The American Job Search – Special Topics for

International Students

Holly M. JusticeEngineering Career Counselor

259 Capen Hall

To get a copy of this PowerPoint presentation

Go to:www.slideshare.net

Search “American Job Search”

3

Overview• Challenges International Students Face in

Today’s U.S. Job Market• Special issues and resources for

International students• UB Career Services Office & Resources• Preparing for the Internship / Job Search• Internship / Job Search Strategies &

Resources

Challenges International Students Face in Today’s U.S. Job Market

Challenges International Students Face in Today’s U.S. Job

Market• Slow economic recovery• Employers’ “fear” of immigration

regulations• Insufficient knowledge of US culture

and US work-related customs and employer expectations

Slow Economic Recovery from the 2008 economic recession

• The US economy is getting much stronger although some employers are still taking a “wait and see” attitude– This has also led to employers doing more “just

in time” hiring.*

• Some employers prefer to re-hire laid-off or experienced workers already familiar with work/projects to reduce training costs

• Different regions of the US experiencing recovery at different rates

Employers’ “Fear” of Immigration Regulations

• The majority of employers have had little or no experience with immigration and other federal regulations affecting international candidates in the US workplace

• H-1 Visa Status has become highly politicized in the last decade

9

☞It is illegal for employers to make interview or hiring decisions based on a person’s national origin, citizenship, age, religion, gender, race or disability (and sometimes sexual orientation.)

☞However, it is legal for a US employer to not interview or consider for hire any person who is not authorized to work indefinitely in the US

☞Some employers may only consider US citizens

International Student’s Insufficient Knowledge of US

Work-related Customs & Employer Expectations

• It is the applicant’s responsibility to acquaint him/herself with what US employers expect!

• US employers, for the most part, expect international students to adjust to the corporate culture, as opposed to the corporation adjusting to the new employee’s culture (at least at first)

Quiz question

ANSWER:After completing one academic

year (two semesters) of study at a US institution.

QUIZ:WHEN can an international student begin

working off campus at their internship using their CPT work authorization?

Special issues and resources for International students

Special Issues• Using Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

and Optional Practical Training (OPT)• The “OPT Extension” • Finding companies willing to Sponsor for

H-1B Visa • The H-1B Visa “cap”• Employment “Contracts” • Student perspective vs. Employer

perspective

Special Issues• Using Curricular Practical Training

(CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT)– CPT for internships. Must register for

academic credit. May only use while in school.

– OPT may be used for internships and full time employment. May be used during school and after graduation. (Most students will save their OPT for after graduation!)

Special Issues• The “OPT Extension”– OPT 12 months + OPT Extension 17

months = 29 months of OPT.

What are the eligibility requirements for the 17-month extension of post-completion OPT?

• The student must have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree in a STEM field.

• The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. (A Federal government program.)

• The student must apply on time (at least 90 days before the current post-completion OPT expires).

Special Issues• Finding companies willing to Sponsor for

H-1B Visa – May not work for the US Federal government or

Department of Defense (DoD) Contractors – Companies who have sponsored in the past

understand the process and may consider sponsoring again

– YOU must be able to explain the sponsorship process to a company who has never sponsored before.• You must understand the visa & paperwork

process – When reviewing Job Fairs make note which

employers agreed to sponsor

Resources • Finding companies willing to Sponsor for

H-1B Visa continued– Review the H-1B visa database from the

Department of Labor. (Free) • Find this on the UB Career Services website in the

BullsEye system.

– http://www.myvisajobs.com/ (Free and $$$)– http://www.h1visajobs.com/ ($$$)– http://www.h1base.com/ ($$$)– http://www.workpermit.com/ – http://www.path2usa.com/ ($$$)

Special Issues• The H-1B Visa “cap”*– There are 65,000 H-1B visas available

each year– The past few years their has been twice

the number of applicants (~130,000 applicants) • A lottery system is used to determine which

applicants are awarded a H-1B work visa

Special Issues • Employment “Contracts” – Employment contracts are legal and

appropriate in the United States – *Caution* - have a lawyer review your

documents before you sign to clarify and verify your commitments and obligations!

• Resource• As a UB student you have access to free legal

services through the Student Association • SBI Legal Assistance, 377 Student Union• 716-645-3056• http://subboard.com/legal/

Special Issues Int’l Student Perspective (Plan)

• “I just want to work in the US for 1-2 years then go home.”

• “The US work experience will be very beneficial to my candidacy for a job when I go back home.”

• “I’ll just use my OPT and the employer doesn’t have to sponsor me!”

• “This will work great for everyone!”

Employer Perspective (Plan)

• “I want to hire an entry-level candidate and have them stay and grow in my company.”

• “The 1st + 2nd year will be lots of training, leadership development and mentorship.”

• “The next 3-5 years the employee will be a major contributor and will advance in my company!”

UB Career Services

Resources

Career Services Resources• Individual Career Counseling• Express Career Consult*• Workshops & Seminars • Practice Interviews • On-Campus Recruiting • Career & Job Fairs* (http://ub-careers.buffalo.edu)• Connection (Networking) events with alumni

and employers - Career Conversation events • Resume & Cover letter critiques• Career Library • Career Services Website • UB Mentor Program on Linkedin.com

Individual Career Counseling• Discuss academic major selection • Resume creation & critique • Cover letter creation & critique• Linkedin profile creation & critique• Internship & Job search strategies

– Making connections

• Preparing for an interview • Strategies for Career Fairs• Post graduation plans

– Job Market– Graduate School – Volunteer / Service – Other

Express Career Consult • One on one meeting• 20 minute same day

appointment• Monday – Friday 11:00-4:00• Call 716-645-2231 or walk-

in to the office (259 Capen Hall) to make an appt.

