LeonB1985 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1375 times:
I'm in the final year of a degree in English Language and Communication, and expect to graduate with a First in summer 2006. I am fully bilingual, have four A-levels (AABC) and 11 GCSEs (at grade A or A*) and nearly two years of (part time) experience in aviation - but it seems near impossible to find (graduate) work in the aviation industry. I'm slowly starting to lose faith in aviation in the UK and see if there are opportunities further afield. So - does anybody know about how easy it would be for a British citizen to go through the formalities to be allowed to work in the USA? Are there any Brits here who have crossed the pond for work, and can provide a bit of info? Any tips? Anybody looking for an enthusiastic, friendly, well-qualified, bilingual employee?
Cheers!
Sean1234 From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 411 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
Bilingual- Is that British English and American English?
You can start by checking the US State Department website.
LeonB1985 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1352 times:
I've had a look at the State Dept site - sorry, I should have probably been clearer, just wondered what those who have been 'through the motions' have to say. PS: If I adopt American English, maybe I could even call myself trilingual!
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1314 times:
BristolFlyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2135 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1304 times:
Quoting LeonB1985 (Thread starter): Are there any Brits here who have crossed the pond for work, and can provide a bit of info?
Yep, I'm a Brit and live & work in Arizona. I set up a business over here. Getting a job here is nigh on impossible.
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1301 times:
Quoting BristolFlyer (Reply 4): The easiest way to do it, although still expect mountains of paperwork
Tell me about it. I went thru it all. Especially the biographic form was fun. 4 copies, gotta write out each one separately. And they wanted two sets, so a total of 8 pages, just for that one form.....
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 56 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1298 times:
Quoting LeonB1985 (Thread starter): but it seems near impossible to find (graduate) work in the aviation industry. I'm slowly starting to lose faith in aviation in the UK and see if there are opportunities further afield.
I think there is more opportunities in the aviation field in the UK than there has been for a long time (and for graduates too). However it does depend who you are looking at and what kind of work. The likes of the old BA graduate programmes aren't the opportunities they once were, but there are lots of great positions out there for well qualified graduates. I should know, I've recruited enough in the past
I would be interested to know what field specifically you are looking for (you may need to be quite specific, rather than just general in what you want) and where you have tried.
To be honest right now I would say you would have a far higher chace as a UK citizen getting a job in aviation in the UK than you ever would in the US.
Cornish.
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
LHMARK From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 7255 posts, RR: 51 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1286 times:
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 1263 times:
Quoting KaiGywer (Reply 5): specially the biographic form was fun. 4 copies, gotta write out each one separately
You must have done it a few years ago then. The website now has fillable forms which you fill out and then just print 4 copies.
To answer your original question Leon, what BF said is true, and that's the way I did it 8 years ago, although I only moved here 3 years ago. Damn wife wanted to live in England for a few years
LeonB1985 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1257 times:
My (ok, rather limited) experience is in executive/GA ops, but I'd be quite interested in going into areas such as marketing or PR - and think that'd probably tie in well with my degree. But I am keen to consider other jobs, although how one is meant to survive in London on GBP16k is a mystery to me! I guess I just need to churn out more CVs and covering letters! Have just written to Netjets, for example, who are based in London (operations in LIS) to see if there is anything there. I suppose I will have to wait until a bit nearer the time, I mean I can't imagine many companies would want to offer me a job now when I can't start til July (preferably September) at the earliest! Maybe I'll do the sensible thing and rule out thoughts of the USA.
BristolFlyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2135 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 1255 times:
Quoting LeonB1985 (Reply 9): Maybe I'll do the sensible thing and rule out thoughts of the USA.
If you can dismiss them that easily then yes, you should. If you're committed (and I mean REALLY committed) then it's possible.
Exarmywarrant From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 267 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1251 times:
My company manufactures aircraft interiors in Southern California and we employ a ton of Brits.
E-mail me at burt.aukerman@cdaero.com and I'll try to forward it one of your countrymen who can answer your questions...
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 56 Reply 12, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 1212 times:
Quoting LeonB1985 (Reply 9): but I'd be quite interested in going into areas such as marketing or PR - and think that'd probably tie in well with my degree.
The thing to remember is that aviation is a competitive field to get into as is marketing and PR for the bigger companies. To be honest, unlike some other areas of aviation, in the areas of marketing and PR it is the marketing and PR slant that is far more important than any love of aviation.
You will be up against people who will be passionate about wanting to get into marketing or PR and to say that you'd be "quite interested" means you most likely not stand a chance.
My advice is that in a competitive field you have to show potential employers that you really WANT something and you are passionate about it. For the good jobs you will turn an interviewer off you if they sense that you quite like the idea of doing something but don't really have your heart set. In the area of marketing (not my field admittedly) they will almost certainly go for someone looking for a marketing job than an aviation job. A love of aviation is an irrelevance to them really, as most marketing is done by companies who will have clients in various different industries.
Quoting LeonB1985 (Reply 9): although how one is meant to survive in London on GBP16k is a mystery to me!
What is the priority here a job in aviation or the money? If you want to get into aviation that badly you will be able to cope on GBP16K at the start of your career. It may mean you don't live in the nicest area, it may mean you go out less on the weekends, but if you want the career that badly you'll sacrifice a few comforts to get it. and if you want more money as a new graduate then definitely look at another industry
I started on bugger all when I first moved to London to start my aviation career after finishing my degree. I could have had better paid jobs, but this is what I wanted to do, so I accepted the low pay and just worked hard to move up the ladder. Now some years later I'm on something like 4 times what I was paid when I started out and love my job.
But aviation is all about experience and when you come out of university you start at the very bottom of the ladder. Aviation does not pay well at the very bottom - the rewards only come further along the line.
This is not a dig at you, even if it may sound a bit like it, because you are still young and have yet to have much experience at interviews and what recruiters look for. Please take it as advice in what is a very competitive field. I'm very passionate about my job and aviation. In interviews with graduates if I'm faced by somebody who doesn't show real desire to want that job or puts money as a key requirement (when they are a new graduate) then they aren't the right person for me I'm afraid, regardless of how qualified they are.
Think carefully about exactly what you want to do (and be honest with yourself) and then be determined to get it, and do all the necessary research. With that approach you are far more likely to be successful in finding what you really want to do.
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
KaiGywer From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 12027 posts, RR: 43 Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 1199 times:
Quoting BigOrange (Reply 8): You must have done it a few years ago then. The website now has fillable forms which you fill out and then just print 4 copies.
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 411 posts, 
I did it in 2003.
Printer friendly format 
