Careers in USA

[SFandEE]

Not sure if I have seen this subject yet.  What have been some of the careers or jobs that an FSUW has done after moving here to US?  Was it a different career or job than she had in FSU?

[Muzh]

My wife is back to pediatrics.

[SFandEE]

That's fantastic.  My understanding about women with professional credentials such as an MD, JD, CPA, and RN have to go through a retraining, reschooling, and recertification.  Was that the case with your wife.

[Muzh]

Well, she had to pass the tests medical students take in the US and then do a two year rotation (for NY, othe states may vary) at a teaching hospital. She is finishing her her MS in Phycisian Assistant and then take the tests. We are trying to find out if her work at a hospital can count towards the two year rotation.

The thing is the NY State Department of Health recognizes her as a physician as she submitted her medical school credentials from Ukraine to our medical school. It is the Education Department who is asking for that license for her to practice as a doctor.

[dbneeley]

Well, she had to pass the tests medical students take in the US and then do a two year rotation (for NY, othe states may vary) at a teaching hospital. She is finishing her her MS in Phycisian Assistant and then take the tests. We are trying to find out if her work at a hospital can count towards the two year rotation.

The thing is the NY State Department of Health recognizes her as a physician as she submitted her medical school credentials from Ukraine to our medical school. It is the Education Department who is asking for that license for her to practice as a doctor.

In most States, the period required is in an "approved course of instruction"--i.e., a residency program. Although your State minimum may be two years, I know of no such residency programs which are that short. When we were thinking of my wife emigrating to the U.S., she'd have had to apply for and be accepted in a residency--through what is generally called "the match"--where medical graduates are matched with a suitable residency. The residency leads up to a specialty examination to be a recognized specialist. Texas requires three years minimum time in an approved residency program, but each specialty area has a different length.

(As you may be aware, in times past there were two different programs--a year or so of an "internship" followed by a residency. In more recent times, the two have been consolidated--the first year of residency is considered the internship, or so I've been told.)

Fortunately, a residency is a paid position these days. When I last looked, for anesthesia the residents were paid about $55,000 per year on average--but that has been six or eight years ago now.

I will be totally shocked if merely working in a hospital will qualify her for licensure in New York, for although those working in hospitals are under the direction of doctors they aren't going through the same sort of structured responsibility with supervision that is normal for docs in a residency program.

Of course, New York kind of "does its own thing" in many areas so perhaps it is different. However, if the only training program they accept is a residency, that would be a program that is generally for three years. If so, she would have to apply for the match fairly quickly--I am not sure of the deadline for this year, but I don't think it is far off.

As far as I know, the board exams for the specialty are only given to those who have successfully completed a residency.

David

[Gator]

What have been some of the careers or jobs that an FSUW has done after moving here to US?  Was it a different career or job than she had in FSU?

My ex-wife from Moscow is trying her hand as a real estate agent.  No, she did not keep our house.    She owns three Moscow apartments and had been involved with buying, renovating, renting and selling in Moscow.  How is she doing?  I don't know and I don't care.  

I have not heard of many success stories for a RW during her few years here.  I have met a few RW who entered America on a student visa and stayed after obtaining their degree.  Some of these are doing well.  JB, one of the OMBs here (who no longer participates) married a RW in her 40s and she managed to obtain a teaching position at an university during her first year. 

[Chicagoguy]

MD's are difficult. You do need to pass all the tests that the Americans take but the hard part is getting into a residency program. Almost all the slots are filled from the newest graduating classes and even a though a foreigner might be well qualified she has no "clout" or anyone to really help her. I knew 1 man and 1 woman who passed everything but could never get over this hurdle.
But the one I am closest to did manage to squeak in and now has 4 board certifications. How do so many doctors from India do it ?

We also have a Russian woman who was a lawyer and she now does real estate. I never met any lawyers from Russia who managed to pass the Bar but I am sure there are some.

Retail is always a beginning for some.

[pitbull]

I have not heard of many success stories for a RW during her few years here. 

What do you define as a "success" ?

As far as this forum goes, I believe GQ's wife is a spectacular success professionally.

[GoodOlBoy]

My wife is in her 40's.

