Some attention please!
Mar 23rd 2007 | 11:57 am
#91
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:13 pm
#93
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Re: Some attention please!
Hi "Mr." I agree it could be something with the resume that leads to you not getting interviews. Just for the record, I used to work in the IT field, though not for some years.
I think it might be difficult to be hired as some sort of manager, off the bat. People here will wonder if you do things the same way 'over there' and if you know how US businesses operate. In truth, I have no clue if they are similar or not.
Are you just sending in your resume to companies you'd like to work for? Or applying for specific positions? Perhaps you might get some success applying for something that you are qualitifed for, that is not management to start with.
I haven't looked at resumes in a while, but I would suggest possibly talking to a professional resume writer, there are such things. Or at least searching for some examples on the net. If a resume looks wierd (to US managers) it'll immediately hit the trash.
From what I remember, a career goal statement in the beginning often gets attention. In your case, maybe something saying you want a career growth position position where you can be of benefit to the company, while acclimating yourself to the US corporate environment might be good. I don't know for sure, I'd get some other opinions. But being from another country, emphasizing your desire to do it "their way" might be helpful. Something about being excited to build your career in your new country and looking forward to opportunities. Feel free to cross all your fingers and clench your teeth while writing this.
It will be much easier to get a position while living here. Most companies will not even bother interviewing you if you are not here already, unless you have some specialized skill that they really want.
If you get turned down, you might want to be forward and ask why. It can't really hurt, you already don't have the job, and if someone will honestly tell you perhaps it will help you for future prospects.
Good luck to you both.
I think it might be difficult to be hired as some sort of manager, off the bat. People here will wonder if you do things the same way 'over there' and if you know how US businesses operate. In truth, I have no clue if they are similar or not.
Are you just sending in your resume to companies you'd like to work for? Or applying for specific positions? Perhaps you might get some success applying for something that you are qualitifed for, that is not management to start with.
I haven't looked at resumes in a while, but I would suggest possibly talking to a professional resume writer, there are such things. Or at least searching for some examples on the net. If a resume looks wierd (to US managers) it'll immediately hit the trash.
From what I remember, a career goal statement in the beginning often gets attention. In your case, maybe something saying you want a career growth position position where you can be of benefit to the company, while acclimating yourself to the US corporate environment might be good. I don't know for sure, I'd get some other opinions. But being from another country, emphasizing your desire to do it "their way" might be helpful. Something about being excited to build your career in your new country and looking forward to opportunities. Feel free to cross all your fingers and clench your teeth while writing this.
It will be much easier to get a position while living here. Most companies will not even bother interviewing you if you are not here already, unless you have some specialized skill that they really want.
If you get turned down, you might want to be forward and ask why. It can't really hurt, you already don't have the job, and if someone will honestly tell you perhaps it will help you for future prospects.
Good luck to you both.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:13 pm
#94
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:16 pm
#95
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,061
From: North Carolina
Re: Some attention please!
Ok...It is going to be very difficult to shorten this whole story into the least amount of sentences that will hopefully result in eventually good advice, but I'll try...Anyway...I am a US citizen. Two years ago, I married my husband who is a British citizen (lived and worked in London). After we were married, obviously he was granted the famous GC and very soon we will need to apply for the removal of the conditions on that initial conditional GC.
In the meantime, my husband was desperately trying to find a job in U.S. - to be precise - in Florida (of all places
) which is where we lived (Saint Petersburg/Tampa area). Mind you, he was looking for a job anywhere in the States for that matter, but no luck for about one year since he got a work permit that enables him to work in the States. I will also point out that he is an IT consultant/project manager/business analyst type of combo ...So...
we decided to move to the U.K. (London)...I won't bother you with all the conversations btw us regarding the final decision to move, my husband's disgust with the US, his disappointment etc...but will say that I am pregnant (six months) and very depressed here in London...So, I am doing everything I can (and at this time it is not very much) so that as soon as the baby's born we go back to the States...My husband has agreed that he will be looking for a job in the States so hopefully he would have a job before we go back, but he is very very demoralized that he will ever succeed in it, thinking "if I have not found one while I was present in the States for a year, how will I find one now when I am not in the States"...I try to give him my humble advice such as that on the applications he puts down that he already has those valuable papers such as GC and working permit, but he does not belive that it will ever work out...
So, my plea here is to ask any one of you to try to give us some pointers as far as what to do! How my husband will go about looking for a job in the States (anywhere) possibly where there is best demand and best chance of getting his type of job...
We are even doing the US taxes, meaning that my husband has to pay US taxes (where he could not find a job!
) while he is currently working in London as an IT consultant. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
You say you're depressed in London. You're unhappy but is it because you're away from family in the US or have you disliked living in London (this is not the same as disliking living in the UK BTW)?
It's not clear how long you have lived in London but it's less than two years. That's not a long time. To be honest, not long enough to say you can't live in London because you dislike it so much. It took me 18 months to get accustomed to living in Durham and that's nowhere as exciting as London (my former hometown I hasten to add).
Also, to return to practicalities, if the two of you return to the States and your husband has not found a job prior to moving there (I'd be most surprised if he manages to find a job before setting foot in the US), what are you going to live on until he finds a job?
NC Penguin
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:20 pm
#96
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Re: Some attention please!
When we were hiring, we never bothered to call references. All any reference will tell you is something good - they can get sued for saying anything bad. So there's really no point to it.
In a resume, I always wrote "Excellent references availble upon request".
