International Student Careers - Page 2 of 4 - Advice for the international student job search

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.

Beyond the Profile: Four Reasons to Follow People on LinkedIn

Nicolle on January 22, 2018

If you’ve started your internship search, you’ve likely already heard this advice: LinkedIn is a must-use tool for your search. It’s incredibly useful for creating new professional contacts and being seen by the people who are hiring. It’s the tool you’ll use to find a contact who can provide an employee referral. Most students limit themselves to creating a profile and checking jobs. But you can do so much more.

Following people on LinkedIn is an easy way to improve your job search results. It gives you insider access and insights into the job search that you didn’t know you were missing. Here are four reasons international students like you should follow people on LinkedIn.

Identify in-demand skills for your resume

Nicolle on January 14, 2018

If you are an entry level job seeker or changing careers, you need to know the in-demand technical skills for the job you want.

Payscale.com is a research tool that helps you understand which skills are in-demand for the job you seek. Use this tool to:

Learn the vocabulary for your target role
Understand which skills are important for the role you want
Improve your competitiveness
Add keywords/skills to your resume and LinkedIn profile
Identify which skills you need to learn to be qualified for a role
Identify your skill gap and make a plan for getting the skills you need

Interview preparation: Understanding American interviews

Nicolle on January 8, 2018

Navigating American interviews is a large part of your internship search. Interviewing for an internship in a new country is a learning experience. As an international student American interviews are an opportunity to practice new communication and cultural skills. Interview preparation helps you plan what to say, how to act, and how to leave a good impression. Focus and preparation helps you succeed in your interview.

Start your interview preparation by understanding the American interview structure.

How to find jobs in Canada as an international graduate

Nicolle on January 7, 2018

Finding companies that sponsor F1 visa international students is going to get harder in 2018. While nobody knows for sure what will happen with H-1B, employers don’t like risk and uncertainty. It’s already difficult for international students who want to work in the US after graduation.

A lot of international students studying in the US are now looking at working in Canada as an option. Finding jobs in Canada as an international graduate similar to the US; you still need a job offer from a Canadian company. But the visa process is smoother and less restricted. There is no lottery process for the H-1B. Instead, they have a point allocation system. In places like Vancouver, they’ve introduced a Global Skills Strategy that fast tracks visas, some in as little as two weeks, for highly skilled technology workers.

If Canada interest you here are a few resources to help you get started if you are thinking about moving to Canada.

Informational interviews: How to email strangers

Nicolle on January 6, 2018

As an international student your job search requires a lot of informational interviews. Speaking with people inside of companies helps you understand American business culture. It also helps professionals learn about you. Informational interviewing is intimidating when you first do it. Emailing someone you don’t know to ask for their time without an introduction might feel uncomfortable. Fortunately with a bit of training you can get comfortable with it. You can learn to be successful at it. All you need is an email template and a bit of motivation.

Elevator pitch for international students: Create your story

Nicolle on January 3, 2018

Employers want to learn about you. They are curious about your background and interests. Most American students learn how to give an elevator pitch during their studies. An elevator pitch is a short, professional introduction to use at career fairs and interviews. Job seekers share their elevator pitch to help employers get to know them.

But…

Elevator pitches suck

GPA isn’t the most important part of your search

Nicolle on December 27, 2017

International students often focus on GPA in the job search. I hear a lot of questions like:

Does GPA matter for engineering jobs?

Do employers look at your GPA?

How important is GPA in the job search?

The truth is that GPA isn’t nearly as important in your job or internship search as you think. Companies that hire international students and sponsor h1b aren’t looking for a good GPA. They’re looking for experienced students with specific skills. Even entry level OPT jobs for students require more than just a GPA.

engineering companies that hire international students

Job Search Basics: Engineering jobs for International Students

Nicolle on December 23, 2017

Most international students studying in the US are in engineering programs. With a limited amount of companies sponsoring international students the search for engineering jobs is competitive. Most students start by searching for engineering companies that hire international students. But that’s not the only step. Engineering students need to learn how to differentiate themselves from other international student job seekers. Before you begin your engineering internship or job search get the basics.

Want to work in the US? Start hanging out with Americans

Nicolle on December 21, 2017

If you plan to work in the US during an internship or full time, you need to understand American culture. The classroom is a start. But that’s structured learning. You also need unstructured learning. This type of learning happens outside the classroom.

If you want to be hired by an American organization, you need to be comfortable interacting with Americans. Comfortable means more than speaking good English. It also means being able to engage in small talk. It means understanding humor, showing enthusiasm at appropriate times, respecting personal space and boundaries, learning about popular movies, music, tv shows, and other elements of American culture. Hanging out with Americans helps you learn the nuances of American culture. It allows you to interact, observe, learn, and try new things.