scooooooot1

I'm degree educated, got a postgraduate diploma and I'm leaving my place of employment in the next few weeks via voluntary redundancy. I want to look for work in the US under a H1B visa so I've only got a timeframe of a few months until the 2005 cap is reached. Where are the best places to look? Do just scout the job websites, apply and hope for the best? Are the resume submissions services like www.e-resume.net or www.resumerabbit.com worth utilising?

NC Penguin

Look at may online job websites to see if your skills and experience are needed in the US (i.e. there are vacancies for people with your skills and background).

Pay close attention to the numbers of employers who are willing to employ people that require a visa. It should be clearly stated in vacancies whether employers will consider candidates like you.

Since you don't state your industry or the kind of work you do, it's impossible to suggest the "best" places to look.

My gut feeling that it's currently not a good time to look for employment in the US if you currently don't have a visa. Partly because of the cost and time involved in getting an employment visa plus the fact that there are millions of Americans and employment visa holders already in the US looking for work ahead of you.

However, if you have highly specialised skills, years of experience and in a field that is in high demand the above paragraph
may not apply.

Also, if you are serious about getting employed in the US, you really need to work on creating an American resume/CV (term depends on the field you work in).

To get a feel for the difficulties of a non-American living overseas looking for employment in the US, search through the threads in the USA forum to read about the many posters like you who want to work in the US.

scooooooot1

Thanks for the reply, should have put some more information.

I have worked in purchasing for all my working life, the last 8 years have been in the automotive sector as a tier 1 manufacturing supplier to the OEMs and am currently in the position of Purchasing Manager. With the constant drive to reduce costs year on year, I don't think experience in the automotive sector can be beaten. Also I'm Six Sigma accredited and have expert knowledge of SAP software. I know that these skills are transferable and are highly attractive for any employer, irrelevant of location.

I'm serious about moving to the US and that is the reason that I have taken the opportunity of redundancy from my current position. I know that there is only a small window of opportunity to secure a position for the 2005 financial year so I want to make the most of it - I just want to make sure I'm going about it the right way.

Should this prove fruitless, I am going to take a masters degree at a US University in 2005. This will give me a year away in a nice climate, a further qualification and the opportunity to look for opportunities whilst I am there. Money isn't really an issue - through a mixture of good luck and good planning I'm very financially secure.

I've spent a good deal of time creating a "US-style" resume which I'm using to apply for jobs on monster.com in my related fields. I just don't know if I'm doing it the right way. On the vacancies I've seen, none of them specifically state that they accept people like me - by the fact that most don't specifically discount those type of workers I am (maybe mistakenly) taking it as read that they might at least consider me should my qualifications/experience prove interesting. Is there a way of finding out if employers are H1B friendly?

NC Penguin

Are you sure that your accreditation is recognized in the US? Many US employers don't even understand and therefore appreciate a British education and consider it "lower" than an American education simply because Batchelor degrees are awarded in three years!

Realistically speaking, you are at a distinct disadvantage as a potential employee because:
you are not located in the US and cannot start working immediately
you do not have the necessary employment visa to work (as I covered in my previous post)

Therefore, do not raise your hopes about getting an H1-B quickly. Once we hit autumn/fall, hiring tends to drop off, even more dramatically from November onwards (for permanent work. If you're smart, you'll realize the two reasons for this).


Have you looked seriously at the costs of studying for a Masters in the US? You'll be categorized as an overseas student and the fees and associated costs can be astronomical if you want to go to a "good school".

I've spent a good deal of time creating a "US-style" resume which I'm using to apply for jobs on monster.com in my related fields. I just don't know if I'm doing it the right way. On the vacancies I've seen, none of them specifically state that they accept people like me - by the fact that most don't specifically discount those type of workers I am (maybe mistakenly) taking it as read that they might at least consider me should my qualifications/experience prove interesting. Is there a way of finding out if employers are H1B friendly? [/QUOTE]

If you aren't getting any viewings of your resume, there could be multiple reasons but the first reason that comes to mind is that you require a visa to work in the US. This is something that the employer must pay and apply for. You can't. This would immediately be a "turn off" to employers.

Going back to your original post, the only reason for wanting to come to the US is for work but when you may be able to do so may be way beyond your control. The best thing would be to monitor your industry in the US. Perhaps join the professional organization in your field to get access to resources that may assist in finding work.

NC Penguin

Are you sure that your accreditation is recognized in the US? Many US employers don't even understand and therefore appreciate a British education and consider it "lower" than an American education simply because Batchelor degrees are awarded in three years!

Realistically speaking, you are at a distinct disadvantage as a potential employee because:
you are not located in the US and cannot start working immediately
you do not have the necessary employment visa to work (as I covered in my previous post)

Therefore, do not raise your hopes about getting an H1-B quickly. Once we hit autumn/fall, hiring tends to drop off, even more dramatically from November onwards (for permanent work. If you're smart, you'll realize the two reasons for this).


Have you looked seriously at the costs of studying for a Masters in the US? You'll be categorized as an overseas student and the fees and associated costs can be astronomical if you want to go to a "good school".

If you aren't getting any viewings of your resume, there could be multiple reasons but the first reason that comes to mind is that you require a visa to work in the US. This is something that the employer must pay and apply for. You can't. This would immediately be a "turn off" to employers.

Going back to your original post, the only reason for wanting to come to the US is for work but when you may be able to do so may be way beyond your control. The best thing would be to monitor your industry in the US. Perhaps join the professional organization in your field to get access to resources that may assist in finding work.

stueym

Scooooot1

Everything that NC Peguin has written is true, however tainted by a pessimistic view of the world it sems.

It is entirely feasible to find H1B jobs, and employers who will support you, but I would say the biggest obstacle is the whole thing of finding one whilst still in UK.

You already seem to be well informed (knowing that H1B cap is getting close already for 2005)

I would suggest that is you truly are looking at a lifestyle change and move to US, being in the US to find a job is significantly easier than doing it from the UK. Just having a US phone number for example will get your resume answered more readily as telephon intervbiews are often a first step (given the geographical spread of the US)..

If you really have the funds from your redundancy to study and support yourself for a masters over here on an F1 visa then I suggest you do so. You can then in parallel try and find the type of job that you are ultimately seeking after the course.

There are lots of very good US colleges that are in inexpensive parts of the country and not everyone charges what NYU or Carnegie Mellon would charge for a Masters.

As some one who uprooted my family at the age of 41 to come over and am still facing the trials and tribulations 2 years later as I try to move through the greencard process I can categorically say that I (and we as a family!) do not regret it one minute of any day. We are very happy here, have a good lifestyle and no intentions of planning to move back.

P.S. I dont have a even a traditional Bachelors degree from a UK university (Registered Nurse with Postgrad DMS now working as a Sales VP in Healthcare IT world) and still made it through on H1B. Greencard may be more challenging but my company's attorney's are moving us forward with high expectations of success.

Regards

Stuart