Hiatt Career Center

Before searching for an internship or a job, whether it is paid or for-credit, or on or off campus, learn about current immigration regulations and university policies regarding your visa type through the International Students and Scholars (ISSO) office. Not all U.S. employers are experienced in hiring international candidates. Knowing your work authorization and visa status, and being able to educate potential employers, are important. Watch the CPT and OPT videos and visit the employers' information page to learn the basics of the hiring process and equip yourself with key terminology.

Meet with Hiatt

Make an appointment with us to talk about questions including:

• How do I navigate cultural differences in job and career searching in the US? 
• How do I find internship or job opportunities as an international student? 
• How do I answer questions about work authorization on applications or in person? 
• When do I talk to employers about sponsorship? 

Meet with ISSO

Meet with the ISSO to talk about questions including:

• Current immigration regulations and university policies regarding your visa type. 
• How do I obtain a social security number?  
• How do I legally work on or off campus? 
• I have academic, financial and personal questions  about my visa status. 

Employers in the U.S. value a wide range of experiences. You can gain experience from internships and jobs, but also from on-campus experiences, volunteer work, student clubs and organizations, research projects, contests, athletics and other activities.

Brandeis graduates seek employment in diverse industries regardless of what they major in. As an international student, your employment may be limited by your major(s) if you plan to intern or work in the U.S. Hiatt recommends that you:

• Explore majors and career options as early as possible.

• Consider opportunities outside the U.S. including internships, jobs, and volunteering in your home country and other countries.

• Think about pursuing further education in the U.S. or other countries.

• Include the International Students and Scholars Office in your job search process. Do not accept a position or begin working without meeting with an ISSO staff member first.

Hiatt staff are here to support your career journey. Make an appointment to explore majors, discuss careers, internships, jobs, graduate and law school or just to check in. One-on-one meetings are available virtually or in person.

Resumes

U.S. resumes may look different from resumes in other countries. To create a resume for a U.S.-based employer, start with Hiatt's Anatomy of a Resume.

U.S. resumes DO NOT include:

• Personal information including age gender, marital status, race/ethnicity, home country or religion

• All detailed work history in chronological order

• All educational experience

• Immigration status

• Photograph

• English as a language skill

• International permanent address

Cover Letter

The purpose of a U.S. cover letter is to convince employers that you are a great fit for the position. Unlike admission essay or academic articles, the writing style is persuasive, concise, fact-based and action-oriented. Start with Hiatt’s Cover Letter Writing Guide.

While your internship or job search will have many similarities to domestic students' searches, there are additional strategies you will want to consider as an international student. 

Refine Your Communication Skills

Strong verbal and non-verbal communication and interpersonal skills are crucial for international students who wish to work and succeed in the U.S. Make use of English Language Programs (ELP) Tutorials, student clubs and organizations and other networking opportunities to practice English in professional settings.

Research the Job Market

Employers hire to meet their needs. Don’t feel discouraged when employers say they don’t sponsor international students. Time, cost and immigration policies may be factors that deter them from hiring. Position yourself by researching what industries, companies and positions are aligned with your international background, knowledge and skills. Research international friendly employers as a starting point using online resources like GoinGobal which has a database of organizations who've hired international students in the past.

Expand Your Network

Networking is one of the most effective ways to find out about positions and get hired, and it is more popular in the U.S. than in other parts of the world. Networking may be challenging for international students due to language and cultural barriers.

In the U.S., directly approaching someone with a higher social rank is normal and appropriate to learn about a job or to build a professional relationship. It takes courage and constant practice, the same way you step out of your comfort zone to adjust to the American classroom and social life.

Get started with people in your social network. The Brandeis University Career Connections group on LinkedIn is another great place to find and connect with Brandeis alumni from all over the world. Learn more networking strategies.

Work on Campus

An on-campus job is a great way to gain work experience, explore career interests and meet new people. As an international student, your on-campus employment is subject to certain requirements; ask ISSO staff about your specific job and visa status. Search for openings through the Office of Student Financial Services.

Identify Employers Who Hire International Students

Start your search with employers and positions that are friendly to international students, including:

• Companies with an established structure to hire international employees or a history of hiring foreign nationals. Both Myvisajobs.com and GoinGobal have current lists of organizations that have sponsored or hired international students in the past.

• Companies with international contacts, including overseas branches, foreign clients, and/or business partners

• Foreign companies or their subsidiaries in the U.S.

• Hiring managers who have an international background or take interest in international talents. They could be Brandeis alumni, parents, recruiting representatives, or people from your immediate network.

Explore Opportunities Outside of the U.S.

If you are searching for jobs outside of the U.S., there are a number of online tools to help you search for positions and learn about country-specific hiring guidelines. View the full list of international resources to assist you in your search.

