Why can't I get a job as an undocumented student?

Hey Alejandra,

I definitely understand your situation. I was born in Mexico and moved to California when I was two years old. While I saw California as my home, legally it didn't seem so. I was super discouraged knowing I couldn't get the same opportunities as someone who was born in the U.S. I grew up with a single mother, also undocumented and we lived in poverty for a very long time. I felt super humiliated when I would have to clean houses and offices with my mother just to earn money in the early morning and late at night. It was definitely hard to get a job since I needed a SSN or some type of work permit.

Now, I can tell you what my mom did and possibly what you could do. My mom was tired of cleaning after people so she went to beauty school. Because she wasn't a citizen, she officially didn't get her license but she pushed through and learned a lot of things. She invested and learn how to do hair and makeup. Four years later, she has her own beauty school. She told me there is a huge business for hair stylist and makeup artist. She even pushed me to get a Makeup Certificate since there is a large demand for makeup artists. She initially hated it but now she grew to love it. She has clients all over the U.S asking for her and won several awards just for the work she has done. She first started off doing her friend's hair but her client base soon grew.

While this may not appeal to you, there are definitely ways an immigrant can get money. I suggest making a resume. I would make a resume and send it to as many people as I can. Ask your counselor how to start it off since it can be pretty tricky. I also contacted my local businesses if they needed any help on organizing or just helping out. Currently I'm 18 and have an internship and it's definitely possible for you. Research how to get a work permit. Once you get DACA, you can apply for one. It's a long and painful process just to get a job compared to others but just be patient and you'll be able to reap the rewards.

I hope I helped in some way.

Hi Alejandra,
To start- I can imagine how frustrating this is for you, but I wanted to applaud you for coming to CareerVillage.org to try to get help. You did the right thing! You're in the right place, and I want to assure you that we're working on getting your question answered:) For now, I thought I'd chime in with a few suggestions of places to look into in the interim. There are a bunch of sites and apps that pay people for services like pet sitting/dog walking and testing out websites, kind of like contract workers. I've included a few below for you to look into, although I'm not 100% positive that they verify whether or not you're documented. It's definitely worth applying (the forms should just take you a few minutes each). Let me know what you find out!

Hi Alejandro,

I understand your frustration. A Social Security card does not make someone a better employee, but it makes that person qualified to work legally in the United States. Most organizations are held to standards requiring them to hire individuals with a Social Security number as both the employees and the employers are required to pay into the Social Security system. Many companies electronic and HR systems are designed so that employees must have a valid Social Security number to add them to the companies' employment records. Further, employers are required by law to report the hiring of all employees to state and federal officials for such things as income tax reporting, tracking of employment status for people with outstanding debts including child or spousal support orders to assess wage garnishments, among others. Companies that don't comply with these rules can face repercussions that could range from fines to the closing of businesses depending on the frequency and severity of violations.

It is unlawful to hire you at this time.