Under the current economics, many international students have a hard time finding a H1B visa sponsored job in the US. Compared to those high-demand industries such as IT, computer science and engineering, students in marketing, PR, graphic design and other creative fields find it extremely hard to land a job that provides visa sponsorship. Here are some strategies that you could use to help you narrow down the job search and make the most of your time and effort.

Go for International Companies

Since most sponsored jobs are given to people who have expertise in specific areas, try to think of your own assets. What are your selling points? It might be your bilingual skills or transcultural ability. Look for international companies that have branches in the US or companies that do business globally. Those companies might need people like you who are not only familiar with the American culture but also can communicate with your own racial group.

Aim at Midsized Companies Instead of the Large Ones

A lot of people think that big companies have a relatively large proportion of international employees, which means they might be able to provide more sponsored jobs than midsize or small companies. Wrong! Although it is true that large companies have more employees from diverse backgrounds, most H1B positions are for experienced or senior-level individuals. Also, many big companies try to avoid sponsoring jobs for entry-level positions, because first, it is quite a big investment of money, and second, large companies are usually never lacking qualified candidates in local areas.

Think Outside of Your Industry
Do not limit yourself to advertising, PR or marketing agencies. Try to go outside the box and think about jobs in other areas as well. Have you tried non-profit or NGOs? If you are doing marketing, have you thought about jobs in Market research? Or maybe working in the marketing department of a Tech company? There are a lot of options out there, do your research and find yourself different ways to your goal.

Use Personal Connections
Seventy percent of jobs are filled through personal referrals. It’s all about who you know. Join industry associations and go to as many events as possible. Build your personal connections. You never know if someone you met today might know people who are seeking international talents in the future. This is especially important for people who need a visa sponsorship, as most sponsored jobs are considered hidden jobs. Knowing more people means you have better chance to get access to this hidden market.

Apply to as Many Jobs as You Can
Finding a job is a numbers game, so is finding a sponsored job. Since it’s hard to tell which company sponsors, your best bet might be to find out by yourself. Apply for as many jobs as you can, and bring the sponsorship issue to the table when you go through the interview process. Use your time wisely, and something will come out in the end. Good luck!

To find out more information about H1B visa, you can go to:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1271.html
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html