There's always a job in Chicago. If you have a chance to try your hand at work in the U.S., you must be well prepared for the job search process, and, above all, to set yourself up for a positive mood.
Stages of job search in Chicago:
Identify the areas of activity in which you feel your strength/skills;
Examine the demand for data and related professions (Internet, newspapers);
Summaries of labour market demand (CV, Resume);
Write a cover letter (Cover Letter);
actively send out resumes;
Preparation and completion of interviews;
Acceptance of the rejection and repeated searches or acceptance of the offer and further device.
We define the field of activity, profession.
You will probably have some experience before coming to the states. And if you want to continue your career in the same direction, you should clearly determine for yourself how well your English level meets the level required for a particular position. Ideally, of course, if you have some rare gift/skill, then the level of English is of secondary importance. However, for a successful and fast setup, fluency will be a distinct advantage. And if you are confident in your English, start looking for positions that match your skills/knowledge.
If English is weak, you can try to look for something in your field, but for insurance purposes we recommend you to start looking for vacancies that do not require fluent English. In the meantime, consider attending language courses and there are plenty of free classes for immigrants in the city.
Alternative job opportunities that do not require perfect English are listed below. However, you may find other positions.
Cafes/restaurants/hotels: busser/food runner, host/hostess, waitress/ server, housekeeper, cleaner, bell boy...
Work for the holders of the driver's license: cab driver, delivery driver (work on delivery of food, newspapers, goods), CDL driver (driver of heavy trucks/trucks), valet attendant (parking of cars of the guests)...
General Labor: maintenance service, plumbers, doors/ windows installation, mover, porter, constructors.
Social services: baby sitter, care giver, dog walker, store assistant.
Job search.
When you've decided who you want to try to find a job with, go on to look for vacancies. You can look in newspapers (e.g. the free newspaper Jobs) or use the Internet - you won't find so many offers anywhere else. The best resources for finding a job:
CraigsList.org/chicago
indeed.com
Chicago.computerwork.com
Chicago.techies.com
Virtual Job Resource
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rotfront.chicago/
And, of course, direct employer websites. Often companies place vacancies on their pages under the tabs Careers, Employment, Jobs. Chicago is a big city, and therefore a great opportunity. It is the headquarters of McDonalds, the head office of Wrigley, and the airport of O'Hare is a major employer, as well as many tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, chain stores Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Burlington, Target, Sears, Ross, etc. In the centre of the city alone, you'll find more than 50 hotels and even more restaurants - around 270 - walking through the Magnificent Mile. And the number of shops is unimaginable - over 400, and it's only in the center.
If you wish, you can also contact the city/district employment office. Depending on your skills or the skills you would like to acquire, you will be offered career options and invited to pre-courses to help you find a job. This is a time-consuming way to find a job, and your salary is likely to be below average, but you are almost 100% likely to be employed.
Writing a resume.
A résumé is not just information about you, but also a way to make a positive first impression on your employer and convince them to invite you for an interview. The summary includes the following information: name, contacts, photo, profile, work history, education / training, skills / knowledge, professional references, interests.
Couple of tips:
Recently, U.S. employers have preferred to receive more "anonymous" resumes in order not to be accused of discrimination in the selection of candidates, so it is not necessary to post a photo; if you have a photo on your resume, make sure that your image is appropriate and disposable.
In the work experience column, write about the last 2-3 jobs directly related to the position you are applying for.
Make sure that you have specified all the skills and knowledge required in the job advertisements.
Letter of Coverage.
How and why do I create a Cover Letter? When you send your resume, it is not enough to attach a file with information about you, you need to write the text of the letter itself, in which you can tell how you learned about the job, who you are and most importantly - why you should take this position.
Try not to make your letter look like it was generated, make sure that the name of the company, the link to some phrase from the ad is indicated there, which will give the impression that you are really interested in their offer, because they are waiting for those people who are genuinely interested in working in their company.
At this stage, your goal is to capture the attention of the employer and impress him with your unique, special, original resume and letter, and win the chance to be invited to the interview.
Whether you are writing a resume or a cover letter, you should remember that other people, your competitors, and most of them native English speakers, with local education and local work experience, send their CVs for the same job with you. First of all, imagine who these people are, what your potential rivals are: college and university graduates, experienced professionals who, for some reason, are changing jobs, people who have decided to change careers, etc. Then, determine what can give you an advantage over your competitors and be sure to focus on this employer's attention, be original - and then you will certainly succeed.
Another important point - be sure of yourself! After all, if you doubt yourself, the employer will feel it and will not be able to believe in you. Do not doubt yourself, know your strengths, and if there are weaknesses, think about how to get your attention away from them, pressing on your advantages. Believe in yourself! And then others will believe in you.
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