Getting a job in the USA

 

Question

My young family and I have decided to relocate to the USA, and although there are ample jobs advertised that I am qualfied for, many companies won't consider me until I have a visa, but I can't get a visa until I have a job offer. What can I do?

 

What the expert says

 

Hannah Bailey, chief operating officer, Chess Partnership

 

Although you don't say so, I presume that you are not a recent graduate. You would not therefore be eligible for a training visa, but would need an H1 visa or equivalent.
In order to get an H1 visa, an employer needs to prove there is no other US citizen or someone with a right to work in the USA who could do the job. Given the precarious nature of the US economy, this may be tough. Even if an employer could prove this, applying for a visa is relatively expensive and time-consuming.

 

Unless you have a green card or the right to work in the USA, you will definitely need a visa but you will only get one if you have a job to go to.

 

What you could do is contact recruitment companies in the USA that specialise in hospitality recruitment. You should also consider targeting a particular area of the USA and making a marketing trip there to meet with as many employers as possible.
Given the competitive nature of the employment market, and the fact that employers do receive a lot of CVs from overseas, employers would be very impressed with someone who has made the effort to go there to meet them.

 

I'm afraid there are no short cuts here and this will not be an easy exercise.