Career Resources for International Students

Photo of globe on books

We understand there are obstacles to employment and getting valuable experience as an international student studying in the U.S. We have collected a list of resources that will help you understand your employment rights and help you with your job and internship search. While this is not a complete list, it may give you some ideas to get started with. If you would like further assistance, please make an appointment with a career advisor.

Know Your Employment Rights

It is important to know your legal rights in the workplace. These cover topics like illegal interview questions and discrimination. These issues can be challenging to figure out on your own. As always, if something is unclear, we’re happy to discuss and help you understand these resources.

Getting Experience

If you are finding that you lack experience for the opportunities you are interested in, consider building experience in different ways. The following page has some ideas.

What you can legally engage in, in the U.S., will depend on your visa and work authorization. If you have F-1 or J-1 status, any off-campus employment must be authorized or you risk violation of your visa requirements. Work with a career advisor and the Global Student Services website to discuss possible options for your unique situation.

Job & Internship Search Resources

In addition to this list, see our Online Search page for general online job boards. Also, see our Professional Networking page to learn about finding opportunities through your relationships.

Fellowship, Internship, and Professional Scholar Programs

These programs are funded opportunities that help you gain experience in your future career. They look great on your resume and show your commitment to your field. You can also access important professional networks that will help you with your job search when the fellowship or program is over.

Here are some, but not all, opportunities available for International Students. If you have OPT or CPT, work with the Global Student Services website to make sure opportunities you are thinking of applying for won’t negatively effect your OPT or CPT.

Educational Articles/Resources

These resources will help you learn how to direct your college experience toward specific goals. They also provide general information about identity and the workplace.

Organizations/Associations

Join or research a few professional organizations. You’ll meet other people in your community and field who can share their knowledge and perspective. This will give you a better understanding of your identity in the workplace.

We encourage you to search for associations in relation to your field of interest. For instance, you could do a Google search for “Professional Associations for Engineering” if Engineering is your field of interest.

Other On-Campus Resources