INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE, Summaries of English

Download INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE and more Summaries English in PDF only on Docsity! INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 1 Welcome to the International Student Career Planning Guide. As an international student at Northwestern, you may have unique concerns or questions about how to successfully prepare for job searching in the United States (U.S.). This guide will provide tips and advice on how to navigate the U.S. job search process, and helpful Northwestern resources. We hope that by reviewing this guide, you will gain foundational knowledge on how to stand out as a competitive candidate for U.S. jobs and internships. This guide is a joint collaboration between multiple Northwestern offices: Northwestern Career Advancement Engineering Career Development Medill Career Services School of Communication - EPICS Chicago Field Studies Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) Office of Professional Education (OPE) If you need assistance with seeking employment opportunities outside of the U.S., you can meet with a career adviser from one of the aforementioned career offices to receive guidance in creating a search strategy. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Self-Reflection and Values 3 Job Search Timeline 4 Networking and Community Building 5 Preparing for On-Campus Recruiting 8 Resume and Interviewing Best Practices 9 Finding “International-Friendly” Employers 10 Work Authorization and Your Job Search 11 Understanding US Job Offers and Negotiating 14 Additional Considerations 15 English Language Communication Resources 16 Resources 17 INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 5 Networking and Community Building The process of building and maintaining relationships is called networking. The ability to network in diverse business cultures is a critical skill for succeeding in the U.S. job search and American workplace. Consider how you learned about Northwestern. Whether you spoke with a counselor, met with an alumnus, or attended an admissions event, you likely formed connections to learn more about the school, its culture, and the admissions process. In the same way, it is important to make connections that will support you and provide helpful information throughout your career journey. Formal and Informal Networking As a Northwestern student, you may be invited to attend formal networking or recruiting events hosted by the university or employers. Additional networking opportunities can be found by joining professional organizations, attending local/national conferences, or following your favorite companies or thought leaders on social media. Some of the best networking opportunities can also happen in informal spaces. Examples range from taking on leadership positions in student organizations to introducing yourself to a guest speaker after class. Understand Networking Behaviors Become familiar with common U.S. networking behaviors by reviewing eDiplomat. Common behaviors include: making eye contact and verbally initiating conversation, speaking positively about yourself, engaging in small talk/informal conversation. Attending a networking event — even as an observer — can be useful in understanding these behaviors. If this sounds daunting, consider starting small by practicing networking with a career adviser, joining campus clubs, and attending events on-campus. If English is not your primary language, it is common to be anxious about making grammar or vocabulary mistakes. Practice can help you overcome these anxieties. Refer to the English Language Communication Resources page in this guide for additional resources. Conduct Informational Interviews One of the easiest ways to initiate a conversation and start building a relationship is to ask for an informational interview. More information about informational interviews can be found in the NCA Career Guide’s networking section. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 6 When Networking  Focus on Relationship Building. It is important to remember that you are building long-term relationships. Networking is not a one-time transaction in which you ask for a job. It is our opportunity to meet and learn about somebody and their career story.  Be Curious and Ask Questions. People enjoy talking about themselves, and you can learn a lot from their responses. Here is a sample list of questions to consider asking: • What is your background? Tell me more about your career path. • What does a typical day or week look like? What are your major responsibilities? • What do you enjoy most about your job? What’s most challenging? • What are some of the benefits of being international at your (company)? • What can I do while I’m at Northwestern to prepare myself for a career in the industry? • How did you navigate finding work and sponsorship in the U.S.? (If the contact is a former international student) • Is there anyone else you’d recommend that I connect with to learn more?  Tell your story. Your personal pitch/narrative is an introductory statement that succinctly summarizes your background. Prepare and practice your personal pitch/narrative. The following content is typically included: Content Example Who you are My name is Harman Argawal. What you do I am a senior majoring in chemical engineering at Northwestern University. What makes you unique This past year, I was one of three interns at XYZ Corporation in India where I designed a new piping configuration for our production facility. What skills you have used I used my critical thinking skills to examine the effects of possibly using this new configuration. As a result of my work, XYZ implemented this new piping system to drain their reactors more efficiently, saving time and money for the organization. How you can make a positive impact I would bring my problem-solving abilities and knowledge of chemical manufacturing to improve your organization’s procedures. *If you are unsure of what you want to do, you can still practice articulating your interests, skills, and goals. Meet with your Career Adviser to learn more about creating an elevator pitch. