Personal experience: how to find a job in New York and move

For the second week now I have been living in New York and it’s probably worth telling how it happened.

The history of this post may be a story about my 5 design experience. I always had thoughts about trying to live in another country, so my parents were not surprised at my invitation. It all started in February 2015, when I returned from Berlin, the dollar was then at a record high rate, and upon my return I decided to look for work abroad. I started with those closest to my heart - Berlin and Amsterdam.

I never dreamed about America or New York at all; it seemed too far and inaccessible. But my list began to expand in this direction. I was looking for start-ups or grocery companies that had at least somehow mentioned an internship job or a junior designer on their websites, because the art director in Ukraine = a junior designer in Germany / USA. My list looked like this: company name, city, job title, link, additional comments (can foreigners, etc.). Nothing complicated. Well, I ranked them according to their priority.

I made a distinct resume, updated my portfolio, bought a one-year subscription to Dribble (then you are on the list of designers for hiring) and was already ready to send all the answers to vacancies. But, like so much in my life, chance played a key role.

The day before I was supposed to send everything, they wrote to me YourMajestyCo from new york She did not believe, but agreed to a Skype interview. By the way I will say, my English was very so-so. Read, but did not say much.

Helouwyn remains around Central Park

The interview was at midnight Kyiv time, I was worried, but prepared. I came up with answers to all sorts of questions, which, of course, helped tremendously. We talked very nicely, no tricky questions, nothing about education, etc. We went through the portfolio, asked what exactly I did in some projects, what I do besides work - and that’s it, I hung up and exhaled. I waited two languid weeks for an answer, since they don’t have HRa, I talked with the creative director, who, you know, had no time for me).

In the end, they answered. Have taken. But they said that since I have no education and I am from Ukraine, I only get a J1 visa (it is opened for exchange programs a la work & travel). Of course, I agreed.

I started submitting documents in September, before that I went to English courses and were fully tuned in (I followed new people on Instagram from NY and looked at what I would buy in Ikea).

Visa

The J1 visa works this way. I have an employer, but I must submit documents through a sponsor, who will be my guarantor of security during the internship. The sponsor is located in the USA, and the sponsor has an intermediary in each country, in my case - in Kyiv, where I took the documents. Nothing at all from the documents. Since I went by work experience (5 years), and not by education, they asked me for 5 recommendations from previous employers, copies of my passport, diplomas, whatever they had, and a letter of guarantee from my parents regarding money.

I call it an internship, because I’m already used to it, although my salary is regular, not internship. When I was being prepared for an interview at the consulate, they even emphasized this so that I could answer if they asked why such a high salary for an internship.

Pleasure is not cheap. For everything I paid $ 3 200, this is for the annual program. This includes insurance, sponsor services, services of a Ukrainian intermediary, service US consular fee. To me, the employer reimburses this money, but I paid it in advance myself. And plus a flight, apartment, pocket money. Slightly more than $ 5 thousand dollars I have already spent, yes).

But I really like the format of a contract for a year, because in a year I will obviously want something new, and will not be constrained by long-term obligations. YM has an office in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, so for now my most vague plans are to then go to Amsterdam if New York does not envelop me to my ears with its rhythm.

Accomodation

I was lucky with the property: a familiar Kiev illustrator was moving down, and I moved into her room in Bushvik. But after 3 of the day I moved to a more expensive room, but in the coolest area, not far from work, and with a familiar roommate.

In Bushwick, a room cost $ 900, now where I live (Greenpoint), pay $ 1200. The difference is significant, but comfort pays for this money. I live in a room on the 3 floor, the whole floor is ours. Metro at the exit, 3 stop to the desired L-branch (sometimes I walk on foot), near the embankment overlooking Manhattan. Perfect.

Now I work as a designer, in a digital agency. YourMajesty, which is generally a dream. But here I was lucky. Of the entire team of 20 people, only 3 are Americans, the rest are all Scandinavians. All the guys are very open, constantly support, joke, and communicate a lot.

Office in Manhattan, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. A huge white loft, there is a lot of food in the office (joy!), a large chill-zone, fish and a funny dog, the art director comes with her. Playing with a dog in the office is a special pleasure. Right next to the office is my favorite Whole Foods Market, 3 floors of natural food and produce, and divine cheesecake for $2.90!

My office

Everywhere there are tons of awards in the office

In general, I am very glad, I haven’t been given a job yet, everyone is sick either on holidays or at workshops in Europe, but I’ll start next week. Although it already smells very Christmas, everyone has a festive mood, many weekends. And the weather makes me happy, + 11 is still holding on confidently, and Christmas music in all institutions is driving you crazy.

And on Instagram my new adventures - @elenabazu.

Blog text published on Online Elena Base. Reprinted with permission of the author. The material used by the author.

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See also:

Why, after a year of life, I still leave from New York

How to become a web designer: 20 steps

Personal experience: New York through the eyes of a novice

7 of things that New Yorkers lack

10 tips for tourists on how to ride the subway in New York

Personal experience. How to get kids to school in New York

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