Career Resources for International Students

Check out Employer Engagement and Career Design. They offer resources on every aspect of the American job search process, from interviewing and networking to resumes and cover letters. Carefully review their guides.

Attend Coaching Labs. Please check the calendar for specific dates and times. If you’re doing a U.S.-focused job search attend International Student Job Search Strategies, available live and on canvas, and Navigating Cross Cultural Differences in the American Job Search which is available on Canvas. For a non-U.S. job search, see Navigating the Home Country Job Search for International Students, available on Canvas.  Also, look for workshops specifically for international students, often designated INTL (international) on the calendar.

1. NUworks – Use this to find internships and job opportunities
2. Goin Global – Use Goin Global’s country and city guides for the US and overseas job and internship listings, H-1B employers, and an employer directory featuring 400,000+ companies in many countries. For access, you may need to log into NUworks first, then go to “Resources” and go to Goin Global from there.
3. Big Interview – Use this to practice interviewing at your convenience. A Northeastern email is required for logging in.

4. Explore Localized, a new provider that links candidates with employers, thought leaders, and mentors in specific – and expanding – areas of the world! Students can explore a wide range of career paths and gain the insights you need to be successful, connect with global professionals from leading companies who are ready to answer your career questions, and find job and internship opportunities! For interested students the steps to participate in any of the content and services that Localized has to offer, take the following steps:

   1. Go to: https://northeastern.localized.world/ where they should sign up and create their profiles.
   2. Once they create a profile, they should download the app
   3. App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1531411803 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=world.localized.mobil
5. VMock, is a 24-7 online resume-review tool, that leverages data-science, machine learning, and natural language processing to provide instant personalized feedback on your resume based on criteria gathered from employers and global best practices. VMock is designed to work with resumes from many different fields across various industries.
6. myvisajobs.com – This website lets you learn which employers have utilized H-1B visas for a three-year period and provide other excellent resources.
7. Voice Analyst – Use this to see your intonation and volume visually. This will help you practice English.
8. USCIS H-1B Cap – Use this to monitor the USCIS H-1B visa cap. USCIS will allow you to monitor the number of available H-1B visas and provides helpful information.
9. WASP-free program for speech analysis – Provided by the University College London, this app will record you and show intonation and pitch. This can help you match American style pitches and inflections.
10. Career and Job Search Guide – This provides overviews, job titles, employers, industries, internships, co-ops, and resources within different areas of study.
11. International Alumni Success Panel – Part 1 and Part 2

Attend Talent Connect. Make sure to go to the Talent Connect workshops and review the Career Fair and Hiring Event Success Tips guide on Employer Engagement and Career Design’s website. Be sure to know and be able to explain your visa clearly for the employers.

Utilize Northeastern resources for improving your English, as well as other helpful resources. The most successful international students are communicators with strong verbal and non-verbal communication and interpersonal abilities. Understanding American social interaction and culture can be an important success factor in interviewing and being competitive for positions. If you are in the Boston area, utilize these resources: Off-Campus English Language Resources for Improving your English.

Practice your English by joining peer organizations. These will provide you with the opportunity to practice the English language and social behaviors. Join an organization that has American student members. For a list of organizations, click here.

Build a network and learn to connect. Networking is the number 1 way people find positions. Be sure to utilize your existing network and gain connections in areas where you would like to work, whether that’s in Boston, Charlotte, Seattle or Silicon Valley, or another area within the U.S., or London, Toronto, or Vancouver. LinkedIn is a great resource. Use the Linkedln hashtag – Who is hiring in Canada to learn more about Canadian employers. Learn about resources that make networking easier, such as LinkedIn, NUsource or Professional Associations. Try joining the Northeastern University International Students and Alumni Group on LinkedIn! Attend both of the Employer Engagement and Career Design LinkedIn coaching labs in order to build your strongest profile and leverage the power of LinkedIn for networking.

Search widely and apply for jobs selectively. You will dramatically increase your success if you match your skills to the positions you are considering as well as network. Remember to attend Leading Your Job Search and International Student Job Search Strategies for international student-specific strategies and resources. Check out the Employer Engagement and Career Design calendar. Employer Engagement and Career Design recommends that you have a strong match between your skills, experience, and abilities and the positions for which you apply. Applying for positions where the match is not strong does not often yield as successful results.

Understand post-graduation employment options. Are you hoping to engage in Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation? The Office of Global Services offers comprehensive resources to assist you with your OPT application process including understanding the OPT timeline and choosing a start date. You can access this information as well as frequently asked questions here.

• Have you accepted a job offer? Remember to report your employment information to OGS within the required reporting time. Are you curious about what information you need to report? Click here to learn about reporting requirements and how to maintain your F-1 status on OPT.
• Immigration Attorney Presentation: H-1B and Additional Employment-Based Visa Options for After Graduation Employment (April 14, 2022). Scroll down to webinars and click on the with the passcode provided.
• If you have any questions about OPT, please contact the Office of Global Services. Daily walk-in advising is available.

Conduct a two-country job search. Apply for positions in both the United States and your home country. Create a Plan B (a second option or backup plan) for after graduation. Evaluate where your best post-graduate employment opportunity exists and drop into the Career Design virtual or in person Career Studio to set yourself up for success! We hope these resources will be helpful to a two-country job search. Remember also to check out Navigating the Home Country Job Search for International Students coaching lab available on Canvas.