SKEMA Alumni Webinar #2 : Willing to move and work in the US? How to approach the American Dream
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The document details a webinar aimed at SKEMA alumni discussing career management and immigration options for working in the United States. It covers various visa types, best practices for job applications, and personal experiences of alumni transitioning to work in the U.S. The webinar also encourages networking and preparation for those considering moving to the U.S. for work.
SKEMA Alumni Webinar #2 : Willing to move and work in the US? How to approach the American Dream
- 1. Willing to move and work in the US? How to approach the American dream! LIVE WEBINAR JANUARY 23rd 2014 at 1pm EDT In partnership with
- 2. CAREER MANAGEMENT Welcome ! by Fabienne Buon • For SKEMA Alumni, your career ma4ers. With this brand new program of interac@ve workshops, SKEMA Alumni gives you access to exclusive tools, advice and experts dedicated to assis@ng you with managing your career in the United States, whether you’re already working there or willing to do so. • Several sessions are scheduled over the school year, hosted and animated by our US partner Strat’America, co-‐founded and managed by Sylvie Giret & Lae@@a Longuefosse. • Keep checking Skema Alumni’s website for upcoming dates !
- 3. CAREER MANAGEMENT The speakers today PIERRE GEORGES BONNEFIL EMMANUEL CARGILL SANDRINE BERNARD And Youri moderator: LAETITIA LONGUEFOSSE Execu@ve partner of the US consul@ng firm Strat’America and co-‐founder of Stratégies Américaines (www.strategiesamericaines.com) with Sylvie Giret. Connect with Lae--a at lae@@[email protected] 3
- 4. CAREER MANAGEMENT Table of content 1. Is immigra@on part of the dream or a nightmare? 2. Human Resources: What are the best ways to prepare? 3. « I did it! » The inspiring experience of a Skema Alumni
- 5. CAREER MANAGEMENT PART 1 IMMIGRATION: WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
- 6. CAREER MANAGEMENT Work visas Appropriate visa depend on your background. A competent immigra@on lawyer will direct you to the visa that makes sense for you. Most common work visa are: F1/J1 Visa: Student and intern Visa H1B: Most common working visa – Quota (85K visa per year) open each year in April for October 1st of the same year. It takes a couple of months to build the case. E2: Investor visa L1: Transfer Visa What is the best way to prepare? Once you have a job offer, send the job offer as well as you resume and any relevant informa@on to your immigra@on lawyer, and he will discuss with you which are your best offers.
- 7. CAREER MANAGEMENT Transfer : L1 Visa Transfer What is the best way to prepare for an internal promo@on? If you get transfered to your current company’s subsidiary, you will be able to work with your lawyer to get a transfer visa (L1 visa) Good news: There is no quota for a L1 Visa. Family What's happening to my spouse and children if my company transfers me? A L1 visa spouse is not allowed to work in the United States.
- 8. CAREER MANAGEMENT Entrepreneur/investor E2 Visa How to approach the immigra@on constraint should I decide to start a business in the United States? E2 Visa is for entrepreneur with a: -‐ Substancial investment (amount depends on the project) -‐ Investment must be at risk. You are willing to be inves@ng, even if you do not get your E2 Visa. A E2 visa is valid 5 years and renewable at vitam eternam as long as you keep the business running. Cost and @meframe depend on many factosr, including your level of involvement in the case construc@on
- 9. Green Card CAREER MANAGEMENT What are the ways to the Green Card? -‐ Lo4ery: Opens once a year for a month in October. -‐ Work: your employer sponsor you or you are willing to invest a million USD (EB5 visa) -‐ Family : Marriage
- 10. CAREER MANAGEMENT PART 2 HUMAN RESOURCES: WHAT CAN I DO TO INCREASE MY CHANCES TO COME AND WORK IN THE US?
- 11. CAREER MANAGEMENT It’s all about image! What do you associate French Business School with? There is a lot of compe@@on : The US are very a4rac@ve to French people. First impression from a French Vice President Human Resources: Empathy.
- 12. CAREER MANAGEMENT Looking for a US job from France Is there a privileged route to follow for an execu@ve willing to move from France to the US ? First, iden@fy a short list of 10 companies that you would really like to work for. Do some research and apply to each of them with a personalized applica@on. HR people are gejng many applica@on every day. You will not get the a4en@on of a HR person without showing interest in the company and passion. Then social media are a good way to find common contacts.
- 13. CAREER MANAGEMENT Some mistakes to avoid What are the major mistakes Foreign applicants make when applying for a US posi@on? 1. DON’T SEND AN APPLICATION IN FRENCH. The tempta@on is here, when you see a french patronym. But this applica@on will be lost as it cannot be forwarded. 2. Use spell check. 3. Get your contact involved. Spark his/her interest.
- 14. Do’s and Dont’s CAREER MANAGEMENT -‐ Usually resume are rather well forma4ed : Remember to use the US format (no personal men@ons such as picture, age, sex). -‐ On an interview, a HR person expects: Candidates must know what they are really good at. Show confidence. Candidates must show passion. The first 2 minutes are crucial. The best advice is to prac@ce, with friends, family, a mentor, go through the usual ques@ons and prac@ce. You have to shine!
- 15. CAREER MANAGEMENT PART 3 A PRACTICAL CASE : SANDRINE BERNARD EVP SOLSTISS
- 16. Why? CAREER MANAGEMENT It was a family project. Sandrine and her husband wanted to work overseas and he managed to be transferred to the United States. However, he was not transferred as an « expat » but as a « local » -‐ Moving expenses, lodging etc were not paid or arranged by the company.
- 17. CAREER MANAGEMENT Challenges What were the biggest challenges? Even if Sandrine was not working the first 6 months, every aspects of the personal installa@on was challenging: Being French, we do not have a credit history which makes it difficult to do pre4y much anything: sign a lease, get a cellular phone, get a credit to buy a car, etc. Cost of living is challenging: cost of living, educa@on (20K USD per child)
- 18. Prepara[on CAREER MANAGEMENT What would you do differently if you could go back to Skema? Sandrine took advance to Erasmus in Spain. If she could go back to the Skema years, she would chose China or the United States.
- 19. CAREER MANAGEMENT Advices What are the best advices for those who would like to follow your path? -‐ Be prepared! Especially if you move with your family. -‐ Take advance of your networks. -‐ Believe in yourself!
- 20. CAREER MANAGEMENT NEXT STEPS 1/2 CHECK YOUR MAILBOX Please answer our survey (check your email!) and email us any addi@onal comment, feedback or sugges@on at [email protected]
- 21. CAREER MANAGEMENT NEXT STEPS 2/2 CHECK SKEMA ALUMNI WEBSITE • Access the recording • Post your comments and share the experience • Register to our next topic : “An entrepreneurial projet? How to make it happen?” (date to be announced soon on Skema Alumni website)
- 22. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING ! In partnership with