Yaass Queens
The Big Apple is the undisputed cultural capital of the US and its most populous city, squeezing more than eight million people into its famous five boroughs. From the buzz of Manhattan to the boho vibes of Brooklyn, every corner of the city represents a culture, attitude or feeling. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s brash. And if you can make it here on a Grad USA or Summer job visa, you can make it anywhere.
Thanks to Friends, Seinfeld, Gossip Girl, Sex in the City, the Sopranos... [fill in every other movie or sitcom worth its salt] New York already feels filmset familiar to travellers. Yet in person, it still manages to be so much more. The city that never sleeps has an energy and vibe that’s hard to pin down.
Live and work in a cultural capital
Diverse and liberal neighbourhoods
Entertainment that never sleeps
Well connected to the rest of USA
Jobs for every skillset and mindset
Highly regarded by potential employers
When you’re strolling through Central Park with your skyscraper-sized Starbucks, dashing across town to meet a mate after work in the lively bars of Hell’s Kitchen, or driving upstate to The Hamptons to a weekend summer house – you'll feel like you’ve made it. And DM us when you do. We love a hot New York moment.
Manhattan is the beating heart of New York. From Chinatown to Washington Heights, this island borough is bursting with cool places to live. Across the East River, Brooklyn may be the hipster capital, but New York's most densely populated neighbourhood is also home to world-class museums and beautiful public parks. It’s also just a stone’s throw from Williamsburg, known for its chic boutique stores, eclectic restaurants and cool-as-a-cucumber clientele. Don't overlook Queens, the city's most ethnically diverse area and a place historically favoured by the Irish while working in America.
It should be known that the Big Apple has some of the highest rent in the world, so dig deep to pull in family and friends’ connections. Some employers will include subsidised accommodation. But if not, find your New York home away from home via StreetEasy.com, a popular alternative to Craigslist, or NakedApartments.com.
New York remains the economic hub of the US, home to over 200 banks, more Fortune 500 companies than any other American city and some of the nation's top law firms. Technology is a constantly growing sector, with creative start-ups sharing space with established global brands. Fashion, publishing, advertising, international relations and retail offer once-in-a-lifetime internship placements and internship opportunities. In a city with over 70,000 hotel rooms and countless restaurants, it's also a brilliant place to train in the hospitality business.
The average wage here per hour is give or take USD $15-20, and there’s also often perks such as complimentary housing, tips, staff meals and end of bonus contracts up to $500 here too. Each year, we have 1,000+ J1 jobs with our tried-and-trusted US employers across America. Book onto J1 early and select ‘USIT Job’ for access to our online Job Hub where you can search, apply and get hired.
A hot New York minute lasts a season in New York. Summer is notoriously hot and humid. If you’re staying in Manhattan or Brooklyn, use it as an excuse to escape to Long Island or the Jersey Shore on your days off. Or follow the 3pm Friday exodus up the swanky Hamptons for the weekend. For the rest of the year, expect changeable springs, crisp autumns and snowy winters – with picture perfect ice-skating scenes and twinkling Christmas trees.
Temperatures reach highs of up to 30 degrees during July and August to lows of minus 3 in January – so best pack that scarf and bobble hat – and there’s plenty of rainfall here year-round so bring a brolly too!
#TeamTalk
There's nothing our US team don't know about working and playing in the States. Whether it's the best diner for pancakes or where to find fellow J1-ers, our pointing and directing skills are world-famous. We will also help with all the nerdy stuff - visas, accommodation, tax – so you can bed in with the post-work cocktail crowd quicker than a pigeon to pretzel.
BOOK A CALLTypical jobs our J1-ers did last summer
Typical role
May-Aug
USD $14/hour
Free housing, meals on shift, golf + tennis
Best of both! Under two hours from Manhattan (pictured) for your days off, work at this country club on Long Island with free staff accommodation.
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This elevated railway turned public park is one of NYC’s biggest success projects, and it’s one of the city’s most popular spots famed for its public art, street food stalls and Hudson River views. 1.5 miles in length and full to the brim of places to stop off and admire the skyscraper views, it’s a great spot to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon.
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NYC is pretty hectic and busy, so if you’re looking for a bit of peace and quiet, then we’d recommend making your way to The Met Cloisters, a museum of medieval art set atop a hill in upper Manhattan. The panoramic views from atop here are fantastic, and there’s plenty of scenic trails here which are just begging to be explored. It’s basically the closest you’ll get to peace and quiet in the hustle and bustle of this beating metropolis.
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Speaking of The High Line, its northern entrance is located in Hell’s Kitchen, one of the city’s most fashionable neighbourhoods. Set just to the west of Times Square, it’s got some lively bars and restaurants open until the early hours of the morning, a thriving LGBTQ+ scene, theatres, parks and more.
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Aptly-named, this Brooklyn-based spot is perhaps the place to come to watch the sun setting over the gleaming skyscrapers of NYC. There’s some excellent noodle and dim-sum stores, films playing during the summer months and views of the iconic Statue of Liberty from here too.
It's in the name
Whether you want to fund your summer on a J1, make a difference working at camp, or get ahead with a professional internship, trainee or grad visa – USIT is the home of working in the US.
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