Job Hunting in the USA: A Newcomer's Guide
The US job market has unwritten rules that trip up newcomers: resumes look different, LinkedIn matters more than you think, and work authorization shapes your entire search strategy. Here's how to play it right.
The US resume format
- One page. Two pages only after 10+ years of experience.
- No photo, no date of birth, no marital status, no home address (city/state is enough). Including personal details marks you as unfamiliar with US norms β and can get your resume filtered out.
- Reverse chronological, with quantified bullets: "Grew revenue 23%," not "Responsible for sales."
- Summary section (2β3 lines) at the top, tailored per application.
- Work authorization line: if you need sponsorship, state it plainly β "Requires H-1B sponsorship" β so nobody's time is wasted. If you have a green card or are a citizen, say "Authorized to work in the US" to remove all doubt.
Where to look
- LinkedIn β the single most important platform. Complete your profile (photo, headline, experience), turn on "Open to Work," and message hiring managers directly. A large share of US jobs are filled through referrals.
- Indeed β the biggest job board; set up alerts with exact titles.
- Glassdoor β salaries and interview intel.
- Company career pages β many roles are posted here first.
If you need visa sponsorship
Filter for employers with a sponsorship track record:
- myvisajobs.com β ranks employers by H-1B filings; search by company, job title, and city.
- h1bdata.info β searchable Department of Labor disclosure data with actual salaries.
- Target industries with high sponsorship rates: tech, consulting, finance, healthcare, academia.
Be upfront about your status in the first recruiter call. Also know the timelines: the H-1B lottery runs once a year (March registration), so plan OPT/STEM OPT coverage accordingly.
Recruiters and staffing firms
External recruiters are normal in the US, especially in tech and finance: Robert Half, TekSystems, Apex Systems, Hays. They're free for candidates (the employer pays). Specialized immigration-aware recruiters exist in tech hubs β ask in newcomer communities.
Interview norms
- Behavioral questions dominate: "Tell me about a time youβ¦" Prepare 5β6 STAR-format stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Salary: many states now require pay ranges in job postings (California, New York, Colorado, Washington and others). Research market rates on levels.fyi (tech) or Glassdoor before negotiating.
- It's normal β expected, even β to negotiate the offer. Asking for 5β10% more, or a signing bonus, won't cost you the job.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use a US-style phone number and address on applications?
Yes. A Google Voice number and your US city/state remove friction. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters filter on these.
How long does a US job search take?
Plan for 2β4 months for most professional roles; 4β6+ months is normal for sponsored positions or career changers.
Are cover letters still a thing?
Mostly optional now, but some traditional industries (academia, nonprofits, government) still expect one. When in doubt, write a short one.
Sources
- myvisajobs.com, H-1B employer rankings β https://www.myvisajobs.com/
- U.S. Department of Labor, H-1B disclosure data β https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor
- levels.fyi salary data β https://www.levels.fyi/