Resources for International Students
As a Clark student, it’s likely that your identity may intersect with your career choices, extracurricular interests, and future goals. The Career Connections Center is here to help you explore the role your identity may play in your job search and connect you to helpful resources. You can make an appointment with a career adviser to ask questions, build a job or internship search strategy, and learn how to navigate the resources available to you.
Campus Resources
- The International Center at Clark University, a comprehensive resource for international student support, comprises three offices: the International Student and Scholars Office (ISSO), International Programs, and the American Language and Culture Institute (ALCI). Here you can find information on academic support, International Center programs, counseling services and support groups for international students, and career advising. You also can subscribe to the International Center’s blog to receive news about upcoming events, workshops, and programs.
- The American Language and Culture Institute provides free English language learning support and programming for all international students who want to improve their English proficiency.
- The International Student and Scholars Office can answer your questions about visas and other immigration issues. Here you can learn about options for working in the United States as an international student, including eligibility, requirements, and how to apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). You also can upload immigration documents through the ISSO Portal.
More Career Resources
- Common Cultural Barriers Guide from Colby College is a list of common cultural barriers you may experience during your job search as an international student. Please note that these factors are not unique to one society, but rather represent a cross section of countries and continents.
- Vault’s Career Advice Blog for International Students has expert advice on resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and other issues pertaining to international students.
- Power Ties, a blog by Dan Beaudry, has information on searching for jobs as an international student, tips for finding postgraduate employment in the United States, and more.
- The International Advantage helps international students stand out, showcase their strengths, live in their authenticity, and secure jobs in the United States. Author Marcelo Barros hosts a podcast and blog with helpful resources, strategies, and solutions.
Interviewing
- Interviewing for a U.S. Employer is a guide put together by the University of California, Berkeley, specifically to help international students with the job and internship interview process. Watch this short workshop to learn more about discussing work authorization with employers.
Find a Job, Internship, or Fellowship
- My Visa Jobs hosts a curated list, updated annually, of employers accepting H-1B visa holders, with information about work authorization and employment opportunities for international students and foreign nationals who want to live and work in the U.S. and Canada.
- Career Forum is a staple job-hunting tool for Japanese-English bilinguals seeking employment, especially in Japan. Career Forum hosts company-based information sessions and job fairs with a chance for in-person interviews with organizations.
- Top 200 Employers for CPT and OPT Students, a list of employers hiring international students, is managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). The latest published information includes the top 200 employers in 2018 for OPT and CPT students.
- Handshake allows you to search for jobs and internships by work authorization requirements (“Accepts OPT/CPT” or “Willing to Sponsor”). Read this article for an overview on how to enter (or decline to answer) your work authorization status, filter by work authorization requirements, and what it means to either set your work authorization or “decline to answer” for job postings and virtual fairs. You can also watch this short video to learn about managing your work authorization on Handshake.
- E-Verify is an online program run by the U.S. government. It is primarily used by employers to check employee records, but you can use E-Verify to search for employers that provide work authorization and/or sponsorship.
Networking
- The National Career Development Association (NCDA) International Student Services Committee (ISSC) aims to increase the understanding of career development experiences and the needs of international students. NCDA hosts a LinkedIn group that can connect you with career development services, professionals, and fellow international students from all over.
Suggested Reading
Career Connections Center
Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center (ASEC Building)
939 Main St.
Worcester, MA 01610
1-508-793-7258
1-508-421-3752 Fax
The Career Lab offers on-demand reviews of resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles 12 – 4 pm weekdays. Upload your documents, or make an appointment for the Career Lab on Handshake!