Australian looking into the US job market
Australian looking into the US job market
(OP)
Hi there, I am a Building Code Consultant from Australia with around 8 years’ experience, a degree in Construction Management and post graduate studies in assessment of fire engineering (I don’t have engineering qualifications, but could be referred to engineering technology qualifications). I have strong experience working on large scale developments from a building code consultancy perspective, assessing and inspecting all types of buildings such as significant hospital developments, sporting stadiums, high-rise commercial and residential, large warehouses and pretty much everything else.
I am looking for a way to get my foot in the door in the US job market (North-east) and have done plenty of research but I am having trouble in looking at jobs that I should target. My goal would be work as a fire protection engineer and study for a masters at WPI in fire protection engineering. But, I need a starting point first.
What kind of jobs should I be looking at based on my current qualifications for people to even consider me, as I understand that I will not be considered for any type of entry level fire engineering protection job as I don’t have an engineering degree?
Should I be looking at technician level jobs for doing the cad work for sprinkler and alarm detection design (even though I have no direct experience in this, but understand how the systems work in good detail)?
I am looking for a way to get my foot in the door in the US job market (North-east) and have done plenty of research but I am having trouble in looking at jobs that I should target. My goal would be work as a fire protection engineer and study for a masters at WPI in fire protection engineering. But, I need a starting point first.
What kind of jobs should I be looking at based on my current qualifications for people to even consider me, as I understand that I will not be considered for any type of entry level fire engineering protection job as I don’t have an engineering degree?
Should I be looking at technician level jobs for doing the cad work for sprinkler and alarm detection design (even though I have no direct experience in this, but understand how the systems work in good detail)?





RE: Australian looking into the US job market
Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog
RE: Australian looking into the US job market
Anyhow, try this. I'd try to get a copy of the Yellow Pages telephone book for a few cities in the area you are thinking about. Then, under Consulting Engineers, possibly Development Contractors, etc I'd then write and hopefully explain your situation so that a kind Personnel manager might reply. Maybe even Employment agencies may help.
RE: Australian looking into the US job market
RE: Australian looking into the US job market
Everyone in the northeast is hiring right now, so all else being equal you will be able to get a job fairly easily.
RE: Australian looking into the US job market
No sweat, you will get a job, and a damn good one. Opportunities are endless for anyone with a technical degree.
the only problem you'll have is understanding "y'all" at first (with the plural being "all of you all":00).
I landed in NY city 32 years ago with a toothbrush, two pairs of pants/shirts (or trousers in your part of the world), 2 sweaters, a few under-wears, and a machine design background (well, with an engineering degree) and ended up in HVAC. The thing was, my second day in NY city, I asked this black guy for Penn station, he looked at me and gave me 50 cents (he thought I was begging). My English was that bad, I did not understand anything at all and yet ended with a house in the suburb with a 2-car garage, and engineering job, and 2 point 5 kids, a.k.a as the American dream.
If I can make it with Zero English, you can make it in this place with your Aussie English. Nobody gives a damn where you're from, what your degree is, or what you look like as long as you can do the job, work hard, and play by the rules.
Don't dip your toes, come in and jump right in, you'll do just fine.
Welcome to the United States, mate.
Cry22
RE: Australian looking into the US job market
Quote CRY22 "Nobody gives a damn where you're from"
Homeland security (INS) might disagree
RE: Australian looking into the US job market