A student would like some advice!

[Polarbert]

Hiya,

I have been thinking recently that I would really like to work in the US for a bit. I have always liked California, specifically San Diego where I have spent most of my time when on holidays as my Auntie & Uncle live there. I don't know why but I just love it there. I hadn't thought much about America until a few days ago when my friend went to LA for a year on a work placement. I am really, really jealous of him (in a good way) and wish so much that I could do something like that.

I have always known that its bloody difficult to get a job and move over there, but I am very keen to at least spend some time over there.

I read this: www.leedsmet.ac.uk/the_news/feb06/pr_graduate.htm on my Uni website and thats got me thinking even more. They offer an unpaid placement which looks quite good, although I don't think they specialise in the area of my degree.

Basically what I'm asking is how do I go about finding some form of job/placement/work experience for in a years time when I finish university?

All the best,

Rob

[GavinPearson]

Polarbert said:

Hiya,

I have been thinking recently that I would really like to work in the US for a bit. I have always liked California, specifically San Diego where I have spent most of my time when on holidays as my Auntie & Uncle live there. I don't know why but I just love it there. I hadn't thought much about America until a few days ago when my friend went to LA for a year on a work placement. I am really, really jealous of him (in a good way) and wish so much that I could do something like that.

I have always known that its bloody difficult to get a job and move over there, but I am very keen to at least spend some time over there.

I read this: www.leedsmet.ac.uk/the_news/feb06/pr_graduate.htm on my Uni website and thats got me thinking even more. They offer an unpaid placement which looks quite good, although I don't think they specialise in the area of my degree.

Basically what I'm asking is how do I go about finding some form of job/placement/work experience for in a years time when I finish university?

All the best,

Rob

It is very difficult because you need to be sponsored by a company for a visa and there is a shortfall of visas for applicants. As such allocations for 2007 for H1-B are I believe already used up.

Going unpaid really isn't going to work so you're in a real bind. You need to understand the employer's perspective, why hire Polarbert when an American similarly qualified can start tomorrow and doesn't need the employer to spend $1000 on a filing fee with the INS for the H1-B.

The best route if you want to live in the USA is to do a Masters degree, which gives you a work permit. When you graduate it is a much more straightforward way to get a job and then 'adjust' to get a Green Card. I would research this thoroughly.

The thing you also need to do is research what standard of living you get from being in the USA, certain jobs in the USA are vastly better paid than the UK equivalent, others vastly worse. Yes, the weather in CA is great, but maybe Spain is not so bad.

The most important tip I can give you is to look for work in the centre of where the work is. For car design, you go to Detroit. For films, you go to Hollywood; for Computers you'd try Silicon Valley. Where firms need people they are willing to hire people to fill seats, and that works to your advantage, though your experience level may not.

Hope this helps.