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 7  Asking a Contact (NU Alumni, Professional, or Recruiter) for an Informational Interview. Once you have found a contact of interest, you then want to send a personalized informational interview request. Remember that your goal is to build professional relationships and network with professionals in your field of interest. Also, a personalized note is a great way to standout from other requests. o Informational Interview Inquiry Sample. Dear Ms. Siluma, hope you’re staying safe during these times! My name is Maria Hernandez and I am a first year Master’s student at McCormick School of Engineering. I saw that you work as a Data Scientist at (company name). Coming from an international background, I’d love to connect with you to learn more about your background and gain any valuable insights. Thank you!  Follow Up. One conversation isn’t enough so plan to follow-up with those individuals. Ask for their business card or email so you can send them a thank you note and consider connecting with them on LinkedIn with a personal message. If you told them you would email them your resume, make sure you follow through. Periodically follow up with them by asking additional questions, sending updates on your progress at Northwestern, or sending interesting articles you’ve read that they may enjoy. o Follow Up Sample. Dear Snehal, I appreciate the time you took to meet with me today. Listening to your experiences as an international student has given me hope and I know with the right plan I will succeed. I look forward to what the future holds and I hope that I can follow up with you soon. Networking Resources LinkedIn Professionally-focused social media site designed to help you cultivate relationships. Northwestern Mentorship Program Online platform for connecting students to alumni for mentoring relationships. Search for alumni living in a particular city or country, who for a certain organization, or who studied the same discipline as you. Our Northwestern Online community connecting students, alumni, faculty and staff. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 10 Finding “International-Friendly” Employers One challenging aspect of the U.S. job search is determining which companies hire international students for full-time jobs after graduation. Looking through job postings on national and local job boards can prove to be frustrating and time consuming Resources for Identifying “International-Friendly” Employers GoinGlobal A database of organizations that have applied for H-1B Visas on behalf of previous candidates, and other resources including U.S. City Guides and International Country Guides. MyVisaJobs A searchable H-1B visa database with a job board that posts international student-friendly job openings. E-Verify Search Tool E-Verify is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees. Use the E-Verify search tool to find employers who are currently enrolled in E-Verify. Networking Talk with your friends and classmates about their search and employer-related experiences. A simple conversation may be valuable in helping to uncover the potential of an employer/opportunity. U.S. Employer’s Perspective on Hiring International Students Why wouldn’t a U.S. employer simply fill available jobs with U.S. candidates? The answer is, there are many jobs in the U.S. that are difficult to fill because they require a particular skill set and a higher-level degree. In many cases, international students possess the desired skills and experience levels for these jobs and bring a number of other unique skills, including global perspectives, multilingual language abilities, and more. These reasons make international students a great fit for these and other jobs. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 11 Work Authorization and Your Job Search International Students are eligible to participate in a variety of work experiences, including on-campus employment, internships, research, and more, as long as you have secured the appropriate work authorization prior to beginning work. Working without authorization is a serious violation of your F-1 status and could result in termination.  Internships: While enrolled at Northwestern, F-1 students may be eligible for CPT. Verify whether you are eligible by visiting: Curricular Practical Training. CPT is required for all off campus work including, internships, practicums, cooperatives, jobs, gigs, volunteer work, or performances, paid or unpaid. If you are unsure if you need CPT or have CPT-related questions, please contact OISS.  Post-Graduation Jobs: After graduation, F-1 international students are eligible for up to 12 months of full-time work in jobs related to their field of study using Optional Practical Training (OPT). F-1 international students who completed a BS, MS, or PhD degree in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math field are eligible for an additional 24 months of STEM OPT, making them eligible for a potential total of 3 years of work authorization. You can verify whether your program is STEM OPT eligible if you can find the CIP code listed on your I- 20 on this list: STEM Designated Degree Program List. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 12 If you are planning to pursue an internship or a post-graduate job in the United States, make sure you understand the procedures and policies around CPT and OPT. Become familiar with the requirements, application processes, and timelines for your particular academic program. J-1 international students may be eligible for both internships and post-graduate work under a separate program called Academic Training. J-1 students should confirm their eligibility with the OISS office. Responding to Work Authorization/Visa Questions on Job Applications You will likely encounter questions about your visa status or eligibility to work in the U.S., because employers want to ensure they are hiring individuals who are legal to do so. Additionally, there are certain types of employers (e.g. Government, Defense) that are only able to hire U.S. citizens for work. It is important to know how to respond to these types of questions on applications so you are being honest about your eligibility for work, while also demonstrating that you are eligible for work under appropriate work authorization. Common Job Application Questions  “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?” International students are eligible for work authorization for both internships and post-graduation full-time roles. If you have done your research about work authorization types and know that you are eligible for either CPT or OPT, you can typically answer “Yes” to this question. If you are not sure about your eligibility or the process for receiving work authorization for the type of position you are applying to, you should do additional research before responding “Yes” to this question.  “Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an employment visa?” Overall, the response to this question can depend on your program, work authorization options, and long-term career goals. Speak with your career adviser for assistance in handling this question based on your career preferences and goals. For an internship, international students typically use CPT work authorization to work as an intern, which is not the same as seeking sponsorship. If you are just hoping to get an internship with the company and are not necessarily expecting them to sponsor you for an H-1B visa in the future, often the response to this question can be “No.” INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 15 Additional Considerations  H-1B and Other Employment Visas If you are working for an employer under post-graduate OPT, including STEM-OPT, that employer has the option to pursue an H-1B visa, or other visa options, such as an L-1 Intracompany Transfer visa or an O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa, to allow you to continue work in the U.S. after OPT. More information about various employment visas can be found in NAFSA’s Visa Classification chart. You should have a conversation with your employer about their willingness to pursue an H-1B visa or other visa options at least 6 months before your OPT period ends, or earlier if you feel comfortable and have established a good working relationship. Your employer should work with their HR Department or outside immigration attorney for more information about how to pursue an H-1B or other post-OPT visas.  On-Campus Employment as an International Student A Social Security Number (SSN) is required for any paid work in the U.S. On-campus part-time employment can be a great way to obtain your SSN. Securing a paid job on campus will help you compete for future work in the U.S. because some employers will only consider international students who already have a SSN. International students can work on-campus for up to 20 hours per week without any additional authorization needed. Please note, F-1 and J-1 international students are not eligible for work-study positions. Part-time, on-campus - opportunities can be found through the Northwestern Work Study website. This website contains work study and non-work study positions. Check this site quarterly for new jobs that might interest you. Below are a few examples of common on-campus employers and jobs: • Athletics Learning Strategist/Study Skills Coordinator • Alumni Relations and Development Phonathon Caller • Research Assistant positions with Northwestern faculty. (Contact faculty whose research interests you; McCormick’s students may also use Undergraduate Research Opportunities page) • Northwestern Information Technology Student Employment Opportunities INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 16 English Language Communication Resources While some employers may be concerned about an international student's ability to effectively communicate in verbal and written English, know that there are many different accents and ways to speak English and having Global English competency is an added value to any team. Should you want to pursue additional resources for speaking and writing in English, Northwestern offers many on-campus resources: Undergraduate The Graduate School Other Graduate Programs Speech Language & Learning (Professional Speaking) X X X ELP Foundations X English Development through Guided Exploration (EDGE) X English Language Programs X X X Integrated Academic Skills Program X Toastmasters X X X There may be additional opportunities in your local neighborhood. Meet with your career adviser or OISS to explore the options. Tips for Improving your English  Spend time with English-speaking classmates, join an English-speaking club, or participate in customary U.S. activities.  Read books, watch the news, movies, and popular shows. Doing so can introduce you to common conversational topics.  Ask for feedback on your language skills from others who speak English for help with mispronounced words or misused idioms.  Become a tutor. Explaining concepts in English to someone else will prompt you to ensure your pronunciation is correct, and to find alternative ways to explain things in English.  Download the Duolingo app and continue practicing. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CAREER PLANNING GUIDE 17 Resources Career Offices Chicago Field Studies Kellogg Career Management Center (CMC) McCormick School of Engineering - Engineering Career Development Medill Career Services Northwestern Career Advancement Northwestern Athletics - NU for Life Pritzker School of Law - Career Strategy Center (CSC) School of Communication - Office of External Programs, Internships, & Career Services (EPICS) School of Professional Studies U.S. Culture & English Language Development Resources Speech Language and Learning (Professional Speaking) eDiplomat ELP Foundations English Development through Guided Exploration (EDGE) English Language Programs Integrated Academic Skills Program Toastmasters Northwestern Networking Resources Our Northwestern Northwestern Mentorship Program Work Authorization & Immigration Resources Northwestern Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) Department of Homeland Security – Study in the States GoinGlobal (Accessible from the NCA Student Resources page) MyVisaJobs NAFSA - Visa Classifications Chart U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS)