londonmillie

Hi
I need a change from London, I'm a Nurse by profession but do not wish to continue in this area of work. I am know retraining as a Secretary and I have been told the Course that I am doing is internationally recognised. I am just wondering if there is much work available in Florida. I was thinking of joining a Recruitment Agency and doing Temp work. However, in London quite a lot of Agencies ar not registering straight away people due to lack of work.

Can anyone offer any advice on this,

Thanks
Londonmillie

fatbrit

Unless you're a US citizen, I don't really think you've done your homework here.

Walkingman

I don't know much about the immigration issues, millie (although I wouldn't have thought 'secretary' was an occupation eligible for a work permit in the US - correct me or confirm me here someone who knows more about these things). I do know that unemployment rates in FL are quite high right now and so, even if there are no immigration issues then you'll find it quite difficult to get a job at the moment.

Noorah101

Read through this thread, and the link in it's first post: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585898

See if you fit into any of those categories and let us know.

Rene

JulieinAustin

Hi Millie, if you don't already have work papers you'll probably have a much higher chance of securing them by applying as a nurse; there is no shortage of secretaries/administrators here; so I don't think you'll have much luck with this. However, if you already have the papers I don't think Florida is the best place to go for this kind of work unless you are bi-lingual and completely fluent in Spanish. I lived in Miami for over a year and this was a huge issue for me. Most of the very few jobs that were advertised expected you to be bi-lingual at the very least; it's really not an easy place if you're not.

Also having said that the job market in the US like there is really bad at the moment. I am in Texas where the economy is considered good compared to the rest of the country; and honestly I am finding it quite depressing... Compared to my life in London there really isn't a lot of work around at all and competition is very very tough.. If you're prepared to stick to nursing you might find that this isn't the case though, from what I understand there's a real shortage over here.

Paulycarts

Maybe take a look at an old thread about struggling to find work in USA. I am in the same boat now and I can tell you its a struggle indeed!!

Walkingman

Julie, that's certainly true in the southern third of the state, less so in the other two-thirds (and positively dangerous in some of the more..........rustic parts of the state.)

And I'm not just saying that because I'm insanely jealous of you living in Austin.

Bob

You don't mention firstly if your taking the piss, secondly if you've already got a US connection such as already a USC or married to one or not?

If no connection, then you've got, without having a house full of cash, no chance...as a nurse would have been your best chance for work, but that would have been around 5 years ago, it's taking years now doing down the nurse route.

Why Florida anyway? If it's the little Britain syndrome, your better off picking Spain because you wouldnt' have a visa issue.

Welcome to BE though, and good luck

fatbrit

It's pretty irrelevant, anyway, to the OP's hopes. S/he has no realistic chance of securing suitable US immigration status through the secretarial profession.

DeanUK2US

They could marry the boss.

fatbrit

But is that a secretarial skill?

meauxna

It sounds fancier over here if you call it 'Administrative Assistant'.
We spell 'recognized' with a z (pronounced 'zee').

DeanUK2US

I wouldn't know...

sambapink

I did that.. and it got me to the US - albeit 16 years later

DeanUK2US

So, you want to be my boss, sambapink?!