Awww thanks

Welcome to BE Mr Srna!
There are a couple books you might like to read.
Barbara Ehrenreich has written "Nickeled and Dimed" about working at Walmart.
Then she wrote "Bait and Switch" about being unemployed in Corporate America and the search for work.

Well to you too then! You'll never live down that user name now...

Just talking to my sweetie on the webcam, will get back to you all later on.

keep yer clothes on wench.

going to the library to get them those there (was that american enuff) books that were recomended.....

Whyever would I want to do that? hehehee

FYI, there is at least one person that I know of who participates in these forums who had to get a job at Walmart when he couldn't find work in his field. Nothing wrong with that. You do what you gotta do...

~ Jenney

Sure, you do what you have to. The thing is, I was in the field he was in. If he did take a "low-class" or whatever you want to call it job, I believe it could very well hurt his chances of going back to the type of job he has.

I am not trying to insult anyone, particularly anyone at Walmart. I am not speaking from personal prejudice, but am attempting to be realistic about how his prospective future employers might very well look at it.

I think in his case, a period of unemployment would look better than Walmart, if he is able to wait it out.

that's b*llocks...it'll hurt far more with a gap in employment history than some crap job, because someone will ask if there's a gap, was he just un-employable, a lazy git or locked up etc...easier to explain the crap job, you had bills to pay, far harder to explain lazying on your arse...I should know, I was in that situation...I filled it with a handful of crap temp jobs and bucket loads of voluntary work for a charity.

On behalf of the BE welcoming committee, I'd like to welcome you formally to BE. Make yourself at home and if you're a redhead, it'd be best not to mention this.

... and I know of another BE member who had to work as a realtor until he managed to get a job in his field (coincidentally, it's IT).

If you think certain types of jobs are below you, you are not doing yourself any favors. The work ethic is incredibly strong in the USA and like Bob said, if you have a gap in employment, you are considered a poor candidate.

Nobody's saying you have to flip burgers at Mickey D's but money's money and it'll give you exposure to the American workforce that you lack.

My comments were directed at the OP, who has the obvious assumption that no one here has "gone all the way to the bottom" (her words) by working at Walmart, and thus no one might find her comments offensive. I was just pointing out that expats can do that, and sometimes are put in a position where they have to.

~ Jenney

I have been bouncing off the bottom for years. Its called life!!! But always seem to crawl back up there. Something i learnt the hard way, there are a lot of people out there that can probably do what i do better...... dont matter how good i am !!!

If Mrs is unhappy is she going to be happy and broke or unhappy and a few bob in her purse?

Its a who u know business out there. Good idea to call in a few favours?

I have to say that the US jobhunting/interviewing process is brutal for those who are used to it and horrifying to those who aren't.

My Dutch husband has been applying for all sorts of jobs and it seems like an impossible dream to get any of them. We live in an area that is very "desirable" and people are willing to take pay cuts to live here. The workforce is much more educated than the "average" American workforce, so competition is quite keen for *every* job.

It's tempting to think he could return to Holland for a while just to work to restore his confidence, but that would endanger his PR status. It's a hell of a trap. I can't move within the state let alone overseas because of child custody issues, so that option is out. We can live on my wages but not very comfortably or for the long-term.

All I can say is that if I were not American, I seriously question whether I'd immigrate here.... you definitely need a lot of willpower to stick it out and the drive and charm to convince someone to hire you. Job security here is also horrible, so you have to be ready to do it all over again.

I don't know what anyone's job is. He has been in a pretty senior position. Now, I don't think my opinion is the only one that counts, and he will hopefully be getting lots of advice on the matter.

But I had a gap once, with a reasonable explanation, and noone minded a bit. I think it depends. He was not actively seeking employment and unable to find it for long - he was going through the immigration process. Which might be a perfectly good explanation.

So I "possibly" disagree with you. I'm not sure which would be worse, but I'm leaning towards the opinion of avoiding Walmart type jobs. At least at this point.

Jenney,
again you are totally wrong. Mentioned above is not my assumption at all and actually, I am more so convinced that a lots of people have indeed gone "all the way to the bottom", but that is not what we are discussing again, or is it Certainly not what I had in mind...