How To Apply For Full-Time Jobs In The USA – The Ultimate Guide

For many people, the USA is the dream country where they want to work and live. However, getting a full-time job in the USA is not that easy. Moreover, the current COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to get a full-time job in the USA. If you are planning to apply for a full-time job in the USA then you should keep reading the article. Below I have shared some important information that will help you apply for a full-time job in the USA the right way. Let’s check them out!

In order to apply for full-time jobs in the USA, you must have a working Visa. If you have a proper Visa then you have to look for full-time jobs and apply to those jobs. While applying for jobs you have to submit a resume instead of a CV. After applying for the jobs, you will be called for an interview. During the interview make sure you dressed up well and bring several copies of your resume along with you. Be pleasant and polite and follow up the interview with a short thank you letter to your interviewer.

Where Are The Best Places To Find Works In The USA?

While looking for jobs in the USA, you have to have a permit to live and work in the USA. It means you must have a Green Card or a valid work visa and the doors of the USA’s job markets are open to you. What type of jobs you can apply for depends on where you decide to live in the USA. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in the USA is the lowest since 2007. It means the job prospects in the USA are better for the immigrants. Usually, the service sector, education, and health sector, etc. have great demand for immigrant workers. Moreover, the so-called “TIMES” market is also booming in the USA. Here TIMES stands for telecommunication, information technology, multimedia, entertainment, and security services. Below is a list of top U.S. cities for job seekers in 2022 – 

Rank	City	Overall Growth (Jobs & Wages)	Job Competition (Lower is Better)	Housing Affordability	Total Score
1	Salt Lake City, UT	82.7	0.3	61.1	100.0
2	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	77.3	0.0	77.4	99.4
3	Jacksonville, FL	74.2	1.3	57.4	93.0
4	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	71.2	9.3	70.2	88.3
5	Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	71.4	3.5	42.7	87.2
6	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	68.9	4.1	36.6	84.1
7	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	75.5	19.5	90.5	82.0
8	St Louis, MO-IL	61.7	15.2	90.5	82.0
9	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	63.2	5.3	41.4	80.4
10	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	63.3	19.0	83.3	79.4
11	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	56.7	12.7	79.5	78.2
12	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	64.3	15.3	59.3	78.1
13	Columbus, OH	69.1	18.9	47.1	77.0
14	Oklahoma City, OK	60.3	17.1	73.8	76.9
15	Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	52.9	5.7	62.0	76.8
16	Raleigh-Cary, NC	62.7	14.3	48.0	75.6
17	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	72.4	30.1	58.5	74.5
18	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	61.7	20.4	55.3	72.6
19	Kansas City, MO-KS	55.6	14.1	53.6	71.9
20	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	53.0	15.0	63.9	71.5
21	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	43.7	4.4	61.9	71.4
22	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	69.5	30.2	47.0	70.4
23	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	65.3	29.9	46.8	67.7
24	Rochester, NY	70.0	39.6	57.7	66.9
25	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	43.0	14.3	72.9	66.8
26	Richmond, VA	57.2	27.8	60.6	66.0
27	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	64.2	32.7	43.5	64.7
28	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	50.8	21.8	52.1	63.8
29	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	62.4	33.9	46.9	63.3
30	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	47.2	19.7	46.8	61.7
31	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	54.8	27.9	37.1	60.1
32	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	78.8	46.6	9.7	60.0
33	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	66.7	39.2	29.3	59.8
34	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	47.0	22.8	46.6	59.6
35	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	45.7	19.8	36.9	58.9
36	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	56.8	35.1	45.4	58.5
37	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	59.7	52.4	67.9	53.9
38	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	48.3	30.0	34.0	53.9
39	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	48.3	25.5	18.1	53.8
40	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	60.0	39.0	19.1	53.6
41	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	54.0	42.5	48.9	52.8
42	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	42.2	25.6	24.6	50.8
43	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	39.0	30.2	32.9	47.3
44	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	52.1	57.6	65.2	45.2
45	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	44.6	48.4	57.4	44.3
46	Pittsburgh, PA	43.0	52.3	68.3	42.8
47	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	45.5	51.1	36.6	39.6
48	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	38.7	45.8	42.7	39.3
49	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	42.8	62.9	36.1	30.5
50	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	44.0	62.9	15.0	27.6
51	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	34.7	60.1	16.2	23.3
52	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	0.0	55.5	76.6	13.3

How to Apply for Jobs in the USA

The keynote of getting a job is to apply, apply, apply. However, if you are looking for a full-time job in the USA then the process is different from getting a conventional part-time job. For example, a job application in the USA only includes a resume and a cover letter. Below is a brief guide to help you get through the job applying process in the USA. Keep reading!

