A Letter to International Students: Stop Holding Yourselves Back
By Sabrina Guzy, Candidate Success Manager at inSpring
Dear International Students,
Graduation is quickly approaching. That means applying for OPT. Stressful right? Yes, it's a tough job market out there because of a broken system, but it doesn't have to be as stressful as you think. I've spoken with hundreds, if not thousands, of international students during my career. Certain beliefs and actions end up holding them back. Here are four of them. Learn from their mistakes.
"I'm not as attractive to an employer as candidates who don't require a visa." How often have you felt uneasy about disclosing your visa situation to potential employers during interviews? Maybe you haven't mentioned it for fear of hurting your chances? This one always gets me. You'll eventually have to talk about your visa status with the employer. Your visa status is nothing to be ashamed of or scared of. Instead of being uneasy about it, be proud of it! So many powerful things come with being an international student that adds value to companies and gives you a leg up on your competition. Your language skills allow you to communicate with global teams. You add diversity to a generally homogenous squad, which brings about creative solutions to issues due to your unique life experiences that others wouldn't consider. Your ability to adapt and thrive in new environments means you can pivot quickly and hit the ground running. Your knowledge of international markets can expand the business to different countries and demographics. The loyalty and grit that stems from being grateful for having the opportunity to be in the US and the long journey it took for you to get here. Your international student status is your greatest superpower, not your greatest weakness.
"I don't want to move to another city. I rather get a job where I am now." You picked up and moved your whole life to study in the US. You've become comfortable where you are and put down roots that include friends, communities, and housing. Moving again seems like another burden you want to avoid taking on. Limiting where you want to work or even how you want to work (remotely), you're limiting your opportunities. It's plain and simple. Instead of staying in your comfort zone and restricting your job search to the city you're currently in or only looking for remote work, widen it to include the whole US and be open to hybrid/in-office work schedules. Yes, finding a job in your current location that is familiar to you would be great, but it could also hold you back. Moving to a new city for a job can be a fantastic, life-changing experience. Personal and professional growth stems from stepping out of your comfort zone. If you're too comfortable, it will impede your development. My general rule is that it's time to shake things up if you feel too comfortable. Plus, an employer is more likely to hire you if you can pick up your life and hit the ground running in a new environment. You can get excited about moving to a new city in many ways. Check out the area's restaurants, nightlife, activities, and social clubs. Do you like playing tennis? Find a local tennis clinic. Are you obsessed with finding the best pizza? See what pizza shops you can try out. Reach out to your connections who currently live there/know someone who lives there and link up with them to see what they enjoy about it.
Even if you don't know anyone who lives there, connect with someone through social media and see what activities, landmarks, museums, and food they recommend in the area. You'll even make a friend or two along the way. Broadening your location horizons will exponentially increase your employment opportunities and fast-track your personal and professional growth.
"I'm only going to apply for X and Y positions at these big-name companies." Ultimately, you need a job to stay in the US, and OPT gives you only two months post-graduation to secure one. As we've seen from recent events, working at an enormous, big-name corporation isn't all it's cracked up to be. Consider employers who are small to medium-sized. As an entry-level employee at a huge company, you'll likely be a number, a cog in the machine, with little room to advance quickly. And if you do advance, it's most likely due to low retention rates and high employee dissatisfaction. At smaller companies, you'll likely be tasked with more significant responsibilities and have more open leadership opportunities. You'll have the chance to be part of a small team and help build something from the ground up, leaving you feeling fulfilled. Everyone will know your name. Job security at these smaller companies will be something you worry about less. Your value will be more readily recognized, so they won't be able to/want to get rid of you. All the above leads to sponsorship (H-1B, green card…), and you won't be as worried about being carelessly laid off.
Broaden your job search to include all types of positions related to your program of study and in various sectors, even if they may initially seem beneath you or in a field that is not considered "sexy." Many international students come to the US with previous work experience. The sad truth is that employers tend only to see that you have yet to work in the US, even if your work experience is extensive. Be open to more entry-level positions. Taking an entry-level job or not precisely what you saw yourself doing isn't the end of the world. A job is better than no job. Once you begin working, they'll see how far ahead you are, all that you have accomplished in a short period, and the great value you add to the company, resulting in fast-tracking you to become a leader within the company. Keep your head down and be the best at what you do. Your work and skills will speak for themselves. No one starts their employment journey exactly where they want to be or lands their dream job immediately. It takes patience and persistence. Instead of following your passion, follow your curiosity and be open to new experiences.
