Hundreds of applications, zero offers: Vietnamese students battle for US jobs

A weak job market, tightening visa barriers and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence are squeezing opportunities for foreign graduates, often after hundreds of applications and zero offers.

Hung, 24, a master’s student in Chemistry at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, starts most mornings the same way: checking emails on his phone. Nearly every day for the past six months, he has opened messages that begin with the same familiar line: "Thank you for your application."

Set to graduate by the end of the year, Hung began applying for jobs as early as July, targeting roles related to his field, from research assistant and laboratory technician to product development. So far, he has received no job offers, despite submitting more than 1,000 applications.

"That number sounds terrifying," Hung said, "but it’s not uncommon in the current situation in the U.S."

"I researched the market and set low expectations, but I still can’t avoid feeling doubtful about myself," he added.

Thao, who earned a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and Media with a perfect 4.0 GPA from Columbia University, went through a similar "crisis" earlier this year.

Despite ranking among the top 10 students at the Ivy League school, she spent five months applying to hundreds of positions.

The field she was targeting, curriculum development, is highly competitive, with around 60% of applicants holding master’s degrees.

Tung, 23, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in May, considers himself more fortunate than many of his peers. Over three months, he applied to more than 300 software engineer positions and even considered enrolling in a master’s program simply to stay in the U.S.

"When the first company sent me a job offer, I accepted immediately because I was exhausted," Tung said. "Luckily, the working conditions turned out to be quite good."

The struggles come as the U.S. job market has remained sluggish for about a year, hitting international students especially hard. Job openings have fallen to their lowest level since 2014, excluding the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics previously projected nearly 150,000 new jobs for May and June, but actual hiring reached only about one-tenth of that figure.

At the same time, the number of international students in the U.S. has climbed to a record high of more than 1.18 million. Vietnamese students account for around 25,600 of them, also an all-time high.

Economists say persistent inflation and frequently changing tax policies have made companies more cautious about hiring. Businesses are scrutinizing costs and prioritizing only critical positions, Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, told NBC.

Artificial intelligence is adding further pressure. Since the start of the year, U.S. employers have cut more than one million jobs. Amazon alone has laid off about 14,000 workers as it prepares to integrate AI into its systems. As a result, experienced professionals are now competing directly with new graduates for fewer openings.

Foreign students face an additional disadvantage: visas.

Most international students study under F-1 visas. To stay and work long-term after graduation, they must secure an employer willing to sponsor an H-1B visa, which allows foreign professionals to work in specialized fields.

According to Tung, companies willing to handle H-1B sponsorship paperwork are far outnumbered by those that refuse. This creates a paradox: foreign applicants often focus on large corporations, even though competition is fierce, because many small and mid-sized firms automatically filter out candidates who require visa sponsorship.

Proposed changes to H-1B rules, including discussions of sponsorship fees reaching as high as $100,000 per foreign employee, have made employers even more hesitant.

During interviews, Hung said some companies misunderstand these policies, telling him outright that they cannot afford such fees. Even after he explained that the proposed costs do not apply to international students currently studying in the U.S. on F-1 visas, the companies still declined to proceed.

Vietnamese international students also tend to make avoidable mistakes during their job searches, said Vu Anh Tuan, a technical manager at Quora who has spent more than a decade coaching job seekers.

The most common is a "spray-and-pray" approach: sending out large volumes of resumes without tailoring them to specific roles. This often leads to rejection during initial screening. Many applicants list responsibilities in vague terms instead of emphasizing measurable impact, such as "reducing support requests by 30%" or "improving efficiency by 20%."

Tuan recommends dividing job targets into three groups: companies that regularly sponsor H-1B visas; startups or mid-sized firms that may sponsor selectively but can decide quickly for strong candidates; and contract roles that allow applicants to prove their value before seeking sponsorship.

Regardless of strategy, building connections is crucial. Networking with current employees, alumni and mentors can significantly increase the chances of referrals and interviews.

That approach ultimately worked for Thao at Columbia. After submitting three to four applications a day but receiving just two interview invitations over two months, she reached out to professors, mentors and former colleagues who were willing to vouch for her skills and professional ethics. She eventually secured a position at the university where she had studied.

Thao believes international students should learn to measure and accumulate their impact in every role they take on, while tailoring each application to the employer’s needs. Setting goals early, regularly reviewing progress and adjusting strategy are essential, she said.

As graduation approaches, Hung of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln continues to apply. With limited opportunities in his field at traditional career fairs, he has expanded his search across multiple job platforms. After months of stress, he has adjusted his expectations, accepting the possibility of relocating and earning less than hoped, as long as he can secure a first foothold.

"If things are still not looking good by February next year, I’ll accept it happily and return to Vietnam to look for other opportunities," Hung said.