1. Work Permits In The USA

If you want to work in the USA then you must have an appropriate visa. If you are an international student then you should have an F1 student visa. The main requirement of an F1 visa is, you must be enrolled full-time at an academic institution or language-training program in the USA. Moreover, you must show sufficient financial support to complete the study and you won’t abandon your foreign residency. You have to apply for Visa at the American embassy in your home country.

2. Application Procedure In The USA

The internet is the best place where you can look for vacancies and information concerning job applications. You can also take help from LinkedIn, Craigslist, etc. to integrate your job search. However, you should try to avoid job search services that charge you a fee. Before applying for any job, you should carefully read the job listings and then apply for the jobs.

3. Writing A Resume

In the USA, the term resume is used instead of CV. When creating your resume, you must focus on persuading the employer to invite you for an interview. You should consider your resume as a marketing tool therefore you should adapt the resume according to the market that you intend to use it. You should have multiple variations of your resume to meet the market demand. Your resume must have a short profile of yourself and you should use short and punchy sentences that are filled with action verbs and power words. Your resume should include the following sections:

1. Personal Details

2. Job/Career Goal

3. Education

5. Experience

6. Special Abilities/Special Skills

4. Cover Letter

The cover letter is also known as an application letter and it should be typed in a short and professional style. If you know the addressee’s name then you can start with “Dear Mr./Ms. X,” and end the cover letter with “Yours sincerely”. Don’t use phrases like “To whom it may concern” and “Dear Sir or Madam.” Moreover, the last paragraph of your cover letter should include multiple ways to get in touch with you and it should include your phone number and email address. Make sure you should keep your cover letter short and keep it on a single page.

5. The Interview

This is the most important part of the job search process. Research the company before attending the interview because it will help you prepare for the interview in the best way. Know the goals and values of the company and try to memorize a few key words from the company’s mission statement and use them during the interview. The company might conduct several interviews before offering the job to a candidate.

6. Job Offers

If you receive a job offer then it means you are close to getting your dream job. Receiving a job offer doesn’t mean you have to accept the job immediately. If you are not sure whether it is the right job for you or not then take the time to evaluate the offer carefully. This way you will be able to make the right decision to accept, decline, or renegotiate the offer.

7. New Hire Paperwork

If you accept the job offer then the next step is new hire paperwork. You have to complete this step to get on the payroll. Including in the payroll will give you the eligibility to work forms, tax withholding forms, and company-specific paperwork. Ask the new employer what information is required to complete the New Hire Paperwork. 

List Of Highly Demandable Jobs In The USA

The USA is popular among job-seeking people because it is a land of unlimited opportunities. The USA has a broad job market therefore you will be able to find your dream job easily. According to the United States Census Bureau, there were more than 165 million employed persons in the USA. Usually, the service sector creates the most jobs for Americans. The retail sector of America employs the most people with 4,528,550 salespersons and 3,541,010 cashiers. Some highly demandable jobs in the USA are – 

1. Office clerks

2. Registered nurses

3. Customer service representatives

4. Freight and stock movers

5. Waiters and waitresses

6. Secretaries

7. General managers    

8. Construction worker

9. Truck driver

10. Web developer

11. Financial advisor

12. Operations research analyst

13. Physical therapist

14. Information security analyst

15. Medical technologist

16. Bank teller

17. Data scientist

18. Project manager

19. Retail salesperson

Moreover, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics some of the fastest-growing occupations in the USA up until 2024 will be:

1. Wind turbine technicians

2. Occupational therapy assistants

3. Physical therapist assistants

4. Home health aides

5. Commercial divers

The Best Paid Jobs In The USA

In the USA, fully employed males on an average earned $51,212 annually, and fully employed women earned $40,742 annually. According to a survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, 16 of the top 30 highest-paying jobs were in the medical field. Below are some of the best-paid jobs in the USA –   

