1) Role & Market Selection
Choosing roles with visa friendliness
Not every company in the US is willing to deal with the paperwork for an H-1B or Green Card. If you pick a company that doesn't sponsor, you are essentially on a ticking clock until your OPT expires. Use websites like MyVisaJobs or H1BGrader to see a company's history. If they have sponsored 0 people in the last three years, they likely won't start with you. Focus 80% of your energy on 'High-Sponsorship' industries like Tech, Healthcare, and Engineering. Find an employer who views sponsorship as a 'normal cost of doing business' rather than a special favor.
1.1.1 Visa friendliness
Not every company in the US is willing to deal with the paperwork for an H-1B or Green Card. If you pick a company that doesn't sponsor, you are essentially on a ticking clock until your OPT expires.
- Use websites like MyVisaJobs or H1BGrader to see a company’s history. If they have sponsored 0 people in the last three years, they likely won't start with you. Focus 80% of your energy on "High-Sponsorship" industries like Tech, Healthcare, and Engineering.
- Find an employer who views sponsorship as a "normal cost of doing business" rather than a special favor.
Free Resource: Finding an H1B Sponsor Tips and Tricks
1.1.2 Strong demand
You want to work in a field where there are more jobs than there are qualified people. This is called Labor Scarcity, and it is your best friend.
- Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook. Look for roles with a "Growth Rate" much higher than the average (usually 5% or more).
- When demand is high, companies compete for you. This means higher salaries, better benefits, and a much higher chance that they will pay for your visa costs to keep you from leaving.
Guide Resource: Official Tool: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
**1.1.3 Clear progression**
Some jobs are dead ends. You do the same thing for five years and never learn anything new. Others have a ladder.
- During interviews, ask: "What does the path from Junior to Senior look like here?" or "How does the company support professional development?"
- You want a role where you will be 20% "uncomfortable" because you are constantly learning new skills. In the US, "Stagnation is Risk." If you aren't moving forward, you are falling behind.
Guide Resource: How to Spot a Dead-End Job