The first step in any job or internship search is to reflect on your values, priorities, and identity. The University Career Center is a space where you can ask questions about all aspects of your career readiness. We provide a supportive and non-judgmental environment, and we know how personal identity connects to career decisions. The information below, while not all-encompassing, is intended to help you make informed decisions about your career plans. To suggest additional resources email career@uoregon.edu.
As you navigate a new educational system, a new culture, and perhaps even a new language, it can be challenging to create a professional plan for your future. You may have a desire for on-campus employment, volunteer opportunities, internships related to your major, and goals for future employment when you leave the UO. The University Career Center is here to help! We serve all students, undergraduate, and graduate students, from all majors and departments!
Career Resources
There are many ways for international students to work in the U.S., including while you are an undergraduate student, a graduate student, and potentially after your graduation as well. We recommend connecting with International Student and Scholar Services, and the University Career Center, and familiarizing yourself with USCIS employment regulations. In addition, you may find the following resources helpful!
- Handshake job board
- UO Resources:
- On-Campus Employment
- Curricular Practical Training — CPT
- Optional Practical Training — OPT
- OPT Extension for STEM — If you have completed a degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or mathematics) field and you are already on post-completion OPT, you may be eligible for a 24-month extension of your OPT to work in a STEM field. To qualify for the extension, USCIS must receive your application no later than the last day of your current post-completion OPT authorization period.
- Handshake quick search: OPT/CPT for International Students
- Handshake quick search: Employers who will sponsor or don't require a US work visa
- GoinGlobal — access for free while a student within Handshake. Find job search resources, global résumé/cv guidelines, and 16 million global positions. Search for H1B visa applications by location, occupation, and company name, and identify U.S. employers that have hired international professionals with your skill set.
- Transitions Abroad: provides expert advice, inspirational first-hand experiences, and practical resources for anyone wishing to explore the possibilities.
- My Visa Jobs — Identify employers who have sponsored visas in the past and explore top lists of employers by Status, Career, Title, City, and Industry.
- H1B Grader — Millions of data points were collected from the US Department of Labor (DOL) and USCIS related to H1B Sponsors that every H1B holder needs to know.
- Interstride Blog — lots of great articles for international students on everything from navigating visa processes to preparing an American-style résumé.
- How to find scholarships and financial aid as an International graduate student
- How to prepare an American résumé as an international student
What can the University Career Center offer me as an international student?
- Document Reviews of Scholarship and Fellowship Applications
- Document Reviews of Résumés and Cover Letters in a U.S. style, and CVs for the global job market and academia
- Assistance with the Graduate School application process, Graduate Employment (GE) Applications, and Post-Doc Applications
- The Job Hunt, during your time as a student, and up to one year after graduation
- Tips for Networking with Professional Organizations, in and outside your field!
- Practice Interviews
- Help Reviewing Job Offers and Compensation Packages; Tips for Negotiating
- Career Coaching individualized appointments. Make an appointment with a Career Readiness Coach today!
Connect with Professionals and Peers
Networking is simply talking and building relationships with professionals in careers that interest you to help you learn what it’s like to work in a particular role, field, or industry. In addition to on-campus opportunities, such as student clubs and organizations, volunteering, and on-campus employment, there are several ways to network with other UO alumni. You can find UO alumni groups across the world, UO alumni on LinkedIn, and depending on your major, alumni from your academic colleges who are eager to connect with you. Examples include Lundquist Connect, specifically for majors and minors from the Lundquist College of Business to network and connect.
On Campus Student Groups and Resources
- Mills International Center — A welcoming place for international students, the community, and globally-minded folks to connect! Also, a great place to study, and get caught up on international news.
- International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)
- Student Clubs and Organizations – There are over 400 student clubs and organizations at the UO! Find one here or start your own!