Friday Feb 6, 2004h1visajobs.com1 Practical Job Search Strategies for International Students Fred...

Friday Feb 6, 2004 h1visajobs.com 1

Practical Job Search Strategies for International Students

Fred (Prakash) Kollaram. BSEE, MSEE.

President h1visajobs.com

Towson University Towson, MD

6 February 2004

Exercise 1: Read Handouts.


Introduction of Speaker Originally from India. Naturalized US citizen. BSEE from India, MSEE from USA. F-1 OPT green card US citizenship. Software engineer/project manager (20+ yrs.). President h1visajobs.com. Immigration researcher / publisher. Sponsored professionals (H-1B, H-1A, green

card). Employed/sponsored students on F-1 OPT .


Students From CS/IT/MIS From Business From Engineering From other disciplines Current on OPT Will be on OPT in Spring 2004 Will be on OPT beyond Spring 2004


Job Search Is a Job Objective

- Know What You Want? Set Realistic Goals.

Look Within First - Self Assessment - Be honest

Look Outside - Myths - Illusions - Reality

Build Strategy – The How.- Be Proactive - Plan Ahead - Stay Focused


Objective?

Work on my F-1 OPT Work H-1B visa Green Card Return to home country


Self Assessment Already in the US (+) OPT in hand. Can immediately start

working (+) OPT not in hand (-) No industrial experience (-) US educated (+) Communication Skills (+)

(+) advantage (-) disadvantage


Reality. Hidden Job Market.

70% jobs filled without advertisements.

How jobs are created?- Resignation - Long leave - Promotion- New Projects - Busi. Expansion - Busi. Relocation

Who knows first?- Management - Employees - Business Associates


Reality. How Jobs get filled? Free & Comfort Zone.

1. Managers look for resumes on File2. Managers transfer/promote employees3. Employees respond to bulletin board postings4. Employees recommend people in their networks 5. Busi. associates recommend people in their networks

Fee $$ 6. Employee Referral Program ($1000)

Fee $$$$$$7. Advertisements ($3000+)

Key: Your resume must be with hiring manager while job opening is still hidden.


Reality. Why Hire You?

Companies hire int’l students for their own reasons.- Shortage (+) - unattractive location (+)- small company (+)- unattractive benefits package (+)- minority ownership (+) - low salary (+)- urgency (+)


Reality. Employer’s Limitations

No budget for “on the job training.” (-) Hiring for specific tasks. (-) Temporary need (+) Experience/Requirement dictated by

clients (-)


Reality More…

US economy (-) Competition (-) Cultural barriers (-) Offshore jobs shift (-) Educational loans back home

(+)


Strategy for Success

Uncover Hidden Job Market

Do networking – Share info with Students - If you are not selected in job interview. - If you do not like job opening. - After you join.

Do networking – Ask, follow-up - Professors - Friends - Relatives - Neighbors - Religious Gatherings


Exercise 2: Networking (2 Minutes)

List 10 people that you can network with.(Professors, classmates, friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.)

1._______________ 6. _______________

2. _______________ 7. _______________

3. _______________ 8. _______________

4. _______________ 9. _______________

5. _______________ 10. _______________


Strategy for Success (Continued). Already in the US (+)

Do - Focus on local employers

OPT in hand (+)

Sell - No paperwork needed Sell - You can start working right away

OPT not in hand (-)

Do: Get OPT in hand


Strategy for Success (Continued).

J-1 visa - home return restriction (-) Do - Obtain waiver.

J-1 visa - no home return restriction (+) Sell - No paperwork needed. Sell - You can start working right away.

No industrial experience (-) Do - Learn job opening/company’s line of business. Sell - Sell projects and thesis as experience. Sell - Independent study you have done.



US educated (+)

Sell: Towson is one of the best schools on the East Coast.

Sell: Done several advanced hands-on projects in …(employer’s area of interest)



Good English (+).

Sell: All my education has been in English. Sell: I did over 10 presentations in school to over

100 people. Sell: I possess good inter-personal skills. Sell: I possess excellent communication skills.

