International Students and the Job Search

Networking Your Way To a Job

In seeking advice from any career counselor in the United States, you will undoubtedly be advised about the benefits of interviewing for information and networking as a means to finding a suitable job. Indeed, it is common to find employment as a result of having the right connections. The ability to make connections with people, or network, is a skill you can begin developing while on Grounds (refer to the UCS handout on “Networking and Informational Interviewing” for a more in-depth discussion of the process).

Begin talking with faculty members and fellow students. Many faculty members have worked outside of the university context and maintain professional contacts with their former colleagues. In addition, start building relationships with upperclassmen and attend networking functions where alumni will be in attendance. It will prove to be helpful for you to connect with people who have already successfully found employment here in the U.S. and can provide you with insight about the process. The best way to find companies that are willing to hire international students is to talk to other international students and alumni, since companies who have hired international students in the past are likely to continue to do so.

Joining a professional association related to your field of interest is also a wonderful way to make connections with those who can provide you with sound advice about how to find jobs in a particular field. Visit the websites of these organizations to request information on their publications, student rates, chapters and conferences. For the names of professional associations, speak with a faculty member in your department.

Many international students are discouraged because they believe that they have no network in the United States, as their connections are with people in their home countries. It is important to understand that in the U.S. a network is actively developed and does not connote long-standing, life-long relationships based on family ties or status in the community. Anyone can develop a network with some knowledge of the process. Be as creative as possible in developing your network. Do you have a community host or language partner who can provide you with information or a referral? Have you joined a student organization related to your field of interest? Have you attended a career fair or alumni panel discussion put on by UCS and an employer/alumnus for his business card?

Preparing Resumes and Cover Letters

A well-prepared resume and cover letter are essential to getting a job interview. For a U.S. job search, your resume and cover letter must conform to basic, generally accepted standards. The U.S. resume is succinct, including only information which is relevant to an employer's needs. Personal information is usually excluded. The resume is also limited to one page in most cases.

UCS has several resources, which can assist you. If you are creating a resume for the first time, begin by using Optimal Resume, an online tool designed to help you organize information on your academic background, accomplishments and skills into American-style resume format. You can also see the UCS handouts on “Writing Resumes” and “Cover Letters and Other Correspondence.” Finally, the library maintains a collection of books on the subject, as well as, sample resumes and cover letters (see resource list at the end of this guide).

Remember, it is your responsibility to ease the concerns that employers may have about hiring you. This means you should provide the following information on your resume and/or cover letter:

• Test scores (TOEFL and/or SATs, particularly verbal or writing scores)
• Writing and English courses completed
• Descriptions highlighting your communication skills (where applicable)

• Frame of reference for foreign employers and schools:

On the other hand, it is also your responsibility to highlight the qualities that make you unique.

• International experience

• Language skills

Your resume should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. After you have developed a resume, bring it to UCS to have a career counselor review it with you. You should also have your cover letters reviewed by a counselor to ensure that the writing style, as well as, the content conforms to employers' expectations.