Plan before you are in USA!

To ensure your easy transition to the US, we listed the brief list of requirement. Please, note that the more extensive list is available via the document: “US on boarding: Questions and Answers”. This is a write up of the minimum expectation from the Candidate to prepare to face and win the US marketplace.

• Prepare your eTestIT resume with help of our recruiters and samples
• Prepare a speech about you (IT career). Write it down. Record it. Practice it.
• Prepare a speech about your last project. Write it down. Record it. Practice it.
• Attend all the training sessions provided to you by our Trainers.
• You will learn driving rules in the state of Illinois once you are in teh US. We will provide you with a booklet that will help you pass your driving test and get a Driver License. It is a must that you either have Driver License from your home country or learn how to drive BEFORE you enter the US.
• Make sure that you will be able to drive a car if needed. Some companies are located outside of the city, and driving would be a very useful skill if you want to get around.
• Please make sure you have several recommendation letters (at least 2 references) by your colleagues, managers, team leaders, preferably in any digital or printed format, if to be needed to present to the client.
  

Please make sure that you have the minimum clothing items for interviews and work days (if you do not have these -you can buy it all in Chicago) as described below:

• One (1) Business suit (3 button jacket, not back color, navy blue (=dark blue) or grey preferred) pictures are provided below.
• One (1) Tie matching to your suit.
• Five (5) dress shirts (solid or pastel colors (any shade of blue, grey) or stripes, nothing flashy)
• One (1) pure white shirt for the suit
• Three (3) dress pants for everyday wear (match to your dress shirts)
• One or two (1 or 2) vests for colder weather
• Two (2) belts – a black and a brown one
• Two (2) dress shoes – a black and a brown pair, one pair should match your suit
• Seven (7) pairs of socks (black, brown, beige or grey, NO WHITE socks) to match your shoes
• Seven (7) undergarment vests to wear under the dress shirt

Scan all the documents that may relate to your visa processing etc and save them on a flash card of email, or else. Make sure you have the soft copies available (passport, diploma, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc)

Our proposed preparation process is based on our vast experience in the IT recruitment field, job market analysis, as well as our daily work with clients. Our ability to deliver you a project correlates directly to how strictly you follow the proposed guidelines. Having over 10 years of industry experience, we picked the practices that work best and keep on improving, shifting, adjusting our approach according to the new market development. We offer these practices to you to start your US career within fastest time-frame.

Help us help you: professional attitude is appreciated, immediate response to our / our client’s emails, Skype, phone communication is required. In order to be successful, one is supposed to be good with the dead-lines and religious about home work tasks.
We'll appreciate your flexibility, time committed and responsiveness!

USA first impressions and tips

November, 11th

Chicago, IL

My acquaintance with eTest IT started one year ago, when I found their C++ advertisement on one of the job boards. The normal recruiting procedure started: interview – technical screening – confirmation – applying for visa and now finally in US. I guess I will try to make this post not only informative for newcomers or people interested, but also precise and readableJ

Starting from the beginning. History of my getting US visa. It was quite easy for me, took less than 1 month to get needed documents (bank account information, translating some of the docs, etc) then only 1 week to get my visa filed. Call to embassy on Tuesday, got interview with ambassador on Friday and visa in my hands next Wednesday. I guess it was also my luck to pass the interview with ambassador so quick and so positive (I had some issues with my insurance, but he himself called somewhere to get the answers quickly). An organization called CENET helps young people to acquire J1 visa supported me with all the preparation documents (thanks to eTest IT).

And finally, I’m here. First impressions of the Chicago city, notwithstanding my tiredness after the long flight, I still was amazed with how big the city is!!! Arriving at night – I had chance to see it in its night beauty.

Not a big cultural shock I had, though. Maybe because, I’ve already been in US and worked with US clients. But other language you hear on the streets and other people you met DO make you feel not-home, I would say. But it’s only at the beginning.

Then I met eTest IT personnel, which are not only professional, but also friendly and helping. I’m temporary living at manager’s apartment right now – it helps me to integrate into American culture and society faster, though most of the eTest IT consultants live in the guest house. eTest IT guys are marketing me on US job market and present me to clients for potential future projects. I’m being taken care and professionally trained. You think it is bad you are coming here not having a job already booked for you? No, it is all very well planned. You have time to get integrated into American lifestyle, get introduced to a totally different way of being employed, interviewed here. I have already passed two trainings on how to behave myself on the interview, how to present myself, how to build my resume. I guess this information will be very useful and effective once I get it started.

Some more tips for the newcomers. Of course, you leave your family oversees, but with the up-to-date communication tools it is so easy. I bought a phone and a sim-card for 130$. 20$ per phone itself, 10$ for a card and rest 100$ on my account. I’ve also got additional service, with the help of which I pay only 5cen/minute for international calls !!:) So, I’m extremely close to my relatives and friends!

Of course, it takes time to get all needed documents, but I’ve already got Social Security Number ( for being able to receive salary payments) and I’m planning to pass he Driving License exams soon. I still have 90 days at my disposal (my Ukrainian license is valid here for this period of time)

One week has passed, even though I’m still under impressions. I’m getting more and more familiar with this city and this lifestyle. I am very grateful to eTest IT for their support and professionalism. Looking forward to the interviews and my new professional experience. Will keep you updated.

Ilya Bobir, C++ Developer

Candidate from Kyiv, Ukraine