1. Career Success Strategies for International Students
Presented by Deborah Federico
Career Specialist for the College of Management

2. Advantages of Being an International Student
Global experience and multi-cultural awareness
Multi-lingual capabilities
Ability to live outside your comfort zone
Ability to adapt to new situations and cultures
More longevity in role/with company
Have to work harder to achieve goal of working in US

3. Career Tips for International Students
Networking is critical
Don’t need family connections in the US
Tap into UMass alumni network
Conduct informational interviews
Have a strong LinkedIn profile
Family business experience is fine for resumes
Seek out US firms operating in your country

4. Career Resources for International Students
Jie’s World – American & International Corporations in China
KITA - US jobs for Korean students
Business Maps of India – American companies operating in India
Embassy Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the US – American firms operating in Vietnam
Career Jet – Japanese and Chinese company jobs in the US
SouthAfrica.info – American firms operating in South Africa
Do Google searches to discover more resources specific to your country.

5. Career Tips for International Students
Experience is more important than grades
Get work experience in US before graduation
Have knowledge of CPT/OPT to educate employers
Don’t ask “Do you hire international students?”
Don’t say you’re going back home in two years
Have a Plan B

6. Power Ties Book and Website

7. Power Ties Pointers
Building Power Ties is a long-term career growth strategy
Networking is the most effective way to get a job
Avoid the HR department – go directly to hiring manager
Demonstrate how you can solve problems for employers
Find them out during informational interviews
Need to establish credibility and articulate your value
Tap into the hidden job market – 80% of jobs
Don’t appear desperate or demanding to employers

8. Work on Your English Skills
Participate in classes
Read daily newspapers
Read material out loud
Develop friendships with people not from your country
Attend professional networking events

9. International Career Fairs
Boston Career Forum: November 7 - 9, 2014
Bilingual in English and one other Asian language (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, Vietnamese, Khmer, Bengali, etc.)
MIT European Career Fair, January/February 2015
MIT Asian Career Fair, Spring 2015

10. Accessible through My Career Online
GoinGlobal Resource
Accessible through My Career Online

11. The Campus Career Coach
Accessible through My Career Online
(contains articles for international students)

13. Internships for Academic Credit
International students must do internships for academic credit in order to comply with US employment laws
Please check with your specific college regarding the approval process, necessary paperwork and timeline
Internships may also be paid
Can work up to 20 hours per week
Please meet with someone in the International Students and Scholar Services (ISSS) to understand CPT and OPT rules and regulations

14. Practical Training & Work Authorization
What You Need to Know about CPT & OPT

15. What is CPT?
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization granted to F-1 international students only if the position is an internship, practicum, or other position that is:
1) required by the student’s academic program OR
2) is an experience for which a student receives credit
CPT requires that a “curricular” component be fulfilled, and must be related to the degree field.

16. How Do I Apply for CPT?
Apply for CPT at the beginning of the semester you will do the internship/practicum:
Submit CPT application to ISSS  wait 5 business days  Pick up CPT I-20
CPT I-20 will be updated for the work authorized period
working without CPT authorization on page III of the I-20 constitutes illegal employment
ISSS will approve 1 semester of work authorization at a time
CPT requires course registration (noted on unofficial transcript) for each semester of the internship. It must correspond to an internship, practicum or independent study listed in the course catalogue.
Eligible for CPT after two full-time academic semesters (Fall & Spring)
For questions on any of these requirements, students should visit the ISSS Office to speak with an immigration advisor.

17. What is OPT?
Optional Practical Training is, most commonly, the period of 12 months after program completion when U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services issues work authorization to eligible students to gain hands-on training in their degree field of study.
You will have: 12 months of work authorization per degree level

18. WE WILL REVIEW APPLICATION MATERIALS AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION.
How Do I Apply for OPT?
Submit a completed application packet to ISSS
In 5 business days the application and OPT I-20 will be at front desk for pick-up
Incomplete packets will be rejected.
You will pick up the rejected packet and re-submit in completed form. The 5 business days restarts.
Submit OPT application to USCIS (certified mail) no later than 30 days from OPT I-20 recommendation date.
Applications submitted to USCIS later will be rejected.
WE WILL REVIEW APPLICATION MATERIALS AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION.

19. OPT Time Lines There is a 150-day window to apply for OPT:
Up to 90 days before the end of your program
Up to 60 days after the end of your program
It generally takes days to process your OPT application and receive your work authorization document.

20. What Kind of Training? Students on OPT have many training options:
For immigration purposes must be at least 20 hours per week.
Employment
Contract Work
Self-Employment
Internships (paid or unpaid)
Volunteer Work in the degree field
**OPT training must be done in the major degree field on your I-20**

21. Science Technology Engineering Math
STEM OPT Extension
Science
Technology
Engineering
Math
If eligible, you could receive 17 additional months of work authorization
Based on “CIP” codes
Apply in 8th month of regular OPT
E-Verify employers only

22. Questions?