Transcript Internship Search & Issues - Florida Institute of Technology

Career Management Services
0 Self Assessment
0 Research & Exploration
0 Material Preparation
0 Search & Application Strategies
0 How to Plan & Conduct a Job Search
0 Issues Facing International Students
Identify Your:
0 Values
0 Interests
0 Skills
0 Accomplishments
0 Experience
0 Goals
0 Conduct Informational Interviews
0 Professional Associations
0 Professors
0 Professionals in the field
0 Research the Job Market
0 Where are the jobs?
0 Who is hiring?
0 What career fields are in demand?
0 What qualifications are needed? (certificates,
education, etc)
0 Begin Targeting Potential Employers
0 Career Services
0 http://fit.experience.com
0 Employers that recruit at Florida Institute of Technology, can be
searched discipline locally and nationally
0 CareerShift
0 www. careershift.com/?sc=fit
0 Search, select and store job listings from all job boards and all
company job postings
0 MyVisaJobs
0 www.myvisajobs.com
0 Search for companies that have sponsored international candidates in
the past
0 My Perfect Gig
0 www.mpgbeta.com
0 Unique application that links engineering and technology companies’
jobs requisitions and needs to your skills and availability.
0 Résumé, Cover Letter, Transcripts, etc
0 Target to position and industry
0 References
0 Past Employers
0 Professors/Instructors
0 Volunteer Associations
0 Interview Skills
0 Participate in mock interviews possible
0 Practice answering interview questions
0 Develop Marketing & Conversational Skills
0 Networking, presentations, interview, etc
0 Practice English communications skills if that is a weakness for you
0 Professional Interview Attire
0 Suit, slacks, shoes, accessories, etc
0 Prepare for several options since you might have second & third interviews
0 Professional Voicemail and Email
0 Professional Voicemail message
0 No nicknames
0 No ring back tones
0 No joke voicemail
0 Email address should be professional
0 Use school email address
0 If using another account no hotstuff951, create one with name and initials
0 Develop a Career Network
The Hidden Job Market
0 Assess Current Network
0 Parents
0 Relatives
0 Friends (Parents of Friends)
0 Tell them that you are looking for a job and ask
for their assistance
0 Professors
0 Administrators
0 Graduate Students
0 Alumni
0 Supervisors from previous jobs
0 Members of your Professional Associations
0 Friends
0 Relatives
0 Community Contacts
0 Making New Contacts or Cold Calling
0 Contact by phone or email first
0 Mention mutual acquaintances early on
0 Prepare What You Want to Say
0 Prepare a script of what you are going to say in advance
0 Proofread email messages and be sure to use proper spelling and grammar
(if you need help ask for assistance)
0 Successful Contact
0 Be prepared to concisely discuss your qualifications and what you expect
from this contact
0 Schedule a Meeting
0 Informational interview or personal meeting
0 Only need 20-30 minutes of their time
0 Do NOT ask for a job during the first
conversation
0 Ask for career information
0 Look for advice in your advice in your job
search
0 Manners go a long way
0 Say “Please”, “Thank you”, “I
appreciate…” and “It was nice of you.”
0 Always follow up on successful
contacts
0 Be sure to thank them for their assistance
0 Utilize professional social networking sites such as LinkedIn to
find new contacts
0 Participate in professional discussions on LinkedIn and
comment professionally on topics
0 Post discussions about research or other related topics to
show your knowledge and to make professionals aware of
your background
0 Join groups related to your major or areas of professional
interest
0 Commit Your Time
0 A job search can be thought of as a full-time job
0 Not an overnight process
0 Start the Process Early
0 Especially research and preparation
0 Don’t wait till last semester before graduation!
0 Job Search Tracking
0 Create a spreadsheet or binder
0 Keep correspondence, notes, list of contacts and applications
0 Keep job descriptions of jobs you applied to. Some companies take
awhile to respond so make sure you have the job description on hand
for later if they contact you.
0 Pursue Advertised Jobs
0 Experience – http://fit.experience.com
0 CareerShift - www.careershift.com/?sc=fit
0 Popular job listing websites
0 Career Builder- www.careerbuilder.com
0 Monster- www.monster.com
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Employer Websites
Professional Association Websites
Classified Ads – Most are online now
LinkedIn
Twitter
0 Follow the company to see if they post vacancies- many will
*** Do NOT blindly submit résumés, make the connection ***
0 Find the “Hidden” Jobs
0 Utilize your career network contacts.
0 Start early and they will know you well by the time you
start applying.
0 Get pass the “Gatekeeper” and follow up with hiring
managers when possible.
0 Target your resume to the job description
0 Try to play up skills that will be applicable in the position
you are applying
0 Personalize your response as much as possible
0 Follow up with the hiring manager if possible
0 Send an email or call the office
0 Be polite!
0 Don’t come across as desperate
0 Realize that most employers, especially large ones, will only
accept résumés through online systems.
0 Target your résumé to their system and the openings they
have available.
0 Use keywords whenever possible
0 Use online job listing sites to post your résumé but also to
learn who is hiring.
