Episode 8--Working in America

Searching for a Job

When you first arrive in America, you may feel that you have to take any job that is available.  However, you may have choices, and there are websites that will let you do research on a prospective employer. Look online at a company’s website for the section on their mission and values.

Local social service agencies are assigned to help Afghan immigrants to look for job openings…  You can find a job on your own if you wish.  However, agencies (such as Catholic Charities) try to work with employers to find ways around language barriers and transportation problems.  One way they do this is by forming teams of Afghan workers, with a team leader who knows English.

Another typical job hunting strategy in America is to attend job fairs where employers who need workers are on site and can interview people.  However, for some new immigrants job fairs can feel stressful and intimidating.

Some jobs are easier to find than others.  Food delivery service jobs such as Doordash and Grubhub generally require an interview. Restaurant and hotel jobs are also a little easier to get if a person has not acquired fluent English yet.

Other immigrants (such as Russian and Ukrainian men) are able to make a good living driving trucks and doing construction jobs. Although these can be physically tough jobs men do well in them and are able to take care of their families. As for females, jobs like babysitter, housemaid, waitress, cashier, and so on, are readily available. 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between a 1099 employee and W2 employee. A 1099 employee works as an independent contractor.  For a 1099 employee taxes are paid quarterly by the worker themselves.  If a person is a permanent company employee, they are said to  be a W-2 employee.  Taxes are withheld up front and the employee often gets a tax refund at the end of the year.

Education for Work

There are trade schools (also called Vocational Technical schools) where you can learn a skill and make a good living ( like a hairdresser, electrician etc.) College is likely to be too expensive for an immigrant.  Going to trade school for a year can be a good choice.  

Common job requirements and qualifications

Different jobs have different requirements.  Here are some things employers may look for in a new employee:

Work experience doing the same or similar job

Certain skills that you have been taught in trade school or learned on previous jobs

Education, such as a high school degree.

Professional licenses, or certifications.

Specific knowledge, such as knowledge of how certain machines work.

Personal traits and attributes, such as honesty and a clean criminal record with no arrests.

Knowledge of Languages, mainly English.

Physical ability, such as the strength to pick up things and move things

Your First Job in America

When first getting a job in America, your starting salary may not be as high as you want or expect.  It may not be as much as your neighbor is making.  If your neighbor has special skills, or if he speaks English, he is likely to be offered a higher salary.  So do not expect to immediately have a high paying job.  Oftentimes, companies will form teams of Afghan workers with the team leader having more responsibility and making more money.  Think of working as a ladder.  You are starting on the first rung.  If you can speak English and if you have transportation, you will eventually move up to the next rung of the ladder.  But you have to start somewhere, and for most people they start on the bottom step of the ladder.  Do not feel that this is beneath you.  It is simply a place to start; it will get you “in the door” and give you a chance to show yourself and your working abilities to an employer.  If the company does not eventually advance you to a better job, you have the right to look for and apply at a different workplace.  However, it is important to keep your old job that you already have while looking for another one.

15 Traits That Will Get Yo a Promotion Faster

Employers want more than just competence in a new employee.  There are certain personal qualities they are looking for, too.

1.  Employers look for what is called in America a “work ethic.” This means a belief in the importance of the job and a desire to do a good job.  It means seeing work as not just a necessary evil but something that is valuable in and of itself.

2.  They want a willingness to learn and a growth mindset.  This means that hopefully the employee wants to learn more about the business so that they can contribute more and earn more.  Even if you get hired to do one particular job, pay attention to what others are doing and try to learn more about the business.  If you are given a new job to do, try to be adaptable.  That is, try to be flexible and learn the skills of the new position.  Be committed to growing, improving your skills, and learning new skills.  Self-reliance is important. 

3.  The ability to solve problems without always having to ask for advice. It's not that asking for advice is bad.  Sometimes eagerness to learn from more senior employees can also be seen as positive.  No employee is expected to know everything.

4.  Flexibility is another facet they look for. Flexibility means being able to sometimes adapt to changes, such as doing a different job or doing your job in a different way.  Flexibility means not being rigid.

5.  English skills.  If you don’t speak English or speak it poorly, you are going to be trapped in a pretty limited type of job.  Immigrants who have English skills will be given better positions and will make more money.

