Working in the US
Optional Practical Training
(OPT)
According to the Bureau of Immigration and Citizenship Services
(BCIS), formerly the INS, students with F-1 visas are eligible to
work full-time for 12 months. Optional Practical Training (OPT)
must be directly related to a student's academic major and can be
used prior to or after graduation for a paid internship, part-time
job and/or full-time position.
While you may or may not have a job offer at the time of
graduation, the BCIS requires that international students apply for
a work authorization card BEFORE graduation and pay a small fee.
The application process can take several weeks and regulations
change constantly, so apply early through the
International Student & Scholar Services Office.
H-1B Visa
If a foreign national wishes to continue working in the US, and
their employer wishes to continue to employ them, an H-1B visa must
be obtained through their current employer. An H-1B visa permits a
foreign national employee to work an additional one to six years in
the US following the end of OPT.
To sponsor a foreign national for an H-1B, an employer must
submit a Change of Status application to the BCIS and pay filing
fees.
This process can take anywhere from two weeks to five months to
complete, so an employer should submit the application
approximately six months before an employee's OPT expires.
Hiring Foreign Nationals
When an employer makes a hiring decision, he/she does so with
the hope that this new employee will devote several years to the
position and company. It is very costly to hire and train a new
individual; therefore, employers are often reluctant to interview
or hire international students because of restrictions on length of
employment.
Some employers, however, may be convinced to change their
policies if given a clear understanding of the process to "sponsor"
a foreign national on an H-1B visa. In order to properly educate an
employer, it is imperative that you clearly understand the process
yourself.
You must have complete, current and accurate knowledge of your
options and both your, and the employer's, responsibilities
You must also be able to clearly explain the process to an
employer so that he/she does not see sponsorship as an obstacle in
the hiring process
While the employer must legally pay the majority of the H-1B
visa filing fee, you may offer to pay for all attorney fees and any
additional costs associated with the H-1B filing process
To review this process in greater detail, meet with an advisor
in the
International Student & Scholar Services Office early and
often, as regulations may change
Cultural Differences in the Job
Search
| United Stated Employment Expectations | International Employment Expectations |
Punctuality is important. Arrive 15 minutes prior to an
interview and arrive to work on time each day. | Personal relationships may be more important than time. |
Eye contact is expected - it shows confidence and honesty. | Eye contact may be disrespectful. |
You must confidently discuss your accomplishments, strengths,
skills and interests relevant to the position. | Discussing your accomplishments and skills may be seen as too
boastful. |
Research the organization and industry prior to an interview. Be
ready to discuss your knowledge about the organization | Discussing what you know about the company may be seen as too
forward or independent. |
Appearance is important - both men and women must wear a
business suit to the interview and dress appropriately once
hired. | Appearance may not be as important as skills or expertise. |
Job seekers must use a variety of techniques (networking,
Internet, University Career Services, classified ads, etc.) to find
employment opportunities. | Often rely on family or government to secure employment. |
Preparation for the Job Search
The key to gaining work experience in the United States is to PLAN
AHEAD!
Communication Skills
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are at
the top of the list of employer expectations. You should be fluent
in English, as you will be expected to communicate clearly with
your co-workers, clients and supervisors. To strengthen your
communication skills, speak English as often as possible - in your
home, with your friends and at your job. Take a public speaking
class to develop your presentation skills and read newspapers on a
regular basis.
Unique Skills
Since many employers are reluctant to interview or hire
international students, you must be able to confidently discuss
your strengths and skills and how they will benefit the
industry/company. You can start by learning anything and everything
about your industry and the companies to which you will apply. Find
out what skills and qualities are in demand and decide if and how
you have developed these same skills and qualities.
Focus on your bilingual abilities, unique cultural background,
knowledge of overseas economies and business practices and
adaptability to new environments and cultures. This self-knowledge
will make a lasting impression on an employer.
Resume
This will be the first evidence of your written communication
skills. Make sure your resume is well written, reflects your
accomplishments and has perfect grammar and spelling. Some tips
include:
Provide more details on foreign companies you worked for and
foreign schools attendedi.e. How large was the company? What do
they do? What is the company's products or services? How large was
your school?
- Emphasize your strong English skills
- Review how to construct a Resume
- Learn how to write effective job search correspondence.
- Meet with a Career
Advisor for a resume and cover letter critique
Interviewing Skills
The job interview will be your first opportunity for an employer
to witness your verbal communication skills. Practice your
interviewing skills in a mock interview so you make a great first
impression.
- Practice your eye contact and handshake
- Express your skills confidently
- Use examples of your accomplishments and how you developed your
skills.
- Review additional Interviewing
Skills
The Job Search Process
Networking
Of all jobs available at a given time, only approximately 20%
are ever advertised. The remaining 80% are found through
networking. Make sure you understand this process and use it daily,
beginning many months before you want to start working.
Networking is reaching out to friends, family, classmates,
faculty, co-workers and anyone with whom you come in contact to
gather information about industries, companies and
opportunities. Networking is asking for information and
advice, not a job.
The University Career Services has networking workshops
to help prepare you to use this very important job search
method. Click here to read more about networking.
Obtaining an Internship
Internships help you gain valuable work experience related to
your field of study and introduce you to American employers. If you
make a great impression on an employer during this experience, your
supervisor may be more willing to hire you full-time once you
graduate.
- Paid internships do count toward your Optional Practical
Training.
- Be sure to contact International Student & Scholar Services
Office to apply for OPT several weeks before you start your
internship
- Learn more about the University Career Service's employment
programs
Additional Tips and
Techniques
Searching for a job is a time consuming task. In addition to the
methods discussed above, there are several job search
methods that should also be used for the most effective
results.
- Utilize your embassy located here in the U.S.
- Review related MBA/MS web resources (coming soon)
- Concentrate on employers who have offices, plants, subsidiaries
or sales forces in your home country.
- Use resources in the University
Library - conduct a search for "international employment"
- Use the University Career Services library
Disclosing Your Visa Status
Employers have a high regard for honesty so you will want to
discuss your visa status with them at some point in the job search
process, but when is the best time?
Opinions vary, but we feel it is best to discuss your status
after you have had the chance to make a positive impression on the
employer. This could be at the end of the first interview or during
the second interview.
Before an interview, be sure you are comfortable discussing your
Optional Practical Training as well as H-1B options. This will be
your only opportunity to convince the employer that you are a great
match for the position and that sponsorship is a simple
process.