Introduction:
Establishing a career path after college is a challenge faced by all graduating students. As an
international student, the “normal issues” facing you are even more complex. The need for work
authorization in a country other than your own and having little work experience and few local
connections – here or in your home country – provide significant additional challenges.
On the positive side, international students have something special to offer employers: your international experience, your language and inter-cultural skills, your knowledge of both the United States and at least one other society.
This website briefly reviews some of the job search-related issues faced by international students and offers suggestions for how to be most effective in your job search.
Understanding and planning for challenges:
A challenge for you as an international student is that even though your education is
taking place in the context of a GLOBAL marketplace, your job search occurs within a world of
NATIONAL boundaries. So the issue of work authorization, in the United States and elsewhere,
is a critical factor throughout your job search.
If you are an international student seeking employment outside your home country, you must understand that few positions are available for people without a permanent work visa. Most U.S. organizations are not in a position to hire a person who has only a training period remaining on a student visa. However, some U.S. organizations will hire international students into one of their international offices.
Be certain to start the career planning and job search processes as early as possible. Begin meeting regularly with both the Coordinator of International Student Services and a member of the Career Center staff soon after arriving at Lawrence University.
Using multiple job search strategies:
Several job search strategies exist, varying in level of effectiveness and amount of
effort required. Strategies include, but are not limited to:
In order to be effective in your job search, it is beneficial to employ more than one strategy, but not to use so many strategies at one time that you overwhelm yourself. Work closely with a member of the Career Center staff to determine which combination of strategies will work best for you.
Marketing your international experience:
Employers are increasingly interested in prospective employees who have experience of
more than one language, society or culture. Therefore, some employment opportunities are
available for students who have developed not only their educational qualifications, but their
bicultural knowledge and skills and proficiency in more than one language. Pay close attention
to these skills, develop them consciously during your time at Lawrence and market them during your
job search. The Career Center can assist you in learning how to best market these skills when
applying for internships or jobs.
Marketing your Lawrence University experience:
As a student at Lawrence University, you will gain a first-rate liberal arts education
and will have the opportunity to actively participate in a wide array of student organizations.
Members of the Lawrence community generally appreciate the value of your university experience.
Therefore, some students believe that simply writing “Lawrence University” on their résumé will
sufficiently impress prospective employers. However, you cannot assume that employers will
automatically understand and appreciate all that it means to be a Lawrence graduate.
During your years at Lawrence, it will benefit you to become well-versed in translating your Lawrence experience in such a way as to make it meaningful to persons unfamiliar with Lawrence University. Early in your university stay, begin meeting regularly with members of the Career Center who can assist you in starting this translating process.
Home country employment:
While many international students would like to secure U.S. employment, many also see the value
of gaining experience with organizations in their home countries.
Understanding employer expectations of applicants:
It is important to recognize that employer expectations of applicants may
differ by country. For example, in some countries it would be considered
inappropriate for an applicant to contact the employer prior to submitting their application,
while many U.S. employers are impressed when an applicant has been in contact with them in advance of
applying. Similarly, non-verbal expectations can also differ from country to country and culture to
culture. In some countries, keeping eye contact at a minimum is a show of respect, while in the U.S.
avoiding eye contact might appear rude or irreverent. Furthermore, employers in some countries might ask applicants about their marital or health status or inquire about their religious affiliation, while these same questions would be illegal if asked by a U.S. employer.
Therefore, it will be very useful to become familiar with the expectations U.S. employers may have of applicants. While not all U.S. employers will have identical expectations, there are general standards that are common to most employers when it comes to some job search steps, such as:
The Career Center can help you become more familiar with these and other employer expectations.
(last updated - Wednesday, September 6, 2006):