There are particular rules around employment for foreign students in the United States on an F-1 visa. As long as they retain their student status, they are often permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during the holidays and vacation times. Other laws regarding international students working off-campus need to be confirmed before seeking to work off-campus as an international student in the US.
In this blog post, we share helpful tips for getting internships, remote jobs, and summer jobs in the US as a foreign student.
Helpful Tips For Finding Internships, Remote Jobs, And Summer Jobs For International Students In the US
1. Begin your search on time:
Start looking for these jobs and opportunities several months ahead of time, preferably in the winter or fall before summer arrives. Many businesses employ for these jobs on a continual basis, beginning their hiring process early.
2. Take advantage of a few online websites and job channels:
Use internet resources that are dedicated to posting job openings and internships.
Some of these include:
(i) Handshake: Many universities use the handshake platform to connect students to potential employers.
(ii) Indeed: Indeed provides a large selection of internships and job listings.
(iii) LinkedIn: LinkedIn is an excellent platform for networking and job searching.
(iv) Internships.com: This website specifically focuses on internship openings.
(v) Glassdoor: Glassdoor provides job postings and company reviews.
(vi) SimplyHired: SimplyHired is another helpful job search engine as well.
3. Network a lot:
The key to locating employment prospects is networking.
To achieve this, do the following:
(i) Connect with Professors and Alumni: Make contact with professors and former students; they may be able to offer advice and leads.
(ii) Attend Industry Events: You can network with specialists in your sector by attending webinars, conferences, and seminars.
(iii) Join Professional Associations: Many of them provide job boards and student memberships.
(iv) Utilise Social Media: Join relevant organizations and make connections with sector professionals on LinkedIn.
4. Be strategic with your applications:
Your cover letter and CV should be unique to each job. Emphasize your relevant expertise and talents and give a brief explanation of your interest in the position and organization.
5. Things to know before interviews:
You can achieve this by;
Researching the Company: Examine the company’s website to learn about its recent projects, values, and mission.
Practising Frequently Asked Interview Questions: Be prepared to talk about your past experiences and how they apply to the position.
Preparing for the interviewer’s questions: Demonstrate your initiative and interest.
6. For Remote jobs:
The popularity of working from home has increased career and internship options.
Consider;
(i) Remote-specific job boards: Websites like We Work Remotely, FlexJobs, and Remote.co, to name but a few, are remote employment and internship platforms.
(ii) Corporate Websites: A lot of businesses offer specific sections with job postings for remote work.
(iii) Virtual Internships: Programs that provide completely remote internship experiences together with organized networking and learning opportunities are known as virtual internships.
7. Go for volunteer jobs:
If you’re having difficulty finding an internship, think about these other resume-building strategies:
(i) Volunteering: Volunteer jobs will help improve your resume and provide invaluable experience.
(ii) Freelance Projects: You can find temporary jobs related to your field on websites like Fiverr and Upwork.
(iii) Online Certifications and Courses: You can improve your skillset by enrolling in courses offered by websites such as LinkedIn Learning, Udemy, and Coursera.
8. Stay organized and follow up:
Keep track of the places you’ve applied, approaching deadlines, and hiring managers’ answers. This will assist you in properly managing follow-ups and interview preparation.
Also, after submitting your application, send a polite email to confirm that you are still interested in the job. This will help you remain in the recruiter’s view.
In addition, deportation and the loss of one’s visa status are just two major repercussions of working without the required authorization.
In conclusion, to make sure they adhere to all work requirements, international students should always get advice from their institution’s international student office or Designated School Official (DSO).
