Fall 2014 workshop - American Job Search - Special Topics for International Students at University at Buffalo, by Holly Justice - UB Career Services

1. The American Job Search –
Special Topics for International
Students
Holly M. Justice
Engineering Career Counselor
259 Capen Hall

2. To get a copy of this
PowerPoint presentation
Go to:
www.slideshare.net
Search “American Job Search”

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4. Overview
• Challenges International Students Face in
Today’s U.S. Job Market
• Special issues and resources for International
students
• UB Career Services Office & Resources
• Preparing for the Internship / Job Search
• Internship / Job Search Strategies & Resources

5. Challenges International
Students Face in Today’s U.S.
Job Market

6. Challenges International Students
Face in Today’s U.S. Job Market
• Slow economic recovery
• Employers’ “fear” of immigration
regulations
• Insufficient knowledge of US culture and
US work-related customs and employer
expectations

7. Slow Economic Recovery
from the 2008 economic recession
• The US economy is getting much stronger
although some employers are still taking a
“wait and see” attitude
– This has also led to employers doing more “just in
time” hiring.*
• Some employers prefer to re-hire laid-off or
experienced workers already familiar with
work/projects to reduce training costs
• Different regions of the US experiencing
recovery at different rates

8. Employers’ “Fear” of Immigration
Regulations
• The majority of employers have had little
or no experience with immigration and
other federal regulations affecting
international candidates in the US
workplace
• H-1 Visa Status has become highly
politicized in the last decade

9. ☞It is illegal for employers to make interview or
hiring decisions based on a person’s national
origin, citizenship, age, religion, gender,
race or disability (and sometimes sexual
orientation.)
☞However, it is legal for a US employer to not
interview or consider for hire any person who is
not authorized to work indefinitely in the US
☞Some employers may only consider US citizens
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10. International Student’s Insufficient
Knowledge of US Work-related Customs
& Employer Expectations
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to
acquaint him/herself with what US
employers expect!
• US employers, for the most part,
expect international students to adjust
to the corporate culture, as opposed to
the corporation adjusting to the new
employee’s culture (at least at first)

11. Quiz question

12. QUIZ:
WHEN can an international student begin
working off campus at their internship
using their CPT work authorization?
ANSWER:
After completing one academic year
(two semesters) of study at a US
institution.

13. Special issues and resources for
International students

14. Special Issues
• Using Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
and Optional Practical Training (OPT)
• The “OPT Extension”
• Finding companies willing to Sponsor for
H-1B Visa
• The H-1B Visa “cap”
• Employment “Contracts”
• Student perspective vs. Employer
perspective

15. Special Issues
• Using Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
and Optional Practical Training (OPT)
– CPT for internships. Must register for
academic credit. May only use while in
school.
– OPT may be used for internships and full
time employment. May be used during school
and after graduation. (Most students will save
their OPT for after graduation!)

16. Special Issues
• The “OPT Extension”
– OPT 12 months + OPT Extension 17 months =
29 months of OPT.
What are the eligibility requirements for the 17-month
extension of post-completion OPT?
• The student must have a bachelor’s, master’s or
doctorate degree in a STEM field.
• The employer must be enrolled in E-Verify. (A Federal
government program.)
• The student must apply on time (at least 90 days
before the current post-completion OPT expires).

17. Special Issues
• Finding companies willing to Sponsor for
H-1B Visa
– May not work for the US Federal government or
Department of Defense (DoD) Contractors
– Companies who have sponsored in the past
understand the process and may consider sponsoring
again
– YOU must be able to explain the sponsorship process
to a company who has never sponsored before.
• You must understand the visa & paperwork
process
– When reviewing Job Fairs make note which
employers agreed to sponsor

18. Resources
• Finding companies willing to Sponsor for H-1B
Visa continued
– Review the H-1B visa database from the
Department of Labor. (Free)
• Find this on the UB Career Services website in the
BullsEye system.
– http://www.myvisajobs.com/ (Free and $$$)
– http://www.h1visajobs.com/ ($$$)
– http://www.h1base.com/ ($$$)
– http://www.workpermit.com/
– http://www.path2usa.com/ ($$$)

