Is my job search struggle normal or possibly discrimination?

Margo, thanks for the detailed response.

You all don't know what a relief it is to read this. I have been looking for awhile and with no success (two interviews: one which said I was overqualified and one where I was the second choice but alas...only one position). It's really been getting me down. We are fine financially but I hate to have my husband be at work all day while I'm at home with the cat and the finances would be even better if I had an income. Plus I need my next visa around this time next year so we could do with some savings because you all know how expensive they are.

Thanks for sharing that it's been rough going for all of you. I'll keep at it and if anyone knows of a London company looking for a great administrative assistant, PA, or office manager with over 9 years of experience. Let me know.

You all don't know what a relief it is to read this. I have been looking for awhile and with no success (two interviews: one which said I was overqualified and one where I was the second choice but alas...only one position). It's really been getting me down. We are fine financially but I hate to have my husband be at work all day while I'm at home with the cat and the finances would be even better if I had an income. Plus I need my next visa around this time next year so we could do with some savings because you all know how expensive they are.

Thanks for sharing that it's been rough going for all of you. I'll keep at it and if anyone knows of a London company looking for a great administrative assistant, PA, or office manager with over 9 years of experience. Let me know.

Are you using the job finding web sites and working with agencies?  I would think there's plenty of jobs like that about. 

Have you considered registering with a temp agency?  It would get you out of the house for some valuable experience.  Plus, everyone always wants to hire people who are already working.

I've tried registering with temp agencies and absolutely zero luck thus far. I've used REED, personal recommendations from friends, Guardian Jobs, and Gumtree. The two interviews I've managed were from a personal recommendation and Reed and I've had a call from something on Gumtree that never manifested into an interview.

I shall continue on though. Someday.

Good luck and keep trying.  If this thread proves anything it is that it looks like you will never find a job until you do.

Thanks. Right now I'd give my kingdom for a temp agency to not ask me when my visa expires. I will get it renewed for pete's sake and we are much better off financially than we were but those aren't the questions they ask...just when does it expire...then I never hear from them again.

Well as you can see it took me a while but I start my new job on Wednesday

Woo!

Well as you can see it took me a while but I start my new job on Wednesday

Woo!

Great news! Congratulations!!! 

Back to the drawing board. After spending 10 hours reading manuals per their training plan (read 165 manuals and then we shall discuss and you'll start doing things) they decided that I seemed too stressed (which I wasn't at all) and let me go. Argh life am I right?

That's a drag, but don't take it personally.  Over the years I've seen so many people let go for the silliest of reasons.  Once I saw a guy get hired to do some JavaScript.  The company was so inept he had no access to anything and therefore couldn't write any code.  They sent him home after two days because they "didn't like the way he talked about coding" 

Ugh, that sucks. Good luck finding something new.

If it "helps" at all, it took me 4 months to find a job here and I got to the point where I would take anything. Currently, I am full-time employed, but I am making less than half what I was in the US. I basically had to start at the bottom again. I was Assistant Director of Academic Services at a US university b-school and here I am a Coordinator at a UK university b-school.

I also find that things are MUCH more hierarchical here and I am slowly trying to work my way back up, but now I am sort of pegged into this level/pay grade and it is tough.

Probably discrimination. I am still in America though, and these days we don't need to sugar coat anything when we speak. One of the positives of our new administration. 

Hate to be a downer about it if that is indeed the case. You know the answer deep down inside. I know the answer when I make phone calls and email my "friends" out there treat me like I am from a third world country.

Then I come back and tell them they are not dealing with someone from a 3rd world country they come back with disdain at my statement.

No time to speak with me unless I ruffle their feathers. I have had more luck ruffling feathers actually. Perhaps that is why I am still stuck here, but in actuality being a jerk about it has lead me to a positive connection or two instead of being forced to listen to the deafening silence on the other end.