Job Searchfor International Students

Kelley School of BusinessIndiana University

Foreign National StudentsEmployment Options

Immigration

Practical Training

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Career Planning

Process that involves development of career goals and how to achieve them

Achieving goals in U.S. different from your home country

Highlight differences

Foreign Student Attitudes

Expect some career services

Pay same tuition which includes career services

Expect contacts and interviews

Placement Issuesof Foreign Nationals

Changing enrollment trends Legal employment rights confusion by

students and employers Security concerns

Employment Realities

The Truth is Tough1. Few jobs are available to people without a

“permanent work visa”

2. You must work much harder than domestic students to find a job

3. English language skills matter

4. You must bridge the cultural gap to sell yourself

Other Employment Realities

The practical training visa does not guarantee that you will find summer employment

No guarantees: Visa issuance complex

Long training cycles

Why Employers DO Hire International Students

Technical skills Language and cultural skills Affinity Loyalty Faster, smarter, better

Where Opportunity Isn’t

Direct, head-to-head competition with domestics when you have no edge

Announced openings (drawing hundreds of applications)

On-campus recruiters who don’t want to interview foreign nationals

Where Opportunity Is Hidden job market Others from your home country who are officers

or owners of companies Others from you home country who have jobs

here Former international students with jobs here

(interns or H1-B) Smaller companies in rural areas that are

exporting College or university employment after

graduation Your home country consulate

What UCSO Can Do For YOU

Career Street Journal International Job

Fairs International

Resume Books Web Sites

(International) Career Resources Exploring:

International

Career Education Programs X220 & X420 SCOOPs Roundtables /

Career Fairs Discussion Sessions Mentors / Alums Career Counseling

Campus Interviews

To Be Successful: Get preferenced interviews Be knowledgeable of your skills and

abilities Develop strong resume and cover

letter Market yourself aggressively Seek counsel from faculty, UCSO

staff, peers, and ‘alums’

Campus Interviews

Do X420 Interview Projects Practice to develop interview skills

(Role play with peers) Conduct Mock Interviews Constantly improve your language

skills and project confidence

Plan Your Work – Work Your Plan

Best and brightest students from home country

Multilingual -- minimal cultural training required

Flexible employment transfers to other nations

Market network connections

Willing to relocate

SELL

Mentally Prepare for Highs and Lows

Hard work Handle rejections Recover and assess Adapt and be

flexible Modify your

strategies

Your Marketing Strategy Starts HereIndividual Marketing

Understanding of “self” Understanding of world of work Understanding occupational options Correlate to the job Apply only where qualified—Network Use alternate avenues

Answer Four Questions

What do I want to do?

What can I do?

What needs to be done?

How can I get the job I want?

Your Marketing Fundamentals

What do you have to offer? Who needs it? How do you make them want it? Become expert in immigration

laws and what is required to obtain work papers.

Use International Student Services

Your Marketing Fundamentals

Master the art of the job search through career counseling, workshops, videotapes and the web.

Set goals early on relating to career choice and location.

Develop a strategy for networking, selecting and targeting specific companies.

Employer Presentations(Career Exploration)

Career Fairs SCOOPs/CLIPs/Lectures Corporate Presentations/Info Nights Business Club Seminars Executives in Classroom Alumni Networking Programs

Learn First Then Apply Tools

StrengthenProfessional Skills

Develop language skills Internship experience Independent study - Projects Volunteer assignment

Three Important Skill Groups

Functional Skills Soft Skills Global Skills

These skills are important in the successful job search. It takes a combination of all three to differentiate yourself.

“Soft Skills”

Leadership Attributes Interpersonal Communication General Management/Organization Presentation Abilities Cross-Cultural Communication

“Functional Skills”

Marketing Finance Information Technology

Know the Jargon.

Communicate Knowledge

“Global Skills”

Knowledge of World Business International Emphasis of Functional

Area Cultural Knowledge Language Proficiency

Your Resources (Right Tools)

International Services Career Services Office Business/SPEA Library Internet Websites: Faculty Network Alumni in Home Country Alumni in Targeted Firms

Other Outside Resources

American Chamber of Commerce Consulates International Job Fairs International Websites H1Visajobs.com

Exploration(Putting it all together)

Reading/Research Informational Interviews Part-Time/Temporary Special X420 Foreign National TRACK

Projects Career Portfolio

Common Cultural Barriers to the Job Search

Self-Promotion is Uncomfortable Directness in Communication Self-Disclosure Seems Awkward Career Self-Awareness is New Idea Individual Responsibility in Finding

Employment Language Barriers Stereotypes: Both Images

REMEMBER!!

The process will require more time than you originally planned

Be flexible Be patient Avoid frustration Be Prepared