If you’re an ambition-driven professional, you’ve probably thought of the US as a potential destination. Despite the fact that the country is experiencing high inflation, it remains one of the best spots for making money and acquiring new skills. With its well-developed industries and diverse society, it presents both a challenge and an opportunity for experts working in different fields.
Although the American Dream is within your reach, that doesn’t mean that achieving it will be easy. “Foreigners have to go through numerous screening procedures before they can even touch the US soil,” according to O’Grady Peyon, an international nurse recruitment agency. “To make matters worse, you’ll likely need to invest some money for all these accompanying processes.”
In this article, we will outline a list of all the things you’ll have to do to work in the country. We hope that this guide will help you create an actionable strategy and reduce already high application costs.
Find the Right Industry and Role
Before you can even think about going to the US, you’ll have to find a job suitable for your skills. Like many other Western countries, North America is struggling to fill spots in certain industries. Here are some of the fields and roles that are in the highest demand:
- Healthcare nurses, medical technicians, and physicians.
- Data scientists, software engineers, and IT analysts.
- Civil engineers, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers.
- College professors, lab researchers, and other members of academia.
- Various seasonal employees in agriculture and hospitality.
Even if you don’t have the necessary skills to work in IT or healthcare, you can always apply for seasonal jobs. Generally speaking, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a good opportunity to make money. We recommend that you research businesses that sponsor visas, as it will make your entire journey that much easier.
Prepare Job Application Materials
The next step is preparing job application materials, such as resumes and social profiles. Most importantly, if you’re from the UK or another English-speaking region, you should modify your documents so they conform to the US-English writing style.
- Resume: Even if you have extensive experience, your resume shouldn’t be longer than two pages. Write about your past jobs, focusing on the ones relevant to this particular position. In fact, we recommend updating your resume for each new application so it’s suitable for that particular employer.
- Cover Letter: As with your resume, every cover letter should be tailored to a specific role and employer. Pay attention to the job specifics and update the information accordingly.
- Social Profiles: Your LinkedIn profile is the most important social profile for employers. It must include all relevant information about your education and work history. However, we also recommend that you curate your Facebook, Instagram, and other networks.
Due to the importance of these documents, it is much better to have a professional translator review each of them. Nowadays, you can also use AI to help you write cover letters, especially if you’re applying to a lot of positions.
Apply for a Visa
As a foreigner, you can apply for different types of work permits and visas. In most cases, your future employer will handle this part of the documentation, but it’s better to be familiar with other options. Here are different types of visas you can apply for:
- Green Card: Ideally, you should get a Green Card, which will give you permanent residency in the United States. You can receive the document as soon as you receive a permanent job offer and demonstrate a long-term intention to work in the country.
- H-1B Visa: If you’re working in industries such as finance, engineering, or tech, your best option is the H-1B Visa. This type of permit is only accessible to highly specialized professionals who have at least a bachelor’s degree.
- O-1 Visa: Similar to H-1B, this permit is issued to high-profile professionals. It is especially common among experts in art, education, and science.
- L-1 Visa: This visa type is tailored for intra-company transfers. If you’re a part of a large international company, you’ll likely apply for this one, especially if you’re not staying in the country for too long.
- TN Visa: Only available to Mexican and Canadian citizens in accordance with the NAFTA/USMCA agreement.
Each of these residency permits comes with a certain number of quotas, criteria, and timeliness. Make sure to check official resources or hire an immigration lawyer to help you out. You might also hire an international recruitment agency to help you out.
Use Community Resources
Networking is vital for getting a dream job, but also for creating a social support system. A lot of job opportunities will open up through contacts, giving you a chance to choose or change positions while you’re there. Here are some of the best ways to create your own network:
- Attend Job Fairs: Although job fairs aren’t as popular as they once were, they still provide a good opportunity to connect with employers in your state and beyond. Among other things, employers don’t have a problem talking to foreigners who still don’t have their paperwork.
- Connect With Alumni: If you’re fresh out of college and need documents to stay in the country, it isn’t a bad idea to contact your old colleagues. Finishing school in the States gives you a major opportunity to find a quick employment opportunity.
- Join Professional Associations: A lot of these associations offer apprenticeships. You can contact them for additional resources and guidance, whether you’re looking for your first job in the US or your first job in general.
The best approach is to have an open-minded attitude toward colleagues and build friendships whenever possible.
The Fastest Way to a Great Career
Creating a good strategy is the best and fastest way to a long, lucrative career in the States. By carefully preparing and building a network of contacts, you can find a position that suits your skills.
PHD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of Business Process Management, Faculty of Market Technologies IOM