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Internship and Job Search Guide
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Marquette University
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Career Services Center
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Class Checklists
International Students
Most international students (F-1 visa) usually have chosen a major or have a good idea of what they want to
study by the time they arrive as freshmen at Marquette. Listed here are tips and resources specific to
international students. These should be used in addition to the services and resources listed for all students.
Research careers using on-line resources, informational interviewing, job shadowing, and networking
with professionals in your career interest area.
Identify skills employers seek and transferable skills you possess.
Begin building your professional network using the MU Connect: Career Alumni Network database.
Gain skills through career-related experiences, such as internships, co-ops, part-time or summer jobs,
volunteer activities and service learning
F-1 visa students have the possibility of doing one year of Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
which allows an international student to participate in special required academic work
programs or possibly do internships for academic credit. If you have the opportunity to use
Curricular Practical Training (CPT), take advantage of it as students are more competitive if they
have had one or two internships.
Develop a resume and e-mail it as an attachment to be critiqued to
career.services@marquette.edu.Develop an excellent American resume. In general, American resumes contain information that
speak to your ability, skills and experience to do a certain job. Employers cannot ask questions
that go beyond your ability to do a job. For example, you should not put personal information
on the resume like your age, race or your parents’ occupations.
Register with MU CareerTRAK to view full-time positions, participate in on campus interviews, and
become eligible for the resume referral program.
Develop a job search plan. Need help? Make an appointment with a career counselor.
There are more jobs in the U.S. open to international students in the technical fields: computer
science, IT and engineering. Jobs are also a bit more in demand in the accounting field.
However, when the economy is soft, it is more difficult for F-1 students to find a position.
If you cannot find a position in the U.S., your next best plan may be to seek an international job.
Since you have studied abroad, know two or more languages and have an excellent degree, you
make a good employment prospect for worldwide employers.
Research companies that tend to issue H1-B sponsorships. Many employers do not want to
sponsor H1-B visas for the following reasons:
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They are unfamiliar with the process and know that hiring an American is much easier.
Therefore it helps if the international student knows the process and can explain the steps
in detail.
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Fear that the international student will sooner or later want to return to the home country.
Training costs employers. (In big companies, the hiring and training of one employees costs
upwards of $8,000.)
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Lack of top language skills. Many employers expect employees to have excellent
communication skills. Even though international students can speak and write English, it is
often not at the standard that employers desire.
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Some employers feel that by issuing H1-B visas, they are depriving Americans of positions.
Therefore the international student must be able to explain that the government allows
around 65,000 H1-B visas each year and that if a visa is not issued to you, it will go to
another student for another company.
Practice your interviewing skills. Get interviewing feedback through a mock interview. Don’t be afraid
to sell yourself! Let employers know your skills and what challenges you have overcome by studying
abroad.
Attend career fairs so that you can talk to many employers in a short time span, present them with
your resume, and verbally give them a short summary of what you have to offer.