No one expects you to talk like an American



Learn why should a company hire/sponsor you? Comfort zone / Compatibility

Sell: Give personal assurances. Do: Focus on firms whose owners are from your country. Owner’s name? Do: Focus on companies that export to your country. Sites: http://www.imex.com/ http://www.world-exchange.biz/



Learn why should a company hire/sponsor you?Size / Location

Do: Focus on small companies- in your city (Baltimore) and

- surrounding small towns / rural areas. Do: Keep away from large cities (Chicago,

Atlanta, Denver, etc.).Be open to go anywhere – America is

beautiful.



Learn why should a company hire/sponsor you?Lower Salary Budget, Cannot find US citizens/permanent residents

Do: Accept lower (reasonable) salary unless you have other offers.Sell: I can start working right away.Sell: Looking for long term relationship.



Learn hiring decision layers.

Receiving clerk (mostly in large companies)

- filters out candidates not in “line of business.”

HR manager (mostly in large companies)

- filters out resumes with no buzz words.

Functional manager ***.

- selects dependable, compatible, competent.

Decision making manager ***

- selects candidate recommended by functional mgr.***Success = contact functional and decision mgrs directly

.


Exercise 3 (2 Minutes)Give 5 reasons why an employer “should” hire/sponsor

“you”. What makes you better than your competition?Do not list “I have a BS/MS Degree.”

1. __________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________

4. ___________________________________________

5. ___________________________________________


Resume Tips

Purpose of resume is to get an interview A selling instruments Should be concise, well laid out. No spelling or grammatical errors No more than 2 pages Clearly state your objective


Resume Tips (Continued)

State positive things; not negative. Emphasize on hands-on experience not on

courses taken. Use “verbs” – past tense:planned, analyzed, identified and prioritized tasks, sized work efforts, designed, implemented, experimented, measured, worked with instruments such as..., recorded, reported, negotiated, interacted with people, performed risk assessment, developed risk mitigation plans, presented

views to colleagues, evaluated alternative plans, etc., etc


Resume Tips (Continued) Reviewer has 10 seconds to determine if

he/she should move on to next resume. Bullets are easy/quick to read. Do not say:

- no experience - recent graduate- need sponsorship - will take any job- looking for job in … city only.


Exercise 4 – Transferable Skills (Take Home) Circle all your transferable skills.

Communication Skills:The skillful expression, transmission and interpretation of knowledge and ideas.

Words for

your resume

Speaking effectively Writing concisely Listening attentively Expressing ideas Facilitating group discussion Providing appropriate feedback Negotiating Persuading Reporting informationEditing


Exercise 4. Transferable Skills Continued)Circle all transferable skills you possess.

Research & Planning:The search for specific knowledge and the ability to conceptualize future needs and solutions for meeting those needs

Human RelationsThe search for specific knowledge and the ability to conceptualize future needs and solutions for meeting those needs.

Forecasting, predicting Creating ideas Identifying problems Imaging alternatives Identifying resourcesGathering information Solving problems Setting goals Extracting important information Defining needs Analyzing Developing evaluation strategies

Developing rapport Listening Conveying feelings Providing support for others Motivating Sharing credit Counseling Cooperating Delegating with respect Representing others Perceiving feelings, situations Asserting


Exercise 4. Transferable Skills Continued)Circle all transferable skills you possess.

Organization, Management & Leadership The ability to supervise, direct and guide individuals and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals

Work Survival: The day-to-day skills which assist in promoting effective production and work satisfaction.

Initiating new ideas Handling details Coordinating tasks Managing groups Delegating responsibility Teaching Coaching Promoting change Selling ideas or products Decision making with others Managing conflict

Implementing decisions Cooperating Enforcing policies Being punctual Managing time Attending to detail Meeting goals Enlisting help Accepting responsibility Setting and meeting deadlines Organizing Making decisions


Useful Resources

Handouts Visit http://www.h1visajobs.com Online Database of American Employers

for International Professionals. One-on-one counseling. Questions to: [email protected]


Q & A

Send your questions/comments to:[email protected].

All the best.

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