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Search Strategies
Job Search for the International Student
Overview
Looking for a job in the United States as an
International Student can be somewhat daunting.
Although the process to locate a job is challenging,
it is not impossible if you do your homework,
and you are prepared.
The following article is intended to be used
as a guide and offers some helpful tips to equip
international students before and during the
job search process. As an international student
seeking work in the US, you will need to be
patient, persistent, and familiar with all aspects
of the US job search as well as any regulations
that apply to international students.
Although you may have many skills to offer
employers, your international status may make
it difficult for you to find employment in the
US for the many reasons.
Employers may hesitate to hire an international
student for long-term career opportunities because
of the complexities involved in sponsoring for
H-1B visas. Also, H-1B visas only permit international
candidates to work in the US for one to six
years. The employer must be willing to undergo
some fees to hire a lawyer and pay INS to review
the case. The petition for the visa must also
gain approval by the US Department of Labor.
Many companies feel that this process is too
time-consuming and costly to undertake; therefore,
some companies will not interview, let alone
hire, international students. Because of this,
you will need to be patient, persistent, and
flexible (and even sometimes creative). You
may need to expand your job search to include
a variety of different job titles, geographic
locations, and salary ranges. This will probably
include making a few sacrifices in order to
secure a job, which may not be your number one
choice.
Another deterrent for some employers is the
language skills barrier. According to NACE,
(National Association of Colleges and Employers),
communication skills rank as one of the top
characteristics that employers look for in applicants.
Since English may not be your first language,
some employers may fear that you may not be
able to communicate well with clients. To improve
your language skills, you should volunteer to
do more presentations, join multicultural student
clubs, and take English courses.
While it is more difficult, there are international
students who are finding opportunities here
and abroad. There are things that you can be
doing to prepare yourself in finding these opportunities,
as you will find in this article.
The following are some links that may be helpful.
Immigration and International
Student Issues
International Job Links
- Internationalstudent.com
- started by a group of international students
living in New York City with the goal of helping
other students deal with Amercian immigration
authorities and education system.
- Overseasjob.com
- International jobs database of positions
available in companies around the world. Also
provides job search resources.
- International
Career Information - U.S. subsidiary
of Recruit Co. Ltd., one of the largest publishers
in Japan and a leader in the employment information
business. Specializes in helping multinational
corporations to recruit bilingual employees
for fast growing economies in Asia. They sponsor
job fairs and maintain a proprietory database
including more than 40,000 students and recent
graduates and mid-level professionals in the
U.S. and Asia.
Job Search Strategies
1. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK
It cannot be emphasized enough the importance
of networking. You should embrace every opportunity
that you have to meet with other professionals
or individuals who could potentially get you
job leads and even better, who could recommend
you for positions.
Networking should not be taken lightly. Personal
and professional contacts are usually the key
to connecting with opportunities in the United
States. Before you engage in conversations with
potential contacts, you should rehearse a one-minute
introduction and “sales pitch” about
yourself. This should include your name, field
of study, any special skills, and your career
goals.
Your pool of contacts could include classmates,
professors, neighbors, members of student organizations
and the Career Services staff. The Career Services
office hosts numerous networking forums, as
well as company information sessions, where
you can meet with recruiters.
2. VISIT THE CAREER SERVICES OFFICE
Career Services can help you to develop many
of the skills that you will need to begin a
successful job search, as well as connect you
with many recruiters who come to FIU. Set up
an appointment to meet with a Career Consultant
to discuss more job search strategies, review
your resume, and help you with your interviewing
skills. But remember, Career Services is only
ONE resource available to you. So don’t
stop there!
3. USE ALL RESOURCES AVAILABLE AND MORE
You should use everything available to you as
a resource and a possible opportunity. Working
on campus, for example, may lead to future opportunities,
and definitely boosts your contacts. Participating
in volunteer activities is another avenue to
meet people and increase your networking pool.
Visit Human Resources for on-campus opportunities
and the Volunteer Action Center to volunteer.
But remember, not all opportunities are advertised.
You may need to go to each department to find
them. Be sure to leave your resume and collect
business cards from those that you meet with,
to follow up.
4. JOIN A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION
This can help to boost your contacts and keep
you current with trends in your field. Also,
joining an organization or club can encourage
you to develop your teamwork skills and may
lead to possible leadership roles, both of which
will help to build your resume. You can use
the yellow pages to locate professional organizations
or visit the Student Organization Council (SOC)
here at FIU for a list of clubs and organizations.
(or visit the website at http://www.fiu.edu/~soc).
5. BECOME AN INTERN
Internships also increase your contact pool,
as well as allow you to gain valuable career
related experience in the US. Internships or
on-site work experience also help you to get
your “foot in the door” with that
company and give the opportunity to shine. Many
internship positions can turn into full-time
job opportunities and employers are more likely
to go the extra mile and sponsor a candidate
whose work they have seen.
To learn more about internship opportunities,
you should attend an internship workshop in
the Career Services office. Also, be sure to
check with the International Students Services
office for work authorization policies, and
your department to see if internships are an
available option within your department.
6. CONDUCT INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
An information interview provides a chance for
you to talk to a professional in a career you
are considering. Unlike the job interview, the
information interview is a low-stress situation
where you decide whom to interview, what questions
to ask, and how to evaluate the responses. You
should also choose to interview an international
student and obtain information on the process
that he/she took and what you should expect.
Informational interviews also help to boost
your contacts. You can find contact information
for companies that you are interested from the
company’s website.
7. BE ASSERTIVE, BE CONFIDENT
Remember, YOU want the job, so YOU have to go
after it. You must learn to sell your skills
to an employer. Consider building a “Career
Portfolio”. This is a collection of your
projects, achievements and skills. A Career
Portfolio helps you to gain perspective on your
achievements and also serves as a showcase for
your contacts and interviewers. If you do not
show the employer what you can do, who will?
8. KNOW THE PROCEDURES
Be sure to be up to date on the latest policies
and procedures for obtaining employment in the
United States. Do not expect the employer to
have this information. The more you know about
the sponsorship
procedure, the easier the process will be. Visit
the ISSS office (http://www.fiu.edu/~isss)
and the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services webpage for updates (http://www.bcis.gov).
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