Working in the US

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An Introduction to Job Hunting in the USA

To find a job in the US, you should approach your search somewhat differently than you would if you stayed in the UK. Due to the distance, very few employers based in the US will recruit at St. Andrews. Therefore, you will need to be a bit more proactive. Additionally, as the way of finding a job differs in the US, you will need to adapt your strategy accordingly.


Getting Started Unlike in the UK, graduate schemes are far less common in the United States. As a result, most students apply for entry-level jobs upon graduation. Internships are crucial at attaining these entry-level jobs so it is suggested students begin thinking of what they want to do early on in their studies.

Networking

Most jobs and internships in the US are not advertised. The only way of finding out about these positions is by networking. Networking also helps increase your chances of securing a position that does happen to be listed or part of a training scheme. These contacts will help you in numerous ways, opening the door, setting up meetings, prepping you for interviews, and oftentimes, securing you a job.


When you begin networking, it is crucial to remember you are asking a person for their advice, not for a job. Once you have developed a relationship, your contact will most likely think of you for any job openings he or she may know about. But this comes with time. You can ask your contact for assistance with questions like, “What is the best way to learn about internships in the area?” but never overtly ask them for employment.


Approach potential contacts by telling them you’re a student looking to learn more about their particular industry and hoped you could ask them for information and advice. Remember to be polite and to conduct all correspondence in a professional manner. Most people will remember their own search for a first job and be happy to help a courteous and ambitious student. People will also feel flattered you consider them a resource.


After you’ve developed a relationship, it’s important to stay in touch, even when you’re still at school. Every few months, write to your contacts about how school is going, what projects or activities you have coming up, and anything else you might think they’d like to hear about. This step is crucial for several reasons. It shows them you can sustain relationships. It keeps you top of mind for any opportunities that may be suitable for you. Also, in an era where people change jobs many times in lifetime, it ensures you have their most recent contact information. The last thing you want is for a well-nurtured contact to switch jobs leaving you with no way of contacting them.


Where to Network:

Alumni The first place you should look is to St. Andrews alumni. They understand the position you are in and will be able to provide guidance on searching for jobs remotely. They will also most likely have an affinity for the school and be more enthusiastic in their assistance.

Personal Network The next place to look is to your personal network. Talk to any family, friends, neighbors, or friends of friends who are employed in the area you which to pursue. Again, people will usually be happy to help someone they know, and you are an extension of that.

Generally if you get them started talking, they will offer to pass along your CV or put you in contact with other people they think you should meet. If they don’t offer, ask if you could have their contact information to follow up with questions you may have in your search. You can also mildly probe with comments like, “It would be wonderful to speak with someone who works in such and such department.”


Industry Groups Many industries have trade groups. These are organizations where people meet specifically to network and to learn what’s new in the industry. Some of them have small fees for joining where others are free. If it is reasonably priced, you should use these events as an opportunity to learn about your future career, discover job openings and even find a mentor.

Creative Outlets If you don’t know anyone in the field you’re pursuing, you can find contacts in non-traditional ways. Scour the local newspaper and trade publications to see if any people have won any awards, closed major deals, or took on new responsibilities. Then send them an email or letter expressing your awe at their accomplishments. Tell them you’re looking to go into the field and would love it if they could spare a few minutes to offer you words of advice. Your correspondence may end up in the bin, but it also may end up getting you an interview or internship.

Linked-In Linked-In is a great way of networking with people you already know and finding out who they might know in extension. It’s an online social networking tool, basically the professional version of facebook. You can use this tool to upload a resume, expand your network, and see what jobs are available. It also aggregates references for you and enables you to write a blurb to market your skills and talents.

Job Fairs and Consortiums You should try to attend job fairs and consortiums if you’re back in the US over breaks. These are a great way to meet people at particular companies. You should use this as an opportunity to learn more about a potential employer and to make contacts. In the US, most employers give out their business cards at these types of events. If you’ve had a meaningful conversation with a recruiter, you should continue to foster this relationship via email afterwards. Even if you don’t get a chance to speak with them for very long, you should still reach out to that person. A few insightful questions can leave a great impression and show your enthusiasm. Feel free to ask them about the application process and what sort of candidate they’re looking for. These events often have interviews built in as part of the event, but as there are a limited number of slots you typically have to sign up for these in advance. Make sure to read all of the information online so you don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity.

CV/Resume

If you’re applying for jobs in the US, your resume should not be more than one page long. American employers will not read beyond one page and will oftentimes throw out longer resumes. Even senior level people only have a brief resume, so employers will be confused as to why a student thinks he/she has enough experience/accolades to submit multiple pages. You should check out samples of resumes on Going Global, as the format in the US is slightly different. We've also created a sample US resume.


Remember to highlight your international experience. Employers in the US tend to be very impressed you have spent time living and studying abroad. It shows independence, ambition, and initiative. You also have experience interacting with people of various cultures and backgrounds that will be useful in a job setting.


You might want to save your resume as a PDF to ensure it doesn't get reformatted. Remember to format the document as US letter, not A4. You don't want to have a prospective employer to have to do that for you. You should have 1" margins and use 10 to 12 point font. You might want to draw attention to your name by putting it in a slightly larger font than the rest of the document.


Use American spelling for your resume, as well as any correspondence you have with the potential employer. Additionally, here are some tips for writing American resumes.


You should include your contact details at home and in the UK. In your cover letter, be sure to say where you will be when. Also, if you keep a cell phone back home, your greeting should explain you are in the UK and cannot access your voicemail. Direct the caller to contact you via email. The last thing you want to do is find out that an employer left you a message in the US months earlier.

Internships

Internships are crucial for obtaining most entry-level jobs. Depending on the industry and company, many internships tend to be unpaid. If you need to earn money over the summer, you can talk to them about a condensed work schedule so you have time to get another job as well.


Oftentimes, summer internships lead to a full-time job offer upon graduation. They are a great way to get a feel for the particular company and industry, but also to acclimate yourself to the working world. Many companies have special events geared towards their internships, providing them with speakers and networking opportunities within the company so they know all of the possible options available to them. These sorts of internships tend to be very competitive so you should begin looking into them early in your 3rd year.


Internships also give you an opportunity to see what life is like in a certain industry. They can be just as helpful in showing you what you don’t want to do. Even if you decide you hate a particular field after your internship, you’ve still gained valuable work experience and strengthened your resume.


Our Internships in the US wiki lists a number of opportunities in various sectors.


Here are some websites that can help you find an internship:


You can also reference US-Related Fellowships which is an aggregation of fellowships geared towards funding your study, funding internships and work experience, and paid one-year employment after graduation.


Check out How to Find Housing for an Internship in the U.S. for tips on how to secure accommodation.

Traditional Applications

There are also companies that recruit in a more traditional way by hiring a training class each year. This is often the case for financial firms, but extends to other industries as well. You should check the websites of companies you’re interested in to see if they have this sort of program. Start your search early, as many of these deadlines are well before Christmas.

The following websites are useful starting points for your search:

International Applicants

International students looking to workin the US have to meet certain visa requirements. Speak with the employer to see if they can offer advice or guidance.

Here are some websites that should be of assistance:

Salary Resources

Links for Graduate and Professional School

Links for Specific Industries

Links for Specific Locations

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