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Topic: Any advice for job seeking immigrant?
| Author | Message |
| bendigedig | Posted – 2/22/2008 2:31:13 PM | show profile | email poster I am seeking some advice from any PR professionals or writers who have moved to the US and got full time work. I'm not having much luck so far - over 50 job apps and not even an an interview yet. For most of the jobs I?ve applied for I believe I have the skills and experience that would at least warrant me an interview, (3+ yrs PR exp, awards, freelance clips) so i'm puzzled as to the lack of response. I am worried, however, that employers are immediately counting me out because I have no US work experience, and no US references. Has anyone had a similar experience and any advice? Is an unpaid internship the only way to break into magazines and newspapers? Do you think it is wise to mention in the cover I have a work permit, as I am worried they will assume I am seeking a work visa if I don?t mention it. Also, is it regular practice in the US to follow up job applications with a phone call ?especially the ?resume on spec? applications? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. |
| foodlit | Posted – 2/22/2008 2:42:00 PM | show profile Yes, absolutely mention that you have a green card...and follow that up with the statement, I do not require any sponsorship assistance. Otherwise, they will likely assume that you do and most companies won't/can't transfer or sponsor H-1B visas. If you have a student visa, that year of practical training you are allowed before needing sponsorship, you will have a tougher time, because eventually you'll need sponsorship assistance. Hopefully you don't and once you make that clear you should get interviews. Good luck! Pam (I work in hr) |
| bendigedig | Posted – 2/29/2008 2:52:56 PM | show profile Thanks for that tip. I don't want to be grouped with all the applicants who are seeking sponsorship, so i'm going to be mentioning that near the top of my cover letters from now on. My only worry now is that some employers won't understand that a three year UK degree is just as good as a four year US degree, but hopefully experience is more important than education. |
