How Can International Students Improve Their Chances of Working in the US?

Whenever possible it makes sense for international business students to exploit gaps that may exist in the US labor market. Many international students have the cognitive foundation to excel in roles that domestic candidates may not be that interested in. This is often because the job may seem a bit too technical in nature or too quant driven. There are several sectors international students should explore. For example, social, mobile, cloud, data analytics, artificial intelligence, healthcare, accounting, and the digitization of everything are growth areas where the supply of qualified candidates is low. And it’s not just technology. I always ask students to pay attention to the blurring of industry lines. Companies require people who are skilled at helping make sense of the great number of data points they collect from clients. Credit card firms along with airlines and hospitality, for example, have been open to hiring international business students in the past. These are normally good targets.

The other day I was doing some work with an international MBA from India who was very worried. Graduation was fast approaching and she had only had one or two interviews. Her job prospects did not look good and in her own words, everyone else in her class was making progress but not her.

I took some time to review her profile and my question was: why have you not received at least three job offers? She thought I was joking but I was not. She had a strong profile with skills and work experience that could be easily marketed to the right employers. She had academic training for biotechnology in her home country, and she knew how to properly calculate the costs, risks and rewards that pharmaceutical firms normally incur when they want to enter a new drug market.

This student was sitting on a gold mine in terms of experience and equipped with a desirable skill set but she felt the odds were completely against her. Her belief was that her profile was not competitive enough for her to secure a good H1-B job in the US after graduation. However, with a little bit of help, she has now secured a great job in the US, in her field of choice. She also got lucky and secured her H1-B visa.

Another common issue I see is the pressure international students impose on themselves in order to pitch themselves to others. This is such as outdated and ineffective way to build relationships. However, it is something that is still very prevalent in the minds of international students. I have learned that is takes some time to undo this mindset. International students should consider that while the US is a very sales driven society, nobody actually wants to be sold anything. International students are far better off learning the art of asking good questions and listening attentively instead. Job leads tend to come as a result of good interactions not off the back of a pre-rehearsed sales pitch.

There are many reasons, but here’s how I like to think about this challenge. US children start hearing the phrase “good job” the minute they are born and they are often told by their parents not to be shy about promoting their talents to the world. It’s a very different story for international students. Many of us have never taken the time to think about what it is we do well. International students may know they achieve academically, but often that is the extent of it. And it gets worse: many have been taught to be humble and not to draw attention to themselves. I tell international students that within the new context they find themselves in, it is crucial to identify with and promote their strengths, in a way they are not necessarily accustomed to.

Remember that companies want job seekers to be connected with their current employees. It should never be understated how far a recommendation can get you. Top firms do not want you to apply for job openings on their website because typically it is an ineffective way for them to find top hires. Companies want you to skip the line as a job seeker. 

Marcelo Barros is the author of The International Advantage Get Noticed. Get Hired!, a job search guide for international students, and founder of The International Advantage. Barros partners with university career centers to prepare international students for the US job market. Connect with Barros on LinkedIn.