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Applying in the US

How to apply for jobs in the US

American hiring runs mostly online. A recruiter or an applicant-tracking system screens your resume before anyone calls you, interviews come in several rounds, and salary is usually something you negotiate. Federal jobs follow their own rules on USAJOBS. This guide covers both routes and links the official pages that set the rules.

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How do you apply for a job in the US?

Apply online through a job board, the company's careers site or, for federal roles, USAJOBS, with a resume tailored to the posting and usually a short cover letter. Expect a recruiter screen, then interviews with the hiring team. After an offer, every new hire completes Form I-9 to verify identity and work authorization; non-citizens may need an employer-sponsored visa.[1][5][6]

Applying in the US at a glance

Usual practice for job applications in the United States
TopicUsual in the US
The documentA resume, usually one page early in a career and two for experienced candidates. A CV means an academic document.
Leave outPhoto, age or date of birth, marital status, religion. Employers should not request a photo before an offer.
Federal resumesUSAJOBS limits resumes to two pages for most federal job announcements.
Cover letterOften optional on job boards; send a short one when the posting asks or you know the hiring manager's name.
Where jobs are postedLinkedIn, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, Snagajob for hourly work, Handshake for students, company careers sites, USAJOBS for federal roles, state job banks.
InterviewsRecruiter phone screen, then one or more rounds with the team; behavioral questions are standard.
Work authorizationVerified for every new hire on Form I-9.
Employment termsUsually at-will unless a contract says otherwise; rules vary by state.

[1][2][4][5][7]

Where Americans look for work

Search broadly, then apply narrowly. Many postings appear on several sites at once, but the application itself usually runs through the employer's own system, so the version you upload there is the one that counts. Pick the sites that fit your situation: here is what each one is for.

Job sites used in the United States and what each is for
SiteTypeWhat it is for
LinkedInWhite-collar and corporateProfessional and management roles across most industries, plus recruiter outreach. Keep your profile current and set alerts for exact job titles and locations.
IndeedGeneral job sitePostings across most industries, searchable by title and location. Many listings send you on to the employer's own application system.
ZipRecruiterGeneral job siteMore private-sector postings, searchable by title, location and distance, with one-click applications once your resume is uploaded.
GlassdoorJob listings and company researchJob listings alongside employee reviews, salary reports and interview reports posted by users. Use it to compare titles and pay ranges before you apply.
SnagajobHourly and shift workHourly jobs, shifts and part-time work, for example in retail, food service, warehouses and delivery.
HandshakeStudents and recent graduatesA career network linked to more than 1,600 colleges and universities, from first internships to full-time roles.
DiceTechTechnology jobs, with salary estimates and career-path tips for tech roles.
USAJOBSFederal governmentThe federal government's official employment site, with separate hiring paths for veterans, students and graduates, and people with disabilities. Read the qualifications and questionnaire in each announcement before you start.
State job banksPublic employment serviceEach state runs a free job bank where you post your resume and register your search; CareerOneStop, sponsored by the Department of Labor, links to all of them.
American Job CentersPublic employment serviceLocal job banks, workshops and career counselling. The Department of Labor lists approximately 2,300 centers nationwide; some services have eligibility rules.
Company careers sitesDirect applicationsRoles at large employers, often listed here first. Apply directly; the employer's applicant-tracking system parses your resume into fields.

Ruubu's job matches for the US pull postings from several boards and score each one against your resume. If you need a sponsoring employer, the H-1B sponsor data shows which employers filed labor condition applications with the US Department of Labor.

[1][3][8][9][10][11][12]

The resume and cover letter US recruiters read

A US resume is a marketing document, not a life history. Lead with a two-line summary, list experience from the most recent role back, and make every bullet start with an action verb and end with a result, in numbers where you can. Recruiters scan quickly, so the first third of page one carries the most weight. The US resume format guide covers length, sections and the details to leave out, and resume examples by role show bullet ideas you can adapt.

Keep the cover letter to a few paragraphs that name the role, prove two or three requirements with results and say why this company. Many applications through job boards skip the letter entirely, but a tailored one still helps when a human reads your file first. The cover letter builder writes one from your resume for a specific posting.

What employers may ask, and the federal two-page rule

The EEOC says it is illegal to discriminate against an applicant because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and transgender status), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It also explains that questions about race, sex, national origin, age and religion are irrelevant to hiring decisions, that employers are explicitly prohibited from asking disability-related questions before an offer, and that they should not ask for a photograph before one. Leave all of this off your resume.

Federal applications changed in 2025: under OPM's Merit Hiring Plan, USAJOBS restricts resumes to two pages from September 27, 2025, and an applicant whose only resume is longer is not considered further. The rule covers competitive and excepted service announcements under Title 5; some other agencies may still accept longer documents.[2][4]

Applying for a job in the US, step by step

Popular postings attract many applicants, so send yours as soon as it is ready rather than waiting for the closing date.

  1. 01

    Target a short list of roles

    Pick postings where you meet the core requirements, and note the job title, location or remote status and the stated pay range.

  2. 02

    Tailor the resume

    Put the posting's key skills in your summary and top bullets, in the posting's own words where they are true. Run a free resume check to see what an applicant-tracking system extracts.

  3. 03

    Match it to the posting

    Paste the job link into the job link optimizer to see which requirements your resume already proves and which it misses.

