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The U.S. Job Search for International Students

Overview of the U.S. Job Search
List of Employers Hiring Foreign Nationals

THE U.S. JOB SEARCH FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Current U.S. immigration laws permit international students to be employed in the U.S. during and after a course of study. However, these regulations have specific requirements and restrictions.  If you wish to work in the U.S. you must plan ahead.  Career Services counselors are familiar with the special situations you face and can help you at all stages of your job search.

Also work closely with the Office of International Programs (OIP).  Staff at OIP are the campus experts on work permission and immigration regulations.  Don't assume that because you spoke with them a year ago, you know what you need to know now.  Regulations change constantly, and OIP can acquaint you with current requirements and help you avoid being offered a job but having no legal basis upon which to accept it.  The OIP web site has lots of important information:  http://www.upenn.edu/oip.

I don’t have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.  Will this matter to a prospective employer? 

If you want to work after graduation for only the period of time covered by your Practical Training, look for employers who will not need to invest heavily in your training and/or who normally experience a high degree of turnover.  These are primarily smaller organizations.

If you hope to remain in the U.S. for longer than the period of your Practical Training, it is especially important to plan ahead with OIP.  Understand the basis on which you may stay long term and be prepared to explain them to an employer.  For reasons beyond your control, an employer must sponsor you for an H-1 visa, and thus you will impose more paperwork on an employer than will a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.  Ask yourself what you offer to make an employer willing to take this extra trouble.

Why would a U.S. employer hire me? 

Cultural differences in the job search

You have already become aware of some American job-hunting practices.  However, when you begin to search for a full-time job, you may need to behave in ways which still do not feel entirely appropriate.  Third-party intermediaries may be less evident in the U.S. than at home.  Most of your search will consist of your direct application to employers.

All U.S. job searches require you to write resumes and cover letters.  Compared to one you might use at home, a U.S. resume may be terser, yet include more phrases in which you "sell" your skills and experience.  Cover letters will be more informal, with fewer polite formal phrases, and will be directed more specifically to each employer.

It's in interviews, however, that the greatest differences appear.  While in your home country it may be important to treat the interviewer with deference, extremely deferential behavior may make an American interviewer uncomfortable. American employers expect you to speak confidently about yourself and your success. Making eye contact with even the most senior person will be seen as a sign of confidence, not of disrespect.  By all means be courteous and let the interviewer take the lead.  However, display initiative by volunteering information and asking questions even before you are asked to.

Some of these differences may challenge you, but console yourself that many Americans do not find job hunting easy, either.  Career Services counselors offer workshops on job hunting and interviewing in your field.  Take advantage of these sessions, which explain the job search process.

When should I tell an employer about my visa status? 

When should you bring the issue up?  It's hard to give an exact time, but it should definitely be before an employer offers you a job.  Some employers aren't necessarily aware of work permission issues, and if someone offers you a job and only then learns that they'll have to apply for an H-1 visa in order to keep you, the person may be angry that you didn't provide this information up front.  In general, you may want to raise the issue sometime near the end of a positive first interview, or, perhaps, at the time of being invited in for a second interview.  That way, the employer will feel that you are being open about your work situation.  However, if you know that you will be receiving permanent residency status in the near future, make that information known from the outset, because it will mean that your employer will not need to worry about work permission.

If you are already a permanent resident, be sure that your resume says "U.S. permanent resident" in a spot where it cannot be overlooked.

Working for a U.S. firm at home 

English 

What can I do to maximize my chances? 

Begin your job search early, and be prepared to devote extensive time to it.  Learn everything you can about the process through which an employer can obtain an H-1 visa for you.  In some cases, you'll need to be the one to explain it to an employer.  Don't vaguely tell an employer that it's "no problem."  Rather, be prepared to explain exactly what steps are involved. There may be some advantage to having the paperwork handled by a lawyer who is thoroughly familiar with the process.  If you'd be willing to pay any associated fees, let the employer know that.  You can also tell an employer that they can consult with the staff at OIP for more information about the process.  As an independent third party, OIP may have more credibility than you will in explaining the process.

Finally, take heart from the fact that many international students do find employment in the U.S.  In addition to the education you've received at Penn, you offer all the stamina and adaptability  it has taken to earn a degree in a foreign country.  These are valuable assets, and ones employers can appreciate.

Employers Hiring Foreign Nationals

The downturn in the U.S. economy, along with events since September 11, 2001, have had a profound impact on U.S. hiring of foreign students on F-1 visas. The following data lists American and/or multinational companies that hired international students to work in the U.S. from the College, Engineering and Wharton since 2005. The lists are organized by industry type and then by organization name.

Accounting            

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Advertising/Public Relations

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Commercial Banking

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Communications

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Computer Products

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Consulting

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E-Commerce

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Education

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Electronics/Robotics

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Energy

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Financial Services (General)

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Health Care

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Higher Education

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Insurance

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Internet Services

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Investment Banking

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Investment Management/Counsel

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Legal Services

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Non-U.S. Government Services

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Public Interest

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Publishing/Printing

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Retail/Wholesale

Organization	Position	Department	Location	Year(s)
Destination Maternity Corporation	Executive Trainee	Executive Training Program	Philadelphia, PA	2009
Haddad Brands	Senior Sales Coordinator		New York, NY	2007
Ikeddi			New York, NY	2008
Macy's Merchandising Group	Product Assistant	Product Development	New York, NY	2006
Macy's Merchandising Group		Merchandising	New York, NY	2007
Payless ShoeSource	Financial Analyst	Finance	Topeka, KS	2008
Steve & Barry's University Sportswear	Marketing Manager	Marketing	Port Washington, NY	2006
Steve & Barry's University Sportswear			Port Washington, NY	2006
Steve & Barry's University Sportswear	Project Manager	Public Relations	Long Island, NY	2006

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Software Products

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Telecommunications  

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Transportation

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Venture Capital/ Private Equity