Our Job Search Preparation section has a wealth of information on
researching employers, resumes and cover letters, interviewing, job search strategies, and networking.

Know the facts
Check with International Education Services for the most current information on applying for practical training (either Optional Practical Training-OPT or Curricular Practical Training-CPT). Talk with a counselor, take notes, and ask questions. Make certain that the information you have is accurate before sharing it with an employer. Find out as much as you can about the H1 visa – what it is, fees involved, length of validity, application process, etc.

Talk with confidence
Learn to talk about your visa comfortably and matter-of-factly. If employers sense that you are nervous about this issue, they could become nervous, too. Your visa status is a simple fact about you (like your degree or the color of your eyes). It is not a terrible secret that you must whisper about. Be confident about the visa issues and learn how to market yourself positively. Be prepared to tell employers how hiring you offers more advantages than disadvantages.

Avoid using “visa jargon”
Employers generally don’t understand what “F-1” or “H-1” mean. They may also be suspicious or afraid of hiring someone who is living illegally in the US. Tell the employer clearly that, though you are not currently a US citizen, you are eligible to work legally in the United States with a student visa. Explain that you can work under this arrangement for up to one year. Upon starting to work, the company can start the application process for a different visa to extend your stay. Any more detail than this is apt to confuse recruiters.

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Never say “sponsor”
Employers are often baffled by the question “Will you sponsor me?”. The word “sponsor” can imply several things up to and including providing room and board for someone. Avoid this confusion by following the guidelines in the above paragraph. Since most employers don’t understand what “sponsor” means, take this term out of your job search vocabulary.

Avoid mentioning visa status too early
It is best not to advertise your visa status in a resume or cover letter unless specifically asked for it. If you are using Careers4Terps, you have to include your status in your profile. It is also best not to bring up the subject with an employer during the first interview. Once you have made a good first impression and been invited back for a second interview, you are often in a better position to discuss your visa with an employer.

Practice makes perfect
If you were giving an important speech for a class, you would certainly practice for it. Your job search is important, as well. Talk with a University Career Center counselor about what you plan to say. Write it down. Rehearse it. If you feel nervous talking about it, consider tape recording your voice and listening to yourself. If you sound nervous, you need more practice. Schedule a practice interview with a University Career Center staff member or use the University Career Center’s Virtual Mock Interviewing tool to get useful feedback on improving your approach. Again, learn to talk about your visa status as easily as you discuss the courses you’ve taken or the academic honors you’ve received.

Expand your search and be flexible
Consider smaller firms. They may be less “traditional” than larger firms that have so many applicants that the competition is too stiff and they are more likely to hire people who require less paperwork Also, consider working in different areas in the U.S. as well as international firms located in the U.S. or U.S. firms with branches abroad. Also, search for jobs that may not necessarily be in your major.

Network
Not all jobs are posted in media such as newspapers or job postings on-line. In fact, most jobs are “hidden” and are usually filled through word of mouth. Therefore it is important to get in touch with, and stay in touch with, people in your field of interest or others who may know people in your field such as fellow students,professors, family, friends, neighbors, career advisors, etc.

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Improve your communication skills
Talk and speak up in class, make presentations, make friends and talk with Americans to improve both your English language skills and learn more about American culture, take communications courses, attend workshops at the University Career Center to get used to professional settings, join clubs, watch TV, and listen to radio.

Attend fairs and workshops/Use the University Career Center
Use fairs as places to network and to apply to positions and find out more about companies. Workshops offered through the University Career Center or through different departments are also good networking places and are a good way to learn about career development issues such as resume writing, etiquette, interviewing, etc. Use the University Career Center Resource Room as well as our Web site for more useful information.

Don’t be discouraged
Looking for a professional position with a student visa may not be easy, but think of the many difficult things you have accomplished thus far in a new country. This is simply another step. Gain support from friends and UMCP staff. Many international students find jobs in the United States each year. With hard work, patience and persistence, you can be one of them.