She started as a bank clerk over 5 years ago in the GoodOl' USA (Branch manager is a friend of mine).

She is now a Senior Accountant/Asst. Comptroller in a large manufacturing firm here in Miami and makes $60,000. a year + a Christmas bonus. 

Is this a "success" story....:noidea:


GOB

PS....She was an Economist/Accountant/Auditor in Omsk.

[Muzh]

MD's are difficult. You do need to pass all the tests that the Americans take but the hard part is getting into a residency program. Almost all the slots are filled from the newest graduating classes and even a though a foreigner might be well qualified she has no "clout" or anyone to really help her. I knew 1 man and 1 woman who passed everything but could never get over this hurdle.
But the one I am closest to did manage to squeak in and now has 4 board certifications. How do so many doctors from India do it ?

Bingo.

We looked at all possibilities and the best alternative was for her to get the MS in PA and once she had her license she could find a position with a teaching hospital (where she happens to be taking the MS) with a resident doctor (who happens to be her advisor) to complete her residency. She still has to take and pass the Step 1 & 2 and the CSA.

[vwrw]

Locally, I communicate with four FSU women. First is married for 14 years and has a great job related to computers. After she married her husband, she went to school here to finish her education. She changed her major from psychology to computer science. Second is married for 9 years, she breeds flowers, which is her hobby. It brings her a lot of happiness and a little money. Third is married for 5 years, she cleans houses. She could find other job and did it many times, but she did not like to work inflexible schedule. Recently she brought her children here, and they work in fast-food. Fourth is married for 2 years, her job is related to food production, she seems to be okay with it, back home she worked in office.

I myself am going to have something (job-wise) to brag about in 6-8 years. I have chosen accounting field because it is a good foundation to have when entering in the business world and accountants, as nurses, are always in demand.

[Gator]

Is this a "success" story....:noidea:

Yes, but 5  years is the beginning of passing a few years.  Instead of a "few" years, I should have said 3 years.

[Gator]

I myself am going to have something (job-wise) to brag about in 6-8 years. I have chosen accounting field because it is a good foundation to have when entering in the business world and accountants, as nurses, are always in demand.

Wise decision.  To succeed in business, a person needs to be able to read a balance sheet and monthly P&L reports.

You say 6-8 years, yet it seems you possess intelligence and determination that are well above average.

[Sailor291]

My wife has a Masters in Accounting from Ukraine, we have been marreid for 12 years.  She is the Accounting Manager for a local chain of liquor stores, and YES, we get a discount on booze.

[vwrw]

Gator, it would be great if intelligence and determination were sufficient for obtaining  good jobs; however, employers often want experience of at least 5 years for jobs and salaries that appeal to me.

My wife has a Masters in Accounting from Ukraine, we have been marreid for 12 years.  She is the Accounting Manager for a local chain of liquor stores, and YES, we get a discount on booze.

What about your wife English proficiency?  Did she start learning English in childhood or later in life? Was she applying for managerial position at once or was she promoted?

[Sailor291]

My wife took English in school growing up and spoke passable English when we got married.  She has worked for this same employer twice now, quit to work somewhere else for a while then this one called her back and offered her the manager position.

[SFandEE]

Seems like FSUW sort it out pretty well.

[hon_bun]

Has anyone's Russian/Ukrainian wife joined the U.S. Army or Navy? There are civil positions U.S. Army is hiring for but I'm not sure if it's something worth applying and how beneficial it can be for a foreign national in the long run.
Can American husbands please give me some insight about what a civil job in the Army/Navy can be like. I don't want any problems with my native country or with my original citizenship. I will never revoke it. So, can I get in trouble for working for an Army of a different country? I'm proficient in English, I have a nice degree that seems in demand in the Army but not so much anywhere else.
Thanks for all your answers. I hope it will informative.

[JR]

 How do so many doctors from India do it ?

Perhaps they get minority status? Or perhaps their path to becoming a medical doctor is identical to ours thus it all transfers?

My ex had two masters degrees in music and a hell of a lot of talent. It did zip for her, mainly because she refused to help herself.

