Finding the right resources can significantly enhance your job search process. Be strategic about the jobs you are applying to and target companies that have a track record of hiring international students. Applying to jobs that openly disclose that they are not accepting international students or sponsorships will be a waist of your time and resources.
You may be eligible to work in the U.S. by using Curricular Practical Training (CPT), which is commonly needed for internships while you are completing your degree, or Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is commonly needed for full-time jobs after you graduate. These are only short-term work authorizations.
Employer-based visa sponsorship such as the H-1B, TN, or O1 visa is required if you want to work long-term in the U.S. after graduation. Please contact the International Student and Scholar Services to learn more about work authorization based on your particular visa status.
Below is a list of the most popular job search platforms tailored to international students looking to secure employment in the US as well as resources that can be helpful.
1. Handshake
Handshake is a widely used platform across many US universities. It allows students to connect with employers, search for internships, and full-time jobs, and even schedule appointments with career advisers. One of the key benefits for international students is its extensive filtering options, such as the “Will sponsor or doesn’t require US work visa” and “Accepts OPT/CPT” filters. These filters enable students to specifically target employers who are open to hiring individuals requiring work authorization or sponsorship.
2. CareerShift
CareerShift is an all-in-one job and internship search engine that aggregates postings from various platforms. It goes beyond just job listings by providing students with contact information for professionals in their target industry, including alumni. The platform offers advanced search features, including the ability to filter for companies willing to sponsor H1-B visas.
3. Interstride
Binghamton University students have free access to Interstride, an online resource to help with the job and internship search. Besides being a job and internship search platform, you can access information on recent employment trends and opportunities, network with other international students and alumni, gain visa and immigration information as well as academic and career insights on the domestic and international job markets.
4. Myvisajobs.com
MyVisaJobs.com is a platform specifically focused on providing information about visa sponsorship trends, particularly for the H-1B visa. It allows students to explore data based on employer, industry, job title, and location. The website provides comprehensive reports on top H-1B sponsors, green card trends, and general immigration information.
5. H-1B Data Hub
Hosted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the H-1B Employer Data Hub provides a detailed database of companies that petition for H-1B visas. It offers searchable information by employer name, industry, location, and fiscal year, providing insights into the approval or denial rates of these petitions.
6. UnitedOpt
United OPT aims to find CPT jobs, OPT jobs, and jobs for international students to find a company who can sponsor their H1B. Jobs are posted according to category and job title. United OPT has more than 50000 Registered clients who are offering jobs in various categories. In 2021 they made a list of the TOP US COMPANIES HIRING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON OPT AND CPT VISA IN 2021. They also publish blogs and news stories to help students with their job search.
Other Resources
The H-1B Salary Database offers millions of salary records for jobs associated with H-1B visa petitions, based on data from the US Department of Labor. Users can search by company, job title, and location to find salary ranges for various positions. This site helps international students understand their earning potential and ensures that they are negotiating fair wages when applying for jobs that may require H-1B sponsorship.
Choosing global job search sites or seeking international companies are other strategies to search for jobs. Choose job search sites such as Worldwide Indeed, HigherEdJobs – International Positions, LinkedIn, Monster International, Eurojobs, and Landing.jobs (the latter two being Europe focused job sites).
A previous blog post article published by the Fleishman Center also provides some useful International Student Resources including a couple that were mentioned here. Latika Sharma’s blog post on Zolve and the Job Search Resources for International Students posted on Princeton University’s Center for Career Development were also referred to when writing this article.
