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Job Opportunities in USA for Sri Lankan Students

Thursday, 05 September 2024

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An increasing number of Sri Lankan students are pursuing higher education in the United States. As highlighted by the 2024 Open Doors Report from the Institute of International Education, the study recorded a 10% rise in Sri Lankan student enrolment during the 2023-2024 academic year. This growth reflects an increasing interest in education and career prospects in the US, particularly in fields like Technology, Healthcare, Finance, and Engineering. These sectors often hire international graduates and provide pathways to long-term employment, generating lucrative job opportunities in USA for Sri Lankan students.

Studying in the USA provides post-study work opportunities, exposure to competitive wages, and international experience that could support your career growth both in the US and back home. Let us explore the job opportunities in USA for Sri Lankan students through the best industries, career roles, and pathways available to work in America after graduating from a US university.

Why Work in the USA as an International Student or Graduate?

The job opportunities in USA give Sri Lankan students the chance to grow both professionally and personally. For example, many international graduates gain hands-on experience through post-study work options like Optional Practical Training (OPT) or internships related to their field of study. The American job market values skilled international talent and provides several ways to gain work experience after graduation, making the US a strong option for building an international career.

The key benefits of availing of job opportunities in the USA after graduation include:

Global exposure and skill development: Working alongside professionals from around the world while developing expertise with advanced technology and industry practices. For example, international students often join projects that use modern tools and methods, giving them hands-on experience that is useful in many industries.
Higher earning potential: Salaries in the USA are considerably higher than those for similar professional roles in Sri Lanka. For instance, while entry-level IT positions in the US can typically command salaries in the range of US $50,000 - $85,000 per year or more, similar roles in Sri Lanka generally offer annual earnings in the range of US $5,000 - $15,000. This substantial difference provides a strong advantage for saving and supporting your family back home.
Career advancement opportunities: In the US, there are opportunities to progress from entry-level roles to senior positions within companies, allowing you to grow your career gradually.
Post-study work options: OPT provides immediate post-study work authorisation, and the H-1B visa programme offers a pathway for long-term employment for those sponsored by employers. This serves as the biggest advantage for Sri Lankan graduates benefitting from the various job opportunities in USA.

Job Opportunities in USA: In-Demand Industries and Sectors

The USA job market offers excellent opportunities across multiple sectors, with particularly strong demand in technology and healthcare fields that align well with popular study areas for Sri Lankan students. The following are some of the high-demand profiles creating lucrative job opportunities in USA for both national and international graduates, with growth outlooks based on the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections for 2023-2033:

Industry	Key Job Roles	Growth Outlook (2023-2033 BLS Projection)
Information Technology	Software Engineer	Software Developers: 26%
	Data Scientist	Data Scientists: 35%
	Cybersecurity Analyst	Information Security Analysts: 33%
Healthcare	Registered Nurse	Registered Nurses: 6%
	Physical Therapist	Physical Therapists: 14%
	Medical Technologist	Clinical Lab Technologists: 7%
Engineering	Civil Engineer	Civil Engineers: 6%
	Mechanical Engineer	Mechanical Engineers: 11%
	Electrical Engineer	Electrical Engineers: 5%
Finance	Financial Analyst	Financial Analysts: 9%
	Investment Banking	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: 7%
	Risk Management	Financial Risk Specialists: 8%
Data Science & AI	Machine Learning Engineer	Part of Data Scientists and Computer & Information Research Scientists, generally high growth
	Research Scientist	(Machine Learning Engineer falls under Computer & Information Research Scientists: 23%)*
	Business Analyst	Business Analysts (part of Management Analysts): 10%
Logistics & Supply Chain	Operations Manager	Operations Research Analysts: 23%
	Supply Chain Analyst	Logisticians: 19%
	Procurement Specialist	Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents: -1% (may vary by specific role)

Remote work opportunities have also expanded significantly, allowing international graduates to work for top American companies while potentially living in lower-cost areas. These job opportunities in USA for Sri Lankan students continue to grow across all sectors.

Want to know which sector is the best to study and work in the US? Connect with our experts and get your profile evaluated for tailored guidance to suit your goals.

Job Opportunities in USA: High-Paying Jobs for Graduates

International graduates, including those from Sri Lanka, can access well-paying positions across various fields. Here are some of the most promising job opportunities in USA, offering competitive salaries and open to international graduates.

Job Profile	Annual Salary (in USD)
Software Engineer	$80,000 - $120,000
Data Analyst	$55,000 - $75,000
Registered Nurse	$60,000 - $75,000
Financial Analyst	$55,000 - $75,000
Civil Engineer	$60,000 - $75,000
Mechanical Engineer	$70,000 - $85,000

These starting salaries are competitive and often include benefits such as healthcare and paid leave. They open the door to long-term career paths that continue to attract international students seeking job opportunities in the USA.

Job Opportunities in USA: OPT and CPT for International Students

The main work programmes for international students in the USA are OPT (Optional Practical Training) and CPT (Curricular Practical Training). These allow you to gain practical experience during and after your studies, offering part-time job opportunities in USA for students and full-time roles after graduation.

CPT (Curricular Practical Training)

CPT allows you to work while studying, as long as the work is part of your academic programme. This could be internships, co-op jobs, or other placements connected to your course. For you to qualify for CPT, certain conditions must be met:
The work must be directly connected to your field of study
You must be enrolled in a degree programme and have completed at least one academic year of full-time study
Your university needs to approve the training before you start
You can only participate while you are still enrolled in your course

OPT (Optional Practical Training)

OPT lets you work in your field for up to 12 months after you graduate. For students in STEM fields, this period can be extended, offering extra time to build experience. Important points to consider with OPT include:

Your job must relate to your degree programme
The standard work period is 12 months, but STEM students can extend this to additional 24 months bringing the total STEM OPT duration up to 36 months.
OPT experience helps you qualify for visa sponsorship jobs in the USA for international graduates

For Sri Lankan STEM students, the extended OPT period is particularly valuable as it provides more time to find an employer willing to sponsor their H-1B visa. Keep in mind that OPT requires you to apply before graduation, and there is a processing time involved, so it is important to plan further to benefit the most from the different job opportunities in USA.