"I've applied to 200 jobs and only got three interviews. I'm going to keep on doing what I'm doing." It still shocks me when international students tell me this. Let's be honest. The job hiring process is a broken system. In today's world, more and more jobs are remote. This means that anyone can apply for a position anywhere without making significant life changes like moving. Remote job listings can get hundreds of applications in a matter of hours. The job hiring process has changed, meaning you must change with it. As mentioned, apply to positions offering hybrid or in-office work setups. The fact is that those jobs will have fewer applicants, and you have a better chance of standing out. If you're applying to hundreds of job listings only to get a few interviews, stop. Something you're doing needs fixing. Find a pro in resume writing and the hiring process to review your resume and help you optimize it. Nowadays, technology is screening applications and determining who can speak to a human and who doesn't. Getting resume help from someone who knows application screening processes will help you get those interviews. Get organized. Don't just submit your application and forget about it. Make a comprehensive excel document of all the jobs you're applying to and include the managers' and stakeholders' names and emails involved in the hiring process. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Once you apply, reach out to them, tell them about your interest in the company, and ask if you can learn more about their experience there because you applied to X job position and would love to know more if they have the time to spare. Be genuine. People are busy. Even if they don't have time to speak with you, they'll remember your name and make sure someone sees your application. Persistence and consistency are key. This will get you the interview.
Always be networking. Starting your first year as a student, you should be making genuine connections with people you admire who are where you eventually want to be one day. If you're graduating this year, start/keep networking. Learn from your connections. Meet up with them for coffee to get to know them better. Set up a Zoom meeting and geek out about engineering. Create a lasting friendship. Never start by asking for a job. That's the worst thing that you can do. You need to build a real sense of trust while networking, as in all relationships. You need to put yourself out there. Don't be shy. Be vulnerable. Once you create that bond, they'll think of you when they see a job position open that they think you'll be perfect for or will advocate for you through their network. Sometimes, it is about who you know. Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
I wrote this letter to you, international students, so you can stop holding yourselves back in ways you may not even realize. I want you to start seeing success in the job hiring process. You have so much to offer the world, and I hope you can move through the OPT process with confidence and excitement rather than dread, stress, and endless migraines. Don't let the system play you. Work the system in your favor.
Remember, you're as good, if not better than every other applicant. Be proud of your background, genuinely believe in yourself, and be confident in the value you can add to the world. Confidence is hard to resist.
Be open to new experiences and get yourself excited about the possibility of spending time in a new place. Step out of your comfort zone. If you're too comfortable, it's time to make a change. Even if you don't land your dream job and it's not 100% where you saw yourself working, make the most of it. Let your work speak for itself. You'll grow in ways you didn't think were possible, and success will quickly follow.
Don't keep applying for jobs if it isn't working. Work smarter, not harder. Be open to all types of positions related to your program of study, which includes remote, hybrid, and in-office work schedules. Take a pause. Get organized. Analyze your resume and the way you're applying. Create a new strategy. Find someone that knows the hiring game to help you with your application materials, contact stakeholders, be persistent, and thoughtfully use your connections.
If you've yet to be successful with your OPT job search and need extra assistance and guidance, inSpring can help. Not only will our program ensure your soft skills are on point, which employers say are some of the most important skills they look for in candidates, but you'll also up-level your hard, technical skills and be able to present them in a way that employers can't resist. It gets even better. We also match you with one of our partner employers that already know you're an international student. That means no awkward visa conversation, and we'll take some of the OPT weight off your shoulders. Sounds incredible, right?
Please get in touch with us to learn more.
Sabrina Guzy has an extensive background working with international students and the US Immigration system. Growing up with parents who immigrated to the US from Poland, the topic of immigration has always been personal to her. She helped more than 4,500 international students from over 100 countries study in the US and to navigate the US immigration system while working as a Designated School Official (DSO)/International Student Coordinator. Additionally, she gained specialized knowledge of US immigration policies, processes, and procedures while working at a top international immigration law firm. Through her personal and professional experience, she has developed a deep empathy and understanding of the international student and immigrant experience. She starts each day excited to bring her expertise to inSpring's candidates and partners.