Approaching the Topic of OPT with Employers

An effective interview approach requires preparation. You need to know the benefits and restrictions of your particular

status and be able to discuss optional practical training, temporary status, and permanent residence. The more

knowledgeable you are about the employment options available, the more confident you will feel about the discussion.

Practice responses to potential questions such as “Are you authorized to work in the US?”

o Possible response : I am authorized to work in the U.S.

This answer allows you to avoid the issue of discussing temporary work status, which is sometimes

unappealing to prospective employers because they would prefer that someone remain with their

organizations for a long time since they are investing in employees with training, etc.

However, one repercussion of answering this way is that the employer could feel as if you were not being

forthcoming when s/he finds out you are not a citizen later; also, if there are other signals—such as your

name, educational history, language skills—that point to another nationality, an employer might expect

more information.

o Possible response : Yes. I am authorized to work in the U.S. for a year/more than a year (if a STEM major) without any

need for sponsorship or reporting to governmental agencies under “practical training,” which will allow me to perform

regular work duties. I do feel that my international background could benefit your organization because I am

bilingual and can communicate with both your Spanish-speaking clients and your English-speaking clients. Also, I

have been studying Electrical Engineering for four years and am at the top of my class. Through my program at UWF, I

was able to take advantage of an internship opportunity with Gulf Power to improve my knowledge and technical

skills. Would you like to hear more about the internship?

Here, you want to “sandwich” your one-year temporary work status information (potentially negative news

for the employer) between positive marketing of what you can bring as an employee (that you are

authorized and that you have excellent skills/experiences to offer). This softens potentially negative news.

However, one repercussion of answering this way is that the employer will learn, perhaps sooner than you

would like, that you will only be there short term without requiring sponsorship/governmental reporting.

o Timing is important! Making the choice is up to you, but keep in mind that you want to share your skills with the

employer and get him or her to really understand what you can bring to the organization. Most experts recommend

building a relationship with an employer first before delivering any potentially damaging information.

o Do not have a rehearsed answer ! The above responses are only samples and may not work for your needs due to

context and specific questions asked. For instance, the employer may not ask you this question directly, so bringing

up this information may be up to you. You will want to practice, but, typically, you will want to remember points

that you want to make rather than lengthy paragraph-style information.