Job Hunting in San Diego (how much, employment, to live)

[Dunroe]

Hi guys, I'm new to the forum!

I was just wondering whether you guys could assist me on the subject of job hunting. I have signed up to every possible employment website involving San Diego but was wondering what the recruitment agencies are like in San Diego or whether there are any at all...

If these agencies exist then are they any good? Would I have a better chance of getting a job if I visited San Diego and approached these agencies?

Thank you in advance for your help!



*I forgot to mention that I am a British citizen currently located in Spain. My field of work is online marketing.

[hanna_house]

Of course it really depends on your field, but we found it was much easier to move here first and then get a job. My husband started applying for jobs well before moving and got minimal response. I think it's just less hassle for employers to hire locally, as there are so many looking for jobs right now. Also, San Diego is one of the most appealing cities in the US, which means there is no shortage of people trying to move here.

[loveautumn]

Will you have a visa to work in the US?

[Dunroe]

Hi hanna_house, thanks for the information. I feel like I'm in the same situation, I just thought that it's a risky move without securing a job beforehand.

I suppose I can check it out for 90 days and see what happens.

[Dunroe]

I am in need of a sponsor (or visa of some sort) which makes me think that I need to land a job with a decent company...

[soymabelen]

You have to possess very specific and in short supply skills and experience for an employer in the US to sponsor you right now. It is a costly and lengthy process, so you'd better be worth it!

[hanna_house]

Originally Posted by Dunroe

Hi hanna_house, thanks for the information. I feel like I'm in the same situation, I just thought that it's a risky move without securing a job beforehand.

I understand your hesitance completely. In the beginning I never would have fathomed that I would pick up and move with no prospects or place to stay. Over time I resigned to the idea because I believed that this is where I wanted to be and was willing to take the risk, even if it meant having to work crappy jobs for a while. Thankfully my husband secured a pretty decent job a month after pulling into town. I can't say everyone will have it that easy, but if you save up enough money to live on for a few months and you're aggressive in your job search, you have a much better chance of making it work. All the best to you!

[Dunroe]

How costly is it on average? I can see plenty of relevant positions available online but it seems that they only wish to deal with local people as hanna_house mentioned.

[cruitr]

Looks like about $5000-$6000 dollars:
How much does a sponsorship (work visa) cost for the employing company? (USA)? - Yahoo! Answers

If you want to make yourself more marketable, I guess you could offer to help pay those fees.

[soymabelen]

It's not just about the cost, but also about meeting the visa requirements, which include advertising the position for a certain length of time and not finding suitable legal US residents for it. I am not trying to discourage you, by all means do try, you'll never know unless you do, I just want you to have a realistic picture of what the odds are.