Work in Los Angeles for Russians: overview, features and recommendations

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

One of the most famous cities in the world - Los Angeles, the center of all kinds of entertainment, the birthplace of the most interesting films, a picturesque corner - is located on the Pacific coast. In everyday life, almost every one of us associates this name with Hollywood. There is a cluster of film studios here, many stars live here. There is also a popular Walk of Fame.

In addition, the city is known for its magnificent promenades with clean beaches and a huge number of cafes, boutiques, restaurants. Names such as Manhattan Beach, Malibu, Long Beach are probably known to everyone.

Dream City

Working in Los Angeles is the dream of not only almost any immigrant, but also a considerable part of fellow Americans. This is because this concept automatically implies a high level of salary and many interesting vacancies. Of course, the level of competition here is extremely high. But an applicant with a good education, letters of recommendation and experience has good prospects.

And what about Russian-speaking emigrants? Find a job inLos Angeles is easiest for Russians in the restaurant and hotel business.

Citizens of the post-Soviet space have a chance to get a good job in one of the many Russian cafes and restaurants, shops, magazines and newspapers. Emigrant entrepreneurs, former Russians who have managed to organize their own business here, are willing to employ their compatriots. Thus, work in Los Angeles for Russians (even for those who do not speak English perfectly) is quite real.

And yet, such activities are not highly paid. So tip number 1 - learn English!

Jobs in LA for girls

What jobs were most relevant for foreigners in Los Angeles last year (2016)? An intelligent woman who has a teaching diploma, experience, good communication skills, can count on the position of a nanny or babysitter. Of course, for this job, a serious command of English is a prerequisite.

If you cannot or do not want to work with children, but you have a medical education and relevant experience, a job as a nurse will suit you. In this case, an average language proficiency will be quite enough. The advantage of this work is that wages are paid directly into the hands without tax deduction (this does not apply to those who are employed through special agencies). Minus - in the almost complete absence of personal time.

Another type of activity for visitors is work in restaurants, cafes, fast food establishments as attendants. Such work in Los Angeles is seasonal, most often students and schoolchildren go to it during the holidays. It is quite possible for almost any Russian to get a job like this, but you should know that in this area there is quite tough competition with people from Mexico.

And for men?

Los Angeles job postings contain many suitable vacancies for them as well. Men with a driver's license and good driving skills can get a job as a taxi driver, driver or freight forwarder. In addition to a driver's license (obtained, of course, in the United States), you need a good knowledge of the area and a fairly high level of language proficiency. Men who know how to work with technology are also available jobs in various auto repair shops and service points.

Other jobs in Los Angeles - vacancies in the construction industry and any kind of repair. It is easiest to find a job with the qualifications of a carpenter, joiner, plasterer or parquet floorer. Due to the high pace of construction, the demand for these speci alties is not decreasing.

In addition, there is always the opportunity to find a job as a plumber, electrician or other specialist in the service sector.

Good job in LA

Natives of Russia with higher education and good qualifications in their field can make a career as a paralegal or doctor, accountant, architect or even local media editor. Such positions offer certain prospects for further growth.

Of course, this process is not so fast. Time is needed to settle down in a foreign country, to study the intricacies of the national mentality. Such vacancies cannot be called massive - rather, this is a piece option.

For those who cannot count on white-collar work, the position of a sales assistant is suitable. Due to the huge number of outlets, both large and very tiny, this profession is always in demand in Los Angeles.

Girls and women can do cosmetology or manicure, both in one of the many salons and at home. The job of a hairdresser in Los Angeles is one of the most sought after and available.

Give Hollywood

Well, we should not forget that Los Angeles is the center of the global film industry. All positions, even in the slightest degree related to the production of cinema, are a separate article. From directors and actors of all calibers to make-up artists, lighting technicians and housekeeping staff, the list of options is impressive.

As well as all over the world, in America and, in particular, in Los Angeles, IT specialists (programmers, web designers) are honored. At the same time, American employers pay more attention not to the prestige of a diploma, but to specific skills. It is perhaps easier for the owners of such professions to find a job in America (including remotely) and start earning good money.

Language is our everything

Repeat again - any position with a decent income implies a good tenureEnglish. It is believed that learning a language is not too late at any age. To improve your own knowledge of the language, there are many special courses and training programs.

As long as your knowledge of English is far from perfect, there is an option to look for an employer among immigrants from Russia. Those who are not yet ready to fight for a job with high wages and tough professional requirements can take a job as a janitor, kitchen assistant or cleaning company employee.

Wages in America are usually paid once a week or every 2 weeks. The salary is indicated in the "dirty" amount (from which taxes are deducted later).

Job Search

How to find a job in Los Angeles?

The main ways for this are acquaintances among emigrants, specialized agencies or print media. As elsewhere, there are special sites dedicated to employment. On them, you can clarify the lists of popular speci alties and establish communication with potential employers.

How realistic is it (if your place of residence, for example, is St. Petersburg) to work in the USA? Los Angeles (like any American city) should be conquered according to the following scheme.

If an employer is interested in a future employee, he usually sends him an invitation, called a job offer. This document contains the necessary information about job responsibilities, the approximate level of the future salary, and so on. In order to secure employment,conclusion of a contract.