  4. 04

    Apply and reach out

    Submit on the employer's site, then send a two-line note to the recruiter or hiring manager on LinkedIn. A sharp LinkedIn profile makes that note land better.

  5. 05

    Work through the interview rounds

    Prepare for a recruiter screen, behavioral and technical interviews, and sometimes a take-home task. Practise answers with the interview prep kit.

  6. 06

    Negotiate and accept

    Ask for the offer in writing, compare base pay, bonus, equity, health insurance and paid time off, then reply within the deadline.

How US interviews usually run

  • The first round is often a short call with a recruiter about your background, timing and pay expectations.
  • Behavioral questions ("tell me about a time when…") expect a specific story with your actions and a measurable outcome.
  • Technical and sales roles often add a skills test, case study or presentation.
  • Interviewers are informal in tone but focused on evidence; first names are normal from the start.
  • End every round with one or two questions about the team's priorities for the next six months.

Thank-you notes, salary conversations and at-will offers

Sending a short thank-you email to each interviewer within a day is a common courtesy in the US and a chance to restate one point you made. If you hear nothing by the date the recruiter mentioned, a single polite check-in is fine. The job tracker keeps every application, contact and follow-up date in one place.

Pay is discussed openly. Research the range for the role and city, wait for the employer to make an offer if you can, and negotiate the whole package rather than base salary alone. Read the offer letter closely and check whether the job is at-will, which Maryland's labor department describes as meaning an employee may be hired or fired for almost any reason, in the absence of an express contract, agreement or policy to the contrary. Rules vary by state, so check yours.[7]

Work authorization and visas

All US employers must complete Form I-9 for every person they hire, which verifies identity and employment authorization. Have your documents ready for your first days on the job.

If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, temporary work usually requires an employer to file a petition with USCIS on your behalf, and some people qualify to live and work permanently through an employment-based immigrant visa. Ask early in the process whether the employer sponsors visas, and read USCIS's working-in-the-United-States pages for the categories that fit you.[5][6]

Mistakes that sink US applications

  • A photo, date of birth or marital status on the resume.
  • Duties instead of results: "responsible for reporting" says less than "cut reporting time by a third".
  • One resume for every posting, so the screening software finds few of the posting's keywords.
  • A federal resume over two pages, which makes the application ineligible on USAJOBS.
  • Naming a salary figure in the first call before you know the full scope of the role.

Prepare this application with Ruubu

Each tool works on the resume you already have. Start with the free check, then fit the resume and letter to one posting.

Ruubu on job sites in United States

Built from the lists Ruubu actually runs, so this block only names sites Ruubu works with today.

Job Matches searches
LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Dice, and Wellfound
Ruubu for Chrome shows your match score on
LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Dice, Wellfound, and Built In
Ruubu for Chrome fills application forms on
LinkedIn, Indeed, Greenhouse, Workday, Lever, Ashby, SmartRecruiters, iCIMS, Taleo, SAP SuccessFactors, Jobvite, BambooHR, Workable, Oracle Recruiting Cloud, Paylocity, Paycom, Paycor, JazzHR, Breezy HR, Rippling, Dover, Gem, Comeet, Eightfold, Avature, and Cornerstone

Job sites and hiring systems belong to their owners. Ruubu is independent and not affiliated with them. Every site and what Ruubu does there

Frequently asked questions

Should a US resume be one page or two?
One page is usual early in a career; two is fine with long, relevant experience. Federal applications on USAJOBS are limited to two pages. See the US resume format guide.
Do US employers want a photo on the resume?
No. The EEOC advises employers not to request a photograph before an offer, so there is no reason to include one. Leave it off.
Is a cover letter still necessary in the US?
Often not required on job boards, but a short, tailored letter helps when the posting asks for one or a hiring manager reads applications personally.
What is Form I-9?
The form every US employer completes for each new hire to verify identity and authorization to work. You show your documents when you start the job.
Can I apply for US jobs from abroad?
Yes, but most foreign nationals need an employer to petition for a work visa. Ask recruiters early whether the role offers sponsorship, and check the visa categories on USCIS.

Sources

Statements about rules and official guidance rely on these pages. We opened and read each source ourselves on the date shown.

  1. [1]USAJOBS: the Federal Government's official employment site · U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)www.usajobs.gov/ ·
  2. [2]Agency Guidance on the Two-Page Limit on Resume Length · U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/merit-hiring-plan-resources/agency-guidance-on-the-two-page-limit-on-resume-length ·
  3. [3]American Job Centers · U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administrationwww.dol.gov/agencies/eta/american-job-centers ·
  4. [4]Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices · U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)www.eeoc.gov/prohibited-employment-policiespractices ·
  5. [5]Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)www.uscis.gov/i-9 ·
  6. [6]Working in the United States · U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states ·
  7. [7]Employment At-Will: Termination of Employment · Maryland Department of Laborlabor.maryland.gov/labor/wagepay/wpatwill.shtml ·
  8. [8]About LinkedIn · LinkedInabout.linkedin.com/ ·
  9. [9]About Indeed · Indeedwww.indeed.com/about ·
  10. [10]About us · Handshakejoinhandshake.com/about/ ·
  11. [11]Dice: find tech jobs · Dicewww.dice.com/ ·
  12. [12]State job banks · CareerOneStop (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor)www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/FindJobs/state-job-banks.aspx ·

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