By Tayhana Taylor, World News Editor
For an international student, getting hired in the United States after graduating college is much more than just filling out job applications and waiting to hear responses from companies. At Saint Leo University, the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) provides international students with all the necessary steps, information, and strategies to be legally hired in the U.S.
Saint Leo’s CGE Executive Director, Paige Ramsey-Hamacher, and Assistant Director, Carol Hope-Grant, recommend that international students make use of the job search tool Interstride.
“Interstride is a great tool specifically offered to the international students by Career Services,” said Ramsey-Hamacher. “International students can use it in addition to Handshake to search for jobs after graduation and internships while in school. Interstride also has some great immigration attorneys that keep international students informed.”
Randawnique Coakley—an international student and recent graduate of Saint Leo who studied accounting and economics—explained some resources she took advantage of to ensure she secured a job after graduation.
“I connected with employers through various conferences, networking events, and meetings held by the clubs and organizations that I was a part of and through career fair events held by Career Services,” said Coakley.
Coakley also pointed out that marketing herself was very important while attending these networking conferences.
“While I was talking to the employers at these events, I learned more about the company and the professionals’ experiences, and I shared more about myself. I also had my résumé on hand and asked the employer for their business cards, to email them after this initial meeting,” she said.
All international students planning to apply for jobs in the U.S. after graduation must apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT). OPT is a program offered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows international students to do paid work for a period of 12 months past their graduation date or course completion date. OPT is a continuation of the student’s F-1 visa status and the job that is being applied for must be in the student’s field of study.
OPT authorization by the USCIS can take approximately three months. A student does not need a job offer to apply for OPT, but an applying student must find a job within 90 days of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) start date. International students may apply for OPT no later than 90 days before their coursework completion date and the application must be received by the USCIS no later than 60 days prior to their course completion date.
At Saint Leo’s CGE, Ramsey-Hamacher, and Hope-Grant assist all international students with preparing their OPT application.
“Carol and I work hand-in-hand with students to prepare OPT paperwork and that is not something offered at every university,” said Ramsey-Hamacher. “We just want to ensure that each student’s paperwork is completed properly so that it does not get sent back by the USCIS.”
In order for the OPT application process to go smoothly, students must send an email letter to the CGE from their academic advisor that outlines their majors, minors, and course completion date.
Students must also bring original copies of their passport-size pictures (two are required), passport, and their I-20, I-94, and I-765 forms to the CGE for copies to be made. A cover letter is also required that states the student’s desire to apply for OPT, along with any previous EAD cards, money order, and a credit card payment of $410.00—the fee that must be paid to the USCIS.
During the process of job searching and even after international students have been hired, Ramsey-Hamacher recommends that students “keep planning ahead and continue to stay in touch with their professors, previous employers, and continue to network as much as they can.”
“Doing temporary work with temporary agencies in your field of study is always an option if you do not have a full-time job as yet,” she added.
“International students must remember that the main reason they came to the U.S. is to study, so my main tip for international students looking for jobs would be to search for jobs in your area of study,” said Hope-Grant.
It is encouraged that international students start preparing and getting informed about the job search process before their senior year.
“If students are not preparing themselves in their sophomore or junior year, they may find themselves limited with options when graduation rolls around,” said Coakley.
International students must ensure they are doing their own personal research in addition to the information offered at Saint Leo’s CGE.
“Learning the OPT and H1B work visa process ensures students know the options available to them before they graduate, and they can start to prepare and take steps to help with their job search well in advance,” said Coakley.
For international students, the timeline for preparing documentation, job searching, and getting hired is very strict and limited so these students must ensure that they are making the best use of all the valuable resources Saint Leo offers to international students who are job searching.
Saint Leo’s CGE office is located at the Student Activities Building (SAB), suite #221. International students may call (352) 588-8442 or email global@sainleo.edu to schedule an appointment between the hours of 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. on weekdays.
Students may also feel free to set up their Handshake profile by using Okta to claim their Saint Leo Handshake profile and may email Career Services at careerservices@saintleo.edu.