[Sailor291]

Has anyone's Russian/Ukrainian wife joined the U.S. Army or Navy? There are civil positions U.S. Army is hiring for but I'm not sure if it's something worth applying and how beneficial it can be for a foreign national in the long run.
Can American husbands please give me some insight about what a civil job in the Army/Navy can be like. I don't want any problems with my native country or with my original citizenship. I will never revoke it. So, can I get in trouble for working for an Army of a different country? I'm proficient in English, I have a nice degree that seems in demand in the Army but not so much anywhere else.
Thanks for all your answers. I hope it will informative.

Not sure I understand what you mean bi Civil positions in the Army or Navy.  The U.S. military accepts foreign nationals, however, if you join, you could be sent to anywhere they are currently serving, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.  I dont know where you are from or what your home countries rules are for their citizens serving in a foreign military (U.S.) but I do remember a few years ago a Ukrainian that had joined the U.S. Navy, he went home to Ukraine on leave and the Ukrainian govt had him arrested for being in a foreign military service.  I belive tho he was finally released.  I hope this helps.

[dbneeley]

Perhaps they get minority status? Or perhaps their path to becoming a medical doctor is identical to ours thus it all transfers?

My ex had two masters degrees in music and a hell of a lot of talent. It did zip for her, mainly because she refused to help herself.

All medical doctors in the U.S. are required to pass the same three basic examinations. Those from any foreign countries (other than Canada, or Great Britain, if memory serves) who have taken a residency in their home country are required to do another one in the U.S.--or at the minimum a program for a minimum number of years depending on which State they seek a license in (which works out to the same thing in actuality). For instance, Texas requires three years at the minimum in such a supervised program.

The advantage Indian docs may have is that their education is entirely in English, so they don't have a major language hurdle to jump on top of everything else. The three basic exams are of course in English, and the third one involves doing an examination in English of an actor portraying a patient who must be quizzed to account for a medical history and list of symptoms in making a diagnosis. Therefore, those who are fluent in English start out with a major advantage.

David

[Muzh]

Not sure I understand what you mean bi Civil positions in the Army or Navy.  The U.S. military accepts foreign nationals, however, if you join, you could be sent to anywhere they are currently serving, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.  I dont know where you are from or what your home countries rules are for their citizens serving in a foreign military (U.S.) but I do remember a few years ago a Ukrainian that had joined the U.S. Navy, he went home to Ukraine on leave and the Ukrainian govt had him arrested for being in a foreign military service.  I belive tho he was finally released.  I hope this helps.

Sailor, she means non-military positions. And yes, there are plenty of non-military positions in the Army and Navy that are occupied by foreign nationals.

Hon_Bun, your answers lie with the recruiting agent AND your embassy. Depending on the sensitivity of your work, you will be vetted in a way that your citizenship may disqualify you OR may get you in trouble with your country IF you go back there. No one here can answer that.

[hon_bun]

Hon_Bun, your answers lie with the recruiting agent AND your embassy. Depending on the sensitivity of your work, you will be vetted in a way that your citizenship may disqualify you OR may get you in trouble with your country IF you go back there. No one here can answer that.

Thanks. Well, I looked it up and it seems like my country cannot disqualify me based on my service for a foreign army. So it should be fine. Thanks for the answer, though. I will definitely go home and visit as often as I can.

[dbneeley]

Thanks. Well, I looked it up and it seems like my country cannot disqualify me based on my service for a foreign army. So it should be fine. Thanks for the answer, though. I will definitely go home and visit as often as I can.

Out of curiosity, how would your country know of a job as a civilian with the American military--if it is outside your country? You would not normally qualify for any sort of position that is sensitive or requires a security clearance, and thus should be below the radar of any government outside the U.S.

David

[hon_bun]

Out of curiosity, how would your country know of a job as a civilian with the American military--if it is outside your country? You would not normally qualify for any sort of position that is sensitive or requires a security clearance, and thus should be below the radar of any government outside the U.S.

David

Well, if the recruiter tells me that I have to enlist to be able to get the position I want and the benefits, then I'll enlist and go through boot camp and all that. So, even as a female, I'll be considered serving for a foreign army in my home country. Then... I don't know. I don't think it'll affect my parents or my rights back home. Idk, I have to talk to the recruiter, I'm not the most athletic woman out here and I'm not sure what my husband is going to say either. We just got married, after all.