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How to Get a Job in USA

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By:CANAM Group
Updated On:Sep 17,2024 05:51 PM IST

International students in USA can start working in the country with optional practical training program (OPT) that allows them to work on their student visa for up to a period of three years.
Working beyond OPT requires three major steps including finding a job, preparing documents like CV/ résumé, cover letter and preparing for interviews.
Candidates need to obtain special non-immigrant temporary visas like H visas, L visas, O visas, P visas, or Q visas to work in USA.

How to Get a Job in USA.webp

International students who want to work in the USA can start with optional practical training (OPT), where they are allowed to work as practical trainees for 12 months if they have studied a non-STEM program. On the other hand, having completed a STEM-related degree, one can work for a time period of up to three years.

Generally, getting job opportunities in the USA is based on factors like qualification, reputation at the previous workplace and many more. Moreover, working in the USA for international students, including Indian students or professionals, requires obtaining a work visa as applicable to their profile.

This blog touches upon the aspects of finding a job in the USA, applying for it and knowing about visa types relevant to different cases or profiles.

How to Get Job in USA?

Getting a job in USA requires the same steps and resilience as in any other country. It helps if students have studied their last academic program in the country, but as anywhere else, it starts with finding job options from different sources with details of the company or organization, following up with applications, sitting for interviews, evaluating options and securing a visa.

The steps and their requirements have been explicated in the sections below.

How to Search Jobs in USA?

One can search for a job in USA in two ways:

Online job search and through recruitment agencies specializing in connecting employers to potential employees throughout industries.

Searching for a job online is easy and has opened unimaginable doors for those looking for job opportunities. Job search engines allows both companies & job seekers to create their ID's and connect them according to their specializations, industry, skill sets etc. These job search engines, websites and web applications allow candidates to view the latest job listings, share resumes and cover letters with a few clicks, and find ways to connect to organizations.

Given below are job search platforms where graduates and professionals can find work in the USA.

Job Platform	Features
Career Builder	Job listings, advice, career resources, salary tools, & insights
Career Jet	Job sourcing from other websites
Dice	Tech job listings, tech companies, advice
Glassdoor	Job search, salaries, company reviews, anonymous chatting about work-life
Idealist	Jobs in the non-profit sector
Indeed	Jobs search with tools for resumes, company reviews
Linkedin	Job opportunities, building and engaging professional networks, insights
Monster	Career opportunities, advice
Simplyhired	Jobs, salaries, company reviews
USAjobs	Government’s official employment website for job search & application.
ZipRecruiter	Career advice, job postings

Recruiting agencies on the other hand, provide personalized job search services and connects graduates and professionals to their potential employers. Some job search and recruitment agencies in USA are listed below.

Adecco
Aerotek
Hays
Insight Global
Kelly Services
Kforce
Manpower Group
ProLink Staffing
Randstad
Robert Half

Even if you’ve used some of the resources above, you should not be complacent till you find the job that meets your aspirations and/or needs. Other than that, you can look for job openings at official websites, newspapers, and rely on your networks to get a good job offer.

Now that you know where to search for a job in the USA, it feels appropriate to share job-sector-wise common job roles in the United States.

section wise job roles in USA.png

With some knowledge about the roles to look for and places to search, you can take the next step to work in the USA, which is preparing the documents that present your skills, achievements & personality before you do.

Prepare a CV

A CV presents all the details about a candidate's academic and professional background. It gives employers a chance to assess the candidate's capabilities, personality, and interests and check if they align with the work they will be hired for.

When crafting any of these documents, the following points should be remembered:

Structure your CV/ resume well	Organize the sections well, making them very clear for the reader. At first glance, it should capture attention to the most important sections.
Customize your CV/resume according to the role	Take time to tailor each resume for a different job role. Highlight skills, experiences and achievements most relevant to the job.
Keep the tone consistent	Adopt a professional tone and keep your tone soft. Avoid slang and the use of informal vocabulary.
Don’t just list your experiences, highlight your achievements	Express the projects' positive outcomes or results of your involvement with a project or team in brief as you list them.
Include relevant keywords	Read the job description shared by the employer or the recruiting agency and use the most relevant keywords in a subtle manner in your CV/resume. Don’t shoot too many keywords from your resume, but let the organization know you can do the work they need.

Start Preparing for an Interview to Work in USA

An interview is another crucial part of the selection process where one is on precarious grounds as they have reached this point after multiple rounds of selection. There’s still competition, and the US employer might be looking to further filter candidates in this round. Being fluent, truthful and sincere is important, along with giving the interviewees assurance that you have the necessary technical skills that the organization needs its employees to have.

Given below are the tips to crack the non-technical part of an interview to work in USA:

Think of how you would respond to some general questions

Almost all interviews have questions like “Why do you want to work with this organization?”, What are your goals for the future?”, “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?”, “Can you talk about a difficult work situation and how did you overcome it?” Think deeply about your responses to these questions and answer them sincerely.

