International Student Careers - Advice for the international student job search

MBA internships for international students: a timeline

Nicolle on June 20, 2018

internships for international students

It’s summer time which means incoming international MBA are already preparing for their big international adventure. As an MBA, that adventure includes landing a US internship to get US work experience. The MBA internship search is a competitive process, combining equal parts strategy, creativity, and luck. It’s unlike anything you’ve experience before.

Each year international MBA students succeed in finding their ideal internship in the US. Successful international MBA students start early. They build relationships with everyone, from their career services offices, to campus clubs, to employers who visit campus. They learn everything they can about how to search for internships in the US.

Finding your dream internship requires more than a good resume or attending a good school. You must learn about CPT, practice networking skills, and find the companies that offer internships for international students. At the MBA level, international students are expected to match the level of preparation and professionalism of their American peers have developed over a lifetime.

Developing a process and checklist makes the internship search for international students a little bit easier. After all, moving to a new country is full of unknowns. This timeline is designed to take the mystery out of the MBA internship search process. It will keep you organized and on track so you don’t wait until April to start your CPT internship search. This timeline is aggressive because the MBA job search is competitive.

Get a job in fintech at one of these leading fintech companies around the world

Nicolle on May 19, 2018

This is the second in the series Work Abroad Adventures, a comprehensive look at global work opportunities for ambitious international students.

For new international MBA students studying in the US it’s tempting to look at Wall Street as the go-to option for MBA finance jobs. But with H-1B making employers nervous and no guarantee of H-1B sponsorship, international MBA students should consider opportunities outside the US for opportunities.

Thankfully there are plenty of options for international finance students across the globe. The fintech sector has upended traditional banking systems and companies all over the world in the past five years. Global investment in the fintech sector topped $31 billion USD in 2017. Even JP Morgan, the employer of choice for future investment bankers, invested $9.5 billion in technology in 2016.

Translation: there’s money to be made and plenty of jobs at the cutting edge of finance and technology.

Frustrated with the H-1B situation? Search for tech jobs in these global startup cities instead

Nicolle on May 2, 2018

This is the first in the series Work Abroad Adventures, a comprehensive look at global work opportunities for ambitious international students.

International students studying in the US bring talented, cutting edge skills to the American workforce. The trouble is that most American employers don’t hire international students. Finding companies that sponsor international students is a long, frustrating process for students. Employers are nervous to hire H-1B visa workers. Rejection is common.

Luckily there are plenty of other opportunities outside the US for talented international students interested in tech jobs abroad. Some countries, like Chile, are investing in their startup hubs and attracting foreign talent. Others, like Canada, are developing new visa paths to make work authorization easier to obtain for foreign workers.

If you’re feeling rejected by employers in the US job search then it might be time to expand your search. After all you’re at the start of an international career that has already taken you across one border. So if you have tech skills, an interest in global start up ecosystems, and the energy to work in a startup environment, here are six cities to consider.

Study in the US: 4 Career Questions International Students Should Ask Admissions

Nicolle on April 10, 2018

If you are interested in studying in the USA you are already planning for a global career. Many international students study in the US to get experience working in US companies. When you study as an international student you have the opportunity to participate in internships. Internships for international students are a strong foundation for an international career.

As you explore your list of universities in the USA for international students, pay attention to how those schools prepare you for a career. Start by creating a list of questions to ask your university admissions representatives about career help for international students. Below are four questions to help you learn how American universities help international students achieve their career goals.

The US cities with the most H1B jobs

Nicolle on April 9, 2018

Looking for H1B jobs is stressful. It’s not as simple as typing “h1b visa sponsorship available” into Google and H1B news and updates aren’t always clear. American companies are complicated. Not all US companies offer H1B sponsorship. Even if you companies that sponsor H1B, they won’t sponsor for every position. Even Amazon, a company that many F1 visa students apply to because they sponsor H1B, doesn’t sponsor for every job. You are more likely to get an H1B sponsorship for a data scientist or software engineer job than a social media coordinator.

