Are you an international student looking for a summer job or internship in the United States? You might be wondering where to begin or what resources are available. Navigating the job search as an international student is tricky and requires working closely with both the Greene Center and International Services Office (ISO) to both determine your work eligibility and get help finding resources. This process may require a lot of back and forth, but here are some tips to get you started. As always, the Greene Center is here to help you through this process.
Determine Work Eligibility
An important first step is to check in with ISO to determine your work eligibility and receive work authorization. This may differ between students, so it’s important to check in and confirm your status. After this is done, you’re ready to start the internship search! If you need help perfecting your materials or finding resources, you can stop by drop-in hours or schedule an appointment with an advisor.
Check out this page to find more resources on how to get started.
The Internship Search
There are lots of resources available to help with the job search. A key thing to keep in mind is that the employer should be willing to sponsor Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a work-study program for internships. Another important factor is that the work you land must be directly related to your degree program. Handshake has a feature that makes this search easier. Once you log into handshake and click on the jobs tab, you will find a filter that helps you sort jobs based on whether the employer specifies that they sponsor OPT/CPT or require you to have US Work Authorization. It also lets you filter based on degree, industry, and more.
In addition to Handshake, there are many other resources such as Vault, Indeed, LinkedIn, CareerShift, and many more that can aid in the internship search. These can all be found on the Greene center website, but it is important to make sure that the employer sponsors CPT. The Greene Center also offers resources for virtual and remote internships. Resources for DACA/Undocumented Students can be found here.
Funding and Other Options
Once you have secured an internship or research position, you may need additional funding for the program. The University offers some funding that international students are eligible for, which you can find here. These include Summer Internship Funding, Creative Experiential Learning Funding, the Humanities for Life program, the Discover Fund, and more. Some of these options are major-specific, so be sure to check that eligibility before applying. Another option for the summer is to participate in a program abroad or find an internship in your home country.
After the Job Search
Once you have an internship secured, the next step is to schedule an appointment with the Greene Center to start your CPT application. It’s important to note that this could take about two weeks to process, so be sure to start sooner rather than later! To start your application, you will need a letter from your employer, and you will also need to register for a half credit course through the Greene Center. This course can be utilized for both paid and unpaid internship opportunities. International students pursuing CPT must receive their CPT clearance from ISO prior to beginning their internship hours.
This is some basic information to get you started on your internship search. Navigating the job search as an international student is a complicated process, and it’s important to communicate both with ISO and the Greene Center to make the process easier. Although this may seem overwhelming, the Greene Center is here to help you.
