Education and Employment in the

United StatesGoing to School and

Finding the Best Job for You

Introduction• Scott Brewer• Instructor of English at CREF• Graduated from the University of

South Carolina• Bachelor’s Degree in Russian

Language and Linguistics• Certification as a Teacher of

English as a Foreign Language

Outline• Today I am going to cover three

topics with you. They are:I. The system of higher education in

the United StatesII. Finding a job in the United StatesIII.The proper construction of a

résumé and cover letter

Higher Education in the US

• The American university system is similar, though not identical, to that of Russia.

• There are two main types:– Community Colleges– Universities

• Each serves a slightly different function and usually offer different degrees

• Most students at community colleges study for two years to receive an associate’s degree.

• They are not really an option for foreign students.

The University System• In America, there are both public

and private universities.– All require tuition. Completely free

higher education do not, strictly speaking, exist.

–Most pay through scholarships and loans.

• There are different paths through the university system– Yours is determined by your career

choice.

The University System• Step 1: Undergraduate Education– Awards bachelor’s degrees (B.A., B.S., B.Eng.,

etc.)– Lasts for four years– Can be done in any field– Include a major and minor/cognate area of

study– This is your minimum goal if seeking

employment in the United States.– In some fields, no further education is

required to be successful (e.g. engineering, computer science).

The University System• Step 2a: Professional Schools– Certain careers are only accessible once

you have gone to a school geared towards that profession.

– Two most common examples:• Law School: Trains lawyers and lasts three

years. Awards a J.D. degree.• Medical School: Trains doctors and lasts

four years. Awards an M.D. degree.– Both are very expensive, but lead to

high paying careers.

The University System• Step 2b: Graduate Education– Graduate schools are the next step for

everyone not going to a professional school– Award master’s degrees (M.A., M.S., M.B.A.,

etc.)– Usually takes two years or less– Can be payed for with grants or fellowships

from the university• If those are unavailable, then government loans

are used– Very useful if you want to make yourself

more appealing to potential employers.

The University System• Step 3: Post-graduate Education– The pinnacle of educational

achievement in the United States– Awards doctorate degrees

(Ph.D., D.M.A., D.E., D.Th., etc.)– Takes 3-4 years to complete– Consists of intense study of a subject

along with a doctoral thesis– Usually useful only for those who are

seeking a career in academia

Differences in Approach• Most testing is written, not oral.• Theses (Russian: курсовая и

дипломная работы) are rarely done before the graduate level. They are only required at the doctoral level.

• Some careers are inaccessible without attending a professional school.

• Cheating and plagiarism are strictly prohibited and usually punishable by expulsion.

Some In-Demand Jobs in the US• Certain fields are going to experience a great

deal of growth over the next decade in America.• These include:

– Occupations concerning computers or information technology

– Medical professions– Engineering, esp. civil and mechanical– Business and Marketing

• While business professions will not grow as much as medical and IT, combining a business degree with a foreign language makes you extremely competitive in the American market.

Salary Data• Median household income in US, 2014: $53,657 per

year (approx. 3,586,708 rubles per year)• Range of median income for in-demand jobs:

$60,000 – $200,000 per year (approx. 4,000,000 – 13,360,000 rubles per year)

• Higher-paid jobs usu. require more education.• Any of these jobs will allow a comfortable lifestyle.• Income varies from state to state, based on local

cost-of-living (i.e. salaries are higher in New York or Massachusetts than in South Carolina or Alabama, because more money is required to live in those places).

Can I Use My Degree in the US?

• Many degrees received in foreign countries are valid in America.

• However, because there are some professions that require more education, it is important to have your degree translated and evaluated.

• Translation & Evaluation: https://www.fis-web.com/

• Evaluation: http://wes.org/

Degrees in America• While your foreign degree may be valid,

employers will often prefer one awarded by an American/Western institution.

• Therefore, if possible you should try to attend an American university.

