The US continues to be top and most popular destination for job seekers around the world, every fiscal year (October 1 – September 30), approximately 140,000 employment-based immigrant visas are made available to qualified applicants. Boasting the globe’s largest economy and an unemployment rate of 3.9% in November 2023, USA remains an important hub for businesses, while continuing to offer a robust labour market.
However, finding work in the US for foreigners can still be challenging, with many different resources of information available, they can sometimes make the process confusing. That’s why, at Job in NY, we have put together this helpful guide about how to get a job in the US.
From the types of visas, to the steps involved in the application process, we will help to make sure that the process of finding a job in the US is as easy as possible. So, whether you’re an international graduate wanting to kick-start your career, or an experienced professional looking for an exciting new challenge abroad, allow us to explain exactly how to get a job in the US.
H-1B visas and some other types of temporary visas allow the visa holder to stay in the US for the same length as their employment contract, or up to six years total. Extensions beyond six years are not typically granted.
Overview of the job market in the US
Despite the US offering diverse job sectors, decent employment opportunities, and a pool of highly-skilled workers, it still suffers from a skills shortage in several different industries. This presents those looking for work in the US with plenty of opportunities to land a dream role and secure stable employment.
While the competition for many jobs remains high, with the right experience, language skills, qualifications and professional attributes, you will find that finding a job in the US is more than achievable. Home to large cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego which host some of the world’s leading employers, there are a plethora of sectors that you can target.
- Healthcare
- Banking
- IT
- Retail and wholesale
- Health and social care
- Professional and technical
- Admin and support
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Accommodation and food
- Construction
As you can see, the US’s economy is largely dominated by services industries. Within these sectors, there are a lot of large-scale companies that take up the majority market share. But, in the US public sector, organisations still tend to be some of the biggest national employers.
How to get a job in the US
There are a number of avenues for finding a job in the US. Depending on your chosen sector, available resources, and the specific role you’re looking for, a combination of or all of the below options are worth trying.
