After paying the first installment, the next step was drafting a resume and, naturally, the job search itself. At the time, I thought it would go smoothly—everyone else was finding jobs, so I figured I would too. But we all know things don't always go as planned... Since I took the job search a bit too lightly, I dragged out the resume drafting for two weeks. At the same time, I was working on my passport, but also without much effort or enthusiasm. Basically, I didn't make a single step toward my goals before the New Year.
In early January, I finally finished my resume and cover letter. A bit more detail on how I did it: first, I found a template for a ready-made resume and letter, which helps a lot because, without it, I had no idea what to write. There are plenty of examples online. I can only say this: take the drafting process very, very seriously, as it is the deciding factor! Reach out to the IEC to have them check, correct, or advise you on what needs to be fixed or added!
Step one is done, the resume is ready, and it's time to start searching! Again, I'll share how I actually did it. First and foremost, search engines. Here is a small list that might be useful to someone: www.craigslist.org, www.superpages.com, www.ji-jobs.com, www.coolworks.com, www.monster.com, www.hotjobs.com, www.flipdog.com, www.summerjobs.com, www.resortjobs.com, www.mountainjobs.com, www.aboutjobs.com, www.jobmonkey.com, www.jobstar.com, www.rileyguide.com.
Type 'summer job' or 'seasonal job' in the search bar, and you'll get a list of available vacancies! I also had a lot of websites for restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks! If anyone needs this, I can share this rather useful info.
So, I started sending out resumes. In the first month, January, I did it a little—you could say very little... 5-6 emails a day, or sometimes nothing at all. I thought what I was doing was enough and that one fine day an offer would just fall into my hands... and what do you think? How wrong I was! Remember, if you decide to look for an offer by sending out resumes, you must send at least 500; some people send 2,000-3,000! Just imagine, they get 2-3 positive responses out of that many emails! So if you haven't even sent a hundred, don't be surprised why you aren't getting that long-awaited offer!
Think beforehand if you are ready to dedicate a significant amount of time to sending out your resume. If not, it's better to contact the IEC immediately or look for a paid job placement, otherwise, you might pay the price later!
Actually, I almost paid the price... In total, I sent about 350-370 emails, and what do you think? Not a single positive response! Not one! Then I decided to resort to more serious measures: I topped up my Skype and started calling...)) It was something else. The first phone number, the first call, 3 of my friends in a Skype conference listening to me try to say something coherent to Americans... dial tones... I hear a female voice but don't understand anything=))) There is a small peculiarity: forget the English you studied at university if your major isn't related to foreign languages, and definitely forget school... Before the calls, I thought I had an intermediate level of English, but after, I realized I was wrong again=))) Americans speak fast and swallow quite a few sounds, which is why at first I just didn't understand what they were saying on the phone. In the end, the first call ended with me rolling on the floor laughing in hysterics because I didn't understand anything=) It's a strange state; I still don't understand my amusement, but I liked it! Subsequent calls were better; I started to understand, and they, as it happens, understood me, but the answer was one—or rather, the meaning was: no jobs available!!! This lasted until mid-February. I started to panic a lot because there was no offer and time was running out! Every time I fell asleep, my thoughts were only about what I could do to get it! I even sent applications to Alaska in the hope that they would definitely take me there! But no, no, and no again! Not a single positive response!
In the end, our website helped me a lot. In the classifieds section, I found Martin from Lithuania from a tax refund company. I was told at the IEC that he helps with offers. I sent him my resume, but there was no answer! Two weeks pass, and I get a phone call. I don't immediately recognize the number and pick up... the first thing I hear is Russian with a very heavy accent=)) I was shocked by his call. He told me that an employer from Virginia was interested in me and that I needed to have an interview to get this job... I still believe in fate. That evening, it was the birthday of two of my friends; I was already set to party all night=) So I told Martin that I was busy today and would call him back on the weekend!
But what do you think? Around 4 AM, the party was in full swing, I pick up the phone, and, surprisingly, I hear my future employer=))) Getting completely brazen, I tell him I'm busy and can't talk to him. How could I have been distracted from such an important activity then=))) I really regretted what I said to him... I thought he would mentally dismiss me and find someone else instead of me... but to my luck, that didn't happen!
The interview took 2 minutes. They only asked if I liked fish and if I liked the kitchen=)) So it's not scary at all, although there are employers who conduct interviews very seriously. I even know cases where, when hiring lifeguards, the interview lasts 40 minutes OO!!! And two weeks later, the long-awaited 'OK' status, and my next step is the embassy!!!!)))
