F E A T U R E   A R T I C L E Career services for international students

Thinking about an international career?Ê Studying abroad is a good way to prepare.Ê College programs can give you valuable language and cultural experiences while you earn a degree.Ê Many schools proudly advertise the fact that they have diverse student populations and a "global perspective."Ê You can get a wonderful education, but what help can these schools give you when it is time to look for your first job?

Don't make the mistake of believing that internationally focused learning programs also have career assistance for international students.Ê At American colleges, a career center office arranges to have many companies come to campus to meet and interview students for both internships and summer jobs.Ê Graduate professional programs, like business schools, have very extensive campus recruiting programs.Ê It is important to know that the jobs are typically in locations within the United States, and only applicants with American citizenship or appropriate work visas will be considered for positions in these companies.Ê A former career services staff member from a graduate business school in the northeastern U.S. said, "We had a large number of students from European countries and China, but they had a lot of trouble getting any interviews.Ê Most of the companies that recruit here are looking for people that already have work eligibility.Ê They don't want the trouble of having to help someone get a visa."ÊÊ

Those students were frustrated because they expected more opportunities to meet with American company representatives.Ê What can you do to give yourself a better chance to participate in your school's campus recruiting program?Ê Get information ö as early as possible.Ê When researching colleges, be sure to compare career services.Ê Contact the career center office to find out what kind of opportunities they usually have for foreign students.Ê Here are some basic questions you should ask:

• Can the Career Center on campus help you get a work visa?
• Can they tell you what percentage of the campus interviews they schedule are open to international students?
• Does this school participate in any international career or job fairs?
• Can the Career Center help you prepare a resume and learn job search skills that are appropriate in the host country?

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