• American universities often have resources prepared to help students find jobs after graduation.– Most require a certain level of English

proficiency for admission.

English Language Testing

• Though it is possible to use the IELTS for the purposes of employment and schooling in America, the TOEFL is preferred.– In fact, 80% of all college admissions officers in

the US prefer the TOEFL over alternatives.• Passing TOEFL scores are also required by

many professional certification agencies.– Scored from 0-120, made up of 4 sections worth

30 points each.– Most universities require a minimum of 70, but

better schools can have requirements over 100.

English for Internationals Programs

• If your English skills are not yet good enough to get into a university in the US, many schools have programs where international students can study English in preparation for admission to the actual university.

• Examples:– University of South Carolina– University of California – Riverside– Temple University

English for Internationals Programs

• These programs are an excellent way to get admitted to an American university.

• They usually have resources to help students pass the TOEFL so they can continue their studies at the same school.

Searching for Jobs• There are plenty of resources available

online to help find jobs.– Learn4Good– Job Search USA

• You can search by occupation, which helps in finding the best fit quickly.

• You can always search for companies that you would be interested in working for and contacting them directly.

• American universities will help students find jobs in the US.

Résumés – A Few Guidelines• A good résumé only contains information

relevant to the job you are seeking.• Except in very special circumstances, it

should never be more than one page in length.

• Should contain basic biographical details.–Home Address– Telephone Number– Date of Birth

Résumés – A Few Guidelines• Should begin with a personal objective

explaining why you want the job.• Follow with a history of your education,

but only relevant education.• If this is your first job out of university,

it may be a good idea to list coursework related to the job field.– This is especially important if you don’t

have some sort of internship in your chosen specialty.

Résumés – A Few Guidelines• Follow this with your employment history.– If you haven’t yet had a job in your chosen field,

that’s alright.– Just include employment information for the

last two years.– Include details about responsibilities at your

job.• After this, you will want to include a section

listing any “Additional Qualifications.” This can be whatever you think will help make you more attractive to your potential employer.

Résumés – A Few Guidelines• When applying for a job in IT, include a list of

programs and programming language you know how to use (e.g. Microsoft Office, Eclipse, C++, HTML, Javascript)

• Also, include information about the programs you can use regardless of your field. Some, like Microsoft Office, are used all over the world.

• At the end, include at least two references. – At least one must be professional. – If the second is not, then it should be someone who

can speak to your qualifications for the desired position (e.g. a professor).

The Cover Letter• In America, this is an absolute requirement.• The letter serves as a short statement of

intent, where you explain why you would like to work for the person reading it.

• It also gives you the chance to show that you can competently write a letter in a business context.

• Your potential employer will see this before they get to your résumé, so make sure that it gives a good impression.

• Be careful! A bad cover letter can get your résumé thrown out before they even get to it.

The Cover Letter

The Cover Letter• Include your contact information at the

top of the letter.• It is important to personalize the letter.• Do everything you can to find out to whom

you are sending this letter, so that you can address it to a specific person.

• If unable to find a name or it is an online application process, then you should open the letter with “To Whom It May Concern.”

The Cover Letter• CAUTION!

• It is extremely important to remember that if you are writing to a woman, then you should use the honorific “Ms.”

• Only use the honorific “Mrs.” if you are absolutely, 100% certain that this woman is married.

The Cover Letter• You should use the first paragraph to

express your interest in the position and to explain your credentials.– Be specific!

• Use the second paragraph to talk about your qualifications.– Be confident! This is where you have to

sell yourself to your potential employer. If you sound like you don’t value your talents, then why should they?

The Cover Letter

The Cover Letter• Use the last paragraph to thank them for

their consideration.• Tell them you look forward to hearing

back from them. This small suggestion can help immensely.

• Also, take this last chance to show your confidence one more time. Tell them how you believe that you would be a good fit at their company.

• Finish with something like “Sincerely,” “Best regards,” or “Respectfully.”

The Cover Letter

Questions?