Job Hunting in a Recession for H1-Bs, Tips for Survival

Job Hunting in a Recession for H1-Bs

Tips for Survival

I knew, things are tough right now for everyone in the United States, and even tougher for people who need H1-B visa. Not only there are far few companies are still hiring, but even fewer of them are willing to sponsor H1-Bs. For example, as a TRAP money recipient, my company decided to stop hiring H1-Bs, and will no longer renew H1-B visas for current holders in the company. Therefore, like many of my readers, I soon will have to start job hunting again in this bad economy.

Alright, let’s talk about what we can do to face the huge challenges in front of us. Here are some tips for survival:

1. Redefine Your Options: Does the industry or line of work you like offer little promise of employment in the coming months? If so, now is a good time to step back to identify the projected top performing industries and jobs for H1-Bs. For example, investment banking is a dying field, so allocate your efforts into other industries that are still hiring, such as health care, IT and government related jobs. Be flexible in term of geography locations, salary, titles, and other aspects of position. Narrow down your list of companies to only those who sponsor H1-Bs. You can find them by a Google search.
2. Switch Your Focus: Start asking yourself the question, "What's in it for them?" as opposed to, "What's in it for me?" Especially in an economic downturn, you'll want to stay focused on what you can do for your next employer. Show them that you understand the macroeconomic "bigger picture" of the role you play in moving the company forward, and the immediately contributions you can make.
3. Marketing Results not Skills：Leave behind that old mindset that your job-related skills or length of service are selling factors. The new mindset is to think of you as a mini profit-and-loss center rather than just an employee. Employers today buy results and are less impressed with candidates promoting a long laundry list of skills. Highlights your accomplishments rather than your skill sets in resume.
4. Show the Bottom Line: The recession has made the private sector economy even more bottom-line oriented than ever. Hiring managers categorize employees into one of two distinct groups:those who help make money, and those who help save money. Collect specific examples of the benefits that your company gained from the work you've already performed. Clarify the specific benefit your company received by making money or saving money, and write them down.
5. Achievements get You into the Door: Employers don't hire employees, they hire problem-solvers. Your new resume should be a hard-hitting sales tool designed to accomplish one goal: get the interview. To demonstrate this, add a specific achievements list to your resume. Take the list that you developed in the previous section and hone it down to your biggest and most notable accomplishments. Now, describe the benefit that your employer gained from each example. This will put you several steps ahead of your job-seeking competitors. Plus, you'll now have some talking points ready for that next phone interview.
6. Networking harder: In the downtime, networking became even more important. As a foreigner, you really need network as hard as you can. I knew, it is extremely difficult for us to overcome our shy nature or comfort zone. But the reality is, network is not even an option anymore, it becomes a necessary step of job hunting.