Selling  Yourself:  Interview  Strategies  for    the  Experienced  Interna6onal  Student        Elissa  Clemons,  University  of  Detroit  Mercy  

Overview  • Learn  strategies  for  a  successful  job  search  ▫  Resources  and  approaches  necessary  to:  ▫  Find  Employment  and  get  a  job  offer  ▫  Discussing  ImmigraEon  Status  � What  to  say  and  what  not  to  say?  

• Confidently  discussing  the  experience  and  the  skills  you  posses.  

• Tips  for  Interviewing  • Tips  for  Networking  • Take  Away    

As  the  world  becomes  smaller  with  the  globalizaEon  of  markets,  the  number  of  internaEonal  students  on  campuses  has  increased  throughout  the  U.S.  today.    

InternaEonal  students  seeking  employment  in  the  U.S.  have  unique  and  different  challenges.  

Two  major  obstacles:  

•  Employment  restricEons  imposed  by  U.S.  immigraEon  regulaEons;    

•  Cultural  differences  that  may  affect  a  student’s  ability  to  successfully  present  his  or  her  qualificaEons  to  an  employer.  

Employment  RestricEons:  

•  Understand  your  Visa  status    

•  Become  knowledgeable  on  CPT,  OPT  and  H1B  Visa  status  

Employers’  hiring  preferences  relaEve  to  experience,  by  percent  of  respondents  Hiring  Preference   2013   2012   2011  I  prefer  to  hire  candidates  with  relevant  work  experience  

70.1%   73.7%   72.4%  

I  prefer  to  hire  candidates  with  any  type  of  work  experience  (doesn’t  maZer  if  it’s  relevant  or  not,  just  some  type  of  experience)  

19.9%   17.5%   17.6%  

Work  experience  doesn’t  typically  factor  into  my  decision  when  hiring  a  new  college  graduate  

4.8%   5.1%   5.3%  

Other   4.3%   4.6%   4.7%  

Reprinted  from  Job  Outlook  2013,  with  permission  of  the  NaIonal  AssociaIon  of  Colleges  and  Employers,  copyright  holder.  

Preparing  for  the  Job  Search  

•  Determine  your  short-­‐  and  long-­‐term  goals    ▫  You  should  be  able  to  clearly  arEculate  your  career  goals  to  an  employer    

•  IdenEfy  PotenEal  Employers  ▫ Which  employers  hire  for  pracEcal  training  experience  or  full-­‐Eme  employment  ?  ▫  Companies/organizaEons    with  exisEng  relaEonship  with  your  home  country    

Skills  to  highlight  on  Resumes/Cover  LeZers  

As  a  student  studying  abroad  you  have  a  variety  of  skills  employers  are  seeking:  •  DeterminaEon,    •  Resourcefulness,    •  Flexibility,    •  Intercultural  competency,    •  The  ability  to  navigate  through  a  different  social  and  cultural  system,  etc.    

AbiliIes  Employers  Seek  on  a  Resume  –  Job  Outlook  2015  

AbiliIes     Percent  

Leadership   77.8%  

Ability  to  work  in  a  team   77.8%  

CommunicaEon  skills  (wriZen)   70.9%  

Problem-­‐Solving  skills   70.9%  

Strong  work  Ethic   70.4%  

AnalyEcal/quanEtaEve  skills   68.0%  

Technical  skills   67.5%  

CommunicaEon  skills  (verbal)   67.0%  

IniEaEve   66.5%  

Flexibility/adaptability   62.1%  

Source:  Job  Outlook  2015,  NaEonal  AssociaEon  of  Colleges  and  Employers    AddiEonal  aZributes  visit  www.naceweb.org/surveys/job-­‐outlook.aspx  

Data  for  the  Job  Outlook  2015  survey  was  collected  from  August  11,  2014  through  October  7,  2014.  A  total  of  260  surveys  were  returned  for  a  25%  response  rate.  

Interviewing  Tips  

As  an  internaEonal  student,  it  is  important  that  you  sell  your  unique  strengths  during  the  interview.    

•  Fluency  in  mulEple  languages  • Global/intercultural  competence  •  Adaptability  and  flexibility  •  Resourcefulness  • Willingness  and  ability  to  easily  relocate  (many  internaEonal  students  do  not  have  family  or  other  obligaEons  tying  them  down  to  a  geographic  area)  

Language  Skills  and  H1B  Status  

•  Language  Skills  ▫  Listening  and  speaking  skills  are  of  parEcular  importance  during  the  interview  process.    ▫  Seek  out  opportuniEes  to  pracEce  your  English  language  skills  

    •  H1B  Status  ▫  Do  not  immediately  as  for  Sponsorship  ▫  Employers  can  ask  “Are  you  eligible  to  legally  work  in  the  U.S.?”  ▫  Do  not  let  your  visa  status  be  the  focus  of  the  interview.  

Networking  Tips  

It  is  omen  reported  that  60%  to  80%  of  all  employment  opportuniEes  are  developed  through  networking.    

• What  is  Networking?  ▫  Networking  is  connecEng  with  people  and  creaEng  relaEonships,    ▫  an  effecEve  way  to  increase  your  chances  of  success  in  the  job  search;  ▫   an  opportunity  to  learn  more  about  your  field  of  interest  and  various  occupaEons  within  it,  ▫   as  well  as  specific  organizaEons,  which  may  help  you  in  choosing  a  career  path.    

Take  Away  •  Become  an  expert  on  the  Visa  and  HB1  process  •  Follow-­‐up  with  your  career  services  and    InternaEonal  Services  office  on  your  campus!  

•  Start  your  job  search  early!  •  IdenEfy  employers  who  have  hired  internaEonal  students  in  the  past!  

•  Be  confident  when  arEculaEng  your  experience!  

•  PracEce  your  English  language  skills!  •  ParEcipate  in  pracEce  interviews!  • Work  with  the  career  services  office  on  your  campus!  

 

QuesEons  &  Answers  • Make  an  appointment  to  speak  with  your  career  services  office  for  individualized  assistance!  

Resources  • GoinGlobal  (check  with  your  career  services  office)  • My  Visa  Jobs    -­‐  hSp://www.myvisajobs.com/  •  Career  Services  Office  at  your  insEtuEon  •  InternaEonal  students  office  at  your  insEtuEon