Procedural points

When contacting a recruitment agency, be sure to check whether it has a license to conduct such activities. Most often, such a document is hung out in a conspicuous place (for example, on the wall near the front door). Agency services are necessarily formalized by a contract. You will receive a receipt for their payment. If the services were not useful, and the results of the negotiations did not give anything, you are obliged to return the money.

What advice would you give to those looking to get a job in Los Angeles? As elsewhere, you will need proper paperwork and, most importantly, a well-written resume. Even better - the additional presence of letters of recommendation from those places of work where you worked recently. There is a peculiarity in American documents - places of work are not listed in chronological order, as in our country, but in reverse order.

Before an interview with an employer, a telephone conversation or a video conference is a must. Several different interviews are then possible (even when it's just a sales job).

If you do not have permission to leave, you should not immediately publish this fact. You may be able to get a job without a special visa. If a job is offered that pays less than $7.5 per hour, you should not accept it. The exception is the work of a waiter - formal earnings here can be equal to a couple of dollars per hour, while it is understood that the main incometip will serve.

If the standard working day (8 hours) is exceeded, each additional hour must be paid at a rate increased by one and a half times. Weekend work doubles your income.

What types of permissions are there?

It is possible to officially stay in the United States on one of the visas listed below.

Visa type B is for business trips and just travel. With such permission, you are only en titled to visit relatives or acquaintances living in California. For transit transplants, a type C visa is issued. For students receiving education in Los Angeles - type E. For those who plan to marry an American - K.

Officially getting a job in California is possible only with a work permit (H18 type visa). To get it, you need a diploma recognized in the United States, and work experience on it. The visa is valid for 3 years, after which an extension is possible.

How exactly is the permit issued?

First of all, you pay the visa fee, which ranges from $160 to $190 per person, including children. Then, a special application form is filled out online in English, which takes about half an hour. In addition, you send your photos in a strictly defined format.

This documentation is submitted to the US Embassy, then your fate is to wait for the employer to receive an application with a special barcode. The date of your visit to the consulate is assigned. At the specified time you will have to with the packagedocumentation, come to the specified point and take biometric indicators. The procedure is postponed in case of existing injuries on the hands.

This is followed by an interview with one of the visa officers. The main task of the applicant in this case is to prove the absence of intentions to remain for permanent residence in America. Family remaining at home or real estate will serve as convincing arguments.

If the procedure is successfully completed, you can expect a visa for a week or a month. The period varies depending on the amount of additional checks and the number of people wishing to leave. If you need a visa without a queue, the reason must be more than serious. Re-application in case of refusal is possible only after a period of 47 months.

And if without a visa?

Illegal employment for foreigners in America is strictly prohibited and heavily controlled by the state. But a large part of those who failed to acquire the coveted green card resorts to it.

American employers are very, very reluctant to deal with illegal immigrants. Indeed, in case of detection of such a violation, the owner of the enterprise faces a large fine, and sometimes the closure of the business. Immigrants from the CIS countries are especially wary - they often do not have the necessary papers.

In places that involve a large turnover of cash, illegal immigrants are treated more loyally. They are paid a salary that is not fixed anywhere. Thus, the employer saves on paying taxes. You can find similar work in smallshops or restaurants, as well as construction sites and many low-paid, physically demanding jobs.

It should be remembered that this type of employment is a very risky business, as it does not guarantee the worker any social benefits. In addition, illegal emigrants can be detected at any time and forcibly deported to their homeland. But, as a rule, this does not stop energetic and confident people.

What can you count on

How high does a job in Los Angeles pay? The average family income there exceeds $30,000 a year. If we talk about men, then the per capita income is on average just over 36 thousand dollars, for women - 30-31 thousand a year. More than 14% of Los Angeles families live below the poverty line. But in the same city, there is also a maximum concentration of millionaires and simply rich people.

The minimum rate in this city is about $9 per hour. This figure is one of the highest among US states. Especially when you consider that the southern states are poorer than the northern ones.

Los Angeles City Council votes to raise the minimum wage as part of the fight against poverty. But this applies more to the local population than to visitors. As already mentioned above, Russians or Ukrainians are most often "shining" for positions that do not require Western diplomas: a consultant in a store or a beauty salon, or a worker at a construction site. Although sometimes an emigrant can be found in the film industry, wherethe level of income is completely different. And among the programmers of Silicon Valley, who receive very, very good salaries, there are many people from Russia.

How much for whom?

What are the average incomes in the context of certain professions? As a rule, gardeners, hotel servants, waiters, janitors, etc. work for the "minimum wage". They earn about 2,000 US dollars or a little more per month. Re altors, couriers, secretaries and petty clerks are paid a little higher. They are followed by workers in the beauty industry (hairdressers, etc.), consultants.

Highly qualified workers can count on a salary of 30-40 dollars per hour. This applies to civil servants, builders, managers, engineers, marketers, accountants, doctors, lawyers, insurance agents or business analysts. You can expect to be paid from $50 an hour if you are a director of a large enterprise, a lawyer, a surgeon, an auditor, a dentist or a pharmacist.

It should be noted that diplomas obtained in Russia or Ukraine in the United States do not matter. Those who graduated from a local educational institution have much more prospects.