Moving to New York

I am a 25-year-old business student finishing my degree in April 2009 on Vancouver Island. After graduating I would like to move to New York City and work for 1 or 2 years. I plan on renting out my house here on Vancouver Island and intend on returning to it one day.

With what research I have done I realize that I will need a US employer to sponsor my visa but my question is can I move to New York on a tourist visa (3 months) and plan that during the first 3 months I will get hired by a US employer and at that time apply for a work visa?

(I have a feeling it will be hard getting a job offer before I am actually living in New York)

Any advice, information or direction on my situation would be greatly appreciated.

You cannot legally "move" to the US to go look for an employer who will sponsor you. Technically, you cannot be a visitor in the US and look for work. If you were to show up at the border and say "I'm going ot look for a job" they'd turn you right around and send you back to Canada.

Unfortunately, the legal way to do it is first find employer, then get visa, then move.

You can enter to attend a specific job interview that you've set up before you go, but you cannot enter to look for work as Reba says.