Be honest and straightforward in answering questions

Going overboard to get the job does not work well in most cases. Therefore, do not boast about what you do not know and stay truthful to yourself and the interviewees. It may work in your favour if you commit to learning something you don’t know yet.

Be calm and watch your body language

Answer in your natural way. Do not try to act or sound like someone else. While in conversation with the interviewee, watch your actions and do not let your anxiousness show on your face. Stay confident and calm.

Get a Work Visa for USA

As discussed in the introduction, once a candidate has completed their optional practical training (OPT), which can last up to three years, the candidate can work in the USA. To work in the USA, candidates need a work visa to be eligible for further opportunities. The details of different types of non-immigrant temporary work visas are given below.

Types of Visa in USA for Working

Work Visa types in the USA differ depending on the candidate's profession. Many visas are available for specialized STEM-related fields such as the arts, athletics, entertainment, science, and more. The types of non-immigrant temporary work visas in the USA for Indians are given below.

Non-immigrant Temporary Work Visa Type	Categorization	Who is it for?
H-Visa	H-1B Visa H-3 Visa	STEM jobs holders, including engineering, fashion modelling, government-to-government research and development, and co-production projects assigned by the US Department of Defense Professionals or trainees starting or pursuing work in education for students with mental, physical or emotional disabilities.
L-Visa	No category	Intra-company transferees or professionals working at an employer's branch, parent, affiliate, or subsidiary, usually in a managerial or executive role.
O - Visa	O-1A visa O-1B visa	Individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business or athletics Individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion pictures or television
P - Visa	P-1 P-2 P-3	Athletes at a competition, performer or an individual who is a part of an entertainment group Individual performers or entertainment groups taking part in an exchange program Teachers or coaches of a program that involves traditional ethnic, folk, cultural, musical, theatrical, or artistic performances & presentations
Q - Visa	No category	Individuals working in cultural exchange programs that involve sharing the home country's history, culture and traditions.

How to Apply for Work Visa in USA?

To apply for a non-immigrant temporary work permit in the USA, Indian candidates must have an employer-filed petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This means that a job application and acceptance from an employer is necessary to apply for a work visa in the USA.

The steps to apply for the US non-immigrant temporary work visa are given as under:

Steps to apply for work visa in USA.png

If your visa is approved, you must pay your visa insurance fee before collecting your passport and visa.

Conclusion

International students and professionals from India can work in the USA. The procedures begin as anywhere else in the world, from finding a job with the help of job search engines, web applications and recruiting agencies. On finding a suitable employer or organization, you submit a CV and sit for the interview, if you get selected in the interview rounds. Once selected, the employer submits a petition to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On the basis of the approved petition and your visa application, you are granted one of the visas to work in a specific field of work in the USA.

For more assistance and information, contact Canam's study abroad consultants.

FAQ

Which job search engines can help me find a job in the USA?

Jobs in USA can be found on Career Jet, Dice, Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, SimplyHired, USAJobs & ZipRecruiter among others.

Where can I find tech jobs in the USA?

Dice, Stack Overflow, GitHub offer job search and related tools especially for jobs in technology sector in the USA.

Which stages do I have to go through to get hired by a company or organization in the USA?

Generally, when you submit your resume, you hear back from the organization for the interview. Often, there are three types of interviews – technical (if applicable), culture-fit, & project based interview. All industries have their own types and ways of conducting interviews, but after the interview rounds, you most probably hear the company’s decision for final selection.

How important is networking to find a job in the USA?

It is an important part of finding jobs and working in the USA. Creating professional networks and knowing people in the industry through events or Linkedin is helpful.

Do I need to have a work visa to apply for a job in the USA?

The process actually goes the other way around. You need to have a confirmed job in the USA to apply for a work visa in the country.

Should I completely rely on job search portals for finding a job in the USA?

The process actually goes the other way around. You need to have a confirmed job in the USA to apply for a work visa in the country.

Can I have the same resume for an organization in the USA and one in India?

It is recommended that you create a CV or resume as per the requirements and job role for different jobs in the USA.

Can I get a work visa in USA after completing my studies in India?

Yes, if your position at an American organization is confirmed, you can get a work visa despite having studied in India.

Do I need a work visa for OPT in the USA?

No, OPT or optional practical training can be taken under student visa. You can receive an extension on the student visa from 12 months to 36 months, depending on your field of education.

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How to Get a Job in USA

Table of Contents

How to Get Job in USA?

How to Search Jobs in USA?

Prepare a CV

Start Preparing for an Interview to Work in USA

Think of how you would respond to some general questions

Be honest and straightforward in answering questions

Be calm and watch your body language

Get a Work Visa for USA

Types of Visa in USA for Working

How to Apply for Work Visa in USA?

Conclusion

FAQ

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