• Great for resume reviews, cover letter reviews, Linkedin Profile reviews, salary questions, etc…

Individual Career Counseling- Practice Interviews

• Make an appointment for a practice interview

• A Career Counselor will ask you interview questions while you are being videotaped.

• Then you and the Career Counselor will review the tape together to identify areas of improvement.

Practice Interview New Tool:*Interview Stream*

• Online tool to practice interviewing • 7,000 interview questions available,

in specialized categories including Job Fair Preparation, Engineering, Nursing, Business, etc..

• Access through UB Career Services BullsEye system

Career Fairs

Where is theUB Career Services office

located?

(Raise your Hand! )

Quiz question!

259 Capen Hall

(Behind Student Response Center)

ANSWER

Preparing for the Internship / Job Search

Preparing for the Internship / Job Search

• Professional Materials– Resume, Cover letter

• Research your industry and employers• Increasing your competiveness in the

employment market– Get experience!– Develop your Network of contacts!

• Technical Interview Skills

What Employers Have Said They Seek:• Good Communication Skills –

Oral and Written!*• EXPERIENCE! (Co-op/Internship, related experience)• Technical Knowledge & Skills• GPA• Evidence of Team Work• Time Management Skills• Problem-solving Skills• Enthusiasm• Flexibility• Being able to apply what you’ve

learned • Ethical decision making

Internship / Job Search Strategies and Resources

The Internship / Job searchmay seem very challenging…

Search Strategies • Find Opportunities • Target Companies

NETWORKING…

Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunities• UB Career Services Website / BullsEye system

– Internships posted & On-Campus Interviewing– Additional Specific Job Search Engines– Professional Association websites– Career Fairs

• Career Fairs at other universities

• Resources listing internships –books & online– Books: Internships by Petersons, Vault Guide to Top

Internships– www.internships.com

Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunitiescontinued

• Commercial Websites– Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, hound.com– collegerecruiter.com, collegegrad.com,

aftercollege.com, craigslist.com– Engineeringjobs.net, core77.com – Indeed.com, simplyhired.com,

• Specific sites / companies you know– www.employflorida.com

• What about Recruiters/Headhunters/Staffing Agencies?*

Search Strategy 2:Targeting Companies

• Identify companies and create a target list of companies to pursue.–Review their website• if they currently have openings – Apply! • If no current opening - Submit your

resume to their database anyway.

Search Strategy 2: Targeting Companies continued*

Resources to Identify companies:• Your “professional” network of Faculty, Staff,

friends, family, acquaintances… • UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program• UB Career Services – “CareerSearch” tool• For International Candidates – H-1B visa database

– Try www.myvisajobs.com

• Professional Associations• Internet – Google, vault.com…• www.Linkedin.com

Search Strategy 3: Networking

NETWORKING

NETWORKING• Getting noticed by a potential employer

through someone that the employer already knows and trusts.

• Employers use networking to recruit.• Don’t look for a job, look to meet people

who need your help.• Network by “Industry”

Search Strategy 3: Networking • UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program

(Bullseye)• Family, friends, friends of friends, etc.• Professors, guest lecturers • Professional Associations• Alumni Association• www.Linkedin.com – University at Buffalo Mentor Program Linkedin

group• You already know someone who knows

someone who may know about a job opportunity…

46

Search Strategy 3: Networking

• www.Linkedin.com Groups– UB Mentor Program (hosted by UB Career

Services)– University at Buffalo (Name of your Department)

• Example: University at Buffalo Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering

– University at Buffalo Engineering and Applied Sciences

– University at Buffalo Alumni Association

NETWORKING

How to get started…

Take at least one “action” a day.

Getting started…• Establish rapport or commonality– Ex. friend of a friend, alumni from same

institution, hobby, sport, volunteering, etc• Ask to follow up later– Be clear about what you’re asking for– Collect business cards– Leave the ball in your court

• Types of follow-up– Meeting in person (most effective)– Speaking via phone (effective)– Email exchanges (effective)

What to say• Prepare a “30-second commercial”,

also called the “elevator pitch”• Should contain:– Your name– Educational background– Summary of skills, experience,

strengths– Explanation of immediate goals– A question to keep the conversation

going.

NETWORKING TIPS & TECHNIQUES

• Be specific about your goals• Ask how they got started• Ask if there are any projects/special events

coming up that you can help with.• Do class projects that can put you in

contact with a potential contact/company.• Get involved with a student club and do a

project or volunteer to coordinate activities that involve contacting employers!

• Combine two seemingly diverse areas of interest in your life*

Think long-term

• Does this process seem like a lot of effort? - It can be.

• It’s never too early to start

• Don’t give up too soon• You’ll improve your

networking skills the more you practice them!

Search Strategies • Find

Opportunities • Target

Companies

NETWORKING…

ub-careers.buffalo.edu

Career Services Website

www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

Using the BullsEye System in the Career Services website

www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

59

60

61

62

BullsEye

JobsEvents

Employer Information Session

64

65

Career Coaching Days Tuesday, September 23

& Wednesday, September 24

11:00 am-4:00 pm

Career Services office 259 Capen Hall

To get a copy of this PowerPoint presentation

Go to:www.slideshare.net

Search “American Job Search”

76

Contact Career Services• Contact us:– 259 Capen Hall 8:30am – 5:00pm M-F – Call 716-645-2231 to schedule an

appointment– Email us at jobs@buffalo.edu

• Website resources – www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

• Individualized appointments • Express Career Consult appointments– Hours M-F 11:00am-4:00pm

GOOD LUCK!

Thank you for your time.

Holly M. JusticeEngineering Career Counselor

Career Services 259 Capen Hall