Working in America

[MuslimahDaTurkish]

Me and my friends are planning to join a work&travel program in USA for the summer.
But we are worried, since we wear headscarf; will it be a problem to find a job or will americans be scared of us? which jobs and cities are better? at restaurants, parks, hotels? have u ever worked and gained much money? i still find it dangerous for a muslim girl; so what do u thinkkkk?

[ChotooMotoo]

You can pretty much do any job, anywhere. I suggest that you wear your scarf tucked inside your clothes. I would shy away from grocery stores, they tend to have weird rules about what you can and can't wear. Other than that, I know of many hijabified sisters with jobs.

[shadha]

The only job outside of the obvious that I think you may encounter a bit of a hassle is being a waitress. Other than that, you seriously can have any job of your choosing without any fear of danger. The most danger you will face is the danger of the question and answer routine with people. They'll sincerely ask about your name, the Hijab, they'll inquire about where you're from but some may try to pry even further into your personal biznass [just tell them to get back cause you don't know them like that Jk].

Seriously, answer their questions accordingly but do remember that you are working and should refrain from saying certain things, this includes talk with co-workers.

Nowadays, MashaAllah, rarely ever do you come across a person who will give you the cold shoulder, and when you do, you would have already met so many wonderful kind-hearted people that you just try to brush it off. I have always found it best to be super nice to these folks, i.e. "Have a GREATTTT day!! You take care now! ". You can't get fired for being jolly with the customers.

Employer wise- I have never been discriminated against. I have always gotten jobs on the first interview, I have always been able to alter uniforms to my liking, and I have always been treated justly by co-workers.

Just some advice- keep your head up, don't apologize for **** but watch what you say, and be secure in yourself. People tend to harass those who they think are insecure pushovers, regardless of religion.


shadha-

[shadha]

Oh job types- it'll depend on your education, skill sets, and past experience. Retail is a hard environment to work in and so is the food business. Though, retail book wise is a fabulous work atmosphere. I work for Borders full time and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. Try to see if you can get a job at Borders or Barnes & Noble in the city.

Are you in college now? Maybe you can get a job that coincides with your major?

City wise- I'd pick the city with the least amount of crime.

Your salary will depend on what the average minimum wage is in the state you choose and what your education, skill sets, and past experience. New Jersey & New York pay a lot, though it's also costly to live there [but the gas is cheap in NJ!]. You might also be taxed- though I'm not sure of this- if you are, expect a good lump portion of your paycheck GONE. It sucks. I cried after seeing how much tax they took out my first ever paycheck.


shadha-

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by MuslimahDaTurkish

Me and my friends are planning to join a work&travel program in USA for the summer.
But we are worried, since we wear headscarf; will it be a problem to find a job or will americans be scared of us? which jobs and cities are better? at restaurants, parks, hotels? have u ever worked and gained much money? i still find it dangerous for a muslim girl; so what do u thinkkkk?

In most major metropolitan cities, Americans aren't anywhere as near as biased against Muslims as they are in smaller countryside towns or areas in America's Bible Belt:



Otherwise no, in most places people are still respectful regardless of what their personal opinions may be.

Originally Posted by shadha

Other than that, you seriously can have any job of your choosing without any fear of danger.

That's mot the only danger she has to be aware of.

Bushra, if you're going to be working in a job where you'll be working with different types of machinery that have moving parts, then be advised that the employer may have legitimate reasons for either denying employment or asking you to adjust your hijab, because ends of your scarf - depending on how you tie it, might be at risk of getting caught in moving parts and presenting a choking or strangling hazard. In such jobs they usually tell you not to wear any loose jewelry, to tie your hair back completely, and in the case of hijab they might ask you to wear it tied back like a hair-net.

Originally Posted by shadha

City wise- I'd pick the city with the least amount of crime.

If you choose to work in cities or areas with large Muslim populations, then you'll have a greater chance of experiencing a work environment more suitable for a muhjjabah. Areas like Chicago, New York City, Houston, and cities in southern Michigan like Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, etc.

[iTz_NoT_Me_iTzZu]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

In most major metropolitan cities, Americans aren't anywhere as near as biased against Muslims as they are in smaller countryside towns or areas in America's Bible Belt:



Otherwise no, in most places people are still respectful regardless of what their personal opinions may be.



That's mot the only danger she has to be aware of.

Bushra, if you're going to be working in a job where you'll be working with different types of machinery that have moving parts, then be advised that the employer may have legitimate reasons for either denying employment or asking you to adjust your hijab, because ends of your scarf - depending on how you tie it, might be at risk of getting caught in moving parts and presenting a choking or strangling hazard. In such jobs they usually tell you not to wear any loose jewelry, to tie your hair back completely, and in the case of hijab they might ask you to wear it tied back like a hair-net.



