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Employment

Finding a Job

While searching for a job in the U.S. the main challenges immigrants will face are work authorization and visa limitations. Therefore, in searching for employment, it is essential to find employers who are open to hiring international candidates and sponsoring visas.

Step 1: Preparation

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Step 2: Resources

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Step 3: Checking Availability

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Practical Example

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American Resume Standards

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Step 1: Preparation

Prepare for the Job Search Process

  • Update your resume and cover letter
    • Tailor your resume and cover letter to meet American standards
  • Gather necessary documents
    • Educational and professional credentials (translated copies if necessary)
Resume Standards

Step 2: Resources

Job Search Resources – Websites and Databases

  1. MyVisaJobs – MyVisaJobs is a portal specifically targeted for international people seeking employment in the U.S. It will match your background and qualifications to U.S. employers. Furthermore, it has reports on employers that sponsor visas. 
    • The search function allows you to look for jobs by your visa type 
    • You can browse through the list of top visa sponsors and read company profiles to learn about their sponsorship history
  1. H1BGrader – H1BGrader is a visa database that contains information on visa sponsorship and wages for companies in the U.S. You can use this website to review company sponsorship data, reports on top H1B employers, and search for H1B sponsors by job title, city or name.
    • Use the employer database to find companies with a history of H-1B visa approvals
    • There is a jobs listing section, in which you can look at job postings that explicitly state their willingness to sponsor visas
  1. LinkedIn – LinkedIn is the largest professional network on the internet. It can help you find the right job or internship, connect with and strengthen professional relationships, and even learn the skills necessary for success in your career.
    • Use the advanced search filters to find jobs with visa sponsorship
    • Networking – connect with professionals in your field and join relevant groups to get insider information on companies that sponsor visas
  1. Indeed – Indeed is a popular job site, facilitating all aspects of the matching and hiring processes in finding employment. Through Indeed, you can easily browse through numerous job opportunities and quickly find the ones that align with your own circumstances. 
    • Use the search bar to look for jobs and include terms like “visa sponsorship” or “H-1B sponsorship” to find relevant listings
    • Apply the numerous filters for job type, location, and company to narrow down your search
    • Check company reviews on Indeed to see if they mention visa sponsorship

Step 3: Checking Availability

Step 3: Checking Visa Sponsorship Availability

  1. Company Websites
    • Career Pages: Visit the careers section of company websites. Some will directly mention if they sponsor visas
    • Job Descriptions: Look for phrases like “visa sponsorship available,” “H-1B sponsorship,” or “willing to sponsor”
  1. Job Descriptions
    • Keywords: Focus on finding keywords related to visa sponsorship
    • Contact HR: If not mentioned, contact the HR department directly through email or phone to inquire about visa sponsorship
  1. Professional Networking
    • LinkedIn Connections: Reach out to connections in your industry to ask about their company’s sponsorship policies
    • Industry Groups: Join and participate in industry-specific groups and forums to gather information and ask questions
  1. Direct Inquiry
    • Email Template: Prepare a polite and professional email template to inquire about visa sponsorship when applying for jobs
      • Here is a resource with various email templates specifically tailored for job applications: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/job-email-template 
      • In addition, it guides you through some key characteristics of an effective professional email. This is especially helpful if you want to personalize your email and diverge from preset templates.

Practical Application

Here is an example use of this section’s content. Please note that this is only a suggestion – you don’t need to use the various resources or steps in such a particular manner.

Example:

  1. Visit MyVisaJobs: Search for your desired job title and filter by visa type
  2. Check LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to find the companies that were listed on MyVisaJobs and check their job postings
  3. Visit Company Websites: Go to the career sections of these companies to research on additional job postings and detailed sponsorship information

Contact HR: If information is unclear, consider using the provided contact details to directly inquire about visa sponsorship

American Resume Standards

This is important to double check because it may be different from your country’s standards

01

“Resume” vs “CV”

First, it’s important to understand that what the U.S. refers to as a “resume” is often called a “CV” in other countries. These terms are often used interchangeably. However, in the U.S., a CV is typically a longer, more detailed document usually used by academics or researchers and thus slightly distinct from a resume.

02

Personal Information

Generally, Americans prefer to have their resumes concise and straightforward. Therefore, you don’t need to include any personal information like your hobbies, nor a photo of yourself.

03

Language

You may have two copies of your resume – one in English, and in your native language. In that case, it may be helpful–if you are not fully confident in your English–to have a native speaker look it over and make sure everything is accurately aligned. Please note that many translation software programs, such as google translate, do not provide entirely accurate translations.

04

Formatting

There is a large margin for creative freedom in the U.S when it comes to designing your resume. This may be different than other countries’ format expectations (for example, some companies in Japan prefer handwritten resumes). However, although there are a wide variety of styles–chronological, combination, function, etc–most resumes typically have the following points. 

A standard resume usually has from half-an-inch to one-inch size margins on all sides. In addition, if you are early into your career, companies will typically expect you to have little more than a single page. If you are extensively accomplished, then two to three pages will be more reasonable. 

The popular “professional” type fonts are Arial, Cambria, Garamond, and Times New Roman. Resumes are typically in black and white, although you are free to use color if you are certain that it would benefit your application (like a graphic designer).

Key Things You Should Include (possibly similar to other countries’ standards)

  • Name, contact information
  • Professional summary
    • 2-3 sentences
    • Introduce yourself and your skills
  • Work experience
  • List of your skills
  • Education 
  • Relevant certifications

For reference, here is a useful guide+template resource published by Harvard University:

https://cdn-careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2023/04/resume-and-letter_2022-1.pdf

Sources

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/civic-assimilation/settling-in-the-us/employment (information)

https://www.indeed.com/q-visa-sponsorship-jobs.html?vjk=0d4436e8bac740ee (referenced)

https://www.myvisajobs.com/ (information + referenced)

https://cdn-careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/161/2023/04/resume-and-letter_2022-1.pdf (resume example)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/location-resume-differences-between-countries-amanda-clark#:~:text=Personal%20Details,is%20encouraged%20or%20even%20required. (information)