Dear CareerBabe:

While I was surfing the net I found your wonderful site. My question: I have lived in various countries in the Middle East for a period of 14 years. All those years I have attended various American schools. Now I'm back in my native country, Holland and wonder if there are any possibilities for me to make a switch to a job in the US.

Dear On My Way:

First thanks for praising our site. We love it! For best results to get a job in the US,

1. Start reading American newspapers and magazines that involve the kind of job you want in the US. You will have BEST results if you have a SKILL SET that America needs - and if you know WHERE in America your skills are most needed.
   
   
2. You can search for more information on companies that interest you via the Internet. Try this URL: "http://www.(name of company).com". If you are lucky, you can find the e-mail address of a person who might have been quoted in an article you have read. (For this, try reading Press Releases!)
   
   
3. Also try newsgroups based both on cities you want to work in and target jobs.
   
   If you don't know how to use newsgroups, educate yourself via
   
   

   http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/leblanc/internet-course/newsgroups.html

   http://www.dejanews.com/

   Last but not least, the Usenet Info Center Launch Pad, http://sunsite.unc.edu/usenet-i/

   This site includes a collection of frequently asked questions, FAQs, and a helpful search feature that makes it easy to find newsgroups by topic, title or keywords.

   
   
4. Do you need a VISA sponsor? If so, be sure to mention that to prospective employers, too.
   
   
5. Last but not least: always use a SPELL CHECKER before you send out ANYTHING, be it e-mail or snail mail as I noticed several spelling errors in your message. This could easily eliminate you from many possible job opportunities.

Good Luck!