© 2007, All Rights Reserved, Upwardly Global

How to Use your Foreign Degree in

The U.S.

Workshop for Immigrant Professionals

© 2007, All Rights Reserved, Upwardly Global In partnership with World Education Services

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Today’s Agenda

Welcome and Introduction to WES and Upwardly Global

Challenges for Immigrant Professionals

Using Your WES Evaluation

U.S. Job Search and Working with Upwardly Global

Wrap-up and Questions

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You are NOT alone…

More than 1.3 million college-educated immigrants in the U.S. are unemployed or working in unskilled jobs

Housecleaner

BaristaWaspadaIndonesiaAuditor

EvelynEl SalvadorEngineer

Taxi Driver

CristianRomaniaEngineer

CashierManizhaAfghanistanPhysician

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Main Barriers to Employment

Limited English skills

Academic credentials and professional skills/ experience not recognized

Job-seekers not familiar with U.S. job search

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Credential Recognition

About Credential Evaluation in the U.S.– Decentralized – each institution/agency sets its own

rules regarding recognition and acceptance– Internal vs. external evaluation – Evaluations are non-binding “expert opinions”

About WES – Non-profit organization since 1974– Has served 750,000 individuals, about 50,000 each year

from all countries– Reports are widely accepted by universities, licensing

boards, employers, government agencies

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Document-by-Document Report

• Identifies and describes each diploma or certificate

• Indicates periods of education • Provides an equivalency for each document

This is the report you should generally order for:

• Employment (when Licensing or Certification is not required) • Immigration

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Comprehensive Course-by-Course Report

Document-by-Document report, PLUS :

• Lists all subjects completed at the post-secondary level

• Provides a U.S. semester credit and grade equivalent for each course

• Provides a U.S. grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale

This is the report you should order for:

• Education

• Professional licensing

• Professional certification

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Unique Elements of WES Evaluation

WES authenticates all credentials– Why authentication is important

Adds credibility and gives confidence to recipient Addresses concerns about fraud and diploma mills U.S. employers can not easily verify foreign degrees, but

routinely do so for U.S. degrees

Most widely recognized reports

Multiple Purposes– Employment– Professional Licensing/Certification– Further Education– Immigration

Using Your Evaluation

For Employment– Employers

Government agencies & large companies generally require or recognize evaluations

Smaller businesses may not be aware

– Concerns about fraud Companies can easily and quickly verify U.S. degrees Foreign degrees not easily checked by non-experts

– “Sell” and explain your WES evaluation Mention in resume, cover letter, interview Employers can call WES to verify report, ask questions

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For Professional Licensing– License is required for some professions

Complicated, time-consuming, expensiveNot always necessary

– Limited practice – e.g. Accounting, Law– Alternative careers in related fields

Physician Healthcare interpreter Registered Nurse Cert. Nurse AssistantPublic school teacher Substitute teacher

Alternate routes– More flexible (esp. Teaching)

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Using Your Evaluation

For Professional Licensing– Licensing is state-regulated

Each state has separate boards with different rulesFind your state board at www.clearhq.org/boards.htm

– Certification is usually voluntary Sometimes required for licensing or hiring in certain

fieldsFind your profession at

www.noca.org/Generalinformation/MemberOrganizations

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Using Your Evaluation

For Further Education– Undergraduate Admission / Transfer Credit

External (WES) evaluation often required, but not always Helps college staff determine eligibility Determine advanced standing/transfer credit

– Graduate Programs Academic Department/Faculty Review Applications and

Decide on Admission

– Certificate and Training Programs Nursing, allied health, teaching Pathways to licensing in some fields

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How to Use Your Evaluation

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Your Experience

What has your experience been?– Using your evaluation– Finding appropriate employment or education

opportunities– Seeking further education or licensing

What else WES might do to help its clients?

Do you have additional suggestions?

