Employment

One of the most important benefits of being a US permanent resident is having the right to legally work in the United States. America is known for being the “land of opportunity” and there are many stories of people who immigrate to the United States, find good jobs in the USA (or start their own business) and live the “American Dream.” With a low unemployment rate of only 4.1 percent (October 2024) and 7.7 million jobs in the USA unfilled because there are not enough workers available, now is the perfect time to seek US employment!

US Job Seeking

There are several ways to search for jobs in the USA including:

  • Using US employment search engines to look for jobs in the USA by various categories (there is free Internet access at the library)
  • Visiting the websites of companies of interest and looking for US job openings that are posted (again, there is free Internet access at the library)
  • Asking family, friends or neighbors if they know of US employment opportunities (“word of mouth” is often a good way to find jobs in the USA)
  • Seeking help finding US employment from organizations that help people to immigrate to the United States
  • Going to a company of interest and asking if they are hiring and either filling out an employment application or giving them a CV/resume
  • Checking the help wanted and classified ads in newspapers, whether in physical “hard copy” newspapers or their online editions
  • Using the services of a public or private US employment agency

It is important to have a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) prepared in English that lists your name and contact details, work experience, education, job skills and other relevant information. In many cases, it is good to limit one’s resume or CV to one or two pages maximum, since the role of the resume or CV is to interest a potential employer enough so that they will schedule an interview with you (where more details can be provided if necessary). It is wise to have another person who has good English language skills review one’s resume or CV to check for possible errors or provide feedback on its content, since “you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” The resume or CV should be easy to read (i.e., not too crowded and not too long) and contain factual information about you that is relevant to the job being applied for. There are several resume/CV templates available at no cost on the Internet and remember – you can access the Internet at your local library for free, so seeking jobs in the USA has never been easier!

Working in America

There is a lot of information available on the Internet regarding the best places to find work in America.

For example, US News & World Report says that these are the top 10 states for US job seekers in 2024: #1 Utah; #2 North Dakota; #3 South Dakota; #4 Colorado; #5 Vermont; #6 Virginia; #7 Florida; #8 Nebraska; #9 Texas; and #10 New Hampshire.

According to WalletHub, these are the 10 best cities to find jobs in the USA during 2024: #1 Scottsdale (Arizona); #2 Tampa (Florida); #3 Salt Lake City (Utah); #4 Columbia (Missouri); #5 Austin (Texas); #6 Atlanta (Georgia); #7 Seattle (Washington); #8 Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania); #9 Plano (Texas); and #10 Boston (Massachusetts).

According to US News & World Report, these are some of the top paying jobs in the USA for 2024 including their median annual salaries: Anesthesiologist ($239,200); Gynecologist & Obstetrician ($239,200); Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon ($239,200); Psychiatrist ($226,880); Nurse Anesthetist ($203,090);  Pediatrician ($190,350); Orthodontist ($174,360); Information Technology (IT) Manager ($164,070); Dentist $155,040); Podiatrist ($148,720); Marketing Manager ($140,040); Financial Manager ($139,790); Lawyer ($135,740); Pharmacist ($132,750); Petroleum Engineer ($131,800); Sales Manager ($130,600); Software Developer ($127,260); Optometrist ($125,590); Nurse Practitioner ($121,610); and Actuary ($113,990).

Starting a Business

Many people who immigrate to the United States start their own businesses. In fact, several of the largest companies in the USA (such as e-Bay, Google, Intel, PayPal, and Yahoo!) were founded by people who were approved for US immigration!

In some cases, people immigrate to the United States, find a job in the USA, save their money and open a small store or restaurant that becomes successful (the famous “rags-to-riches” stories). In other cases, people immigrate to the United States with substantial financial resources and find excellent opportunities to start high-tech or other businesses in America.

One of the great things about living in the USA is that it is a country where someone with vision and commitment can make their dreams come true. This “can do” spirit is often seen in people who immigrate to the United States and who possess a vision of a better life in America. This influx of innovation that immigrants bring with them has helped to keep the US economy strong and growing.

When starting a business in the United States, there are several things a US permanent resident (or any entrepreneur) should consider doing, including:

  • Develop a well-thought-out written business plan that details exactly what they want to do and how they plan to do it
  • Decide what form of business they want to start (i.e., sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.)
  • Apply for a business license (usually required) and any necessary permits
  • Obtain a business tax ID number (depending on the form of business)
  • Have adequate financial resources from savings, investors, grants, venture capital, loans or other funding

There are, of course, many other issues that must be addressed when starting a business in the USA. An excellent source of information regarding how to start a business in the United States is the US government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) website. The main point is that immigrant entrepreneurs have many great opportunities in America and are responsible for creating millions of jobs in the USA.