Graduate & International Students

Find A Job

Take advantage of the wealth of Career and Job Search Resources offered by the Career Center, including Handshake, the main portal for students to access career center appointments, on-campus recruiting, job postings and events.

Utilize Informational Career Center handouts including, The Resume Guide, Ace the Interview, Cover Letter Template, Developing Your LinkedIn Profile Tips, and How to Successfully Network.  

If you are new to the U.S., you likely have questions about U.S. workplace culture. One aspect of American culture that may be different from yours is the importance of small talk. See this quora.com Q&A on American culture, which includes some things foreigners find strange about American culture. Read this article to learn when to disclose your international status in the hiring process. 

This article on how to navigate American workplace culture discusses the importance of work in American life, casual relationships between colleagues, and what to expect for holidays and breaks. To find a list of values that are important for American work style, read this article.

As an international student, you may also face special challenges in getting internships and jobs in the U.S. Complex and changing immigration regulations, a lack of clear information about which employers hire international students, and cultural differences will require you to spend additional time and effort to learn about employment policies and practices that may affect you. Two articles, Job Tips for International Students and How to Land a Job in the U.S. (as a Foreigner), offer useful advice. This article from a Georgetown University alumni, on overcoming barriers to international employment, might also be helpful.

You may have concerns about whether employers in the U.S. will hire international students. Online research and networking conversations can help you identify organizations that have hired international workers in the past. As you conduct online research to learn more, consider the following resources.

Top 200 Employers

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security captures data from SEVP-certified schools and active international students to create lists of the top 200 employers who hired pre- and post-completion OPT students (PDF), STEM OPT students (PDF), and CPT students in 2019.

My Visa Jobs

My Visa Jobs identifies employment opportunities for foreign nationals who want to live and work in the U.S. and Canada. Search annually updated lists of employers accepting H-1B visa holders. Sort lists by state, industry, or job title. This site also contains information about work authorizations and information about a variety of industries.

H1Base

Online, interactive database that allows international students to directly connect with the top sponsor companies. Includes a networking kit that provides links to job search engines and job sites specifically designed for international students. Free company resources are accessible and students may choose to upgrade their accounts for more advanced services.

Immihelp.com

Job seekers can use the Immihelp searchable database to seek out employers who have historically sponsored international candidates. Locate databases under the “Tools.”

iHipo

For International Jobs and Internships (not limited to the U.S.), check out iHipo.

E-Verify

E-Verify is an online program run by the U.S. government that is used mostly by employers to check employee records and eligibility. Search for employers that provide work authorization and sponsorship for OPT.

CareerShift

This is a job search tool offered by the Hood Career Center. See instructions on the homepage of this site to join as a member and begin searching for CPT and OPT opportunities.

United OPTwww.unitedopt.com

United OPT is a job and internship resource for international students studying in the United States who are seeking OPT/CPT/H1-B visa jobs. It features a free job search portal for job seekers. Some other services offered by this site may require payment. 

Can employers limit their interviewing and hiring to U.S. citizens?

Sometimes, if citizenship is deemed to be an essential part of the position. The National Association of Colleges and Employers has some helpful information on this topic.

Should I list my immigration status on my resume?

You do not need to list your immigration status on your resume. Your educational background and work history will display that you are an international student. You should never lie about your immigration status, but are not required to disclose it on your resume.

When in the hiring process do I reveal that I’m an international student?

Some employers adhere to strict policies against hiring foreign nationals. Others may prefer to hire U.S. citizens but can be convinced otherwise. It is usually recommended that students wait until an employer asks, but be aware of whether the company has petitioned for visas in the past. If you are being asked to travel for an interview, it would be wise to ask, “Is this a position in which the company is willing to petition for an H1-B as I am currently in F-1 status?”  For an additional perspective on this question, read this excerpt from a presentation (PDF) by Adrienne Nussbaum, Assistant Dean for International Student Services at Boston College.

Are there questions that are illegal for an employer to ask me?

An employer MAY NOT ask: “What is your visa type, nationality, place of birth?” or “Of which country are you a citizen?” or “What is your native language?” or “What language do you most often speak?” An employer MAY ask: “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?” or “Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an employment visa?” or “Which languages do you read, speak or write?” (provided that foreign language skills are job-related)

I am in F-1 status. What should I say when an employer asks about my work authorization?

Explain that you have the legal right to work in the U.S. for up to twelve months using Optional Practical Training (OPT) following graduation. The employer does not need to do anything in order for this to happen. If you have graduated with a degree in one of the STEM (Sciences, Tech, Engineering, and Math) fields, then share that you are eligible for a 24-month STEM extension of your OPT. If you do not have a degree in a STEM field or if you’ve completed your STEM extension, you should explain that your work authorization may be authorized for another three-to-six years with H-1B status. If the employer asks for more information, you should be able to clearly explain the H-1B process. To learn more, OGS hosts an H-1B session each semester. Helpful hint: Avoid using the word “sponsor,” instead use the word “petition” when speaking about H-1B status.