international student job search 2003 1

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Job Search Strategies forInternational Students

Western Michigan University

Career & Student Employment Services

Office of International Student andScholar Services

Authored by:

Jin Abe, M.A., LPC, NCC

Admissions/Program Coordinator

Lisa Walker, M.A., LLPC

Career Advisor

The workshop slides and handouts are reproducible only

with permission from Western Michigan Universitys

Career & Student Employment Office


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Learning Objectives

Implement a Targeted Job Search

How to Approach Employers

Answer Behavior Based Questions Understand Employment Eligibility : Visa issues


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Upcoming events

Get It Together Next week (Jan.27-31) Career and Student Employment Services and various campus locations Resume critique, interview preparations

Career Fair Thursday, Feb. 6, 10-4 p.m. Bernhard Center 2F

Job Search Support Group for International Students Bi-weekly group meeting starting Feb. 11 OISS conference room In-depth discussion group on becoming effective job searchers


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What IS a career?

Work to live

Mostly for money

May not be gainingrelevant experience Just get it done

Live to work

Not for money only

Gaining relevantexperiences for thenext step

The output matters

A career is. A way to express/actualize yourself A way to turn your experience into asset/worth

Your contribution to the world


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What employers seek Interpersonal skills (Leadership,

communications)

Relevant experiences

Industry-specific skills andknowledge

A career in the U.S.:Reality, or dream?

Job search activities Participation in campus activities

Approaching companies throughinternship early on

Attending job fairs and

networking over time

For intl students Average length of study: 2-2.5 yrs

Work authorization fairly limited

Language stereotypes

Current sentiment against non-

immigrants

Its a

Challenging

time


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Stages of job search

Controllable factors in your search Setting goals Targeting your search Preparing the proper tools

Where to find job openings Search Strategies Implementation

Part I:U.S. Job Search Strategies


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Career & Student EmploymentServices

Break


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Where are you in

your job search process? Just Beginning

Information Gathering

Resume Writing

Interview Preparation

Interviewing Follow Up

Getting Job Offers


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Goal Setting

Define specific career goal(s) you wish

to pursue What are my interests?

What do I value on the job?

What are my greatest personality assets?

What are my abilities

What can I offer an employer?


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Target: Where Do You Want to Work?

With your desired

location in mind:

Where can you afford tolook?

What employers arelocated there?

What economic trendsare likely to affect you?

What job searchresources are available?


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Job Search Tools

Resume

Cover letter

Portfolio (if applicable)

Interviewing skills

Know yourself

Know your goals Know the employer


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Where to find job openings

Postings

WWW, Classified ads Organized recruiting

Fair, Search firms

Who you know Professors, internship

A typical job-hunter likes tostart up here

A typical employer prefers tofill vacancies this way

Hire someone whosework Ive seen or heard

I will userecruiters to find

outstanding

candidate

OK, Ill

place an ad


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Search Strategies

* Select the Mix of Strategies for You*

Register with Bronco JOBS!

http://broncojobs.wmich.edu Utilize WMU Career & Student

Employment Services: On Campus Recruiting

Career Fairs Workshops

Resume Critiquing

Satellite offices for Career Advising (see website)


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Search Strategies Continued

Internet and the WWW

Letter Campaigns

Classified Ads

Employment Agencies

Professional Association Meetings Referral and Networking


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Implementation

Target employers

Research information

Set daily action plan

Use record keeping system

Follow up

Be consistent and persistent


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Sample: Record ofEmployer Contacts


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Why attend?

Appropriate expectations of the careerfair

Professional interactions

Tips for the Career Fair

Part II:Navigating the Career Fair


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Trying it out; a part of ongoing learning process

Make mistakes nowso you dont have to do thatwhen it really matters

Avoid Typical mistakes Copying resume at Kinkos at 3 a.m. the day before

Coming to the fair in the afternoon

Asking company rep so, can you tell me about yourcompany?

Checking out the ladies/guys

Freebie hunters

Going around as a couple (or with buddies)

Why attend?


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Generally, it is better to attend the fair in theafternoon to meet more people (T or F)

CF is a place to find a job/job leads (T or F)

Company representatives are expected to betalkative(T or F)

Company policies may prohibit hiring internationalstudents (T or F)

Appropriate expectations


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Personable, personal approach is important

CF is a place for you to practice professionalinteractions taking responsibility for keepingthe conversation going.

