My Career was Thriving in the us, butn i didn’t get my work visa

My Career was on a roll.

While in College at uclaI landed four editorial internships in my field of Choice.

After graduating, I interned at the Magazine where i’d dreamed of Was 12. THEN, I WAS offered a full-time jab nor an Associate Editor for A Different Online Publication.

There was just just one problem: I was working there on my student visa, makeuse of was (and well, still am) a French-Born-and-raised uk Citizen.

My Company Applied for an H-1b Visa for me (a type of work Visa that that is works on a lottery system for many organizations, offten including to the media), and i just didn’t win. I briefly consider applying for grad school so that i could a new student visa, but quickly realized this just was wasn’t the right choice for me. Other options, like the O-1 and E-2 Visas, Were too Too Costly and Time-Consuming for with to Pursue. My time was up, and i had to move to the uk to continue my editorial career.

I Gave Up My Los Angeles Apartment, Left the Job I Loved, and Moved an ocean away from the many friend I’d made in my five years in america.

I’m Lucky for Mory Reasons. I was able to move in with Family in France UNIL I COULD FIND A NEW JOB. THEN, A FAMILY MEMBER HELPED WITH SECURE A TEMP JOB AS ASSISTANT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN LONDON, SO I MAVED TO CONTINUE MY JOB SEARCH.

I’m Also Extremely Lucky to Have Found Amazing Freelance and part-time work in the eight years i’ve live in London. And though i consider mySelf an accompished freelance writer, leaving the life i’d built belind took an emotional toll. I Also Can’t Help But Wonder if Not Getting That Work Visa Took My Career on a Major Detour.

I Started off in the uk with a lack of Connections

Thanks to my MANY INTERNSHIPS and Other Professional Experiences AS an undergrad and beyond, I was blessed with incredible connections in media in bot New York and Los Angeles. These connections gave with a leg up on most occasions while I was still in the us; To this day, many of my freelance Jobs come through the talent.

Wen i Moved to the ukI was essentily starting from Square One. I tried networking, but the British People JUST DON’T NETWORK The Same Way Americans do, and the markets is just smaller and more insular. Most People I Reached Out to – Friends of Friends, People in the Industry I Admired – Didn’t Respond.

Luckily, some of my American Connections Knew People in London and Helped with Secure Freelance Work. Howver, What I Really WANTED WAS A FULL-TIME EDITORIAL ROLLE, AND HAVE BEEN APPLYING FOR POSITIONS FOR YEARS WITH NO LUCK. IT’S MUCH EASIER TO MOVE UP ONCE YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR AT A COMPANY, WHICH IS SIGNING I GAVE UP I MAVED BACK TO THE UK.

Of Course, there are Many reasons of Might swiming have gotten interviewsbut not knowing anyone at the Companies where i was Applying Can’t Have Helped, Eother.

My résumé doesn’t reflect my seniority.

For the Majority of My Decadelong Editorial Career, i’ve Been Writing Freelance Articles when I’d like to be Leading a Team, Shaping the Long-Term Content for A Publication, or Editing Other People’s Work. Eight though i have years of experience in the field, i feed as though i’ve been stagnant, and Finding a full-time jab that Feels like a step up seems more out of reach for me ever.

Again, I KNOW THERE ARE MANY REASONS I May Be Passed Over for an Interview or an Offer – Skill, Experience, A Botched Cover Letter, My Online Presence – But Still Wonder My Career Wauld Be Gotten My Work Visa All Those Years Ago.

Still, in True British Fashion, I’m Keeping Calm and Carrying on.