Am a permanent resident for the past 3years,i have masters degrees from nigeria before migrating to unites states but i find it hard getting a descent job,i need advice on what crash programme i can do to enhance my chances of getting a job that will pay at least $20 an hour.

Research: what qualifications/certifications/experience does the type of job you want to go for (finance, accounting, social work, etc)require? In all likelihood you will need to do some kind of 'bridging' study to bring your Nigerian qualifications up to speed for your dream job (basically, get some kind of American certification that hirers will understand and be familiar with, unless you have spectacular experience).

While you're working on that, there are other important things to pay attention to:

Network: talk to people, let them know what you are looking for. Look for more experienced professionals in your field and ask if they can mentor you. Look for people who are doing what you want to do and ask them how they got there. Volunteer with different organizations to increase your social and professional network;join professional organizations. Don't socialise with just people from back home. Note that some people have gotten jobs with organizations through starting out as volunteers. That way, they learn the system, gain experience, prove their worth and indirectly persuade the org to hire them. At the very least, they gain valuable American experience which they can leverage into a paying job.
Brush up your resume and interviewing skills: make sure your resume is formatted to fit American standards. There's stuff you put on a CV in Nigeria that you do NOT put on a resume in North America. Go through practice interviews and get feedback on how you are coming across. There are non-profit organizations, and even sometimes government-assisted organizations, that offer such services.
Stay fit and look the part: if you don't already do so, start working out (if you join a gym or a local sports club, that's one possible way of increasing your network), and make a big effort to eat right. Why? You'll feel better, look better, be more confident and come across better. Dress for the type of position you are going for.
Be open to change: your dream job might be in another state
Be willing to start small. But don't let the $20/hr job be your limit.

Thanks for taking time to reply,may the lord answer your prayers IFEGY.

ifegy: Research: what qualifications/certifications/experience does the type of job you want to go for (finance, accounting, social work, etc)require? In all likelihood you will need to do some kind of 'bridging' study to bring your Nigerian qualifications up to speed for your dream job (basically, get some kind of American certification that hirers will understand and be familiar with, unless you have spectacular experience).

While you're working on that, there are other important things to pay attention to:

Network: talk to people, let them know what you are looking for. Look for more experienced professionals in your field and ask if they can mentor you. Look for people who are doing what you want to do and ask them how they got there. Volunteer with different organizations to increase your social and professional network;join professional organizations. Don't socialise with just people from back home. Note that some people have gotten jobs with organizations through starting out as volunteers. That way, they learn the system, gain experience, prove their worth and indirectly persuade the org to hire them. At the very least, they gain valuable American experience which they can leverage into a paying job.
Brush up your resume and interviewing skills: make sure your resume is formatted to fit American standards. There's stuff you put on a CV in Nigeria that you do NOT put on a resume in North America. Go through practice interviews and get feedback on how you are coming across. There are non-profit organizations, and even sometimes government-assisted organizations, that offer such services.
Stay fit and look the part: if you don't already do so, start working out (if you join a gym or a local sports club, that's one possible way of increasing your network), and make a big effort to eat right. Why? You'll feel better, look better, be more confident and come across better. Dress for the type of position you are going for.
Be open to change: your dream job might be in another state
Be willing to start small. But don't let the $20/hr job be your limit.

with most jobs you will need some type of experience especially those high paying jobs. To make quick you have to have an open mind as the job you will be willing to do. There are jobs in Nigeria that people look down on that pays high with limited education and prper training.
1. you can take a commercial driver's licence course where you will get your CDL driver's licence and that would allow you to drive trucks. Those guys make money

2. An armed security guard. Though not everyone can do this because you will need recommendation sometimes from the security firm you work with before you can get the gun permit you need for that job. those guys make a decent living too

3. you can do the LPN course which is the licensed nurse practitioner course which is right below an RN but they are getting hired more due to the high cost of nurses

4. you can start your own business. This takes time and effort and different vendors licenses etc but it has been done.

5. you can find a school that would accept most of your credits from Nigeria and go to school. that degree is important especially the one the American companies deem correct. They don't care most of the time if you have masters from Africa. They only want American European and some asian degrees.

i wish you good luck and if i think of more ideas i will put it here.