19. Special Issues
• The H-1B Visa “cap”*
– There are 65,000 H-1B visas available each
year
– The past few years their has been twice the
number of applicants (~130,000 applicants)
• A lottery system is used to determine which
applicants are awarded a H-1B work visa

20. Special Issues
• Employment “Contracts”
– Employment contracts are legal and
appropriate in the United States
– *Caution* - have a lawyer review your
documents before you sign to clarify and
verify your commitments and obligations!
• Resource
• As a UB student you have access to free legal
services through the Student Association
• SBI Legal Assistance, 377 Student Union
• 716-645-3056
• http://subboard.com/legal/

21. Special Issues
Int’l Student Perspective (Plan)
• “I just want to work in the
US for 1-2 years then go
home.”
• “The US work experience
will be very beneficial to
my candidacy for a job
when I go back home.”
• “I’ll just use my OPT and
the employer doesn’t have
to sponsor me!”
• “This will work great for
everyone!”
Employer Perspective (Plan)
• “I want to hire an entry-level
candidate and have
them stay and grow in my
company.”
• “The 1st + 2nd year will be
lots of training, leadership
development and
mentorship.”
• “The next 3-5 years the
employee will be a major
contributor and will
advance in my company!”

22. UB Career Services
Resources

23. Career Services Resources
• Individual Career Counseling
• Express Career Consult*
• Workshops & Seminars
• Practice Interviews
• On-Campus Recruiting
• Career & Job Fairs* (http://ub-careers.buffalo.edu)
• Connection (Networking) events with alumni and
employers - Career Conversation events
• Resume & Cover letter critiques
• Career Library
• Career Services Website
• UB Mentor Program on Linkedin.com

24. Individual Career Counseling
• Discuss academic major selection
• Resume creation & critique
• Cover letter creation & critique
• Linkedin profile creation & critique
• Internship & Job search strategies
– Making connections
• Preparing for an interview
• Strategies for Career Fairs
• Post graduation plans
– Job Market
– Graduate School
– Volunteer / Service
– Other

25. Express Career Consult
• One on one meeting
• 20 minute same day
appointment
• Monday – Friday 11:00-4:00
• Call 716-645-2231 or walk-in
to the office (259 Capen Hall)
to make an appt.
• Great for resume reviews,
cover letter reviews, Linkedin
Profile reviews, salary
questions, etc…

26. Individual Career Counseling-
Practice Interviews
• Make an appointment for a practice
interview
• A Career Counselor will ask you interview
questions while you are being
videotaped.
• Then you and the Career Counselor will
review the tape together to identify
areas of improvement.

27. Practice Interview New Tool:
*Interview Stream*
• Online tool to practice interviewing
• 7,000 interview questions available, in
specialized categories including Job Fair
Preparation, Engineering, Nursing,
Business, etc..
• Access through UB Career Services
BullsEye system

29. Career Fairs

30. Quiz question!
Where is the
UB Career Services office
located?
(Raise your Hand! )

31. ANSWER
259 Capen Hall
(Behind Student Response Center)

32. Preparing for the
Internship / Job Search

33. Preparing for the
Internship / Job Search
• Professional Materials
– Resume, Cover letter
• Research your industry and employers
• Increasing your competiveness in the
employment market
– Get experience!
– Develop your Network of contacts!
• Technical Interview Skills

34. What Employers Have Said They Seek:
• Good Communication Skills –
Oral and Written!*
• EXPERIENCE!
(Co-op/Internship, related experience)
• Technical Knowledge & Skills
• GPA
• Evidence of Team Work
• Time Management Skills
• Problem-solving Skills
• Enthusiasm
• Flexibility
• Being able to apply what you’ve
learned
• Ethical decision making

35. Internship / Job Search
Strategies and Resources

36. The Internship / Job search
may seem very challenging…

37. Search Strategies
• Find Opportunities • Target Companies

38. Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunities
• UB Career Services Website / BullsEye system
– Internships posted & On-Campus Interviewing
– Additional Specific Job Search Engines
– Professional Association websites
– Career Fairs
• Career Fairs at other universities
• Resources listing internships –books & online
– Books: Internships by Petersons, Vault Guide to Top
Internships
– www.internships.com

39. Search Strategy 1: Find Opportunities
continued
• Commercial Websites
– Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com, hound.com
– collegerecruiter.com, collegegrad.com,
aftercollege.com, craigslist.com
– Engineeringjobs.net, core77.com
– Indeed.com, simplyhired.com,
• Specific sites / companies you know
– www.employflorida.com
• What about Recruiters/Headhunters/Staffing
Agencies?*

40. Search Strategy 2:Targeting Companies
• Identify companies and create a target
list of companies to pursue.
– Review their website
• if they currently have openings – Apply!
• If no current opening - Submit your resume to
their database anyway.

