United States · Jobs
Where to find jobs in United States — major job boards, in-demand sectors, and how to apply.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
There is no single national job board for the US private sector — hiring is spread across company sites and commercial boards, so anyone looking for one official place to search will not find it. What does exist officially is split by sector: CareerOneStop, run by the Department of Labor, is the hub for job search, training and career tools, while USAJOBS covers federal-government roles. Foreign nationals generally need work authorisation in place before taking up a job, not after finding one.
The US has no single national job board for the private sector — hiring is spread across company sites and commercial boards. The official government resources are CareerOneStop (US Department of Labor), which aggregates job listings, training and career tools, and USAJOBS for federal-government roles. Foreign nationals generally need work authorisation (an employment-based visa or a Green Card) before taking up a job.
- There is no single official private-sector job board; CareerOneStop (DOL) is the official hub for job search, training and career tools.
- USAJOBS is the official site for US federal-government jobs.
- Most jobs for foreign nationals require prior work authorisation (an employment visa such as H-1B, or a Green Card).
- The Department of Labor (Wage and Hour Division) sets and enforces basic pay and overtime rules.
- 1
Stop looking for one official board
There is no single official private-sector job board. Hiring is spread across company sites and commercial boards, so the search has to be plural from the start.
- 2
Use CareerOneStop as the official hub
CareerOneStop, run by the Department of Labor, aggregates job listings alongside training and career tools. It is the closest thing to an official starting point for the private-sector search.
- 3
Go to USAJOBS for federal roles
USAJOBS is the official site for US federal-government jobs. Because the official surfaces are split by sector, searching the wrong one simply returns nothing relevant.
- 4
Secure work authorisation first
Most jobs for foreign nationals require prior work authorisation, such as an employment visa or a Green Card. The sequence matters: authorisation generally precedes taking up the role rather than following an offer.
- 5
Know who enforces pay rules
The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division sets and enforces basic pay and overtime rules. Knowing that before you need it is more useful than researching it mid-dispute.
- Search planned across multiple boards, not one
- CareerOneStop used as the official starting point
- USAJOBS used if targeting federal roles
- Work-authorisation route identified
- Authorisation timeline planned before start date
- Company career pages searched directly
- Wage and Hour Division noted for pay questions
- CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)
Official job search, training and career tools.
- USAJOBS (federal government jobs)
Official US federal-government employment site.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an official US job board?
Not one covering the private sector. CareerOneStop, run by the Department of Labor, is the official hub for job search, training and career tools, while USAJOBS covers federal-government roles — the official surfaces are split by sector rather than unified.
Do I need work authorisation before applying in the US?
Most jobs for foreign nationals require prior work authorisation — an employment-based visa or a Green Card — before you take up the role. The sequence matters, since authorisation generally has to precede starting rather than follow an offer.
Where do I look for US federal-government jobs?
USAJOBS is the official site for federal roles. Because the official surfaces are split by sector, searching CareerOneStop for a federal post or USAJOBS for a private one simply returns nothing relevant.
Government portals
- The White House — Official residence and office of the US President — executive orders, policy briefings, press releases
- U.S. Department of State — US passport and visa services, travel warnings, embassy information worldwide
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Federal tax filing, refund status, ITIN/EIN applications, and Free File program
- USCIS — Green card, H-1B and work visas, naturalization, immigration benefits, and case status