same game, different rules career development and job search for international students
TRANSCRIPT
Same Game, Different Same Game, Different RulesRules
Career Development and Job Search for Career Development and Job Search for International StudentsInternational Students
Career Development Career Development Needs for International Needs for International StudentsStudents Greater need for vocational counseling than Greater need for vocational counseling than
domestic studentsdomestic students Motivation – Instinct theoryMotivation – Instinct theory Majority expressed interest in long-term or Majority expressed interest in long-term or
permanent employment in the USpermanent employment in the US Lack of knowledge of employment Lack of knowledge of employment
opportunities in the USopportunities in the US Lack of knowledge of INS rules and Lack of knowledge of INS rules and
regulationsregulations Interest in workshops to help students secure Interest in workshops to help students secure
internships/full time employment in the USinternships/full time employment in the US
Unemployment Around Unemployment Around The WorldThe World
Industrial CountriesIndustrial Countries 6.9%6.9% Latin AmericaLatin America 16%16% South East AsiaSouth East Asia 6.5%6.5% East AsiaEast Asia 4%4% South AsiaSouth Asia 3.4%3.4% Sub Sahara AfricaSub Sahara Africa 14.414.4 Middle East & North AfricaMiddle East & North Africa
13.5%13.5%
International Labor Office, 2002
Three Main Areas of Three Main Areas of Vocational NeedsVocational Needs
Career Planning and PreparationCareer Planning and Preparationa.a. Career opportunities in chosen fieldCareer opportunities in chosen fieldb.b. Job market in home countryJob market in home countryc.c. Job market in the USJob market in the USd.d. Speak to a counselor/advisor about Speak to a counselor/advisor about
career planscareer planse.e. INS rules and regulationsINS rules and regulationsf.f. American occupational systemAmerican occupational systemg.g. Plan for re-entryPlan for re-entryh.h. Career planning processCareer planning process
Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for International StudentsInternational Students
Three Main Areas of Three Main Areas of Vocational NeedsVocational Needs
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skillsa.a. Job search process in the USJob search process in the US
b.b. American-style resumeAmerican-style resume
c.c. CV or resume for home countryCV or resume for home country
d.d. Overcome cultural differences in an Overcome cultural differences in an American employment interviewAmerican employment interview
e.e. Overcome language barriersOvercome language barriers
f.f. Manage illegal questionsManage illegal questions
g.g. Develop job search strategies given INS Develop job search strategies given INS statusstatus
Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for International StudentsInternational Students
Three Main Areas of Three Main Areas of Vocational NeedsVocational Needs
Work ExperienceWork Experiencea.a. Part-time employmentPart-time employment
b.b. Optional Practical TrainingOptional Practical Training
c.c. Long-term or permanent Long-term or permanent employment in the USemployment in the US
d.d. Develop specialized skillsDevelop specialized skills
e.e. Long-term or permanent Long-term or permanent employment in home country or employment in home country or other foreign countryother foreign country
Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for Spencer-Rodgers, Julie & Cortijo, Antonio (1998). An Assessment of Career Development Needs for International StudentsInternational Students
Career Planning Career Planning and Preparationand Preparation
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills Work ExperienceWork Experience
Career Counseling and Career Counseling and International StudentsInternational Students
Issues to considerIssues to consider– Psychosocial conditionsPsychosocial conditions– Acculturation levelsAcculturation levels– Language fluencyLanguage fluency
Suggested practicesSuggested practices– Examine appropriateness of counseling theoryExamine appropriateness of counseling theory– Provide printed handouts explaining processProvide printed handouts explaining process– Examine appropriateness of assessment toolsExamine appropriateness of assessment tools
Career Planning and Career Planning and PreparationPreparation
Guidelines for Culturally Guidelines for Culturally Appropriate CounselingAppropriate Counseling
TheoryTheory– Does it consider worldview?Does it consider worldview?– Does it facilitate examination of the effects of Does it facilitate examination of the effects of
gender, race and culture on the decision-making gender, race and culture on the decision-making process?process?
Assessment toolsAssessment tools– Is the language level appropriate for the client?Is the language level appropriate for the client?– Are the measurement constructs appropriate?Are the measurement constructs appropriate?– Do the tools measure outside effects on career Do the tools measure outside effects on career
decisions?decisions?
