Posted by The Wasserman Center for Career Development offers many opportunities for international students to best prepare for internships and professional life in the U.S. On March 6th the NYU SPS International Club and the Wasserman Center at SPS co-hosted a panel for students with questions about CPT, OPT, H1B and on-campus employment. “Meet and Greet: Tips to Succeed in the U.S. Job Market” was held to educate international students on visa-related job opportunities during and after their studies.
A common theme mentioned by the panelists is that confidence is an important characteristic needed to successfully find a job or internship. International students report they often feel at a disadvantage when seeking employment compared to American students because of language barriers or cultural differences. The panelists, however, encouraged international students to turn away from that fear and focus, rather, on their strengths. For example, most international students speak more than one language and have previous work experience in their home country, which provides an important global perspective.
Another important characteristic the panelists addressed was persistence. One panelist explained there is a good chance that if you knock on twenty doors, only one will be opened for you. Panelists encouraged students to not become frustrated or defeated if they don’t find a job or internship right away. If they keep “knocking”, the right opportunity will eventually open up.
The panelists also shared that when employers are looking for a candidate, they often search for what is unique about the person being interviewed and what they can bring to the table, rather than common skills that almost every other candidate possesses. Therefore, it is important for international students to self-assess and identify what area(s) they excel, then leverage these areas to impress employers.
Interested in learning more? On Thursday April 9th, 2015, from 3:30pm-5:00pm, the Wasserman Center at SPS and the International Student Support Center are co-hosting an event titled, Succeeding in Your Internship for International Students. Come to the 5th Floor Lounge at 7 East 12th Street to learn insider tips about how to make the most of your internship in the U.S. You will have the opportunity to meet and speak directly with professionals working with international students, NYU international alumni and NYU international second-year graduate students about how to navigate U.S. work culture and employer expectations. We hope to see you- RSVP here!
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