An International Student's Perspective

BY ANDY BYUN

February is filled with career fairs. As an international student, you might feel overwhelmed when it comes to employment in the United States. I had an opportunity to speak with the International Career Consultant at the Career Services Administration about tips on navigating the career fair season as an international student.

BEFORE THE CAREER FAIR

Work on building your resume to stand out to recruiters. It is important to seek experiences that will help you prepare for an internship or career post-graduation (both in the U.S. or another country). Student groups, on-campus jobs, volunteer opportunities and research are all great starting points.

Also, review a few potential jobs that you are interested in, and pay close attention to keywords that frequently come up in the job description. Obtaining experiences that develop soft and technical skills explicitly mentioned in job descriptions will help your resume stand out. Additionally, highlight your language capabilities, but make sure to put English on top of your list if you’re applying for positions where English is the primary language.

The International Career Consultant offers approximately eight workshops and events per semester in collaboration with the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), College Career Centers, among others.

One of the main events is the international student career fair preparation workshop. The next workshop is on Friday, February 21 from 3 - 4 p.m. in Bruininks Hall, room 420B. The career counselors will tell you what to expect at the career fair, how to polish your resume, and more.

The ISSS advisors will also teach you more about work authorization including Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT), and to provide cultural support. You can find a list of upcoming events and workshops on the side of this article.

Take some time to visit both the career counselors and the ISSS advisors in-person. Visit career.umn.edu/international-students for more information such as how to look for jobs both in and out of the U.S.

DURING THE CAREER FAIR

When you are at the career fair, make sure to share with the recruiters your skills, experiences and enthusiasm. Many times, work authorization, visa status and sponsorship can be discussed in detail after the fair.

Be confident and ready to engage in conversations with the recruiters to learn more about the company and the position. It will be your chance to make a positive first impression on the employer. Ask for the contact information of the recruiter so you can send them a brief thank-you email to follow-up.

AFTER THE CAREER FAIR

The time has come. You are prepared to apply to the position you expressed interest in. In the application, you will encounter two questions asking about your work authorization and visa sponsorship. These questions are complex. When asked about these questions, the International Career Consultant said, “this question can seem challenging, so we advise students to consider and understand the employer’s perspective throughout the job application and interview process. It also can vary depending on if you’re applying to an internship, or for a position after graduation.”

As an international student, you should say “yes” to both questions if it is a position regarding OPT. Although you might not need or want sponsorship immediately, you may need sponsorship to continue working after your OPT period ends. Students can get support from ISSS to help understand these questions better.

These questions might feel like a barrier to your employment in the U.S. If this is the case for you, take a look at what the International Career Consultant has to say, “to break through the barriers that this question may cause, we advise students to make the most of opportunities to make an in-person impression on employers. This can be done through career fairs, but should not be limited to those events. Students can also connect with employers through events and information sessions hosted on and off-campus (see GoldPASS, LinkedIn, Eventbrite), and through LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals.”

If you make progress and get a chance to have an on-site interview, this is the time to address your status as an international student if it has not come up previously. You can find guidelines for answering common employer questions about sponsorship through the U.S. Job Search section of career.umn.edu/international-students.

Practice advocating for yourself and highlighting your strengths. Focus on securing the opportunity first and work hard to make solid impressions on your employer. Getting sponsorship is not a one-step deal, so it may take time to obtain it.

Now you are ready to tackle the career fair! Attend all the workshops and events and visit Career Services to receive further assistance with your career development.