Finding a job in the US: use GoinGlobal’s advice and job boards to take on the challenge

Finding work in the United States can be a fascinating and enriching adventure. But it requires an understanding of American culture, administrative procedures, the different types of visas and the specificities of the US job market. This article will guide you through the key phases to maximize your chances of a successful move.

To help you with this project, EDHEC Alumni has signed up to GoinGlobal: job offers and career guides for specific countries and major cities to teach you all you need to know about the international job market.

To benefit from this service free of charge, log into your EDHEC Alumni account and then visit goinglobal.com. 

1. Securing a visa: the first essential step

Before you can even think about applying for jobs, you should know that you will need a work visa. There are several different types of visas to work legally in the United States.

Types of work visas in the US

• H-1B : This is the most common visa for qualified professionals. It’s intended for people with specialist skills, and the holder must have a university degree or equivalent professional experience. Employers must be able to prove that they could not find any American candidates for the position.
• L-1 : For intra-company transfers. If you’re already working for a firm with offices in the US, this could be an option.
• E-1/E-2
  Often used by the EDHEC business schools, these E1 and E2 visas are intended for foreigners whose country of origin has a trade agreement with the United States (including France). Anyone applying for an E visa must also own at least 50% of the shares in the company. E visas are also issued to company employees who are managers, executives or specialised workers.
• J-1 : For cultural and professional exchanges. This visa is often used for internships, training courses or research programmes.
• O-1 : For people with extraordinary skillsets in science, the arts, education, business or sport.

> More info about GoinGlobal : Visa Types (United States)

Find a firm to sponsor your

To obtain a H-1B or L-1 visa, you will need to find an American firm willing to sponsor you. Here is some advice to achieve this:

1. Look for multinationals: Major firms with offices in several different countries are more likely to sponsor visa applications. They are accustomed to managing these administrative procedures and more open to recruiting international candidates. Find them here: https://online.goinglobal.com/h1b GoinGlobal or contact the French-American Chamber of Commerce
   
   
2. Use job-seeking platforms: Websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed and CareerBuilder can be very useful for finding appropriate job offers. Use keywords like “visa sponsorship" to target companies willing to sponsor foreign workers
   
   
3. Networking: Take part in professional events and job fairs and join professional associations. Networking is essential in the US and can open doors for you. The EDHEC Alumni network has 8 clubs in the US: New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Boston, Washington and Houston. Why not join them or get in touch with the club ambassadors for feedback?
   
   

2. Understanding the US job market

The American job market is vast and varied, with significant differences from one State to another. Here are some key points to bear in mind:

Regional differences

Unemployment rates can vary considerably from one State to another. For example, States like Massachusetts and Minnesota often have lower unemployment rates than the national average, whereas places like Alaska and Mississippi can have very high unemployment. Some States are known for specific sectors: California is a tech hub (Silicon Valley), New York is a major financial centre, Texas is well known for energy and oil, and Florida for tourism and the hotel industry.

> More info available in our United States Guide and U.S. City Career Guides

Cultural and professional specificities

CVs (or “résumés” in the US) are often shorter and more concise than in France. Interviews can also be more informal, but it is important to get across your passion and capacity for team integration. Be prepared to answer behavioural questions and give concrete examples of your past achievements. 

> Read GoinGlobal’s advice here: "Introduction to résumés/CVs (United States)"

Job market sector-by-sector 

Tech and IT, Healthcare, Engineering & Construction, Finance & Business are the four primary sectors that recruit qualified graduates from abroad. Again, this will depend on the State you’re interested in: New York for Finance, California for Tech, etc.

In summary

As you know, the “American dream” means that anyone can prosper in the US, but it requires work and solid preparation!

If you want to know more about the American job market, we suggest you read through these two Goinglobal webpages 

United States Guide

U.S. City Career Guides

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our 8 EDHEC Alumni clubs in the US for feedback from graduates living there.

Join EDHEC Alumni clubs

Further help:

In March EDHEC Alumni held a one-hour event online with graduates based in the US to discuss "How to find a job in North America".