International Students and Careers

Some Advantages of an International Employee

International students/employees can bring a global perspective to many US employers. In a world where companies are increasingly focusing on global competencies, having a diverse group of international employees who are multilingual and multicultural enables employers to understand international market trends as well as learning new cultures.

This is especially important to global companies that have country-specific subsidiaries where they often need to employ culturally correct connections with their local operations, communities, and government officials. International student’s/employees’ knowledge of their own country, as well as their experiences in the U.S., makes them the perfect candidate to foster relationships between the two worlds.

Furthermore, many international students are also people of color. In addition to making vital contributions to campus intellectual and social life, international students’ personal experiences and perspectives invigorate the difficult and courageous conversations that promote mutual understanding for all of us.

Character Counts

International students have the courage to leave the comfort of home, their family, and everything that they knew to go somewhere foreign, different, and strange. They must overcome challenges like the language barrier, social-cultural differences, and the ever-changing immigration regulations to become successful in the US. These challenges are character-building. When given a task, international students tend to transform into high-performance employees because of their cultural sensitivity, tenacity, adaptability, and international advantage.

Processes

International students who are interested in working in the US after graduation can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a work benefit for international students in F-1 immigration status who are enrolled in or completing a degree program in the U.S. OPT is not a “work visa” and does not require you to remain at one company for the entire OPT period.

Visit the International Student Service Portal for more detailed information.