Careers & Recruiting

International Student Resources

Competitive Process

Searching for a career while studying in the United States can be a challenge, particularly for students who seek to secure an internship or post-graduate employment in the United States. As an international student on an F-1 student visa, it is important to remember that you are in the United States for the primary purpose of being a student. The recruiting/hiring process is highly competitive for both domestic and international students, with international students having the additional challenge of needing sponsorship (H1-B sponsorship) at the time of securing full-time career employment.

Connecting with Companies

Over the course of your career search, you may find that some companies do not recruit/hire international students. There are companies that have very rigid policies related to international candidate hiring, there are those companies that will be flexible in making allowances for candidates who are exceptionally prepared and qualified and there will be companies who are immediately open to hiring international candidates (exceptions are more common at the graduate level of study). Even with these additional visa challenges, international students can be successful when they are proactive, persistent and actively utilizing the resources available to them while they are students in the Fisher College of Business.

Understanding "Soft" Skills

In addition, the U.S.-based job search is heavily dependent on ‘networking’ and ‘relationship building’ and not solely on academics/grades, class ranking, or technical/hard skills. It is the ‘soft’ skills including interpersonal communication skills, relationship management skills, and leadership that are attractive to prospective employers as well. International students who quickly understand the nuances of the U.S. job search, hone their language skills, engage with the resources available, and actively network and build relationships with employers are those who will have a greater chance of securing employment.

Finding a job or internship is a time-consuming process that can be challenging for all students, but particularly for international students. The Office of Career Management recognizes these challenges and we are here to help you. It is important to remain positive, proactive, professional and persistent with your search. Use this checklist to determine if you’re taking the necessary steps toward a successful search:

I stay in touch and meet regularly with a job search consultant in the Office of Career Management.

Even if you’re not sure what questions to ask, we can help get you started and monitor your progress to ensure that you’re building and maintaining momentum in your search. Stop by Gerlach 150 or call 614-292-6024 to set up an appointment.

I have a well-focused Career Marketing Plan, resume, job search correspondence and elevator pitch.

It is important to have a clear focus, so that you can identify target companies and contacts and clearly articulate your strengths, skills and the value you would bring to an employer.

I am fully engaged in all aspects of the Fisher community, including classroom participation and project work. I am also a highly active participant or have taken a leadership role with student associations and participated in at least one organization that is not related to my home country.

The classroom experience as well as student association involvement offer excellent opportunities to build your resume, expand your network and push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

I am actively practicing my English skills to improve both my verbal and written communication skills.

The ability to communicate well is a top requirement for most employers. Take advantage of opportunities to speak or present in class, participate in case competitions, and practice conversations with English-speaking friends. Learn common business language and phrases. It is important to work with our office to improve your job search correspondence and conduct practice interviews as well.

I am regularly identifying alumni or other contacts within my target career, companies or industries and sending approach emails requesting informational interviews.

Asking for advice and information from professionals in your target field or company will help you refine your focus, identify and address any gaps in your background, and ultimately help you uncover opportunities. Remember to ask for advice, not a job. If you’re nervous about reaching out to contacts, the Office of Career Management can provide assistance.

I have identified and joined trade or industry associations outside of Fisher to expand my network.

Joining associations and attending their events is an excellent way to meet contacts face-to-face. Use the internet to find local associations, call them up, and ask if they need volunteers to help with their next event, committee work, etc. The associations need not be related to your career path; consider joining an association or club related to your favorite hobby as well.

I am employing a multi-faceted approach to search for opportunities, rather than relying solely on Handshake.

Relying only on Handshake and random on-line job postings is not a productive use of your time. Ninety percent of your efforts should be focused on establishing a clear focus, clearly articulating what value you bring to an employer, building your professional support network, meeting individuals in your target career path, getting involved in associations, conducting informational interviews, and proactively searching for opportunities both in the U.S. and your home country.

I have a positive attitude and remain professional, proactive and persistent, seeking and accepting feedback as needed to enhance my professional image and gain momentum in my search.

When faced with a setback, analyze and modify your strategy, seek feedback if possible, stay positive, and don’t give up!

I am well-versed in immigration policy and can help educate a potential employer on CPT and OPT requirements.

Many employers, particularly smaller businesses, are not aware of US Visa policy. Explaining these requirements clearly and calmly can help them understand the process and make it easier for them to hire you.

Not sure how to move forward with any item on this checklist? Stop by Gerlach 150 or call 614-292-6024 to set up an appointment.

Undergrad CPT Advice

Curricular practical training (CPT) is a type of off-campus work authorization for F-1 students during their academic program (prior to graduation). CPT is defined in the federal regulations to be "alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school. CPT is an integral part of an established curriculum."

To be eligible to apply for CPT, students must:

• Currently be in F-1 status
• Have been enrolled in a full course of study for at least one academic year (exceptions may be made for students in graduate programs requiring off-campus work during the first year of study)
• Plan to be enrolled through the duration of the CPT
• Have an off-campus job offer, such as an internship

Application procedure

• Log in and complete the student section of the CPT application - please make sure to list your Career Advisor on the CPT Application form
• On the application, you will need to upload your job offer letter printed on official business letterhead and containing the following details:
  • Job title and brief job description
  • Exact dates of employment
  • Number of hours of work per week
  • Physical place of employment
• After completion, the application will then be routed to your business career advisor for approval and then to the Office of International Affairs for review and processing

You must apply at least five business days before your requested CPT start date, and you may only begin work on CPT after receiving your new Form I-20, showing the CPT authorization on page 2.

We recommend that you apply for CPT prior to the start date of the term in which you will be working, so as to avoid late fees for your CPT course enrollment.

Additionally, please note that:

• CPT may only be authorized for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year
• Students may work full time (beyond 20 hours per week) under the following circumstances:
  • During official breaks, such as winter or spring break
  • During an authorized summer vacation term
• CPT may be authorized on a per-semester basis only. If your position will last more than one academic term, you must submit new application materials before the start of the new term.

Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions
• CPT Application
• Curricular Practical Training Workshops

For Undergraduate International Students, the Office of Career Management offers an extensive interview preparation program called QUIC (Qualified Undergraduate Interview Candidate). As part of this program, students complete a series of modules designed to help them learn how to interview successfully. Students also complete a mock interview and receive personalized feedback on their interviewing skills. Completion of QUIC is not required for graduation, but is required in order for students to be eligible to participate in on-campus interviews.

As part of the QUIC program, International Students are also required to complete an International Student Online Workshop. This workshop covers many topics including the CPT process, employer expectations, and job search strategies for international students. The workshop requirement can be completed on Carmen . To access the online workshop on CARMEN, under “My Courses” you should see the “Office of Career Management – Undergraduate International Student Workshop”.

For more information about QUIC, visit our Become QUIC web page.

Graduate Student CPT Process

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a benefit of your F-1 visa and authorization is required for any off-campus employment (paid or unpaid) in which you wish to engage. You are not eligible to receive CPT until you have been enrolled in a full time program for one academic year.

*Please note: International Students are only legally authorized to work on short-term projects if the work occurs on-site/at the employer's physical location, related to their field of study and involves direct supervision. CPT will not be issued for remote or independent projects performed remotely.

If you are eligible and plan to begin or continue an off-campus internship position, you must apply for or renew your CPT Authorization, and your employer must generate a new offer letter every semester.

In order to begin the CPT process, please send a copy of your offer letter to the appropriate career consultant below:

• MAcc students: Steve Singer
• MHRM and SMF students: Jill Westerfeld
• MBA students: Jamie Mathews-Mead

If you have questions, please contact the Office of Career Management at 614-292-6024 or the Office of International Affairs at 614-292-6101.

Going Global career and employment resources include world-wide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles and country-specific career information. More than 30,000 pages of constantly-updated content is included on topics such as: work permit/visa regulations, resume writing guidelines and examples, employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice, corporate profiles and worldwide job listings... plus much more!

Going Global USA Career Guides and H1B Employer Listings

Accessible on the top menu bar of Going Global, Fisher students also have access to USA/Canada City Career Guides. USA Career Guides contain career and employment resources for the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the USA. Included in this database are job search resources, employment outlook, professional networking groups, cost of living, major employer listings by industry sector, non-profits and volunteer opportunities. In addition, H1B employer listings, searchable by industry, job title and location, are also provided for all 50 states.

To access GoinGlobal, go to Handshake, click on Career Center > Resources.

Ohio State offers many resources for International Students to help with adjusting to a new culture and learning English.

Office of International Affairs

The English Conversation Program is a wonderful opportunity for international students and American students to expand their worldviews, improve their intercultural communication skills, make new friends and increase their Global English competency.

English Conversation Program

Global Engagement provides opportunities for international and domestic students to experience the diverse culture at Ohio State. Global Engagement has implemented a variety of programs and activities to better promote cross-cultural relationships on campus.

Global Engagement Nights

Office of Counseling and Consultation Service

Adjusting to a new culture and environment is a normal process and can generate a wide variety of reactions and feelings. The Office of Counseling and Consultation Service offers many different workshops for International Students to help manage the transition to the U.S. culture.

CCS Workshops

Fisher Office of Global Business

The Office of Global Business provides Fisher students with a variety of options where they can put classroom theories into action in a compelling international location. Employers value the diverse background that global experiences provide and list strategic international understanding and cross-cultural experience as two of their top four employee traits they seek.

Office of Global Business

Interested in exploring job opportunities in China post-graduation and beyond?

The Office of Career Management is pleased to announce our partnership with LockinChina and the Global University China Career Union (GUCCU) which now connects students from more than 800 global universities to 100,000 job opportunities in China. LockinChina is the first Chinese online recruitment platform committed to providing career development support and employment opportunities for Chinese returnees.

Students interested in exploring job opportunities may visit the following exclusive job portal linkhttps://chinaportal.guccu.org/osu to register and begin applying for positions of interest. Once registered, employers will send specific job opportunities intended for OSU students as well as upcoming career related events and workshops hosted by GUCCU.

Additional Information Explore additional resources available to Fisher students through our partnership with LockinChina and the GUCCU.