Jobs and Careers Hat
It can be hard for international students to find jobs in the U.S., but if you break it down into steps, it becomes a lot easier. Here are some things I've learned and done in real life:
What CPT, OPT, and STEM OPT Are
CPT, or Curricular Practical Training, lets you work in a job related to your major while you study. This is often through internships or part-time jobs. A classmate of mine got a CPT internship at a startup over the summer. It gave her real-world experience and helped her get a job with OPT later.
Optional Practical Training (OPT): You can work for up to 12 months after you graduate. I knew a student who had several job offers, but he had to be careful about when his OPT started so he could make the most of the whole year.
STEM OPT Extension: If you're a STEM major and meet the requirements, you can get an extra 24 months of OPT, for a total of 36 months. A computer science friend used STEM OPT to stay at the same job while waiting for the H1B lottery results.
Tips for your resume and LinkedIn
Resumes in the U.S. are one page long, focus on achievements, and use metrics to show how they had an impact. I had to start over from scratch. My first version listed duties, but career services helped me change them into "achievements" with results.
LinkedIn is very important because recruiters look at profiles all the time. I started getting messages from recruiters I hadn't even applied to when I added specific keywords like "Product Management Intern" and "SQL."
How to Find Jobs on Campus
While you're in school, the easiest legal job is one that you can do on campus, like working in a library, dining hall, lab, or as an assistant. I worked at the library's circulation desk. It helped me pay my bills and gave me a quiet place to study between shifts.
How to Stand Out at Networking and Career Fairs
Career fairs can be overwhelming, but it's important to get ready:
Look into companies ahead of time.
Make a 30-second "elevator pitch."
Bring more than one printed resume.
I was nervous and just handed out resumes at my first career fair. By the second one, I introduced myself with a quick pitch and asked recruiters about what they were working on right now. This led to real conversations and interviews.
Getting ready for U.S.-style interviews
Interviews focus on behavioral questions like "Tell me about a time..." and how well you fit in with the company culture. When I was asked, "Tell me about a challenge you faced," I froze in my first interview. I felt a lot better after practicing the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Later, I even got good feedback that my structured answers stood out.
To do well as an international student, you need to plan ahead, use campus resources, and learn how to present yourself the American way in person, on paper, and online.
