clerical side of things, and thought I would now take a moment to introduce myself and ask some culture related questions (it's not much use to know how to get there, but not have a clue once I am there!).
I'm Adam, I'm 23 and from the Northeast of England. The other person in my life, Robin, is is Mississippi (a little west of Jackson), and this is where I hope to end up. For the past 5 years I have worked in software engineering doing work for the British Government, working for a big US outsourcing company. it's my hope that my experience and my employment in both government work and with a US company will help me get a job over there.
My main question is to do with qualifications. My employer currently is paying for me to do a bachelors degree, which will be finished a year from now. This will give me a BSc (Hons) Information Systems. I have read on this forum that when making a resume that it is adviseable to put down US equivalents of qualifications to help employers understand what you have to offer. Is there a guide, or can someone help me understand how UK academic qualifications (I also have some NVQs I gained while working here) map onto US qualifications?
Things like GED, high school diploma, the difference between college and university and the rest of the school structure confuses me.
I appreciate any advice I get, and I look forward to talking to some of you a little more.
Regards,
Adam.
Jun 28th 2006, 1:16 am
#9
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
I see...
Has anyone else had experience of this, or come across any problems for not having it?
Has anyone else had experience of this, or come across any problems for not having it?
Jun 28th 2006, 2:09 am
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
I've always just put bachelors degree with honors on my resume and have had no problems. In a couple of cases the person interviewing me gave more weight to an English degree than American, at least that's what they said and I did get the job. Also, list out programming languages and other IT skills as well as any technical certifications like microsoft or whatever.
Jun 28th 2006, 3:10 am
#11
Junior Showtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,759
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
I've looked at this WES service I am less than impressed. $100 for them to say a bachelors degree is a bachelors degree. Sure.
Yes, I have read the FAQ. Using them I think I am now pretty much ok with the main process of the K1 visa application and then the AOS application. It's just been small details and dates that I have had to question, mainly things relating to my own circumstances.
Thanks for the help on this matter.
Regards,
Adam
Yes, I have read the FAQ. Using them I think I am now pretty much ok with the main process of the K1 visa application and then the AOS application. It's just been small details and dates that I have had to question, mainly things relating to my own circumstances.
Thanks for the help on this matter.
Regards,
Adam
$100 is a very small amount of money to help you get your resume read - 55 GBP. I'm not recommending this services but if its not worth that much to you.....well
good luck petal
Jun 28th 2006, 3:17 am
#12
Twice half his height
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2006
Location: Central Mississississippippi
Posts: 443
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Kate2112
$100 is a very small amount of money to help you get your resume read - 55 GBP. I'm not recommending this services but if its not worth that much to you.....well good luck petal
good luck petalThanks for the different view on it.
Jun 28th 2006, 3:19 am
#13
Junior Showtime
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Singapore
Posts: 3,759
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
Hehe, when it's put into pounds it seems a lot more acceptable. I need to get used to thinking like that. Money and measurments are going to take some time.
Thanks for the different view on it.
Thanks for the different view on it.
You're welcome..here's a quick currency converter I often use it to make myself feel better about spending too many Dollars lol!!
http://www.xe.com/ucc/
Jun 28th 2006, 3:27 am
#14
UK & US Citizen
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 1,276
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
Originally Posted by Knight
I see...
Has anyone else had experience of this, or come across any problems for not having it?
Is this an actual requirement, or just this company saying it's best to have it done if you want employers to understand the qualifications you have?
This is a little more complex than I first thought.
Has anyone else had experience of this, or come across any problems for not having it?
Is this an actual requirement, or just this company saying it's best to have it done if you want employers to understand the qualifications you have?
This is a little more complex than I first thought.
Jun 28th 2006, 3:56 am
#15
How many vacation days?
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: North Kingstown, RI
Posts: 72
Re: General hello and question on qualifications
I'm currently going through the process of applying to become a 'Professional Engineer' because it seem to be a barrier to career progress (it's a bit like the chartered engineer thing back home).
But, the Delaware PE board don't recognise foreign degrees like mine. So, I've been sent to the ECEI which is recognised by them (and nationally by other PE boards) to have them accredited. However, it's expensive ($465), a long process (12-16 weeks) and unnecessarily complicated. They request all sorts of information about your degree, which is fine if you've completed recently but I graduated one of my degrees 17 years ago - even the University doesn't have the information that the ECEI want.
I haven't even started with the Delaware PE board yet!
Has anybody else had similar experiences?
But, the Delaware PE board don't recognise foreign degrees like mine. So, I've been sent to the ECEI which is recognised by them (and nationally by other PE boards) to have them accredited. However, it's expensive ($465), a long process (12-16 weeks) and unnecessarily complicated. They request all sorts of information about your degree, which is fine if you've completed recently but I graduated one of my degrees 17 years ago - even the University doesn't have the information that the ECEI want.
I haven't even started with the Delaware PE board yet!
Has anybody else had similar experiences?