0 Apply directly to the company whenever possible!
0 Do NOT get stuck in this trap: Avoiding employers with difficult
recruitment processes.
0 Protect your Privacy
0 Be careful of posting your résumé and personal
information on job posting sites
0 Read the site Privacy Policy
0 Never give out your Social Security Number or
any financial information on third party job
posting sites
0 Only disclose reference information when
specifically requested by hiring employer
0 Do NOT put their information on your résumé
0 This will allow your to give your references a
heads up when you are applying to positions
0 Hiring Complexities
0 Communication skills
0 Perceived lack of commitment to the job
0 Animosity
0 Poor economic conditions
0 Federal regulations
0 Cultural Differences
0 Many employers do not understand the process involved in
hiring an F-1 Visa student on OPT or CPT
0 Hiring someone on H-1B Visa requires complex paperwork
and fees
0 U.S. government has limited the number of H-1B Visas issued
to employers
0 Hiring a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident is faster, cheaper,
and easier
0 Understand and be knowledgeable about visa regulations.
Become an expert on visa sponsorship and OPT/CPT – attend
ISSS workshops.
0 Prepare to explain the sponsorship process to a prospective
employer in an interview
0 Present the information in a way that is positive and simple
0 Strong communication skills in English are a
“must” for a successful job search in the United
States
0 Employers are concerned that an international
student may not be able to communicate effectively
in English with clients and internal personnel
0 If necessary, improve your English communication skills
0 Enroll in elective communication classes, in addition to
required classes
0 Socialize with American and English-speaking students to
improve conversational English
0 Take opportunities to speak in public to practice speaking in
front of groups
0 Optional Practical Training only lasts one year
0 Employers are not willing to invest time and money
on an employee who will leave in one year
0 Employers assume students will want to return
home
0 Focus on the positive aspects of Optional Practical Training –
the employer has no obligation to keep you if it doesn’t work
out
0 If you are STEM major, you can work longer than 12 months –
be sure to inform the employer
0 An employee on an H-1B Visa can only work for that employer
so there is less chance of turnover
0 Be prepared to present this to an employer during an interview
0 In a very tough job market, some Americans
(including employers) may feel that international
students are “taking away jobs” from qualified
Americans
0 Some employers may still feel that international
students of certain ethnic backgrounds may
represent a “terrorist threat” and may have a bias
towards those individuals
0 Focus your job search on employers with a diverse
workforce that embraces people from different
cultures
0 Conduct research on company culture using blogs,
social networking, or resources such as
Wetfeet.com that provide this information
0 The job market is very difficult for everyone – even
more so for international students
0 Supply vs. Demand – there are many more job
seekers out there than jobs
0 Study a major that is “in demand” such as computer
science or software engineering
0 Conduct research on current and future labor trends
to make an informed decision on your major choice
0 Consider jobs in geographic areas that are hiring
and booming economically – North Dakota in the
U.S. or countries such as Canada
0 Certain Federal regulations prohibit companies from
hiring individuals who are not permanent residents
of the United States
0 Some positions require a Security Clearance by
federal law and it is very difficult and expensive if
not impossible to conduct a Security Clearance on a
non U.S. Citizen
0 Understand these regulations and focus on
employers who are not in these types of industries
0 Job Search in the U.S.
0 Self-reliance is emphasized
0 Career Services and other university offices provide career assistance and
resources but students are encouraged to use a variety of resources in
their job search and to initiate contact with employers
0 Employers want candidates who take the initiative to apply and who
appear interested in their company
0 Job Search in Other Cultures
0 In some countries, students are “placed” in jobs or people find jobs mainly
through the government or family members
0 In these situations, the student may take a passive role in the job search
and little effort is required
0 Be Persistent
0 A successful job search takes a lot of hard work and time
0 Take Control of your Job Search
0 You are the one ultimately responsible for your job search
0 Be Flexible!
0 Do not create your own obstacles by developing job search
goals that cannot be met.
0 Stay Positive!
0 A positive attitude is a must!
0 My VisaJobs - http://www.myvisajobs.com/
0 Search for companies that sponsor international
candidates for H-1B visas by location, occupation, or
company
0 Use this resource to find employers that frequently
sponsor international candidates and therefore might
be open to hiring international students
0 International Student Services
0 http://www.fit.edu/isss/employment/offcampus.php
0 Required workshops and programs featuring legal
experts providing information on OPT and CPT
0 OPT – for employment after you graduate
0 CPT – for employment while enrolled and only for
major-related jobs or internships/co-ops
0 Information is also provided for employers so you can
refer them to this site for information
0 Experience: Part-time and Full-time job postings
0 Resume & Cover Letter Critiques
0 Internships & Co-op
0 ProTrack
0 Federal Work-Study
0 Florida Work Experience
0 Career Workshops
0 Career Fair and Employer Day
0 Mock Interviews
0 And much, much more!
Connect to Career Management Services Today!
Florida Institute of Technology- Career Management Services
@panthercareer
Florida Tech Career Management Services
fit.experience.com