Searching online job boards, niche sites, and company career pages is a proactive way for newcomers to find international job opportunities in the US. While it may take time and patience, persistently applying to positions that match your skills and experience will eventually lead to interviews and offers.
Keep an open mind, as your dream job may be in an unexpected place! With hard work and persistence, you’ll find an opportunity that allows you to thrive in your new home.
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Obtaining the Right Visa to Work in the U.S.
To find an international job in the U.S., you must first obtain the proper work visa. The type of visa you need depends on the kind of work you want to do. The most common types are the H-1B visa for specialty occupations, the L-1 visa for intracompany transfers, and the TN visa for Canadian and Mexican citizens in specific occupations.
1. The H-1B Visa
If you have a bachelor’s degree or higher in a specific field of study, the H-1B visa may be right for you. This visa is for “specialty occupations” that require a specialized degree, like engineering, mathematics, architecture, and medicine. To get an H-1B, you need an employer to sponsor you. The employer must show that the job requires a related degree and that you have the proper credentials. H-1B visas are granted for up to three years at a time and can be renewed for another three years.
2. The L-1 Visa
Are you currently employed by a company with offices in both your home country and the U.S.? If so, you may be eligible for an L-1 intracompany transfer visa. This allows multinational companies to temporarily transfer employees to the U.S. The employee must have worked abroad for the company for at least one continuous year in the last three years in an executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity. L-1 visas are first granted for up to three years, with possible extensions up to seven years total.
3. The TN Visa
Citizens of Canada and Mexico may be eligible for a TN visa to work in the U.S. This visa allows Canadians and Mexicans in specific occupations to work temporarily in the U.S. To qualify, you must have a job offer from a U.S. employer in an occupation on the NAFTA list, like accountants, engineers, teachers, and management consultants. The TN visa is granted for up to three years at a time and can be renewed indefinitely.
Building Your Resume for the U.S. Job Market
1. Focus on Relevant Experience
As an international candidate, employers will be interested in any relevant experience you have, especially if it was gained in the U.S. Highlight jobs, internships, volunteering, and extracurricular activities that provide applicable experience for the position. Explain your responsibilities and major accomplishments for each role. If you have limited experience in the U.S., emphasize transferable skills gained in your home country.
2. Tailor Your Resume
Target your resume for each position. Read the job listing carefully and note any required skills, experiences, and certifications. Integrate the exact keywords and phrases from the listing throughout your resume. This will help you get past applicant tracking systems and grab the hiring manager’s attention.
3. Emphasize Your Education
List any degrees, professional certifications, training programs, or courses that are relevant for the role. For degrees from outside the U.S., include the name of the degree in both the original language and its English translation. Note the number of years required to complete the program. Highlight any honors or awards you received.
4. Include Optional Sections
You may want to add optional sections to strengthen your resume, such as:
Honors and Awards: Highlight any prestigious honors, scholarships, or awards that demonstrate your abilities and potential for success.
Skills: Include technical and soft skills like languages, software proficiencies, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These show what you’re capable of in a role.
Interests: Mentioning a few interests can make you seem well-rounded, but only include those that are genuinely interesting to you and could spark a conversation. Keep this section brief.
A compelling resume is your first chance to show employers why they should hire you. By focusing on relevant experience, customizing for the position, emphasizing your education, and including optional sections, you can craft a resume that will land you that sought-after job in the U.S. market.
Using Online Job Boards to Search for Opportunities
1. Major Job Sites
Some of the most popular websites for finding international jobs are Indeed, LinkedIn, Monster, and Glassdoor. These massive job boards allow you to filter by location, job type, company, salary, and more. You can set up alerts to notify you when new jobs that match your search criteria are posted. Many companies advertise roles on multiple job sites, so searching a few of the major boards will give you the widest range of options.
2. Niche Job Boards
In addition to the major job sites, there are niche boards that focus on specific industries, job types, or locations. For example, sites like SimplyHired, Idealist, and Remote.com specialize in remote jobs and jobs at nonprofits or NGOs. If you have experience in a particular field like healthcare, education, or technology, search for job boards dedicated to that industry. They often have listings you won’t find elsewhere.
3. Company Websites
Don’t forget to check the websites of companies you’re interested in directly. Many organizations post new job openings on their own career sites before sharing them on the big job boards. You can sign up for job alerts on company sites so you’ll be among the first to know about new openings. Applying directly through a company’s website also allows you to express your specific interest in that organization.
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Conclusion
With determination and persistence, you can land an opportunity in the U.S. job market as an international candidate. Do your homework, build connections, and don’t get discouraged.