Job	Average Annual Pay	Projected Growth
Anesthesiologists	$246,320	18 %
Surgeons	$240,440	18 %
Obstetricians and Gynecologists	$214,750	18 %
Psychiatrists	$182,700	16%
Chief Executives	$180,700	11%
Petroleum Engineers	$147,520	26%
Computer and Information Systems Mangers	$136,280	15%
Lawyers	$133,470	10%
Airline Pilots	$131,760	-1%
Sales Managers	$126,040	8%

The Average Pay Per State In The USA

When you are planning to apply for a full-time job in the USA, you have to try to pick a state that offers the highest average salary compared to other states in the USA. The USA is big enough for a variety of tastes; you can live on the east or west coast in America or the beach or the mountains, the choice is yours! But if your main target is to find a better job and earn more money then below are three states that have the highest average salary among 52 states in the USA–  

Job	Average Salary in California	Average Salary in Ohio	Average Salary in Florida
Accountants	$70,580	$60,420	$60,010
Cashiers	$20,600	$18,700	$18,620
Construction workers	$37,870	$35,240	$34,810
Fast Food workers	$19,020	$18,190	$18,330
High School Teachers	$67,530	$60,210	$45,370
Airline Pilots	$127,680	$80,290	$124,500
Registered Nurses	$94,310	$60,530	$60,420
Secretaries	$36,950	$31,660	$29,230
Social Worker	$62,960	$43,710	$57,310
Software Developer	$107,870	$80,810	$78,190

The Do’s And Don’ts Of Writing Resumes For Full Time Jobs In The USA

When you are writing a resume, it is very important to use vocabulary that will exactly say what you want. Make sure you use words that are specific to your field of work. Moreover, don’t make your resume more complicated. Let’s check what you should include and what you shouldn’t include in the resumes.

The Do’s

1. You should use a strong expressive writing style and active verbs like “fostered relationships” instead of “worked closely.” Moreover, include “charted”, “administered”, “consolidated”, “launched” and “maximized” in the resume (if possible.)

2. Include skills: customer-orientated, team player, drive to succeed, good at multitasking, defuse conflict situations, strong planning skills, etc.

3. Motivation: “I note with interest that…” “I am keen to broaden my knowledge in the field of…”, “I want to take on more responsibility”;

4. Unsolicited Application: “I am writing to inquire whether you have a vacancy in your firm.”

5. Ende: “Should you require further information about my qualifications, I would be pleased to quote references,” “I would welcome the opportunity to discuss further details of the position with you personally”;

6. Salutation: Always address your application to a specific contact person. If the gender of the person you’re addressing is unclear, use: Dear, first name, and last name;

7. Networking: When appropriate, provide links to your professional social media site like LinkedIn;

8. Work references: Include the following comment at the end of your resume: References available upon request.

The Don’ts

1. Make sure, you don’t start your cover letter with: “I am submitting my resume regarding the open position of Systems Analyst………………………”

2. Don’t use the first person “I” in the resume, try to avoid the first person as much as you can

3. Avoid words that carry negative connotations like aggressively, attempt, be eager, used to

4. Avoid using contractions in your resume or cover letter, for example, don’t, I’m, Can’t

5. Don’t use standard empty phrases, use phrases like “I look forward to hearing from you” and “Yours sincerely…” are appropriate  

FAQs About How To Apply For Full-Time Jobs In The USA

Who Can Sponsor You In The USA?

You can get sponsorship to live and work in the USA. Here are the details about who can sponsor you – 

Who You Are	Immigrants, You Can Petition	The Immigrant’s Category
U.S. citizen age 21 or older	Parents	Immediate relative
U.S. citizen age 21 or older (at least age 18, for financial sponsorship purposes)	Spouse	Immediate relative
U.S. citizen(at least age 18, for financial sponsorship purposes)	Minor, unmarried children	Immediate relative
U.S. citizen	Married children or adult children	Preference relative(1st or 3rd preference)
U.S. citizen age 21 or older	Brothers and sisters	Preference relative (4th preference)
U.S. permanent resident	Unmarried children	Preference relative(2nd preference—2A or 2B)
U.S. permanent resident	Spouse	Preference relative(2nd preference)

References:

1. https://usponsorme.com/en/us-jobs/
2. https://www.indeed.com/q-USA-Vacancy-jobs.html
3. https://www.internationalstudent.com/jobsearch/usa_article/

Last Updated on February 9, 2022 by