Moving Your Career to Houston, Texas

Posted on Dec 27, 2016 | 0 comments

Moving Your Career to Houston, Texas

So you are thinking of moving to Houston, Texas? Great idea! Houston is incredibly diverse and its residents speak 145 languages. With friendly people and lots of outdoor fun, there is always something to do. In addition, compared to other big cities, Houston is relatively affordable.

 

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are looking for work:

 

Location, Location, Location

 

Houston is a large metropolitan area with many cities on the outer edge of Houston: Katy, SugarLand, PearLand, Humble, The Woodlands…the list goes on and on. Many people live in these cities and commute into Houston for work but, with the growing population, you may want to consider living closer to where you work to avoid a long commute.

 

Leverage Your Language Skills

 

Houston is an international city with a multi-cultural population. Passport Career has an extensive list of networking resources including the Chambers of Commerce in Houston and Greater Houston. Job seekers with English and foreign language skills will have a leg up with the many foreign owned businesses seeking employees with international experience. Following websites also list and Chambers of Commerce in Greater Houston. In addition, the World Affairs Council of Houston may be able to help you connect with like-minded individuals.

 

Job Search Timeline

 

It typically takes about three to six months to find a full-time job. Make sure you have planned and budgeted accordingly. If you are not a Green Card holder/U.S. Permanent Resident or U.S. Citizen, it may take you longer. Make sure you are familiar with labor laws in the United States. The United States is strict in their enforcement of laws and you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the law.

 

Volunteering

 

Depending on your work authorization, you may be able to volunteer. If you are legally able to volunteer, this can be a good way to increase your skill set and network with others. If you are not from the United States, it can also be a good introduction to American culture. As a bonus: many employers appreciate applicants who volunteer. Volunteermatch is a helpful website for identifying volunteer opportunities.

 

Networking

 

Networking online through sites such as LinkedIn as well as through in-person networking groups is an important component of the job search. Most professional organizations have regular, educational meetings as well as gatherings. Find the groups, both online and in person, that are most related to the type of career that you would like to pursue. VocationVillage.com has a list of numerous professional organizations present in Houston. Passport Career has an extensive list of networking resources including professional and business organizations as well as expat groups in Houston and the surrounding area.

 

Resume

 

If you are coming from outside the United States, definitely make sure that you understand the components of a resume in the States. For example, American resumes don’t include a picture, marital status, or religion. In addition, resumes, in contrast to CVs, tend to be short. Most US employers prefer a one or two page resume. Keep in mind that American employers view resumes as marketing brochures so only include the highlights rather than all the details about your background. Once you secure an interview, be prepared to elaborate on your background in relation to the job.

 

Interviewing

 

When interviewing for a job, employers first want to confirm that you have the right skills for the job. Unlike some countries that may want to first determine if you are good fit, in the United States skills are much more important as is your commitment to the company.

 

You may find following websites helpful in your job hunt:

 

HR Houston lists job openings in the Human Resources Industry. Browse marketing jobs through Houston’s American Marketing Association job board. Search through a variety of job openings in Houston’s Careers with No Limits platform. The Houston Business Journal is a great resource. It has in-person networking groups as well as a Book of Lists that categorizes companies by industry. The Journal has robust online content that will keep you up-to-date on industry news.

 

Helen Godfrey, Global Career Expert

 

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MOVING YOUR CAREER TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY?

 

Passport Career provides more detailed career information and extensive resources as well as career training about networking, finding a job, internship, alternative career opportunities, job search using social media as well as information on writing CVs, cover letters and interviews. If your organization, embassy, university/college, library, or other institution would like access to our country portfolios (15,000+ pages of expert content for 80+ countries and 250+ cities) to share with your students, employees, spouses/partners, and others managing a national or international career transition, please click here to contact us (or send email to: global@passportcareer.com) regarding a free, live, online demo and details on how to obtain a license to access Passport Career.

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