Job Search Strategies for

International Students

Career Management

ServicesPrese

nted

by

Dona

Gayn

or

TOPICS COVERED

0 Self Assessment

0 Research & Exploration

0 Material Preparation

0 Search & Application Strategies

0 How to Plan & Conduct a Job Search

0 Issues Facing International Students

SELF ASSESSMENT

0 Values

0 Interests

0 Skills

0 Accomplishments

0 Experience

0 Goals

Identify Your:

RESEARCH & EXPLORE

0 Conduct Informational Interviews0 Professional Associations0 Professors0 Professionals in the field

0 Research the Job Market0 Where are the jobs?0 Who is hiring?0 What career fields are in demand?0 What qualifications are needed?

(certificates, education, etc)

0 Begin Targeting Potential Employers

RESEARCH ONLINE RESOURCES

0 Career Services0 http://fit.experience.com

0 Employers that recruit at Florida Institute of Technology, can be searched discipline locally and nationally

0 CareerShift0 www. careershift.com/?sc=fit

0 Search, select and store job listings from all job boards and all company job postings

0 MyVisaJobs0 www.myvisajobs.com

0 Search for companies that have sponsored international candidates in the past

0 My Perfect Gig0 www.mpgbeta.com

0 Unique application that links engineering and technology companies’ jobs requisitions and needs to your skills and availability.

PREPARATIONS & MATERIALS

0 Résumé, Cover Letter, Transcripts, etc0 Target to position and industry

0 References0 Past Employers0 Professors/Instructors0 Volunteer Associations

0 Interview Skills0 Participate in mock interviews possible0 Practice answering interview questions

SELL YOURSELF0 Develop Marketing & Conversational Skills

0 Networking, presentations, interview, etc0 Practice English communications skills if that is a weakness for you

0 Professional Interview Attire0 Suit, slacks, shoes, accessories, etc0 Prepare for several options since you might have second & third interviews

0 Professional Voicemail and Email0 Professional Voicemail message

0 No nicknames0 No ring back tones0 No joke voicemail

0 Email address should be professional0 Use school email address0 If using another account no hotstuff951, create one with name and initials

NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

0Develop a Career NetworkThe Hidden Job Market

0Assess Current Network0 Parents0 Relatives0 Friends (Parents of Friends)

0Tell them that you are looking for a job and ask for their assistance

WHO IS IN YOUR NETWORK?

0 Professors

0 Administrators

0 Graduate Students

0 Alumni

0 Supervisors from previous jobs

0 Members of your Professional Associations

0 Friends

0 Relatives

0 Community Contacts

EFFECTIVE NETWORKING

0 Making New Contacts or Cold Calling0 Contact by phone or email first0 Mention mutual acquaintances early on

0 Prepare What You Want to Say0 Prepare a script of what you are going to say in advance0 Proofread email messages and be sure to use proper spelling and

grammar (if you need help ask for assistance)

0 Successful Contact0 Be prepared to concisely discuss your qualifications and what you

expect from this contact

0 Schedule a Meeting0 Informational interview or personal meeting0 Only need 20-30 minutes of their time

EFFECTIVE NETWORKING

0 Do NOT ask for a job during the first conversation0 Ask for career information0 Look for advice in your advice in your job

search

0 Manners go a long way0 Say “Please”, “Thank you”, “I

appreciate…” and “It was nice of you.”

0 Always follow up on successful contacts0 Be sure to thank them for their assistance

EFFECTIVE NETWORKING

0 Utilize professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn to find new contacts

0 Participate in professional discussions on LinkedIn and comment professionally on topics

0 Post discussions about research or other related topics to show your knowledge and to make professionals aware of your background

0 Join groups related to your major or areas of professional interest

PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH

0 Commit Your Time0 A job search can be thought of as a full-time job0 Not an overnight process

0 Start the Process Early0 Especially research and preparation0 Don’t wait till last semester before graduation!

0 Job Search Tracking0 Create a spreadsheet or binder0 Keep correspondence, notes, list of contacts and applications0 Keep job descriptions of jobs you applied to. Some companies

take awhile to respond so make sure you have the job description on hand for later if they contact you.

CONDUCT YOUR JOB SEARCH

0 Pursue Advertised Jobs0 Experience – http://fit.experience.com0 CareerShift - www.careershift.com/?sc=fit0 Popular job listing websites

0 Career Builder- www.careerbuilder.com0 Monster- www.monster.com

0 Employer Websites0 Professional Association Websites0 Classified Ads – Most are online now0 LinkedIn0 Twitter

0 Follow the company to see if they post vacancies- many will

*** Do NOT blindly submit résumés, make the connection ***

CONDUCT YOUR JOB SEARCH

0Find the “Hidden” Jobs0 Utilize your career network contacts.

0Start early and they will know you well by the time you start applying.

