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Current Students

STAY AHEAD

  • Learn to stay ahead and on top of matters related to your career.

  • Understand the unique opportunities that come with being an international student.

  • Connect with recent graduates and former F-1 students for referrals or advice.

  • Plan summer and winter breaks intelligently to shape your post-graduation aspirations.

  • Learn how other international students have navigated the complex immigration landscape

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JOBS & INTERNSHIPS

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Research shows that more than 80% of open job and internship positions are filled through referrals and networking. This should inform how you approach your hunt.

Start narrow, then expand.

  •  Reach out to members in the F-1 Careers Forum. International students always have each other's back.

  •  Use your school's alumni database

  •  Expand to LinkedIn and other secondary networking platforms

Jobs & Internship
Graduat school

JOB SEARCH TIME ALLOCATION

Networking & 
Generating Referrals

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Creating a Job Search
Strategy & Creating Credibility

Getting Interviews,
Preparing for Interviews

Writing Resumes/CVs,
Uploading Resumes/Cvs
Online

Time

Time

Time

Time

The Informational Interview! This is an informal conversation (often over coffee or a phone call) with someone working in the field or company of interest to you. 

GOAL:

  • Get information about the industry, recruiting process, company culture, etc.

  • Put your name out there as someone interested (for future opportunities).

  • Find out the vast internal job posts not available on job boards and websites.

  • Get connected with other folks with experience in the area of interest to you.

Note: During informational interviews, ASK FOR INFORMATION, NOT FOR A JOB.

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Remember: People Love to Help. Never Hesitate to ASK

NETWORKING
STRATEGIES

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RESUMES &
COVER LETTERS

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These are critical documents for your jobs/internship search, so you must invest some time working on them.

Your resume (often one page) is your pitch or personal brand. Craft and update it every time you learn a new skill or experience.

  • Customize your resumes and cover letters to match the job requirements and skills you've attained.

  • Contact your school's career service for their preferred templates and resume formats.

  • Want a personalized resume/cover letter review? Contact us for help or consider using V-Mock, an AI-powered personal coach to provide instant resume reviews.

CPT & OPT

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Curriculum Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) are Off-campus work authorization for F-1 students currently pursuing degree programs and have completed one academic year.
Employment must be related to students' fields of study and can be paid or unpaid. See types of employment accepted under OPT here   typically issued for internships or short-term employment opportunities.
The CPT  is  recommended and authorized by your school's International Office  and the OPT by the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS .

CAREER ADVISING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

​Take full advantage of your school's office of career services to:
  • Get connected to alumni.
  • Be coached for interviews.
  • Access recruiting events.
  • Get references.
  • Get help with resumes and cover letters.
     
​Join the F-1Careers network and get help from your international peers!

GRADUATE SCHOOL

Research your desired program extensively.
START HERE: Masters & Ph.D. Programs + Funding
  • Gather your ALL relevant materials, e.g. transcripts, awards, and recognitions, thesis, GRE/GMAT/MCAT, publications e.t.c.
  • Prepare a list of strong references and reach out to request support.
  • Outline your story/narrative: background and motivations for pursuing a graduate program.
  • Review your resume and customize it to desired applications.

  • Draft your statement of purpose and reach out to friends, F-1 Careers, and other trusted sources for review.

    APPLY APPLY APPLY!
Graduate degrees can be time-consuming and expensive, hence you owe it to yourself to do a thorough research on schools that you want to apply to and the programs that you are considering.Get to know the key areas to research on such as the faculty, career prospects,fees & funding and facilities so as you can make the best possible decisions
For Masters of Business Administration (MBA) program, here are some resources that you can help you start your research:
 
Note: Fully-funded MBA Scholarships are rare. Consider business school fellowship, employer sponsorship, and private student loans to fund your MBA

GRADUATE SCHOOL RESEARCH

Resources for Masters and Phd programs research are:
In the case of  Medical schools, then visit F1DOCTOR.COM  to be more informed about Medical school applications in the US. 
And for Law School, here is a guide to applying to law schools in the US: International Student's Guide to Applying to U.S. Law Schools

STANDARDIZED TESTS

The four most common standardized tests for Graduate School are the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and the Medical College Test (MCAT). International students have an additional standardized test requirement: They will have to submit scores for a test that measures their ability to communicate and write in English. Two examples are the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

MS/MBA/PH.D APPLICATIONS
MEDICAL/LAW SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Please share any relevant test materials, like notes, cheat sheets, etc. with other international students
Upload

Learn more about the tests being offered

GRE

GMAT

IELTS

MCAT

LSAT

Duolingo English Test

Note: Most U.S. universities have waived the standardized test requirements for Ph.D. applicants. Visit the admissions website of each school you intend to apply to in order to learn more.
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PERSONAL STATEMENTS & REFERENCES

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These are the most critical parts of any graduate school application in addition to your resume. 
They serve the same overarching purpose: to convince the admissions committee that you are a good fit and will be successful in the program to which you’re applying.

Note: A statement of purpose is about what you want to do, while a personal statement is about who you are.

Here Are Top Tips for Writing a Graduate School Personal Statement

Here's a Guide on How and When to request references for graduate school. It is important that your recommenders are people that know you well and can speak accurately about your experiences and preparation for graduate school.


 

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

During a Leave of absence (L.O.A), your SEVIS record is terminated until you are ready to return.

Note: If your leave will be longer than five months, you will require a new F-1 status and a new ‘Initial’ I-20. This might affect when you would be eligible for CPT and OPT. (Students need one academic year to be eligible for CPT or OPT)

No matter what you choose to do, the hope is you use your time off to understand yourself better and take time to explore interests, and reflect on future career trajectories, personal and professional relationships, and hobbies in a manner that's rewarding.


 
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CREATIVE TIME-OUT IDEAS
  •  Tutoring and Mentoring
  •  Working on that creative project
  •  Part-time consulting 
  •  Shadowing
In hopes of increasing our mentor network and helping our fellow international students applying to the US, we would like to welcome you to Join our mentor network.
Please share any additional resources that you would find helpful to other international students
Upload
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Leave of Absence
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