Jobs

What can I do during my Green Card waiting period to ensure that I’ll be ready to launch a successful job search?

Elaine Varelas provides guidance on preparing for a job search while waiting for a Green Card in the United States.

Ask the Job Doc. Boston.com

October 31, 2024

2 minutes to read

Q. I need a Green Card to work in the US, which my immigration attorney told me will take about 18-24 months. I’m currently doing volunteer work, and we are living on my partner’s salary. What should I do over the next two years to prepare for my job search?

A. Welcome to the United States! It’s terrific that you are working to become integrated into the culture and the work environment in the US, which may be significantly different than your home country. Every country has different work cultures, and the more experienced you are even in a volunteer role, the better off you’ll be when you’re ready to launch a full-blown job search. I encourage you to prepare an American-style resume so that your work experience becomes accessible to potential hiring managers. Resumes and CVs here in the US might be quite different than what you are used to, so be sure not to include photographs or personal information such as age, marital status, etc.

I also encourage you to create a strong LinkedIn profile that lets people know that you will be interested in working and that you are eager to work, but that US law prevents it at this point. Connect with friends from any country and review their connections. Building a strong network will help you become aware of jobs and companies that are right for you when the timing is right. Make sure that your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and highlight any skills and experience relevant to the US job market. Take the opportunity to follow companies that you are interested in working for. At this point, the best thing that you can do is target the companies that you’re most interested in joining and begin a campaign to join them. Keep track of their job postings to understand required qualifications so that you can identify any skills gaps that you need to address.

I hope your volunteer experience helps you develop your professional skills and brings you closer to the positions you aspire to. Use this time to expand your professional network. Join professional associations in your field and join LinkedIn groups in your industry. Networking should help you move closer to that role by identifying the companies and contacts you need. By the time you’re eligible to work, they will view the process as a simple matter of paperwork rather than requiring an interview and onboarding. There is no reason to wait those two years.

Take this time to practice the US interviewing style, enhance your networking skills, and build your connections in the US. Don’t forget that your contacts from your previous country might also have relevant connections in the US. Leverage your current network to build a new one that brings you closer to the job, organization, and industry you aspire to join. If there are certifications that apply to the field that you’re in, work on getting those. And if English isn’t your first language and you need to further develop or refine your English speech and written skills, focus on that during this time.

If you focus on all these areas, you should be well prepared to launch your job search once your Green Card is approved, and it should be very easy to land the job that you want and start contributing financially to the partnership and the economy.