Top 5 strategies for finding a job in the US

Searching for the right job can be a very time-consuming and complex task. Depending on the industry, your experience, education, and the country you want to take up a specific job - your approach should be different. 

Ultimately, the more job search methods you use, the faster you’ll find the right one. Usually, time is a crucial factor during a transition from one employer to another.

It’s worth keeping in mind that landing a job quickly, without both parties deeply interviewing each other, usually leads to one of the sides (if not both) being greatly disappointed with their choice.

It’s critical that you know what you’re signing up for, understand all key aspects of the role you’re going to fill, and that your employer has the full picture when it comes to your professional background, career plans, and an understanding of your skillset.

At P&G, we’ve crafted our own hiring process, which helps us find the perfect candidates for the right job. From application to offer, you know exactly what to expect each step of the way. We get to know each other during the process, which means both parties are fully aware of the opportunities that lay before them.

Whether it's the US job market you’re targeting or any other country, there will be many similarities in the job-seeking process that you should incorporate during your research and interview preparation.

In this article, we distinguished 5 key strategies that will help you land the perfect job - on both sides of the pond.

What are the key nuances in looking for a job in the US?

Despite some cultural differences between job markets in different countries, at the end of the day employers want to find the perfect candidate. Filling that gap and fulfilling a purpose in an organization is what’s important - no matter the country, if a person ticks all the boxes and has the right attitude for the job environment, the probability of landing that job is very, very high.

Nevertheless, it’s good to be aware of when to shift your approach in a recruitment process. This could mean preparing for a personality test or letters of recommendation. Those tiny differences can be the weighing factor that tilts the probability of the next interview in your favor.

One of the major differences you’ll find is when creating your CV (UK & Europe) or Resume (US). In Europe, long-form CVs are preferred, where under each experience, you will write a short paragraph about your time in that position. In the US, we tend to see shorter form Resumes, where you will use bullet points to briefly outline what you did in that particular job.

Note: A CV and a Resume are the same things. The terms can be used interchangeably - it’s just that different countries usually use one over the other.

General requirements

• Experience – A critical factor in any country (for those looking for a non-entry level position)

• Education – Employers will evaluate your degree(s) in most countries

• Skill-set – Particularly important when you’re applying for a job that requires skills like programming or certificates in specific areas

• Professional successes – These are the backbone of your professional persona (what you’ve achieved, and how you influenced the organization you worked at)

  
  
  

Job Search Particularities in the US

• LinkedIn – In the US, you’re much more likely to find a job offer on LinkedIn, Indeed or Glassdoor

• Personality tests – You’ll not experience these in the US that often

• Character references – Weigh more in other countries, but still a good thing to have

• Professional references – Always good to have, but more often evaluated in the UK & Europe

Networking

Building a network of colleagues, peers, and supervisors with whom you keep in touch is the foundation for effective job-seeking for many around the world. You’re quickly informed by your acquaintances that there is a new opening in the business department you were aiming to join.

Did a new branch just open in your part of town in the previous job that you left due to location issues? Your colleagues will let you know.

Nowadays, keeping in touch via social media is the easiest approach. In the end, the most important point here is the relationships you have with other people in your network.

Recruitment agency

Working with recruiters has many pros - you barely need to do any research. You’re supplied with offers that match your requirements and can concentrate on the work. On the other hand, some agencies’ remuneration is a margin from your monthly salary, which is usually a high price to pay, especially in the long run.

Ads in social networks

Subscribing to personal pages, on social media, of managers and C-level executives in an organization you’re targeting is a good strategy for digital-savvy people. It’s quite often that, on their LinkedIn page, managers publish or share posts referring to some type of recruitment process, or ask for recommendations.

Also, being up to date with these peoples’ publications can be valuable knowledge when you’ll be sitting opposite them in an interview.

Professional communities

Different industries tend to have online communities and even sometimes have dedicated job portals, especially if the industry you’re interested in requires a specific skill-set and is currently popular on the market - like programmers or big data scientists. Be sure to ask your network if they can recommend a community you should join.

Start your career path at P&G

At P&G, we’re committed to developing your career and helping you plan out a personalized career path. From a detailed onboarding process and Student Programs through to multiple Entry-Level Opportunities, we’ve got you covered from day 1.

P&G offers professional training and development

At P&G, during the first 10 years, you’ll hold 5 different roles on average. During this time, you will encounter training, allowing you to expand your skill set.

We want you to become a leader in your field, which is why we provide the opportunity to work with award-winning brands where you can craft your success. P&G is one of the largest and fastest-growing consumer goods companies in the United States and offers multiple opportunities for both entry-level students and seasoned specialists.

P&G offers high future earnings

Including P&G in your professional development is a step that will supply your resume with valuable experience, which is highly valued by employers all around the world.

P&G offers challenging and creative work

Being challenged is a vital part of long-term career success, and at P&G, we consistently encourage creativity and growth. Our meaningful work engages and provides our employees with the momentum of keeping responsibilities interesting, fresh, and stimulating.

No matter which department you’re aiming to join, you’ll experience teamwork and a creative and supportive environment where we encourage everybody to question the status quo. We want to grow with our employees and brands every single day.

Develop your career path in P&G

Every employee at P&G is supplied with a tailored career path. You will encounter multiple opportunities, in various fields of business, that you can join and there’s no limit to the things you can learn on the job. We take learning very seriously because it’s in your best interest and our organization’s. We make sure you get the most out of every day, from day 1.

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