Career Planning and Career Planning and PreparationPreparation
Women’s IssuesWomen’s Issues
Expectations of significant othersExpectations of significant others Multiple role demandsMultiple role demands May experience discrimination as a May experience discrimination as a
woman and as an international studentwoman and as an international student May need additional services in May need additional services in
assertiveness training, negotiating assertiveness training, negotiating skills and networkingskills and networking
Must consider cultural issues in Must consider cultural issues in delivery of servicesdelivery of services
Career Planning and Career Planning and PreparationPreparation
Career Planning and Career Planning and PreparationPreparation
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills Work ExperienceWork Experience
Occupations in Need of Occupations in Need of International StudentsInternational Students
Between October 1999 and February 2000, Between October 1999 and February 2000, H1-B visas were approved in the following H1-B visas were approved in the following areas:areas:
Systems Analysis and Programming Systems Analysis and Programming 47.4%47.4% Electrical/Electronics Engineering Electrical/Electronics Engineering 5.4%5.4% College and University Education College and University Education 4.1%4.1% Accountants and Related Occupations Accountants and Related Occupations 3.7%3.7%
Immigration and Naturalization Services
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Advising International Advising International StudentsStudents Start early! Start early! Connect with the International Center and Connect with the International Center and
Career Center on your campusCareer Center on your campus Gain relevant work experience (part time, Gain relevant work experience (part time,
summer jobs, internships)summer jobs, internships) Consider on campus work experience to save Consider on campus work experience to save
OPT timeOPT time Do your research and educate yourself and Do your research and educate yourself and
employers about the processemployers about the process Identify employers and industries that have Identify employers and industries that have
history of hiring F-1 studentshistory of hiring F-1 students
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Advising International Advising International StudentsStudents
Contact employers directlyContact employers directly Make the most of your OPT cardMake the most of your OPT card Be upfront about your statusBe upfront about your status Use the right LanguageUse the right Language
– Petition vs. SponsorPetition vs. Sponsor– H1B vs. Green CardH1B vs. Green Card
You are an international student; You are an international student; celebrate that!celebrate that!
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Advising International Advising International StudentsStudents
Market yourself positivelyMarket yourself positively Be patient and persistentBe patient and persistent Be flexibleBe flexible Choose a field of study that’s in Choose a field of study that’s in
demanddemand Learn to cope with repeated Learn to cope with repeated
rejectionrejection
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Employers Rate Employers Rate Effectiveness of Recruiting Effectiveness of Recruiting MethodsMethods1. Organization’s internship programs 4.62. Organization’s co-op programs 4.53. On-campus recruiting 4.44. Employee referrals 4.35. Career/job fairs 4.26. Faculty contacts 4.07. Company website 3.48. Printed job postings to career offices 3.49. Student Organizations/Clubs 3.410. Internet Job postings to career offices 3.4
NACE’s Job Outlook 2003 5=Extremely Effective, 1=Not Effective
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Do Internships work for Do Internships work for International Students?International Students?
53%53% of surveyed international of surveyed international students received job offers students received job offers through their internshipsthrough their internships
Students fear wasting OPT time Students fear wasting OPT time on internships that may not lead on internships that may not lead to a full time positionto a full time position– Check the hiring history of the Check the hiring history of the
companycompany– Consider working on campusConsider working on campus
www.jobweb.com
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Career Planning and Career Planning and PreparationPreparation
Job Search SkillsJob Search Skills
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Employers Rate The Employers Rate The Importance of ExperienceImportance of Experience
1.1. Relevant Work ExperienceRelevant Work Experience4.04.0
2.2. Internship ExperienceInternship Experience3.93.9
3.3. Any Work ExperienceAny Work Experience3.63.6
4.4. Co-op ExperienceCo-op Experience3.23.2
NACE’s Job Outlook 2003 5=Extremely Effective, 1=Not Effective
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Challenges Facing F-1 Challenges Facing F-1 StudentsStudents Perceived complexities of the hiring Perceived complexities of the hiring
processprocess Employers not familiar with the processEmployers not familiar with the process Perceived lack of commitment to the Perceived lack of commitment to the
job and the organizationjob and the organization Employers’ concerns about the Employers’ concerns about the
candidate’s communication skillscandidate’s communication skills 9/11 syndrome9/11 syndrome
– Fear of terrorism linksFear of terrorism links– Patriotism and fear of taking jobs away Patriotism and fear of taking jobs away
from qualified US citizensfrom qualified US citizens
Work ExperienceWork Experience
The ProcessThe Process
Optional Practical Training (OPT)Optional Practical Training (OPT)– Authorized by INSAuthorized by INS– Valid F1 StatusValid F1 Status– full time student for at least 1 yearfull time student for at least 1 year– Work full time in Work full time in the field of studythe field of study for 12 for 12
months after graduationmonths after graduation– Process may take up to 90 daysProcess may take up to 90 days– A job offer is NOT necessaryA job offer is NOT necessary– Not a re-entry visaNot a re-entry visa
Work ExperienceWork Experience
The ProcessThe Process
H1-B Work VisaH1-B Work Visa– Authorized by INSAuthorized by INS– 195,000 visas issued in 2003 (65,000 in 195,000 visas issued in 2003 (65,000 in
2004)2004)– Employer files a petition to keep candidate Employer files a petition to keep candidate
for a maximum of 6 yearsfor a maximum of 6 years– Process may take up to 90-120 daysProcess may take up to 90-120 days– $130 petition fees $130 petition fees
(+ $1000 unless exempt by law)(+ $1000 unless exempt by law)– Serves as a re-entry visaServes as a re-entry visa
Work ExperienceWork Experience
Best PracticesBest Practices
International student binder in International student binder in reference libraryreference library
Targeted workshop seriesTargeted workshop series Targeted information on websiteTargeted information on website Targeting existing services Targeting existing services Providing training for staff on legal Providing training for staff on legal
and immigration issuesand immigration issues ““Going on the road”- increasing Going on the road”- increasing
accessibilityaccessibility
Questions???Questions???