Working abroad, possibly in the US. Where to get info?

gherking · Nova Slayer Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Karma :

I graduated a year and a half ago, from a Digital Art BA degree course.

Been in and out of various work, now a waiter for the last 4 months.

It's time to move away from my parent's house, but living here (in Cornwall) on £800 a month will be tricky. I've got dual nationality, so it's fine for me to work in the US without a VISA.

>> Does anyone know where to look for work in the US when you're not living there? Are there services/agencies that cater to people looking for something a bit different in different country?

PS. Waiter work is fine, but graphic design or similar might be good. I have a solid portfolio, it just isn't online yet.

Cheers guys!

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

if i were you, i'd google a few graphic design companies in california

also, i know there is a british styled pub in banf that loves to have english accented staff so have a look for them

come to think of it there must be lots of british styled pubs in america that would love to have staff with english accents
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

gherking · Nova Slayer Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Karma :

Where is 'Banf'?!

Sounds like a good start. I never thought to consider UK-style pubs before.

SlimRick · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Karma :

I spent some time in San Francisco, and found work pretty easily whilst there. The employment market is still pretty good in the cities, but even if you find a decent position, you will get blown out pre-interview as there's still plenty of others to fill it who can be there within a week.
Sites like Craigslist are good for employment as the position is usually advertised by the employer not an agency.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

I'd probably say get your feet on the ground over there and look , as I can't find a job at all in various places in the world where I am allowed to work...

Second my feet touch the ground there though job hunting becomes so much easier.
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

steppen22 · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Karma :

I can't advise from experience.

However, if you visit the library, you'll find plenty of books with weblinks that can help.

Hobsons gab year books for example, have plenty of contacts which you can *start* with.

Good luck.
____________________
no regrets, no retreat, no apology.
I've made mistakes in the past, and I apologise for FUCK ALL.

colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Bear in mind that the 'Credit Crunch' (If such a thing truly exists) is hitting the 'ol US of A far harder than the UK. You may have issues finding work without experience or references.

Also, if they ask you why you are there, and you say "To work" they might very well take you aside into a room and give you an anal probe. One of my colleagues had similar treatment (Admittedly on a UK passport) because he replied to the question with "Working" instead of "Business trip". Its down to Semantics, but he got grilled for six hours by their immigration people.

As a slight aside, when people come into the UK and say this, I don't imagine this to be the response. I imagine that they give them a six bed council house, a PS3 and a plasma TV. :S
____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

He's a US citizen so immigration won't give him any hassle, he doesn't have to declare what his intentions are, he's free to go there and do whatever he wants, aslong as it's legal.

Waiting work is not exactly something that's going to be hard to find. You have the right to work, and a social security number presumably so i'd just fly out to where you'd like to work and jobhunt once you're there. Find yourself a waiting job and then while you're doing that you can look for something in graphic design without worrying about running out of money while looking.

Banff is a national park ski resort in Canada, all the popular resorts are constantly looking for holiday season staff and often recruit gap year students those on BUNAC etc, as a US citizen that's however somewhat useless, but I imagine US resorts are the same, plenty to try in California.