JOB SEARCH STRATEGIES AND F-1 EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS

Presented by: University Career Services and Office of International

Programs and Services

Competitive Advantage

Language and culture Ability to bring a global perspective to the

workplace Degrees and work experience from outside the

U.S. Open-mindedness and adaptability Deal well with change and ambiguity

Challenges in U.S. Job Search

Lack of confidence in skills and abilities Language barriers Stereotyping/insensitivity from others Explaining VISA status

Job/Internship Search Strategies

Use different methods, not just one, when searching for jobs/internships

Refer to the “Employment Resources Links” for information specific to international students

Finding Positions

HireMason• Apply directly on-line for positions• Learn what is “out there” by reading job descriptions

and employer information• Search Agents• Mason students register for HireMason (free):

University Career Services, 3400 SUB I or SOM Career Services, 8 Enterprise Hall

Finding Positions Networking• Definition: Developing RELATIONSHIPS via in-person meetings

and/or social situations for information gathering or job searching

• Being Prepared – Resume/Business Card• Social Networking: LinkedIn, Facebook• Networking Resources:

• Mason Career Network (alumni contacts): http://careers.gmu.edu/cn• Career Events: http://careers.gmu.edu/calendar• Student Organizations and Professional Associations:

http://sa.gmu.edu/student_orgs/index.php

Career Network

Career Network online• Database of Mason alumni • Reach out for informational interviews• Password Protected

• User: student• Password: jack$$pot

Revealing Visa Status and H-1 B Visas

No official time when you should reveal your visa status; there are various ways to address this question During CPT During the interview After being hired and you demonstrate your skills

Educate yourself on the process of hiring an international student so that you may inform a potential employer

Meet with OIPS to determine your eligibility for Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Revealing Visa Status and H-1 B Visas

H-1 B is the most common visa form for work authorization after your OPT expires

Discuss your H-1 B options with an immigration lawyer

Talk to your employer about sponsorship Processing usually takes 4-6 months Negotiate with the employer who will pay the

fee; this should occur before you can submit your application on April 1st each year

Next Steps

To begin your search, you need to have a strong resume and cover letter

Resume—summary of relevant experience Cover Letter—highlights important information

and directs employer to your resume Career Services sponsors many workshops about

resumes and cover letters

Next Steps

Attend an interviewing workshop including “Interview Skills for Non-Native English Speakers” and “Behavioral Interviewing”

Learn interviewing techniques Interview Practice Days Perfect Interview Practice with a career counselor