Job Discussion Forums

[kentuckyslim]

I did four years ESL teaching in China and now I'm back in my home town in the US and can't get hired by anyone to do anything. Seems most employers here are scared of calling previous employers overseas or even sending an email. I've fixed up my resume to address this problem and gotten a couple of so-so interviews, but it's been really tough and I don't know what to do except maybe go back to teaching abroad. Still, in the interim I need to find something to do. Has anyone else had this problem?

[Gringo Greg]

Yeah, I did. You need to have verifiable job experience before they will hire you. It really does suck. This time I came back with my own business, but when I went back for a spell in 2004, I had to get a job. I found that working at a temp agency was the easiest way to get some recent, locally verifiable job experience. Another way is to do some volunteer work in your field of expertise.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

I'm unlocking this thread with the warning that the next insulting, unhelpful or less than constructive posting will earn someone a one-way, no return ticket out of here.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

It's a very, very common problem. In fact, it's the SAME problem that immigrants (at least to Canada, but I imagine to the States as well) face all the time- their experiences in their home country (and in the case of immigrants, that includes their degrees etc) doesn't count to employers, even if it's accepted by the government of the country (Canada or the US) as equivalent (doctors driving cabs and working at 7/11???).

As another poster mentioned, you can go to temp agencies. You can also get yourself a handy copy of What Colour is Your Parachute and start working through, though that 's a slower process. Also look for more immeditae hire types of jobs- retail restaurants etc.

You can also try getting a job at a private language school in your home country- look for admin jobs in them as well as teaching jobs.

Basically, I think it boils down to what your background is in. I get the impression you didn't have much full time work experience before leaving the US. Getting a job as a manager traineee at a big box store should definately be doable with experince leading classes overseas. That's the way many recent graduates get their first full time post university experience. Do you have an undergrad degree? If not, then that will limit things (but at least some of the big box stores will still hire you as a manager trainee). If you do, look into continuing ed courses, especially ones with internships to get a foot in the door and experience in the area in which you want to work (if you are having huge problems figuring out what area you want to work in, then look into doing a Myers Brigg test on-line for free and then do a search for typical jobs for your type and also you can look at the oppostie type and probably manage to rule out quite a few jobs).

Did you learn a significant amount of Chinese while in China? If you did, then head on over to a local Chinese community centre, if there is one, and see if they have any need for English teachers there.

Basically, it's time for networking and quite likely going back to school (the number one thing that JETs do when they leave Japan is go to graduate school).

[Marcoregano]

[naturegirl321]

A lot has to do with the economy. Try calling up old contacts, or starting your own business.

[william wallace]

We're the new generation of folks who are out of march to the newest of marches.You're certainly not alone.We must try to do the best we can!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers,
William Wallace
P.S. Pride and arrogance aside, our societies are under-going a dramatic change;we exacerbate it, and suffer it.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[Nozka]

This is an interesting thread which conjures up some memories. I worked as a taxi driver (on the graveyard shift) for over a year after returning home from 5+ years overseas. Rest assured, the irony of working in a stereotypically "immigrant" job in my own country was not lost on me. Although it was often depressing, I actually enjoyed this job because it allowed me to hide. All of my interactions with the natives were superficial and fleeting - it made the reverse culture shock a little easier to bear.
There is no upward mobility in cabbing however, so after regaining residency, I managed to pry myself away and get back into gradschool, which leads me to another point: ESL, as opposed to EFL, generally requires a higher education degree, and your years overseas as an EFLer are for the most part useless to your average shmuck who operates in the world of 9 to 5. But avoiding that world is why you went overseas in the first place, isn't it? Forget the "normal" world of the worker drones, going back there will only crush your demented yet enlightened soul. This world does not need another sad *beep* selling ink cartridges at the local Best Buy. Does the phrase "going postal" mean anything to you?
Lastly, if you consider going back to school, do your research. You will not find instant success and career fulfillment from getting an MA TESOL. If there is something else you'd rather do, go for it. I hear nursing pays well. Best of luck.

[JZer]

For people from the US, if you like teaching, you might try getting a job as a teacher in a high needs area.

As for working as a cab driver. I once heard of a bus driver in Boston that could converse with almost all immigrant groups in their language. My professor said that he was probably a Liberal Arts major who could not get a job.

[The_Hanged_Man]

[DrVanNostrand]

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[JZer]

[JZer]

I also want to add that I believe that you can get paid to train as a nurse in the US. I was trying to look this up. Maybe someone has a link to prove that this is true. I don't want to be a nurse but I would like to show other teachers that there are opportunities out there. Even one's that will pay for your training.