41. Search Strategy 2: Targeting Companies
continued*
Resources to Identify companies:
• Your “professional” network of Faculty, Staff,
friends, family, acquaintances…
• UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program
• UB Career Services – “CareerSearch” tool
• For International Candidates – H-1B visa database
– Try www.myvisajobs.com
• Professional Associations
• Internet – Google, vault.com…
• www.Linkedin.com

42. Search Strategy 3:
Networking

43. NETWORKING

44. NETWORKING
• Getting noticed by a potential employer
through someone that the employer already
knows and trusts.
• Employers use networking to recruit.
• Don’t look for a job, look to meet people who
need your help.
• Network by “Industry”

45. Search Strategy 3: Networking
• UB Career Services – Meet-a-Mentor program
(Bullseye)
• Family, friends, friends of friends, etc.
• Professors, guest lecturers
• Professional Associations
• Alumni Association
• www.Linkedin.com
– University at Buffalo Mentor Program Linkedin group
• You already know someone who knows someone
who may know about a job opportunity…

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47. Search Strategy 3: Networking
• www.Linkedin.com Groups
– UB Mentor Program (hosted by UB Career Services)
– University at Buffalo (Name of your Department)
• Example: University at Buffalo Civil, Structural, and
Environmental Engineering
– University at Buffalo Engineering and Applied
Sciences
– University at Buffalo Alumni Association

48. NETWORKING
How to get started…
Take at least one “action” a day.

49. Getting started…
• Establish rapport or commonality
– Ex. friend of a friend, alumni from same institution,
hobby, sport, volunteering, etc
• Ask to follow up later
– Be clear about what you’re asking for
– Collect business cards
– Leave the ball in your court
• Types of follow-up
– Meeting in person (most effective)
– Speaking via phone (effective)
– Email exchanges (effective)

50. What to say
• Prepare a “30-second commercial”, also
called the “elevator pitch”
• Should contain:
– Your name
– Educational background
– Summary of skills, experience, strengths
– Explanation of immediate goals
– A question to keep the conversation going.

51. NETWORKING TIPS & TECHNIQUES
• Be specific about your goals
• Ask how they got started
• Ask if there are any projects/special events
coming up that you can help with.
• Do class projects that can put you in contact
with a potential contact/company.
• Get involved with a student club and do a
project or volunteer to coordinate activities
that involve contacting employers!
• Combine two seemingly diverse areas of
interest in your life*

52. Think long-term
• Does this process seem
like a lot of effort? - It can
be.
• It’s never too early to start
• Don’t give up too soon
• You’ll improve your
networking skills the more
you practice them!

53. Search Strategies
• Find Opportunities • Target Companies

54. Career Services Website
ub-careers.buffalo.edu

55. www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

56. Using the BullsEye System in
the Career Services website

57. www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu

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63. BullsEye
Jobs
Events
Employer Information Session

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72. Career Coaching Days
Tuesday, September 23
&
Wednesday, September 24
11:00 am-4:00 pm
Career Services office
259 Capen Hall

75. To get a copy of this
PowerPoint presentation
Go to:
www.slideshare.net
Search “American Job Search”

76. 76

77. Contact Career Services
• Contact us:
– 259 Capen Hall 8:30am – 5:00pm M-F
– Call 716-645-2231 to schedule an appointment
– Email us at jobs@buffalo.edu
• Website resources
– www.ub-careers.buffalo.edu
• Individualized appointments
• Express Career Consult appointments
– Hours M-F 11:00am-4:00pm

78. Thank you for your time.
Holly M. Justice
Engineering Career Counselor
Career Services
259 Capen Hall