Looking for a internship or job? Try these not so popular ways.
Guideline for international students who are seeking summer internship or job opportunities.
Summer is right around the corner, and many students/recent graduates will be searching for internship/job opportunities. Although there are numerous open positions available, landing an internship/job in the U.S. can be challenging, especially for international students. The first question on most job applications is “Do you need visa sponsorship?” Answering “yes” often leads to rejection.
Sponsoring internship CPT or OPT after graduation is much simpler process than an H1B visa, but many recruiters still hesitate or misunderstand the process. Which unfortunately can lead to eliminating international applicants. You can’t fully explain these details to every recruiter to make a difference. However, instead of hopeless applying on LinkedIn jobs where over 200 applicants have already applied, try these uncommon but effective strategies I used to land my own internship and fellowship:
1. Showcase your all your skills through a personal website
Creating a personal website or online portfolio allows you to highlight your projects, experience, and technical abilities in one place for recruiters. Include class assignments, code samples, writing pieces like reports and review articles etc on the website. You can also add your other personal interests apart from professional skills. Make sure to add your GitHub profile and LinkedIn profile links as well. To make it easier for recruiters to reach out to you. Use sites like Wix or Squarespace to make a professional site buy purchasing your domain or you can opt for setting up a website through GitHub.
Resources to create website:
2. Actively market yourself by showcasing your knowledge
One of the best ways to land an interview is to have recruiters reach out to you, rather than continuously reaching out to them. If you actively market your profile, there’s a high chance your profile will come up in searches by recruiters who are hiring.
Getting on recruiters’ radars gives you an edge over other applicants. If they contact you first, it eliminates the risk of your resume getting lost in the pile or screened out by algorithms. And a personal outreach from a recruiter typically leads to an interview request or discussion.
So how can you get noticed? Showcase your skills, experience, and interests through blogs, online portfolios, GitHub contributions, social media posts, and more. Provide value to your field through thoughtful writing, projects, code, designs, and other content. Post on Medium or LinkedIn. Contribute answers on Stack Overflow using relevant tags. Make quick YouTube tutorials for skills you have. Post projects on Instagram/Twitter. This content spreads your personal brand.
Resources:
3. Attend in-person career fairs and conferences when possible.
In-person events allow for critical face-to-face networking with company reps. Eventbrite is one of the best app to know about local events happening. Prepare an elevator pitch and have resumes ready. Follow up with your new connections.
4. Target small companies and startups open to sponsoring.
Smaller companies are often more flexible and open to visa sponsorships. Look for startups on AngelList, VentureLoop, or local incubators. Reach out directly about their immigration policies. Play up what you can contribute. Working with small scale companies give you wide work experience.
Helpful sites:
5. Look at nonprofit and volunteer roles.
Nonprofits focused on social justice are often willing to sponsor, like charities and foundations. Search Idealist and LinkedIn for opportunities. Cold message to relevant organization representatives about your interests on LinkedIn. Even if the position is unpaid you can consider to join the company as a opportunity to learn. This will add onto your profile as hands on experience. And it is always better to have something than nothing.
Find roles on Nonprofit Jobs & Internships.
6. Participate in free webinars, virtual networking, and study groups.
Joining niche online communities helps build connections. Attend free webinars to learn and ask questions. Use sites like Meetup to find professional study groups. LinkedIn also has student groups which you can join.
Helpful sites:
7. Apply for ORISE Fellowship.
If you are living in the U. S. for more than 3 years you are eligible to apply for the fellowship program by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). (ORISE) provides valuable internship and fellowship opportunities with federal organizations for students and recent graduates. Through ORISE, you can gain experience working with agencies like the CDC, FDA, EPA, and more.
These competitive programs allow you to contribute to impactful public health, energy, national security, and environmental projects while building your skills. ORISE offers appointments ranging from summer internships to one-year fellowships, with the possibility of extension. As an international student, you can participate as long as you are authorized to work in the U.S. during the appointment period and lived in the U.S. for more than 3 years. ORISE is an excellent way to work with government organizations as a student.
You can find these opportunities via Zintellect, a searchable database of research and non-research internships and fellowships administered by ORISE and its managing contractor ORAU.
Stay determined in your internship/job search and you will find the perfect opportunity. All the best!
