Details about Employment opportunity for USA Students
International students are currently permitted to work in the United States during and after their studies, subject to certain restrictions.
If you want to work in the United States, you must plan ahead of time and become acquainted with the rules and regulations that accompany immigration laws.
Regulations are constantly changing, so you should be aware that even if you are offered a job, you may not be legally able to accept it.
Take the time to read through the resources provided to better understand your situation as an international student.
I do not have US citizenship or permanent residency. Will this matter to a potential employer?
In general, not being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident complicates a job search, but there are employers who are not only willing to hire foreign nationals, but are actively seeking these individuals.
Naturally, it will depend on the industry as well as the employer.
Practical Training allows students who have studied in the United States on an F-1 visa to work for up to twelve months in a field related to their studies.
In general, as a foreign national, you cannot work for the United States federal government, most other U.S. state and local governments, or private employers who receive government contracts.
If you intend to stay in the United States for a period longer than the duration of your Practical Training, you should consider obtaining an extended visa, such as the H-1B visa.
Because you must be sponsored by an employer for an H-1B visa, you will impose more paperwork and costs on an employer than a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Because internships usually count as Optional Practical Training (OPT) time, make sure the internship you're considering is worth your time.
OPT is a period in which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status who have completed their studies are permitted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work on a student visa for twelve months per educational level (a seventeen-month extension is available for graduates from a government-designated STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] program).
Information about student work authorization (which students can change at any time in their profile):
Students can respond to the following questions: 'Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?' and 'Will you require visa sponsorship now or in the future?' or select "prefer not to respond." If the student selects the option 'Prefer not to answer these questions,' the student will be listed as 'Fully Qualified' for all positions requiring work authorization.
NOTE: Students may apply to any position in Handshake, regardless of whether they are 'Fully Qualified.'
Cultural differences in the job search and interviewing processes:
Almost all job searches in the United States necessitate the creation of resumes and cover letters.
You might want to look through our resume and cover letter writing guides or speak with someone at the Becker Career Center to help you develop documents that are more appropriate for the American style.
Interviews may be the most culturally different aspect of the job search for many international students. Making eye contact with anyone, no matter how senior, will be interpreted as a sign of confidence, not disrespect. Some of these differences may be difficult to accept, but remember that many Americans struggle with the job search as well.
The Becker Career Center provides workshops on job hunting and interviewing. Make the most of these workshops!
Students International interview
- Time may not be as important as personal relationships. Being late may not be an issue.
- Eye contact, especially with people of higher status, can be considered disrespectful.
- Small talk is commonly used by interviewers to gather information about character or personality.
- The interviewer may speak for the majority of the time.
- The interview may include questions about age, race, gender, or marital status. Males are more likely to dominate interactions with females.
- Younger people may be expected to respect the elderly
USA interview
- Be on time. Arrive five to fifteen minutes before your appointment time.
- Eye contact is expected and communicates confidence.
- Interviewer styles differ, and some may start with direct questions or with little small talk.
- The interviewer may do most of the talking, or the candidate may be expected to do most of the talking.
- Age, race,orientation, disabilities, national origin, and marital status are all prohibited questions.
When should I inform my employer of my visa status?
It's difficult to pinpoint an exact time to notify an employer, but it should be before an employer offers you a job.
Some employers aren't always aware of work authorization issues, and if an employer offers you a job and then discovers that they'll need to apply for an H-1B visa in order to keep you, the employer may be put off by the fact that you didn't provide this information up front.
You might want to bring it up near the end of a positive first interview, so the employer knows you're honest about your job situation.
If you know you will be granted permanent residency in the near future, share that information as soon as possible.
English
The more contact you have with others, the more important it is that your English is clear.
If not, some last-minute tutoring may be beneficial. Employers may use your written English to evaluate your spoken English, so make sure your cover letters are as clear as possible.
Unless you are fluent in English, it is a good idea to have your work reviewed by a native speaker.
What should I do to improve my chances?
Don't procrastinate or expect to complete everything in a single day.
Learn everything you can about the process by which your employer can obtain an H-1 visa on your behalf.
They may be unfamiliar with the steps, in which case you must clearly explain the procedure. Don't undervalue its significance, either.
In the long run, it's better to discuss the process and evaluate the situation before you and your potential employer go too far and discover that you're ineligible.
There may be some benefit to hiring a lawyer who is familiar with the process to assist with the paperwork. Inform the employer if you are willing to pay any associated fees.
International Students' Internet Resources:
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency in charge of overseeing legal immigration to the United States.
Career and Employment Resources offering worldwide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles, and country-specific career information.
work permit/visa regulations, resume writing guidelines and examples.
Employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice, and more.
Below is the link to search for the Resources:
Employers with a history of H1-B sponsorship can be found in a searchable database.
International Education Exchange Council; short-term visa sponsor
International Practical Training Association; global training services; J-1 visa sponsor
Job posting database
H1-B Labor Certification Database, US Department of Labor (DOL).
This is a government website that contains H1-B applications that have been submitted to the US Department of Labor in the last three years.
Identifying Potential Employers:
Employers may specify in the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 that they will not consider any individuals with a non-immigrant visa (i.e., F1 or J1) who are only eligible to work for practical training purposes.
This could make it difficult for international students to find employers who are interested in hiring them.
How do you find employers who are interested in offering you practical training and/or full-time employment? Here are some possible approaches:
- Reach out to people in your field using the Becker Career Center's networking system. Despite the visa issues, they may be more willing to assist a student from their alma mater.
- Look for a company with international connections and/or offices. They are more open to hiring international employees because of their language skills, diversity, knowledge of international policy, and so on.
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