Jobs

[Casey_03]

I am getting very discouraged in my search for a job in the States. The main problem is that I've spent 10 years living and working in Russia, gaining experience that you'd think would be priceless for any think tanks in the States. But all the job openings I find require things of me that I don't have - a Master's degree, or years of experience in "analysis" that I lack. I know many people exaggerate on their resumes to get their foot in the door, but to me that seems like a bad idea -- surely they'd figure out if I exaggerated things pretty quickly. I also don't have any connections to help me get my foot in the door anywhere. So it seems like I will have to settle for a job that has absolutely nothing to do with my education or experience, meaning 10+ years of experience in Russia was for nothing, as was my become fluent in Russian. So what the hell was the point?! Very frustrating. I know I should be happy to find any job, but I'd really much rather find something that will allow me to grow and develop, not just something to help me pay the bills. Naive, I know. But I've set the bar rather high for myself. Any advice? I've put myself in such a tricky situation here, having to apply for jobs Stateside while I'm in Ukraine. Knowing nobody to help me with a recommendation or anything like that.

 

[Kintsugi]

Translators get paid very well... Have you looked into translating in an educational setting (if that is your field)?

 

[trying2movefwd]

May I ask what your experience entails?

 

[joeylittle]

But all the job openings I find require things of me that I don't have - a Master's degree, or years of experience in "analysis" that I lack.

I don't know enough about your field - in mine, there is a point where your experience level makes up for your lack of a masters degree. So, if you see something that you'd like to apply for, go ahead and do it, and acknowledge that your decade of field work has given you a level of experience equivalent to a masters. And if you have actually been doing analysis, while in your current work, then you can talk about that as well.

It's not exaggerating - and honestly, it's not wasting their time, either. You have legitimate, practical experience. It is worth something.

 

[Casey_03]

Oops, sorry, i should've explained what my experience actually is - I've been working as a journalist for most of the past 10 years, but also doing freelance translations on the side. The problem with translation jobs in the States is that a job with a translation agency requires translation from both Russian into English and from English into Russian -- the latter of which would require me to actually go back to school for translation (in Russia, it's considered unheard of for a native English speaker to translate into Russian without training in that field, so I've never offered translations that way). My journalism work has always had a focus on Russian politics and the wider political situation in Eastern Europe; in the past few years, it's been focused on the war in Ukraine and Russia's plays on the world stage, so there has always been analysis involved, but I'm not sure I could actually call the work "analysis." Though I would argue that I likely have a better, deeper understanding of today's Russia than most candidates with an MA in that field. I'm just really not good at talking myself up .... The other funny thing is that most analyst jobs require a security clearance that I cannot get since I've lived abroad for so long. Funny how that works - so they want knowledge and experience about Russia, but they don't want you to have actually lived there for too long.

 

[Ronin]

But you don't have to look at it this way, that's very Eastern Europe way of looking at things, 'one job and it's either skills gaining or paying the bills'.

Look for how to pay the bills, one job, further credentials and develop in another job, and to combine the two with parenting?

So what would be a job getting bills covered, that also provides enough time & energy window for parenting and eventual different job?

 

[Ronin]

I'm just really not good at talking myself up ....

That can be a goal though.

So, imagine you are writing a piece about this amazing journalist Casey, who's spent so long living in Russia. She's highly skilled and talented but needs to catch up on required credentials. What do you say, and how do you say it? Use that.

 

[KwanYingirl]

Have you reached out to your federal Congressional people? Can they help connect you with, say lobbyists or advisors that could use a researcher? I realize that President Obamas term is up, I don't think that Trump will be elected, not that he couldn't use all the foreign relations help on the planet Earth. Are their diplomats that need researchers? Reframe the word journalist, see what pops into your head. Have you reached out to head hunters that can help you get a foot in corporate businesses? How about the CQ Researcher? Are you familiar with that?

 

[KwanYingirl]

Also, what about Blackwater? I think their headquarters in Virginia. I'm not sure if they provide security in Russia, but if they do, you could possibly help train the agents.

 

[cat-lady]

Are you willing to consider going back to school and living on student loans for a while? Also, you might want to try finding a professional recruiter in your field or maybe at least a professional resume/cover letter writer. Good luck with it!

 

[scout86]

(in Russia, it's considered unheard of for a native English speaker to translate into Russian without training in that field, so I've never offered translations that way)

But can you do it? You can, right? You're going to be working in the US, remember, so it doesn't matter much how they do it in Russia.

I know what you mean about it being hard to sell yourself. I've never gotten a job that required a resume. Probably because I don't do a very good job of writing one. Might be worth talking to a head hunter and or resume writer this time around. I think you MIGHT be selling yourself short. Have you checked with the CIA? Seriously. Our various intelligence agencies keep saying they need people who can speak some of the more unusual foreign languages. Let THEM tell you you're not qualified or can't get a security clearance, why don't you. If you don't apply, it's true you can't get turned down, but you also can't get the job. (If you want to move to the middle of no where, I can probably get you a job milking cows....)

 

[Casey_03]

@scout86 I'm not sure if I could do it. I've never really tried; I think I'd be limited to basic translations and not be able to do literary translations. Whenever someone translates into a language that is not their native language, there are usually nuances with wording, i.e., I'd phrase things differently, not necessarily incorrectly, but differently. Whenever I've read things translated into English by Russians in the past, I'd read it and immediately know it wasn't translated by a native speaker. And I'm sure it'd be the same if I translated more complex pieces into Russian. So I'm not sure how I'd do. I guess I would have to go through some sort of training program.

As for the intelligence agencies, they all have a residency requirement - I'd have to live in the States for at least 3 years before being eligible. I could still try and see if they'll waive that requirement, but I doubt they would. I also married a Russian when I was younger, and that's supposedly another disqualifier. I guess finding a head hunter would be my best bet, or just hiring someone to fancify my resume and create some nice profiles for me online. I'm just sooooo bad at saying good things about myself ... I'm too self-deprecating and have the bar set way too high. Hell, I'd have come a lot further by now career-wise if I'd just have done what my colleagues do and talk myself up. The best option is probably paying someone else to talk me up.