If you choose to work in cities or areas with large Muslim populations, then you'll have a greater chance of experiencing a work environment more suitable for a muhjjabah. Areas like Chicago, New York City, Houston, and cities in southern Michigan like Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, etc.

why is texas included in the not-muslim-friendly zone?

[ChotooMotoo]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

If you choose to work in cities or areas with large Muslim populations, then you'll have a greater chance of experiencing a work environment more suitable for a muhjjabah. Areas like Chicago, New York City, Houston, and cities in southern Michigan like Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, etc.

Or go to more "liberal" places like Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington. I didn't face too many problems when I lived there with hijab and last time I went I saw many hijabified sisters working in lots of different positions all over the city.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by ChotooMotoo

Or go to more "liberal" places like Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington. I didn't face too many problems when I lived there with hijab and last time I went I saw many hijabified sisters working in lots of different positions all over the city.

Yeah true, she could do that but I'm presuming she wants to be in a city which affords her more employment opportunities and greater choice.

Portland and Seattle don't stack up very well when it comes to those other cities, do they?

[MuslimahDaTurkish]

Originally Posted by shadha

Oh job types- it'll depend on your education, skill sets, and past experience. Retail is a hard environment to work in and so is the food business. Though, retail book wise is a fabulous work atmosphere. I work for Borders full time and I can't even begin to tell you how much I love it. Try to see if you can get a job at Borders or Barnes & Noble in the city.

Are you in college now? Maybe you can get a job that coincides with your major?

City wise- I'd pick the city with the least amount of crime.

Your salary will depend on what the average minimum wage is in the state you choose and what your education, skill sets, and past experience. New Jersey & New York pay a lot, though it's also costly to live there [but the gas is cheap in NJ!]. You might also be taxed- though I'm not sure of this- if you are, expect a good lump portion of your paycheck GONE. It sucks. I cried after seeing how much tax they took out my first ever paycheck.


shadha-

thank you very much shadha,im sure ur experiments may help me.
the program which we will join, offers to find a job for us ; at holiday parks, restaurants, hotels, stores,supermarkets and casinos Or we may find the job, sure is hard for me to do that,since i am in Turkey now.
The program is for work and travelling, and only college students can join.
i am graduating this year ,from environmental engineering. But i dont think i can find a job which relates to my major, since i will stay for only 1-2 months
New Jersey would be fine.If the people wont bother me. Borders,hmm ,hopefully!

[MuslimahDaTurkish]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Bushra, if you're going to be working in a job where you'll be working with different types of machinery that have moving parts, then be advised that the employer may have legitimate reasons for either denying employment or asking you to adjust your hijab, because ends of your scarf - depending on how you tie it, might be at risk of getting caught in moving parts and presenting a choking or strangling hazard. In such jobs they usually tell you not to wear any loose jewelry, to tie your hair back completely, and in the case of hijab they might ask you to wear it tied back like a hair-net.
If you choose to work in cities or areas with large Muslim populations, then you'll have a greater chance of experiencing a work environment more suitable for a muhjjabah. Areas like Chicago, New York City, Houston, and cities in southern Michigan like Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, etc.

oh thanks i will keep that in my mind!
maybe the hijab will be a trouble for me to get the visa too. argh i am scared really

[iSHi]

Yea sis come to Seattle. There's Muslims EVERYWHERE. And it's pretty good place to look for work.

Visa shouldn't be a problem. If all my Saudi cousins got one, than you should too. Good luck.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by MuslimahDaTurkish

oh thanks i will keep that in my mind!
maybe the hijab will be a trouble for me to get the visa too. argh i am scared really

uh, hello?

You're a girl and you're from Turkey.

Those two items count for you, and not against you. What could you be scared of? just be a cool cat and you'll breeze through.

[Sugarberry]

Originally Posted by MuslimahDaTurkish

thank you very much shadha,im sure ur experiments may help me.
the program which we will join, offers to find a job for us ; at holiday parks, restaurants, hotels, stores,supermarkets and casinos Or we may find the job, sure is hard for me to do that,since i am in Turkey now.
The program is for work and travelling, and only college students can join.
i am graduating this year ,from environmental engineering. But i dont think i can find a job which relates to my major, since i will stay for only 1-2 months
New Jersey would be fine.If the people wont bother me. Borders,hmm ,hopefully!

your doing environmental engineering? thats awsome, that was my sister is working as. She works at this firm in NJ. IF you want i can give you her contact info.

[Aryan_]

Apply for the same job gotfive is trying to get. You will probably work a lot better for less.

[MuslimahDaTurkish]

Originally Posted by Sugarberry

your doing environmental engineering? thats awsome, that was my sister is working as. She works at this firm in NJ. IF you want i can give you her contact info.

great! thanks