America prides itself as a place where opportunities are open to all. For international students, this often proves true. After experiencing life at the country's outstanding universities, lots are keen to stay for a career – and many do. This is helped by the presence of some of the world's biggest and best places to work, of which plenty are ready to welcome new talent from all backgrounds. For an introduction to them, read on, as we guide you through some of the top employers in the USA.
Mayo Clinic
Such is its world-class reputation, people come from far and wide to receive treatment at one of the Mayo Clinic's healthcare facilities. The nonprofit organisation is an American leader in everything from hospitals to medical education and research. Its 80,000 staff look after around 1.3 million patients each year, at locations in various parts of the country.
In a very large and complex institution like this, people with all kinds of skills and experience are always needed. Medical graduates are pivotal, but their work would not succeed without the support of specialists in many other areas. Mayo Clinic hires those who have studied business, engineering, IT and much more for some of its most important roles.
Overall, healthcare in America is a complicated topic, but one that comes with a lot of opportunity. While the country as a whole has more than one million doctors, some of its regions need many more to meet their medical needs. Therefore, there is a lot of scope to contribute to some vital work. If this appeals, you could start by reading our guide to the top medical schools in the USA.
Deloitte
As the biggest of the world's Big Four accounting firms, it may not be surprising that Deloitte is one of the top graduate employers in the USA. The wide-reaching consultancy helps major organisations around the world with some of their most pressing issues, whether financial, technological or otherwise. Among its 171,000 staff in America are a lot of former international students – it is one of the top sponsors of H-1B visas.
Deloitte's early careers offering can get you started long before you graduate. Internships are available for current undergraduates, as well as those who have recently received their bachelor's or master's degree. The company's campus outreach even extends to scholarships and invitations to business conferences. Its success is built on a concerted effort to find the best talent, wherever it may be.
In addition to Deloitte, you could also explore roles at the other members of the Big Four. EY, PwC and KPMG each have offices in multiple US cities, and all hire international graduates.
NASA
Decades after putting man on the moon, America's space agency is a place where you can reach for the stars. Around 18,000 people are employed by NASA, working on some of the most exciting scientific projects on the planet and beyond. With the organisation preparing to send people back to the moon and onto Mars, now is an incredible time to join.
While only a lucky few are likely to lift off as astronauts, NASA hires people for a very wide range of roles. STEM graduates of all kinds are needed, as well as specialists in finance, HR and communications. Internships are offered in each of those areas under a scheme known as Pathways. These can lead towards a long career with one of the most awe-inspiring names in science.
With interest in space travel and exploration continuing to surge, NASA is not the only major employer you could investigate in the area. Private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are also pushing into new frontiers.
Amazon
Over the past three decades, this tech conglomerate has grown from an online bookstore into a globe-spanning provider of retail and technical services. Jobs at Amazon go far beyond e-commerce, extending into public policy, machine learning and much more. Plus, as the second-biggest sponsor of H-1B visas, its position as one of the USA's top employers for international graduates is in no doubt.
There are a number of well-established routes into working for the company and growing within it. At Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing provider on which millions of websites rely, you can apply for a large number of early career roles and internships that are designed to lead to long-term success. Elsewhere, the company's Pathways scheme prepares master's graduates for a leadership role.
JPMorgan Chase
One of the top employers in the USA for finance graduates, JPMorgan Chase has a lot to offer. Its powerful combination of retail and investment divisions help make it the biggest bank in the country. Whichever side you work on, you will be part of something special.
At JPMorgan, the focus is on major clients and big numbers. Its graduate programmes in finance, software engineering and cybersecurity all let you get involved with this from an early stage. When you do, a head for numbers may even give you a head for heights. The organisation's recently built New York office is one of the tallest buildings in the country.
For a more down-to-earth experience, you could join the consumer banking experts at Chase. While jobs there cover much of the same ground as at JPMorgan, they come with the satisfaction of helping ordinary people manage their finances. You might even look for a role in one of its 4,700 physical branches, where you can do this in person.
General Motors
As owner of the Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac brands, General Motors is one of the biggest automotive manufacturing companies in the world. It sells more than six million cars each year and employs almost 92,000 people in the USA. This workforce is spread across offices, factories and dealerships throughout the country.
The company runs several schemes to bring in and develop new talent. These include internships, co-operative programmes and a graduate programme named TRACK. This stands for Technical Rotation and Career Knowledge, which neatly describes its offering. Over two years on the programme, you will work in three different areas of the business, and be given the tools and insight you need to progress through them.
Of course, the USA is not short of alternative employers in the vehicular industry. The country is home to operations of every major car manufacturer you could name, including the American icon Ford. So, if your interest rests in automotive engineering, you are in the right place.
Moderna
As one of the key players in the development of mRNA vaccine technology, Moderna is at the forefront of pharmaceuticals. After more than 150 million doses of its revolutionary Covid vaccine were administered, the company is now working to develop life-saving treatments for many more of the world's most pressing health conditions.
Headquartered in Massachusetts, with several other bases across the USA, Moderna employs more than 5,000 people in total. This workforce expanded by over 50 per cent between 2022 and 2023, and is expected to grow further. Graduates in biology and chemistry are well-placed to join – especially if they have a master's or PhD – while administrative roles can be filled by those who have studied any of a large range of subjects.
Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology are huge industries in the USA, and so Moderna is just one of the places you can look to get involved with it at a high level. Other major names in the field include Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie and Regeneron.
Walmart
This retail giant is hard to beat for size. It is the world's biggest company by revenue, and its biggest corporate employer. The business has a workforce of more than 1.5 million in the USA alone, focused mostly on its eponymous Walmart supermarkets.
The opportunities on offer for graduates here are almost boundless. Walmart hires new recruits in a huge range of areas, including some that may surprise you. It needs opticians and pharmacists for its in-store health services; automation engineers for its complex supply chains; and law specialists to look after its legal affairs. Whatever your expertise, the company may have a role for you.
Now that you have been introduced to some of the top employers in the USA, you may want to explore the country further. Get started with our guide to its top universities. After that, discover the most in-demand jobs in the USA, and find out how to apply for a post-study visa. If you'd like to look at other countries, get to know the top employers around the world.
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