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Upwardly Global (www.upglo.org)

You can call us “UpGlo”

• Non-profit Organization with offices in SF, NY and Chicago• Provide job search support for skilled, educated immigrants. • Our results:

Coached more than 1,200 skilled immigrants from more than 94 developing countries

$40,000 average salary + benefits in career field

Programs and Services

Jobseeker program– Free 8-week workshop– Mentoring program– Connections to employers in your field– Referral to community organizations– Expectation to commit to a high level of communication with

Upwardly Global staff

Employer Network program– Partnership with more than large, small-to-medium companies,

government institutions and non-profit– Help them effectively recruit immigrant professionals through

hands-on training

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Success Stories

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Before: Babysitter After: Immigration Lawyer

Before: UnemployedAfter: Professional Recruiter JPMC

Before: Cab driverAfter: Design Engineer, Con Edison

Before: Security GuardAfter: Accountant, AJWS

Before: UnemployedAfter: PR Director, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Before: CookAfter: Evaluater, WES

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Traits of U.S. Job Search

Fast: Fast paced, quick turnaround

Computerized: Electronic/internet & email focused

Networked: Emphasis on networking with people you don’t know

Competitive: Many candidates for each job

Sell, sell, sell: Focused on self promotion and marketing yourself

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Marketing Yourself – “Elevator Pitch”

Who you are:Hi, my name is _____________.

What you can do:I have __ years of experience in/as a _________(field/profession).

What you are looking for:I am looking for a position as a _____________where I can apply my skills in (skill #1), (skill #2), (skill #3). I would like to work for __________ (type of organization/company – be specific).”

UPGLO ACTION ITEM: Practice Your Pitch

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Job Search Tool Box: Resumes

Employers will only spend 20 seconds reviewing your resume! Your resume must quickly show:

• What you are looking for• What value you bring • What you are capable of

UPGLO ACTION ITEM: Update your resume in the American style

“After I updated my resume, it

was much more clear what kind of

job I wanted. My resume is now

results oriented and easier to

read, and really highlights my best

accomplishments. After I updated

it, I started getting calls and

interviews!”

-Nataliya, Ukraine

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American-style Resumes

Concise (1 – 2 pages is best)

Results oriented

Well organized and formatted

Job Search Tool Box: Job Boards

Where to Look:• Monster.com, Hotjobs.com, Careerbuilder.com,

Vault.com (large companies)

• Idealist.org, opportunityknocks.org, volunteermatch.org (non-profit organizations)

• Craigslist.org (all sizes and types of companies)

• Mediabistro.com (for advertising/marketing)

• Company websites

• Careervoyages.gov, careeronestop.org (career information)

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Job Search Tool Box: Job Boards

Don’t make common mistakes when using the internet in your search!

Do Not: • Use it as the ONLY job search tool• Apply for so many jobs you lose track• Submit generic resumes and cover letters

Do:• Use Job Boards for research to target your search• Customize every job application you submit• Only apply to jobs you are qualified for

UPGLO ACTION ITEM: Use Job Boards to find 3 companies for which you would like to work

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How do Americans find Jobs?

Internet Job Boards – 4%

Newspaper ad – 15%

Networking – 77%

Internet Job Boards – 4%

Newspaper ads – 15%

Networking – 77% !!

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Networking

Where• Professional Association events/meetings• Job Fairs• Conferences• Classes/Trainings• Online Social Networks (LinkedIn.com, etc.)

Who• Your personal network - teachers, family, friends, doctors,

political/civic/community leaders, salespersons, other parents, fellow volunteers, clergy

How• Informational Interviews• Short phone calls• “Meet for coffee”

UPGLO ACTION ITEM: List 5 people you will talk to or places you will go to start networking in your job search

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Networking Success Stories

Vladimir, a Ph.D. from Russia, found a position as a Software Engineer through a connection with another Upwardly Global jobseeker’s husband’s friend!

Helio, a Stock Broker from Brazil, found a position at Citigroup through a friend who already worked at the company (this one took some persistence!)

Tatiana, an accountant from Moldova, found a position as an Accounts Payable Specialist through a contact she made at a professional networking event.

Mandy, a Finance Professional from China, found her position at State Street Financial through someone she met at a Party!

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Working with UpGlo to Re-Start your Career

Minimum qualifications:– Arrived in US within the past 5 years– Full, permanent work authorization– Minimum of a BA degree from outside the US– Have at least 2 years of experience in field– Highly motivated in your job search– Able to commit to an 8 week training program

(3-hour evening sessions, once a week)

If you can answer YES, your next steps are to:1) Apply online! www.upwardlyglobal.org or call us at 212-219-88282) If you have applied, please call us this week to schedule a client meeting!** Please complete the attached sheet before leaving today!

Summary

Main Barriers to Employment

Resources

Academic credentials and professional skills/ experience not recognized

World Education Services• Credential Evaluation for

• employment purposes• higher education• professional certification

Job-seekers not familiar with U.S. job search

Upwardly Global• Jobseeker Program

• free 8-week workshop• mentorship program• employer connections

• Employer Network Program

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Thank you

Questions and Answers

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