• Handshake: Search for jobs and internships using the location search box

• GoinGobal: Global job and internship search database with career guides that provide country-specific job search information (current students only)

• Indeed Worldwide: Domestic and international job and internship site with opportunities from over 60 countries

• International Opportunities: Explore working, interning or volunteering in a country that is neither home nor in the U.S.

Country/Region-Specific Resources:

• CareerForum (CFN): organizer of the largest career fair for Japanese-English bilingual students and professionals in Boston and around the world.

• ContactTaiwan: National job search database founded by the Department of Economic Development in Taiwan

• LockinChina: Recruiting platform targeted at Chinese returnees

International students are encouraged to attend all of the career events hosted by Hiatt and throughout the Brandeis campus but you can also look for specific events for international students.

Interviewing in the U.S. can be a challenging experience for international candidates. The key to success is being prepared.

Sell Yourself

Being attentive, humble and following the lead of the interviewer is favored in some cultures. In the U.S., your role in the interview is to market yourself proactively. You are expected to answer general, open-ended and sometimes futuristic questions, and to clearly articulate the benefits and skills you can bring to the company. It’s important to keep an upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic tone. Making negative comments about yourself is not appreciated.

Explain Your Background

Don’t expect interviewers to be knowledgeable about your country. Develop strategies to explain quickly and concisely the relevant aspects of your background, such as the education system, political context, social or economic environment.

Demonstrate Your Experience

U.S. employers want to know what you can do for them. Focus on what you have accomplished as an individual as opposed to what you have done as part of a team or group. Take credit for making changes, solving programs and developing new initiatives. Don't spend too much time talking about your degree, credentials, affiliations and social network; spend more time discussing your own talents, abilities and demonstrated interests as they relate to the job. Having interests extending beyond work and/or school is a great quality in the U.S. Other cultures may not place the same emphasis on these types of activities, but U.S. employers may ask you about membership or professional associations, volunteering experience and even personal interests.

Customize Your Style

Depending on the corporate culture or industry, your interview with the employer may be informal and unstructured, with the use of first names, humor, a relaxed attitude and spontaneous questions. Research and preparation are essential to understand the regional, organizational, and functional differences among companies in the U.S.

Simplify Your Answers

Speed of communication is often critical during an interview. Efficiency and time management are highly valued in the U.S., and U.S. interviewers expect quick responses and the ability to "think on your feet." To help keep your responses simple and to the point, develop bullet-point style answers and rely on the verbal cues of your interviewer to see if you are saying too much or not enough.

Be Prepared for Sponsorship Question

Although it is illegal for employers to ask about your immigration status, they can ask if you have authorization to work in the U.S. and if you will need visa sponsorship now or in the future. Make sure you fully understand your work authorization options under your visa status and respond accurately. Meet with an ISSO advisor for your specific work authorization.

It depends on the industry, types of positions, and what preparation you have done for the internship or job search. International students who successfully find a job or internship identify their goals early, prepare in advance, and have alternative options.

Recruiters make decisions for campus visits based on many factors; including location, time, and budget. If recruiters don’t visit Brandeis for any given year, it doesn't mean that they are not interested in our students as candidates. You will be competitive if you take initiative to reach out, network and apply for the position. After all, recruiters care most whether a candidate meets their hiring needs.

International students seeking opportunities in the U.S. are subject to visa regulations. Some companies may advertise that they don’t hire foreign nationals or prefer U.S. citizens due to a variety of reasons. However, international candidates also possess incredible qualities and skills that are highly desirable in the job market. Many Brandeis students and alumni from different countries have successfully found internships and jobs in all types of industries.

The challenge is to identify and articulate your strengths to employers. It will improve your chances to succeed if you refine your communication skills, understand the U.S. job search culture and conduct a target search.

If you are offered a position or invited to the final interview, you can first use online resources or networking to learn about the employer’s history in petitioning for visas. You may also ask “What is the company’s policy in petitioning for an H1-B?” or “Will the company petition H1-B for this position?”

It’s recommended that you start early. Searching for a job in the U.S. is a process. It takes time and effort to identify jobs and employers, prepare for CPT or OPT applications, build a professional network to increase your chances to successfully find a job. For an application timeline, check with ISSO.

Handshake work authorization information consists of 2 questions –– you must either answer both questions or opt out of sharing. After you've answered the questions once, you will not be prompted to answer again.

• Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?
• Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?
• Prefer not to answer these questions.

Note: Once you have secured CPT or OPT you will be legally authorized to work in the United States. No matter how you answer the first question, employers will still see that you are "Fully Qualified" in Handshake when applying for jobs. See Student Work Authorization Information for more information.