WANNA WORK IN THE USA (and make lots of money)

marlon

Here is a question people...

I have a master degree in theoretical physics and in (hopefully) two years time i will have a master degree in applied physics from the university of Ghent in Belgium.

I wanna work in high-tech industries in the best nation of the world : USA

WHAT DO I DO ???

any tips???

regards
marlon

recon

When I saw the title of this thread, I thought that spammers had finally infiltrated PF. I'm from the US, so I can't help you.

[EDIT: D'OH! What I meant was: I'm NOT from the US, so I can't help you.]

Gokul43201

3 different routes come to mind (others might suggest better options). I list these in an order that I believe goes from highest likelihood of success to the lowest. They also, unfortunately - for that is life - go in the order of longest time taken to least.

#1) Apply for a PhD at US Universities. If you apply smartly and wisely, I believe you'll get into a pretty good school. Most schools give you the option to test out of PhD coursework. Then, depending on the group, you may be able to graduate in as little as 3 years or as many as 6. After you graduate with a PhD. your chances of getting an Industry job are really good.

#2) Apply for jobs in multinational Technology companies (such as Phillips) that will hire you in Europe, but could give you the opportunity to transfer to a US location after some experience.

#3) Apply directly for jobs with American Companies. This has a low likelihood of success, but may be worth a shot anyway.



Why do you want to leave Europe for the US ? Have you visited here before or spent any amount of time in the US in the past ?

humanino

I am getting a french PhD, but working constantly here, on an experiment in one of your facilities. I guess this is not the same as getting it from one of your universities.

marlon

I have not yet been to the US and the reason i wanna work there is because there are more possibilities of working at the centre of the technological development in the world. I do have some relatives that work in Silicon Valley...


regards
marlon

humanino

The future might be more east. Way more east

Moonbear

Marlon, the reality is that even US citizens are having a hard time getting jobs in that industry. It boomed and then crashed. It seems to be holding steady now, but there are still a lot of unemployed folks in that industry. It may be very hard for you to get a foot in the door in the US. That doesn't mean don't try, but it does mean have a back-up plan for staying in Europe.

marlon

Moonbear, thanks for your reply...

But why would it be hard ??? That is exactly what i wanna know. What are my main disadvantages i have because i ain't no native american ?


regards
marlon

Clausius2

It sounds interesting that the US door is closed for foreign workers, while USA has been suppliying itself with a lot of european scientists since the beginning of the 20th century. Thousands of scientists (or almost scientists) like Marlon and Humanino were recruited in the past century by the USA. In part, the actual industry and science hegemony of USA is due to them. It sounds USA does not want to open the door now you have lifted off.

marlon

Indeed Clausius2

I also think that the driving force in the US are the talented foreigners recruited by the US. The big brain drain , you know...

regards
marlon

i_wish_i_was_smart

i know lots of canadians scientist leaving for the US because they get a better pay, but in the end i've heard some say that it wasnt worth it

humanino

definitely : philosophical. Practical advantages seem numerous to me. If you can find a position in a large city, that would be pretty much the same as large European cities.

Kalimaa23

I'm a bit sceptical about this...
I can completely understand to desire to leave Belgium. Believe me, I'm not staying my whole life. But why leave for the States?

I think is about time that European scientists and engineers get their act together and do something contructive IN EUROPE. Although the brain-drain is not as bad as it used to be, it's still bad enough.

Of course, lack of political good-will is a big problem. But I'm convinced that it's not all bad over here. Why don't look to France, Britain or Germany? I'd rather stay in Europe, and try to make the most of it. The past century was bad enough, most of the damage done then has been repaired. It's time for Europe to get it's act back together and become a world-power, not only economically (about the only thing we are currently), but also politically and scientifically.

Sorry, rant over. As you may have gathered, I feel quite strongly on this subject.

humanino

It is part of the philosophical reasons I was mentionning earlier. Yet we are not too bad scientifically already

Kalimaa23

True, during the last two decades of the century we made some great progress (CERN, ESA,...), but I still feel we can do better, as a region with 450 million people, most of the living in highly-develloped industrial nations...

humanino

You are so right Dimitri
I have been wondering lately, you took me back from the dark side of the force !

marlon

Now this might all be very true, yet nobody can deny that the most important scientific progress is made in the US. That is the reason I wanna be there.

marlon