Global Resumes: How MU’s International Students Get the Job

Photo: Marymount University Flickr, January 17, 2017

Marymount is home to a diverse international student body. How do our international students mix professional work experience into their time in the US? 

By: Nouf Alhuwaivi

They left their countries, families, and friends behind believing that a better education to improve their lives is waiting for them here in the U.S., Land of dreams, at least for those international students who are full of high hopes and expectations about what is waiting for them after graduation. However, these high hopes and expectations are limited by rules and regulations.

International students are allowed to work on or off campus through Curricular Practical Training (CPT), or Optional Practical Training (OPT). To maintain their student status and avoid termination, students must apply through these two options. For more specific details regarding laws and regulations that Homeland Security allocates for international students prior they apply for Optional Practical Traning (OPT).  

For some, it is better to go with OPT because it offers 12 months of work experience and in some cases 24 months depending on the student’s major, but there is a process where each student’s application can be approved or denied by the Department of Homeland Security. The office of U.S citizenship and immigration services keeps track of the students’ legal status in the country. It is important for international students to ensure that any position they are interested in is related to their field of study otherwise they might face some challenges to be accepted or hired. It is a great opportunity for international students to expand their career interests to see the world from a different perspective.

Ximena Marin, an international student at Marymount majoring in psychology, received her associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College where after she was able to apply for OPT and worked for a year before transferring to Marymount University. Marin came to the U.S. three years ago to expand her interests in psychology through both work and study. Marin left her country and family behind to have a better education because she knew that her education will be her pass to great opportunities. She used to work for an international office in her previous school and had the chance to learn more about OPT while working to assist other international students.

“I used to work for the international office and this is how I found out about OPT,” Marin said. She did not know first whether majoring in psychology was the way to go or not.

“I did not know if I wanted to study psychology,” said Marin. “I wanted to gain work experience and also, to save money.”

International students have the right to either work as a full time or part time during their Optional Practical Training. If the student decides to use his or her OPT while studying by working as a part time employee, it is known as pre-completion, where he/she can use four or six months and finish the remaining months when they graduate as long as they do not go over the 12 months’ limit. In Marin’s case a full time is known as post-completion because she had to graduate first before working full time. Marin’s experience with OPT has opened many doors to her career goals. When asked how long did it take to receive her work authorization card Marin’s response was that “it took 2 to 3 months, after I did my own job search without any help and to be honest it was easy.”

However, that is not the case for some students who complain that finding a job as an international student is not easy.

This is in contrast to Marin’s experience through exchanging information with other students about OPT. “Every interview I have been to, they asked if I have a legal permission to work in the country, some they asked at the end of the interview after everything is being talk about,” Marin explained in regard to positions and interviews how indicating proof of permission to work made things easier for her.

OPT helped her to be more involved in her field of study.  “I was working with real people with serious conditions instead of reading about psychological problems.” She added, “Working helped me a lot to gain working skills, I learned a lot of things because I worked with experts and professionals in the field of psychology.”

“I want to make good connections and I want to take an advantage of the opportunity that I have.”

Being able to embrace the differences and similarities between cultures and work atmospheres is an amazing way of learning and improvement.

International students are required to go through a specific process to obtain these training approvals. Also, to understand this process better, Eliot N. Uhl, the Assistant Director of the International Student Services at Marymount University, explains in detail what the rules are that international students follow to obtain and sustain their legal status in the country.

Uhl says that “school officials recommend international students to apply for OPT through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). OPT is optional for those who are interested so it is not required or mandatory for students.According to Uhl, 20 to 25 percent apply for OPT.  He also said that “students with stem majors (Biology, Math, and information Technology) get 24 months whereas students with other majors get 12 months.”

The school’s responsibility is to suggest considering OPT after graduation to improve students’ work skills, and also, to show where and when students can apply for OPT. According to Uhl in the past there were workshops where students can participate and exchange information. However, now students can find an online presentation covering the basics and also, there are one- on-one meetings besides the information presented during the orientation week.

“It is the student’s responsibility to search and identify a job for themselves, or use the careers services,” said Uhl. Once the application is approved by USCIS the student will receive a work authorization card. Without that card, students are not allowed to start working and their status in the country will be questioned.

Even though students undertake their own job search process, it is the office’s responsibility to keep tracking the students’ updates because their status still falls under the office to maintain their F1 student visa.

“Students must report employment information (address for example),” Uhl said, so students get their legal documents updated, most importantly their I-20 documents by adding where the student is currently working and time estimated because this is the student’s approval to exit and reenter the country without facing any issues with immigration.

What happens to students after OPT? Uhl says that “after finishing OPT students have 60 days’ grace period to have everything ready to exit the country or transfer to another school.” Examining a student’s perspective is another way to find useful information especially if she/he has already done a year of OPT after graduation.

Arosha Asif, a student at Marymount University, also took advantage of the program.

Asif said, “I wanted to take an advantage of the given opportunity and gain a real experience.”  Asif had to go through the same process as Marin before starting to work anywhere. However, for Asif finding a job was not as pleasant as it was for Marin. “Finding a job was difficult and stressful,” said Asif and she added “but it was great experience and I met great people while working.”

Asif who applied for OPT as pre-completion while studying did not think that working has affected her performance in school. “I was doing full time OPT so I did not have any issues with studies.”

When asked if OPT will open doors for her, she beamed, “It surely will!”

To exchange information, International Student Services provides help when it is needed to make sure those who are interested are following the laws towards when a student is and is not eligible to work. Offering such an opportunity is helping these students to use what they learned in school by investing in their career fields and making contributions to their societies.