After 25+ in Marine Industry and sailing on board TugBoats,TallShips,Launches,Fishing Trawlers, Yachts in Medeterenian Sea,Red Sea,North Atlantic and Black
Sea, I came 10 years ago to USA, right after 9/11 my Israeli based company was performing secure perimeters to Nuclear Stations in Mid West for Exelon and AmeriGen and was contracted as Regional Project Manager. After the completion of the project I asked the USCG what I need to do to get a Captain License in USA-the answer was :-You need to be a US Citizen:! which is fine with me, they are doing that everywere these days, after submitting all my credentials, certificates, Navy Certificates etc, I got a rating of a OS (my friends telling me that I should get at least AB Unlimmited,bt USCG thinking otherwise) USCG wrote,that once I get my US Citizenship(in 6 months) I could take a Captain 100T course so there is no point to spend time to fight for AB Unlimited…(?) So now I am with TWIC,MROP(Radio Operator)MMC and rating of OS trying to find something in the Industry sending CV away and getting answers such as : I am overqualified, and in short no one want to hire a OS that if few months will get his papers in order…The question is what shall I do in order to be able to put some food on the table between now and until I get my US Citizenship?
Some told me to get all those courses such as STCW,AB Unlimmited,GMDDS,Radar Operator,etc…I have all credentials from Foreign companies and domestic companies that I was working for in the last 10 years involved in oil spil clean ups in Delaware,BP in GOM, and worked in US in Marine Industry related companies
but because of the regulations and USCG rulles everyone wants to hire some one with all his/her papers in tact…So what now ? to wait 4-6 months and than take courses to get the 100T Captain or there is a better way ?
Persistence. Do you live near a harbor with commercial industry? If so, visit all the companies there. Have copies of your MMC, TWIC and whatever training you have. Ask to speak with the HR department.
Be persistent. When the people recognize your voice (especially with your accent) you will eventually get hired on. Use that job… (Whatever it is) to gain experience, and most importantly seatime to show future employers that you show up for work. Your first job here is not the destination but a waypoint on your journey.
Sorry that our CG is so screwed up about not accepting training from elsewhere. They are screwed up like any government ANY where!
[QUOTE=cappy208;83547]Persistence. Do you live near a harbor with commercial industry? If so, visit all the companies there. Have copies of your MMC, TWIC and whatever training you have. Ask to speak with the HR department.
Be persistent. When the people recognize your voice (especially with your accent) you will eventually get hired on. Use that job… (Whatever it is) to gain experience, and most importantly seatime to show future employers that you show up for work. Your first job here is not the destination but a waypoint on your journey.
Sorry that our CG is so screwed up about not accepting training from elsewhere. They are screwed up like any government ANY where![/QUOTE]
Thanks Cappy, I do just that now, I go to companies and showing my credentials and certificates, few promisses are in the air hope to get something soon on the table !!