Just noticed - he's currently working as a consultant. I would contact some consulting firms also - they might take him on as a sub-contractor, and give him a "in".
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:27 pm
#97
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,061
From: North Carolina
Re: Some attention please!
Also, many IT jobs may be working for or contracting for the US government and Mr. Srna may be ineligible to apply for such jobs because he is not yet a US citizen.
NC Penguin
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:28 pm
#98
Not living a 9 to 5 life
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 11,061
From: North Carolina
Re: Some attention please!
Even if he doesn't provide references, he'll have to list his work experience, which will all be over there.
When we were hiring, we never bothered to call references. All any reference will tell you is something good - they can get sued for saying anything bad. So there's really no point to it.
In a resume, I always wrote "Excellent references availble upon request".
Just noticed - he's currently working as a consultant. I would contact some consulting firms also - they might take him on as a sub-contractor, and give him a "in".
When we were hiring, we never bothered to call references. All any reference will tell you is something good - they can get sued for saying anything bad. So there's really no point to it.
In a resume, I always wrote "Excellent references availble upon request".
Just noticed - he's currently working as a consultant. I would contact some consulting firms also - they might take him on as a sub-contractor, and give him a "in".
NC penguin
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:32 pm
#99
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Re: Some attention please!
Generally, if anything, employment would be verified, and they would simply say if the person had worked there or not. There wasn't any point to references, since everyone would put down someone who liked them, and as I mentioned, the legal problem if you said anything negative.
Generally, employment is at will, so if someone lied and couldn't do the job they'd simply be out of there. We were hiring consultants, so that applied even more so.
But we relied much more on the impression we got of the person, and if they could answer the questions they asked, and how the presented themself than trying to verify details of employment.
In 20+ years of IT employment, I have never once had anyone call a reference before hiring me. And I worked all over the place, generally was a consultant so didn't stay in any one place long.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:33 pm
#100
Powder Maggot
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,452
From: Nuevo Mexico
Re: Some attention please!
And I stand by including references from the get-go. If they employer has to call for them, you're wasting his time, and he's unlikely to make the effort.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:34 pm
#101
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 23,190
From: HOME
Re: Some attention please!
My thoughts exactly. As someone who has called phone references, I can tell you that sure, they might only say good stuff. But it's how they say it that counts. You first determine with a few simple questions if they are a credible reference, and then you listen for the way they answer the important ones.
And I stand by including references from the get-go. If they employer has to call for them, you're wasting his time, and he's unlikely to make the effort.
And I stand by including references from the get-go. If they employer has to call for them, you're wasting his time, and he's unlikely to make the effort.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:37 pm
#102
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 405
From: Northern Virginia USA
Re: Some attention please!
Are you serious? Those very areas may have jobs but the cost of living is incredibly expensive and as for the traffic...
Also, many IT jobs may be working for or contracting for the US government and Mr. Srna may be ineligible to apply for such jobs because he is not yet a US citizen.
NC Penguin
Also, many IT jobs may be working for or contracting for the US government and Mr. Srna may be ineligible to apply for such jobs because he is not yet a US citizen.
NC Penguin
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:37 pm
#103
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 89,088
Re: Some attention please!
They may have verified employment. By the way, not my current employer, it was some years ago (didn't want to misrepresent myself).
Generally, if anything, employment would be verified, and they would simply say if the person had worked there or not. There wasn't any point to references, since everyone would put down someone who liked them, and as I mentioned, the legal problem if you said anything negative.
Generally, employment is at will, so if someone lied and couldn't do the job they'd simply be out of there. We were hiring consultants, so that applied even more so.
But we relied much more on the impression we got of the person, and if they could answer the questions they asked, and how the presented themself than trying to verify details of employment.
In 20+ years of IT employment, I have never once had anyone call a reference before hiring me. And I worked all over the place, generally was a consultant so didn't stay in any one place long.
Generally, if anything, employment would be verified, and they would simply say if the person had worked there or not. There wasn't any point to references, since everyone would put down someone who liked them, and as I mentioned, the legal problem if you said anything negative.
Generally, employment is at will, so if someone lied and couldn't do the job they'd simply be out of there. We were hiring consultants, so that applied even more so.
But we relied much more on the impression we got of the person, and if they could answer the questions they asked, and how the presented themself than trying to verify details of employment.
In 20+ years of IT employment, I have never once had anyone call a reference before hiring me. And I worked all over the place, generally was a consultant so didn't stay in any one place long.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:38 pm
#104
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Re: Some attention please!
My thoughts exactly. As someone who has called phone references, I can tell you that sure, they might only say good stuff. But it's how they say it that counts. You first determine with a few simple questions if they are a credible reference, and then you listen for the way they answer the important ones.
And I stand by including references from the get-go. If they employer has to call for them, you're wasting his time, and he's unlikely to make the effort.
And I stand by including references from the get-go. If they employer has to call for them, you're wasting his time, and he's unlikely to make the effort.
Perhaps things have changed, and references are called more often. It also might depend upon what field you are in.
For IT, at that time, we were more interested how the person could answer our questions than by what someone else would say about them. Because you'd naturally list references who agreed to be a reference, and would say nothing but good.
Mar 23rd 2007 | 12:41 pm
#105
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,253
From: NW Chicago suburbs
Re: Some attention please!
Previous employers are just that, the name of the company you worked for. Generally, individuals names are not listed.
References are specific persons who you are giving them permission to contact, and discuss you with.
I think there is even some law (at least there was) regarding what a previous employer could say - I'll go look for it.
