Career & Professional Development Center

What do I need to know about work authorization in the United States before I apply for internships and jobs?

Many employers are not aware of U.S. Visa policy, so you may be responsible for explaining these requirements to employers to help them understand the process and make it easier for them to hire you. International Student & Scholar Services Website and workshops can give you this knowledge so that you can accurately speak about your work authorization requirements with an employer. Specifically, you should familiarize yourself with the details regarding CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training) so that you can articulate them to an employer. If you have any questions about your work authorization status in the United States, please contact International Student & Scholar Services for their support.

How much English do I need to know in order to get an internship or a job in the United States?

The ability to speak and write English well is a top requirement for most employers; however, each company may require different levels of English speaking and writing ability.

Here are some suggestions for practice:

• • Class participation, presentations, and case competitions
  • Conversations with native English-speaking friends
  • Utilize campus English for Academic Success Classes (EAS) and the U of U Writing Center
  • Involvement with Student Clubs & Organizations
  • Conversations and practice interviews with your Career Coach
  • Learn why “small talk” is important in your U.S. job search and how to do it at Improve Your American Small Talk – Globalmingleparty.com

How can I get more information to help me explore careers and identify opportunities?

Asking for advice and information from professionals will help you explore careers and identify opportunities. If you’re nervous about reaching out to contacts, your Career Coach can assist you.

Consider these networking opportunities:

• Campus-sponsored Company Information Sessions
• Career Fairs
• Informational Interviews
• Create a strong LinkedIn profile and use resources to engage employers
• Join a professional trade or industry, and student associations:
  Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) Student GroupsCenter for Ethnic Student Affairs (CESA) Student Groups

How do I research local and global job markets to help me define career path options?

Research local and global internships and jobs by using the following online resources, provided by the Career & Professional Development Center in the Resource tab in Handshake including GoingGlobal and CareerShift.

How can I be most successful while job and internship searching in the United States?  

Have a positive attitude. Be able to seek and accept feedback to improve your professional image and be persistent in your job and internship search. When faced with a setback, analyze and modify your strategy, seek feedback, stay positive, and don’t give up. If you need additional support, please make an appointment with a Career Coach. Come by SSB 350, call 801-581-6186, or Schedule a Career Coach Appointment.

Campus Resources

• International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) in the Union Building has excellent resources for job searching and details regarding CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training). Contact ISSS with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your status as an international student.
• International Student & Scholar Services:

410 Olpin Union

200 S. Central Campus Dr.

Salt Lake City, UT 84112

801-581-6388

international@utah.edu

https://internationalcenter.utah.edu/

International Student Clubs and Organizations

The University of Utah offers many opportunities for the international community to be actively engaged in the campus community. Joining a club is a good way to make friends and become more connected to life on campus.

The International Student Council (ISC) club is designed to meet some of the social needs of international students. Members of the Council come from many different nations and organize regular activities for the international community, such as International Week, International Night, meetings every Friday night in the Union Building and other activities. You can get more information at Orientation or the Facebook page on this great group of students.

The Associated Students of the University of Utah (ASUU) is the University Student Government. They oversee all student clubs and organizations. Please go to the ASUU webpage for student organizations to see a full list of the student clubs and organizations to learn more about them and see how you can get involved.

Consider getting involved with the following ASUU student clubs and organizations:

• African Student Association
• Malaysian Student Association: https://www.facebook.com/groups/531143860268920/
• Korean Students Organization: https://www.facebook.com/groups/uofuko/
• Saudi Student Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SSCUU/
• International Ambassadors through International Student & Scholar Services
• International Business Club:http://ecclesschoolofbusiness.orgsync.com/org/internationalbusinessclub
• International Women’s Association at the U of U
• The International Dance Exchange Club
• United Chinese Club 

Community Resources

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Job Boards

• GoingGlobal has an H1B visa resource, helping you identify employers who historically hire international talent based on occupation, job title, company name, and industry (since this feature requires a subscription, you must log in to Handshake with your CIS username and password to access GoingGlobal).
• Learn about the Business Student Internship program (BUS 5880) for an off-campus internship through a CPT visa.
• Passport Career’s USA H-1B Employer Database includes more than 340,000 U.S. employers who have provided H-1B Visas/Work Permits to non-Americans. While this is not a list of positions you can apply for, this database provides valuable information about what employers applied for this visa in the past. You can search the database using a keyword, minimum salary, company names, city, state and job-type.
• H1visajobs.com is an online database of American employers that sponsor H1-B visa holders.
• My Visa Jobs identifies employment opportunities for foreign nationals who want to live and work in the U.S. and Canada. Search annually for updated lists of employers accepting H1B visa holders. Sort lists by state, industry, and job title. This site also contains information about work authorizations, searching for jobs, and information about a variety of industries.
• E-Verify is a program run by the U.S. government used mostly by employers to check employee records and eligibility. Search for employers that provide work authorization and sponsorship.
• Boston Career Forum is an annual job recruiting event that has hundreds of employers who are looking to hire Japanese-English bilingual students and professionals, including those who have study abroad experience. Their events are held in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo, Osaka, London, Sydney, and Shanghai.
• MIT European Career Fair (ECF) is an annual recruiting event in Boston/Cambridge, organized by members of the European Club at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The mission is to connect thousands of top-tier US students and young professionals with up to 100 European companies, universities and non-profit organizations and to inform folks about career opportunities in Europe.
• Career Nation is an online database that has job postings and resources to connect professionals from Africa and the U.S.
• International Alumni Job Network (IAJN) connects international education and global employment opportunities. IAJN is a social enterprise that connects international students and alumni with global job and internship opportunities and engages with industry and events that unite the international community.
• Jobware is a German job search engine that allows you to search for jobs in a variety of industries, including information technology, engineering, marketing, or sales.
• JobStreet.com is the number 1 job site in Singapore, with more than 50,000+ job postings in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
• Latpro is an online employment site dedicated to bringing diversity to the American workforce. It has been posting Spanish bilingual and Hispanic jobs since 1997 and diversity jobs and job search engines since 2006.
• Recruit Net is an international job search site with jobs listed in more than 20 countries all over the world.
• DiversityInc. lists the top 50 companies recognized for diversity every year.
• GlobalMe School is an online career resource that will provide you with the tools needed to succeed in the U.S. workplace. Navigate the U.S. job search by exploring the “The International Job Search Guide designed to assist international students in understanding American employers, the value you possess as an international student, and how to be an active job seeker. GlobalMe School also provides select free courses on how to “Improve your American Small Talk,” “How To Talk to Employers About Study Abroad,” and “How to Find U.S. Companies that Offer H-1B.”
• International Student Careers provides students with online career resources and workshops designed specifically for international students. You have access to infographics such as “How to Find a Job as an International Student” that illustrates a detailed step-by-step guide to help you navigate the H-1B job search process.
• 51Job.com is an online database with job listings for students who are looking to focus their job search in China.