Despite the fact that it’s getting harder for international students to get sponsored, there are still plenty of companies who are willing to sponsor international students. This week in H1B news it was announced that the 2018/19 H1B processing hit it’s annual cap, which happens when H-1B applications exceeded the available number of H1B visas. That means the decision of who gets an H1B will be determined by luck (unlike in Canada where the visa process is decided by merit). But here is the good news: all of these applications are backed by a company that is willing to hire a talented international candidate. So even though it feels like companies aren’t hiring H1B students, they still are. They’re just very hard to find. And you have to be an exceptional candidate to get hired.

How to get a job at Google, Amazon, Airbnb, Tesla, or Facebook

Nicolle on March 21, 2018

What does Google look for when hiring? Four things: General cognitive ability . . . Not just raw [intelligence] but the ability to absorb information. Emergent leadership: The idea there being that when you see a problem, you step in and try to address it. Then you step out when you’re no longer needed. That willingness to give up power is really important. Cultural fit: We call it Googleyness, but it boils down to intellectual humility. You don’t have to be warm or fuzzy. You just have to be somebody who, when the facts show you’re wrong, can say that. Expertise in the job we’re gonna hire you for. – Lazlo Bock, former Google Head of People Operations, Fast Co, Tips for Getting a Job at Facebook, Google, Snapchat and More

Google. Amazon. Facebook. Tesla. These are the top companies in the U.S. They are giant. They inspire students with dream jobs.

How to build an international job search strategy

Nicolle on February 21, 2018

When you study in the US you are at the start of an international career. Your international job search begins the minute you step on campus. You have access to resources and people to explore worldwide opportunities from entry level international jobs to high tech jobs in top companies. While you might be focused on how to get a job in the US after graduation it’s smart to pay attention to opportunities outside the US. It’s getting harder for international students to find work in the US. H-1B jobs aren’t guaranteed even if you find companies that sponsor international students. Understanding global hiring trends, exploring international job search engines, and knowing how to get hired in countries outside the US (like Canada!), will make you a more successful international job seeker.

Research and communication are the foundation of your international job search. Here’s how to build an international job search strategy while still searching for jobs in the US.

The H-1B Job Search Package: Helping international students find jobs

Nicolle on February 15, 2018

The job market for international students is competitive. There is no easy route to finding jobs for international students after graduation. Even STEM graduates who looking for OPT jobs and are in demand among companies that sponsor international students, struggle to find opportunities. Finding H-1B jobs for international students after MS requires research, training, and good timing.

Luckily there’s a bit of help for international students who want to work in the US. GlobalMe School, the online platform for global career training, just released the H-1B Job Search Package. (note: International Student Careers is owned by GlobalMe School).

The American CV: Understanding the US resume for international students

Nicolle on February 2, 2018

Adapting your CV to the US resume format is bit of a puzzle. American employers want short resumes, action verbs, and results. If you’ve never written an American CV the process can feel frustrating.

Resume writing is a learned skill. Nobody starts out knowing how to write a perfect resume. American students spend hours learning how to write a resume that shows off their professional experience. As an international student, it takes longer to get resumes right because resumes differ by culture. In some countries it is ok to include a photo, religion, marital status, and birth date. Unfortunately, American employers will not read your resume if you include those details. Resumes are shorter, action-oriented (they want to see results over academics), and error-free.

To find a job in the US, you need to avoid common resume mistakes. Here are the top resume mistakes to avoid as an international student writing your first American CV.

3 email newsletters every international MBA student needs in their inbox

Nicolle on February 2, 2018

The life of an international MBA student studying in the US is chaotic. Between coursework, employer visits, casing prep, resume rewrites, networking, club activities, exams, group projects, and social events, the MBA student life happens at a fast pace. Add to that the cultural experience of navigating life in a foreign country and working in a second or third language, and it’s easy to see why finding time for anything outside of those essential activities is a challenge.

So keeping up to date with news and events beyond MBA life is tough. As a busy student you probably ignore 98% of the email newsletters you get in a day. But there are three email newsletters that shouldn’t be ignored. They are packed with the information that will help you stand out to American employers. They’ll improve your conversational skills because you’ll have ideas to share and opinions on your target industry.