Job Opportunities in USA after STEM Programmes

STEM graduates from Sri Lanka, like other international students, benefit from the strong demand for technical skills across US industries. The extended OPT period allows more time to gain professional experience, which is one of the greatest benefits of the different job opportunities in USA.

Popular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields for Sri Lankan students include:

Computer Science
Engineering
Biotechnology
Data Science
Information Systems

These fields offer brilliant job opportunities in USA with both excellent starting salaries and strong long-term career growth, making them some of the best careers in USA for international students. The top job roles for STEM graduates are:

Software Developer and Engineer
Data Scientist and Machine Learning Engineer
Biomedical Engineer and Research Scientist
Network Security Specialist
Environmental Engineer
Statistical Analyst

Many major American companies actively recruit international STEM graduates and offer visa sponsorship jobs in USA for international graduates, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Tesla, and hundreds of other technology and engineering firms.

How to Find Job Opportunities in USA After Graduation?

Follow these effective job search strategies will help you to improve your chances of finding employment in USA:

Use major job platforms: LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor are the most effective sites for finding positions that welcome international candidates seeking job opportunities in USA for international students.
Leverage university career services: Your school's career centre offers resume reviews, interview practice, and connections with employers who hire international students.
Attend networking events: Professional associations, alumni meetups, and industry conferences help you make valuable connections for accessing job opportunities in the USA.
Pursue internships early: Many full-time positions come from successful internship experiences, so apply for part-time job opportunities in USA for students in their first and second years.
Format your resume for the USA: American resumes focus on achievements and results rather than personal details and should be no more than 1-2 pages.
Build your LinkedIn profile: Recruiters actively use LinkedIn to find candidates, so maintain a professional profile with keywords related to your skills, industry, and job roles you are targeting.

While exploring job opportunities in the USA, securing employment in the US can take 3-6 months of consistent effort. Needless to say, Sri Lankan students in STEM have proven to successfully carve out strong career paths. Yasantha Rajakarunanayake, for instance, a Sri Lankan alumnus of Princeton University and California Institute of Technology (Caltech), has contributed significantly to tech innovation in the US, including his early support of Jeff Bezos during their university years. His journey reflects the value US industries place on international STEM talent.

Work Visa Options for International Graduates in USA

After completing their studies and utilising post-study work options like Optional Practical Training (OPT), international graduates (including those from Sri Lanka) may pursue various non-immigrant work visas to continue their careers in the US and potentially seek permanent residency. The job opportunities in the USA allow working graduates to hold these visas:

Visa Type	Purpose	Duration	Requirements
H-1B	For skilled workers to work in a specialised job	3 years (initial period; can be extended up to 6 years, and longer if applying for a Green Card)	Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience), a job offer in a speciality occupation, employer sponsorship. Subject to annual cap and lottery
L-1	For employees transferring within the same multinational company from abroad	L-1A (Executives/Managers): Up to 7 years; L-1B (Specialised Knowledge): Up to 5 years	Must have worked for a qualifying foreign company for at least one continuous year within the past three years in a managerial, executive, or specialised knowledge capacity; transfer to a US affiliate/ parent/ subsidiary.
O-1	For individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement in their field, such as Sciences, Arts, Business, Education, Athletics	3 years (initial period; renewable indefinitely in 1-year increments)	Demonstrated sustained national or international acclaim, recognised achievements showing extraordinary ability; job offer in the area of extraordinary ability.
Green Card	For permanent residency and long-term authorisation to work in the USA	Permanent	Often requires employer sponsorship (e.g., through Employment-Based categories like EB-2 or EB-3), involves a multi-stage application process (e.g., PERM labour certification, I-140 petition), and can have significant wait times due to quotas.

The H-1B visa is the most common path for international graduates seeking long-term employment through the graduate route of post-study job opportunities in USA. However, it has an annual cap and uses a lottery system, making it highly competitive. Your best strategy is to work for an employer during your OPT period who is willing to sponsor your H-1B application, particularly those actively offering visa sponsorship jobs in the USA for international graduates.

Tips to Improve Your Employability in the US Job Market

Securing a job in the US takes more than applying, it is about standing out and adapting to the market. Check out the tips to improve your employability in the US job market as an international candidate:

Practice clear and confident communication in English through speaking clubs or online courses
Volunteer for team projects or leadership roles to build teamwork skills
Enrol in industry-relevant online courses or certifications (e.g., Coursera, Udemy)
Build a portfolio showcasing your projects, skills, or contributions online

With the right combination of education, planning, and visa strategy, Sri Lankan students can build rewarding careers through various job opportunities in the USA. While the US job market offers strong potential, especially in STEM, healthcare, finance, and technology, navigating work authorisation processes like OPT and H-1B requires foresight.
By gaining relevant skills, networking early, and understanding employer expectations, international graduates can position themselves for long-term success in a competitive global job market.

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Anshul Mishra

Study in USA, Test Preparation

Anshul Mishra, with his dynamic and strategic approach in the field of international education, has carved a niche in creating impactful educational pathways for students. His experience, spanning various significant roles in the education sector, reflects a deep commitment to enhancing the global educational journey for students.

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