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