6.  A positive attitude.  This means a willingness to try new things and not to have a negative knee jerk reaction to new goals, procedures, and routines.

7. Being a team player. the kind of person co-workers want to be around.  This kind of person can collaborate with other people and work with others.

8.  An ability to interact with customers in a positive way.  This could include having a cheerful manner talking with customers.  It can also mean not reacting to a customer’s hostility with more hostility.  Getting angry at an angry customer can lead to big problems.

9.  The ability to be a leader on the job, encouraging others to pitch in as a group to solve a problem.

10.  Honesty and loyalty. By loyalty this means not leaving at the first opportunity to get a better deal with another company.  If you do decide to leave your job, then it is important to give two weeks notice and not simply fail to show up.   

11. Dependability.  Someone who will be on time and not take excessive sick leave.  You need to show up on time, work the full work day, and not take excessive sick leave.  Call in when you are sick to let them know that you cannot come to work that day.

12.  Determination and the ability to push through obstacles and get things done.

10 Things Your Employer Cannot Do

1. Prevent you from discussing your wages and what you make with other workers.

2.  Pay you less than minimum wage, which is $7,25 an hour (unless it is a small business).

3.  Make you work overtime without also giving you overtime pay.  Usually that’s 50% more than one’s regular pay.

4.  Tell you or ask you to work “off the clock.”  All of your work must be compensated.  You cannot be asked to come early or to stay late and not get paid for it.

5.  Make you do a task that is illegal, unethical, or goes against health and safety rules.

6.  Allow other workers to intimidate you or harass you.

If you are injured on the job report it immediately to your employer. Your employer should offer you a Workers Compensation form to fill out at that time. Then you can file a claim with workers compensation court.  You have the right to see a doctor and pursue medical treatment for work injuries without having to use your own health insurance. If you are unable to return to work, you have the right to some type of disability compensation. 

 

Ways to Try to Hold On to Your Job

Every workplace has expectations about courteous behavior.  Your first step to polite behavior is to ask, “If this was done to me, how would it make me feel?”  If the employee next to you was playing music just as loudly as you are, how would you feel?

Show respect to others.  Think about how you show respect to relatives and parents.  It is important to show respect to coworkers.

Think about whether your behavior might make it difficult for your coworkers to do their jobs.

Observe how much personal space your coworkers give each other.  Do they touch each other or not?  How does this distance compare with the distance in your home country?

In the US workers are very concerned about personal hygiene, Most shower 3 or more times every week, wear clean clothes every day and use deodorant daily.  This is a good plan to follow.

Don’t handle any co-worker’s food or personal belongings without permission.

Never yell at your boss.  Your boss may yell at you, although it is not good business practice.  But you are likely to be fired for yelling at your boss.

Don’t use a noisy obnoxious phone ringer.  Use one that will not bother co-workers, or mute your phone.  Some companies will not allow you to use a phone at work.  Make sure to know the rules.

Clean your work area and snack area after you are through. 

Be polite during meetings.  Don’t be answering your phone, answering a lot of text messages, or reviewing your email.  Don’t interrupt someone who is speaking. Don’t whisper or talk to others.  Do pay attention to what is said and ask questions if you don’t understand.  Remember what is said may have a direct impact on you and your job.

End meetings on time if you are jn charge.  Respect other peoples’ time.

Keep private things private.  Other people most likely don’t want to be bothered by listening to your phone conversations.  Be careful about discussing co-workers with others at work or over the phone.

If you get a phone call that interrupts a conversation with a co-worker, whenever possible tell the caller that you will call them back.  If you have to interrupt a conversation with a coworker to take a phone call, give a short apology and keep the phone call short.

Do not spend time looking at social media on your phone while at work unless you are on a break.

Learn ways of dealing with angry customers without losing your temper.

Learn ways to settle disagreements with co-workers or your employer.

Follow company policies about asking for days off, such as how often to ask for them and how much in advance.  If you are going to call in sick, do it at the beginning of the day so that your employer can make staffing adjustments.

Use sick leave for when you are really sick.

Don’t come to work sick.  Making others sick will make you very unpopular.

Be on time to work.  If your boss emphasizes punctuality, you may want to aim at being 5 minutes early.

Knock on any office door before you go in. It is a way to tell someone you are there before you start speaking. If they are in a cubicle find something to knock on to get their permission to enter their space.