How to Find Jobs in USA As a Student: Analyzing the job market and growth prospects is absolutely essential before locking any university offers. The US being the world’s largest economy has a lot to offer, be it in terms of world-class education or the opportunity to work with some of the leading employers with lucrative packages. Around 5 US universities rank among the top 10 globally in QS graduate employability rankings indicating how valued US graduates are among recruiters worldwide.
You will not be short of job opportunities in USA for Indian students. US offers various pathways for international students to stay back after their studies and take high paying jobs for international students in USA. Here is a guide to help you learn about various on and off-campus international student jobs in the USA, average salaries, how to find a job in USA for international students and more!
How Is The Market For Jobs In USA For Indian Students?
You must be wondering, is it easy to find jobs? There are a myriad of opportunities waiting for you but definitely given the level of competition among job-seekers in a global economy like US cannot be taken lightly. You will have to work hard to prove your worth to the employers who will be looking at applications from equally qualified candidates.Let us take a look at the jobs for international students in USA:
- Many of the Fortune 500 companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, Apple are headquartered in the US.
- MS graduates in the US are likely to get jobs with an average salary package of $70,000-98,000 per year.
- MBA graduates in the US can expect jobs with salary packages around $80,000-110,000 per year.
- Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics USA show that there will be around 23% rise in demand in business and related fields creating 138,000+ new job opportunities by 2024.
- Jobs in healthcare are on the top of the list of highest paid jobs in the USA. There will be around 15% increase in demand for healthcare professionals between 2019 and 2029 with an addition of over 2.4 million job opportunities.
- Other popular fields offering job opportunities in USA for Indian students are engineers, psychiatrists, marketing, legal field, executive level jobs, etc.
Job Opportunities in USA for International Students
US universities aim to prepare job-ready graduates who are counted among the most employable worldwide. There are various opportunities for you to work even while you are studying. You can take on-campus or off-campus part-time jobs or opt for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT). Here is a detailed discussion on the job opportunities in USA for international students:
On-Campus Jobs
Even while studying in the US, your F-1 visa makes you eligible to work part-time up to 20 hours per week and full-time during vacation. Working on-campus is one of the most preferred options among international students. You can expect to earn around $7-12 per hour depending on the type of work. Let us take a look at the different on-campus job opportunities in USA for international students:
- Library assistant
- Barista
- Teaching assistant
- Campus tour guide
- Campus tech support
- Campus ambassador
- Peer tutor
- University bookstore assistant
- Receptionist
Off-Campus Jobs
To work in off-campus jobs for international students in USA, you must obtain permission from your institution. An international student with a F-1 student visa is eligible for off-campus jobs only after completing the first year of study in US. There are several off-campus job opportunities ideal for international students willing to work part-time. Take a look at the various opportunities of off-campus jobs in USA for Indian students:
- Retail sales associate
- Store-keeper
- Babysitter
- Dogwalker
- Bank teller
- Cashier
- Driver
- Social media assistant
- Call center
- Translator
- Tourist guide
- Data entry
- Content writer
- Graphic designer
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
While holding a F-1 student visa, you can obtain CPT which is a temporary employment authorization to do internships, co-ops or jobs in your field of study or related to it. It can be paid or unpaid and you can work full-time or part-time. CPT needs to be completed before graduation and a maximum of 3 CPT authorizations can be obtained by a student per degree program. Once you have worked 12 months for CPT you become ineligible for OPT.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
OPT is another way of staying in the US for a period of 1 year. It is different from CPT because you have the choice to do OPT either before or after completion of your program. If you are a student from a STEM background you can apply for the STEM-OPT extension and take jobs for international students in USA for 24 months after graduating.
Job Opportunities After MS in USA
Let us explore the international student jobs in the USA, popular job titles and average salaries after MS:
| Job Title | Average Annual Salaries |
| Civil Engineer | 85,600 USD |
| Mechanical Engineer | 86,500 USD |
| Software Developer | 91,900 USD |
| Data Scientist | 155,000 USD |
| IT Manager | 163,000 USD |
| Biochemist | 189,000 USD |
| Pharmacist | 128,000 USD |
| Statistician | 134,000 USD |
| Petroleum Engineer | 97,100 USD |
| Electrical Engineer | 89,900 USD |
Job Opportunities After MBA in USA
Here is a table with some of the job titles offered to international students after MBA in USA:
| Job Title | Average Annual Salaries |
| Investment Banker | 131,000 USD |
| Business Development Manager | 145,000 USD |
| Financial Analyst | 126,000 USD |
| Project Manager | 108,000 USD |
| Chief Executive Officer | 218,000 USD |
| Chief Operating Officer | 168,000 USD |
| Chief Corporate Officer | 170,000 USD |
| Chief Financial Officer | 194,000 USD |
| General Manager | 161,000 USD |
| Finance Executive | 142,000 USD |
How to Find a Job in USA for International Students?
If you happen to graduate from one of the leading universities in USA, you will definitely land yourself a well paying job. The first step before you start looking for international students job opportunities in USA is to prepare an up-to-date CV and tailor it every time according to the job profile before applying. While making your CV, be sure to highlight details that will catch the eye of the employers including academic and professional achievements, skills and prior work experience.
Here is how you can boost your chances to look for jobs in USA for Indian students:
- University career services: The whole purpose of university career services is to help international students accomplish their career goals. Infact US universities are known for dedicated career service departments that not only assist students on how can international students get a job in USA but also with CV and interview preparation, 100% placement assistance, organize webinars and events that help in skill building and a lot more.
- Job fairs and career events: Job fairs and career events are organized with the aim to offer information about job openings, pay scale, academic requirements and how to get job in USA for international students. Therefore, whether your university organizes any such event or you happen to know about any job fairs being organized near you, register yourself for it.
- Social media platforms: Social media has gained a lot of importance lately as an effective tool for job search. LinkedIn is the most popular platform that helps you find and apply for various jobs, building professional contacts, staying up-to-date with latest industry developments as well as requirements. You can also count on Facebook and Twitter to find jobs through advertisements.
- Recruitment agencies: Such agencies will be of great help to refine your job search depending on the type of job, organizations you are interested in, salary expectations, location, etc. Websites such as Indeed, Monster, CareerBuilder, US.jobs are also useful.
- Networking: Networking is quite essential to stay informed about vacant jobs for international students in USA and get ideas about how to get job in USA for international students.
- Newspapers: Local and national newspapers are one of the most convenient sources to start your job search and apply for international student jobs in the USA.
Post Study Work Visa for International Student Jobs in the USA
Students with a F-1 student visa can find job opportunities in USA for international students. But in order to stay back and work in the US, it is important to obtain a post study work visa. There are 2 types of work visa that an international student with a job in the US can get, take a look:
- H-1B Visa
- EB-5 Visa
Here is what you need to know about the eligibility criteria to get one of these types of post study work visa for international student jobs in the USA:
1. H-1B Visa
This is the most common type of post study work visa that an international student applies for. With a H-1B visa you can live and work in the US for 6 years. To be eligible for this type of visa you will have to prove to USCIS that you are qualified for the position and have a sponsoring employer.
2. EB-5 Visa
The EB-5 visa is to obtain permanent residency in the US if the eligibility criteria is satisfied. The requirement to be eligible is to invest at least $900,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) that manages at least 10 Americans.
Around 70% of the jobs in the US are filled through networking, therefore having a strong professional network is imperative. To grab the best job opportunities in USA for international students, take help from various job hunt tools and carry your confidence with yourself. Speak to our Yocket counselors today and get complete guidance on how to find a job in USA for international students and more!
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