Job search

When looking for a job in the U.S., you can use the government's free tools: the U.S. Department of Labor's CareerOneStop site, USAJOBS for federal jobs, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for salary data. This page explains these tools, local job centers, salary research, and common job scams in the U.S. Check your work authorization before starting a job: 5.1 Who can work.

• CareerOneStop is a career, training, and job search website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• Job Finder: thousands of listings updated daily. Listings are screened by the National Labor Exchange and come from employers and state job banks. You can view the full listing without creating an account and apply by going to the employer's website or state job bank.
• American Job Center Finder: there are approximately 2,300 American Job Centers (AJCs) nationwide. These centers provide in-person help with job searches, training, and employment questions.
• Salary Finder: salary information for more than 800 occupations. The data comes from the BLS's May 2025 estimates.
• License Finder: shows whether your occupation requires a license in your state. See 5.7 Licensed occupations.
• Unemployment insurance: each state runs its own program. Use the Unemployment Benefits Finder to reach your state's application page.
• Guides: resumes, cover letters, interviews, and salary negotiation.

1. Clarify your work authorization. Which jobs you can work in depends on your status; see 5.1.
2. Research your occupation and salary range. Use the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) and O*NET to see your occupation's education requirements, average salary, and employment outlook.
3. Prepare your credential evaluation. Employers often request it; see 5.6 Credential evaluation.
4. If a license is required, start the process early; see 5.7.
5. Convert your resume to the U.S. format. Use CareerOneStop's resume and cover letter guides.
6. Apply to listings: CareerOneStop Job Finder, your state's job bank, employers' own websites, and USAJOBS for federal jobs.
7. Visit a local job center. AJCs offer free counseling and training programs.
8. Get the offer in writing. The pay, working hours, and job description should be in writing. See 5.4 Starting work for what to do when starting a job.
9. Visa-dependent jobs: for visas such as H-1B, L-1, and O-1, the employer files a petition for you; see 2.4 Work visas. For OPT rules for F-1 graduates, see 2.2.

• USAJOBS is the official federal government job listing website. You do not need an account to search; you must register to apply.
• Citizenship requirement: as a general rule, you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national to work for the federal government; there are some exceptions.
• U.S. citizens can apply for listings that are "Open to the public." Read the "Who May Apply" section of every listing.
• Some agencies, such as the U.S. Postal Service, are not required to publish their listings on USAJOBS; check their own websites.
• Listings sometimes remain open for only one week. Turn on daily email notifications; incomplete or late applications are not accepted.

• Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH): shows what hundreds of occupations involve, their 2025 median salary, the education required for entry, and their employment outlook.
• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): salary estimates for approximately 830 occupations at the national, state, and metropolitan-area levels. The latest data is for May 2025 and was published on May 15, 2026.
• **O*NET OnLine:** shows the requirements and characteristics of more than 900 occupations. It is a tool sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• OEWS data is published separately by state and metropolitan area. Compare your offer with data for the area where you will work. For the minimum wage, see 5.5 Employee rights.

• Any offer that asks for money for a job is suspicious. Being asked to pay to get hired, for a "starter kit," training, or a certificate is a sign of a scam.
• Fake check: they send you a check and ask you to transfer part of it to someone else. The check bounces, and the bank demands that you repay the entire amount.
• Reshipping: you are asked to repackage incoming packages and often send them abroad. The products were usually purchased with stolen cards. This is never a real job.
• Work from home and "mystery shopper" scams: promises of thousands of dollars a month for little effort; legitimate mystery shopper companies do not charge for certification.
• Caregiver, nanny, and virtual assistant listings: an employer who asks you to deposit a check and transfer money is not legitimate.
• Employment placement firms: stay away from a placement firm that charges you a fee.
• Federal and postal jobs: do not respond to listings that "guarantee" a job with the federal government or postal service.
• Job offers received by text message: do not respond to messages asking you to reply "YES" for jobs such as an "online evaluator." Legitimate employers do not send unsolicited job offers by text message, WhatsApp, or Telegram. Any offer that asks you to deposit money to make money is a scam.
• For those selling a "job + visa guarantee," see 1.12 Scam warnings and 12.7 Workplace and rental scams.

• CareerOneStop / US2-JOBS line — jobs, training, help for laid-off workers, local job centers
  • Phone: +1 877 872 5627 (1-877-US2-JOBS); TTY +1 877 889 5627
  • Email: info@careeronestop.org
• American Job Centers (AJCs): for the nearest center, use AJC Finder.
• Report fraud: ReportFraud.ftc.gov; also contact your state's attorney general's office (see 12.8 Consumer rights).
• Discrimination based on citizenship status or national origin in hiring: IER worker hotline +1 800 255 7688.

• Accepting a job offer and starting work without work authorization.
• Paying a fee for "quick hiring."
• Depositing and transferring money from a check received without any interview.
• Sharing personal information (SSN, bank account) before the job offer is finalized.
• Comparing the salary with the national average and not checking city-level data.
• Applying for a job that requires a license without obtaining one.

• Does it cost money to use CareerOneStop? No. It is a free site sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
• I have a green card. Can I apply for federal jobs? The general rule is citizenship; there are some exceptions. Check the "Who May Apply" section of each listing.
• My employer said, "we only hire citizens." Is that legal? It depends on the job. If you believe you have experienced discrimination based on citizenship status, contact IER: +1 800 255 7688.
• I lost my job. Can I receive unemployment benefits? Each state applies its own rules. Go to your state's page through CareerOneStop's Unemployment Benefits Finder.
• Where can I find the U.S. salary for my occupation? Select your state and city using CareerOneStop Salary Finder or BLS OEWS data.

• CareerOneStop
• CareerOneStop – Job Finder
• CareerOneStop – Salary Finder
• CareerOneStop – License Finder
• CareerOneStop – AJC Finder
• CareerOneStop – Unemployment insurance
• USAJOBS
• BLS – Occupational Outlook Handbook · BLS – OEWS salary data
• O*NET OnLine
• FTC – Job scams · ReportFraud.ftc.gov