0 Get pass the “Gatekeeper” and follow up with hiring managers when possible.

IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES

0 Target your resume to the job description0 Try to play up skills that will be applicable in the

position you are applying

0 Personalize your response as much as possible

0 Follow up with the hiring manager if possible0 Send an email or call the office0 Be polite!0 Don’t come across as desperate

MAXIMIZE ONLINE RESOURCES

0 Realize that most employers, especially large ones, will only accept résumés through online systems.

0 Target your résumé to their system and the openings they have available.

0 Use keywords whenever possible

0 Use online job listing sites to post your résumé but also to learn who is hiring.

0 Apply directly to the company whenever possible!

0 Do NOT get stuck in this trap: Avoiding employers with difficult recruitment processes.

MAXIMIZE ONLINE RESOURCES

0Protect your Privacy0 Be careful of posting your résumé and personal

information on job posting sites0 Read the site Privacy Policy

0Never give out your Social Security Number or any financial information on third party job posting sites

PROTECT YOUR REFERENCES PRIVACY

0Only disclose reference information when specifically requested by hiring employer

0Do NOT put their information on your résumé

0This will allow your to give your references a heads up when you are applying to positions

ISSUES FACING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

0Hiring Complexities 0Communication skills0Perceived lack of commitment to the

job0Animosity0Poor economic conditions0Federal regulations0Cultural Differences

HIRING COMPLEXITIES

0 Many employers do not understand the process involved in hiring an F-1 Visa student on OPT or CPT

0 Hiring someone on H-1B Visa requires complex paperwork and fees

0 U.S. government has limited the number of H-1B Visas issued to employers

0 Hiring a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident is faster, cheaper, and easier

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0 Understand and be knowledgeable about visa regulations. Become an expert on visa sponsorship and OPT/CPT – attend ISSS workshops.

0 Prepare to explain the sponsorship process to a prospective employer in an interview

0 Present the information in a way that is positive and simple

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

0Strong communication skills in English are a “must” for a successful job search in the United States

0Employers are concerned that an international student may not be able to communicate effectively in English with clients and internal personnel

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0 If necessary, improve your English communication skills

0 Enroll in elective communication classes, in addition to required classes

0 Socialize with American and English-speaking students to improve conversational English

0 Take opportunities to speak in public to practice speaking in front of groups

PERCEIVED LACK OF COMMITMENT

0Optional Practical Training only lasts one year

0Employers are not willing to invest time and money on an employee who will leave in one year

0Employers assume students will want to return home

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0 Focus on the positive aspects of Optional Practical Training – the employer has no obligation to keep you if it doesn’t work out

0 If you are STEM major, you can work longer than 12 months – be sure to inform the employer

0 An employee on an H-1B Visa can only work for that employer so there is less chance of turnover

0 Be prepared to present this to an employer during an interview

ANIMOSITY

0 In a very tough job market, some Americans (including employers) may feel that international students are “taking away jobs” from qualified Americans

0Some employers may still feel that international students of certain ethnic backgrounds may represent a “terrorist threat” and may have a bias towards those individuals

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0Focus your job search on employers with a diverse workforce that embraces people from different cultures

0Conduct research on company culture using blogs, social networking, or resources such as Wetfeet.com that provide this information

POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

0The job market is very difficult for everyone – even more so for international students

0Supply vs. Demand – there are many more job seekers out there than jobs

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0Study a major that is “in demand” such as computer science or software engineering

0Conduct research on current and future labor trends to make an informed decision on your major choice

0Consider jobs in geographic areas that are hiring and booming economically – North Dakota in the U.S. or countries such as Canada

FEDERAL REGULATIONS

0Certain Federal regulations prohibit companies from hiring individuals who are not permanent residents of the United States

0Some positions require a Security Clearance by federal law and it is very difficult and expensive if not impossible to conduct a Security Clearance on a non U.S. Citizen

OVERCOMING THIS OBSTACLE

0Understand these regulations and focus on employers who are not in these types of industries

CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

0 Job Search in the U.S.0 Self-reliance is emphasized 0 Career Services and other university offices provide career

assistance and resources but students are encouraged to use a variety of resources in their job search and to initiate contact with employers

0 Employers want candidates who take the initiative to apply and who appear interested in their company

0 Job Search in Other Cultures0 In some countries, students are “placed” in jobs or people find

jobs mainly through the government or family members0 In these situations, the student may take a passive role in the job

search and little effort is required

FINAL ADVICE0 Be Persistent

0 A successful job search takes a lot of hard work and time

0 Take Control of your Job Search0 You are the one ultimately responsible for your job search

0 Be Flexible!0 Do not create your own obstacles by developing job

search goals that cannot be met.

0 Stay Positive!0 A positive attitude is a must!

0My VisaJobs - http://www.myvisajobs.com/ 0 Search for companies that sponsor

international candidates for H-1B visas by location, occupation, or company

0 Use this resource to find employers that frequently sponsor international candidates and therefore might be open to hiring international students

RESOURCES

RESOURCES

0 International Student Services0 http://www.fit.edu/isss/employment/offcampus.

php

0 Required workshops and programs featuring legal experts providing information on OPT and CPT

0 OPT – for employment after you graduate0 CPT – for employment while enrolled and only

for major-related jobs or internships/co-ops0 Information is also provided for employers so

you can refer them to this site for information

OUR SERVICES0 Experience: Part-time and Full-time job postings

0 Resume & Cover Letter Critiques

0 Internships & Co-op

0 ProTrack

0 Federal Work-Study

0 Florida Work Experience

0 Career Workshops

0 Career Fair and Employer Day

0 Mock Interviews

0 And much, much more!

QUESTIONS?

Connect to Career Management Services Today!

fit.experience.com

Florida Institute of Technology- Career Management Services

@panthercareer

Florida Tech Career Management Services