Know the company so you can engage in adialogue, not a speech

Professional interactions


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Tips for Career Fairs

Dress professional if seekingemployment /business casual ifgathering information

Review/research whos coming

(broncojobs.wmich.edu)

Select/visit top 5 employers youthat interest you most

Bring several copies of yourresume (keep in simple

portfolio/folder no backpack) Maintain professional space

Ask open-ended questions (butavoid asking about salary)

Ask the preferred way to follow-up.

Afterwards: follow-up bysending applications, resumes

to companies you are seriousabout/qualified. Mention youmet representative at CF

File away the literature youhave collected. It can be

helpful later to prepare forapplication letters andinterviews.


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Part III:

Job interview: Why should I hire you?

General interview flow

Self promotion

Self disclosure

Asking for the next step

Dress codes

Playing fair


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General Interview Flow

Arrive 10-15 minutes before interview

Greetings

Small Talk

Interview

Be prepared to ask your own questions

Ask for business cards to use in follow-up thank you letter


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Self Promotion

Skills

Industry-specificknowledge

Planning and

organization skills Communication skills

Problem solving skills

Interviewers are looking for your

Fit with the

workplace Open

mindedness

Teamorientation

Initiatives

Personality


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Self-promotion

Why should I hireyou?


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Self-disclosure

Whats the meaning of illegalquestions I do need NOTanswer?

Does this mean I shouldntdisclose personal information atall?

When do you bring up the hiringprocess of foreign nationals?


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Whats the Next Step?

It is OK to ask (and is expected)...

Im interested to know what the next steps

are.

When shall I expect to hear from you?


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Dress codes

Professional

Business casual

Casual

When in doubt, erron the safe side


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Playing fair

Provide accurate and honest information

Interview sincerely

Make informed choices Honor schedules and commitments

Be prompt in response to employers

Accept an offer in good faith Withdraw from the search process once you

have accepted an offer


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Career & Student EmploymentServices

Break


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Part IV:

De-mystify the hiring process

Work authorization Basics

Points of emphasis

OPT to H-1B: The process


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Work authorization basics CPT- Curricular Practical Training

to meet curriculum requirements not simply to obtain workexperience.

internship/practicum must be requiredby the program of study

OPT- Optional Practical Training Up to one yearof work authorization under F-1 status after

completing a higher degree Must apply BEFORE the completion of study

H-1B work authorization for specialty occupations 3+3 = 6 years Unlike OPT, it is not a sure thing 65,000 H-1B authorized per year


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OPT to H-1B: The process Get a job offer while on OPT Information Gathering (2-3 weeks) Wage Determination (1-2 week)

Determined by State Employment Service Agency whether anemployer offer meets the minimum wage (95%) of the going rate

Labor Condition Application (1 day) Approval from Dept. of Labor based on minimum wage

determination

H-1B Petition with INS (2-4 months) Between the INS and the employer Job position must be deemed specialty occupation (i.e. special

field requiring a bachelor's degree or more) H-1B beneficiary (student) has the academic background to fulfill

that specialty requirement Work experience not essential to fulfill the specialty requirement $130 for application, paid by an employer (plus $1,000 more for

optional 14-day express service)


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Points of emphasis when

educating the employers

Frame your response to emphasize thereslife after 1 year OPT

Avoid using terms like OPT, H-1B

De-mystify the immigration process in a plainlanguage (to do this, you need to know what

you are talking about)

Time is money get it done ASAP


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Summary

Prepare early -- its a challenging time

Choose a mix of strategies

Attend fairs to learn professional interactions

Interview patterns can be learned and mastered

Know your work authorization processes so youcan educate your employers


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Reminder: Upcoming events

Get It Together Next week (Jan.27-31) Career and Student Employment Services and various campus locations Resume critique, interview preparations

Career Fair Thursday, Feb. 6, 10-4 p.m. Bernhard Center 2F

Job Search Support Group for International Students Bi-weekly group meeting starting Feb. 11 OISS conference room In-depth discussion group on becoming effective job searchers

international student job search 2003 1

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