Hello Everyone, today I am going to talk about how International Students who are expecting to graduate this summer or spring can prepare for their OPT and plan for job search in the USA. This video is targeted to help the students understand the steps which they need to take in order to seamlessly apply for the OPT and find a job. Job search in the USA for international students can be stressful.
Today, I will guide you through the steps which can make these times a bit easier. To begin with OPT application, I would like to brief you all about a few details which can get you started. Optional Practical Training or OPT is a permitted 12-month working period for undergraduate and graduate students on F-1 visas who have finished their degrees or have studied in the U.S. for nine or more months. OPT duration is 3 years for the students who are graduating with a STEM degree. During this period, graduates are allowed to actually work and get paid. OPT opportunities can sometimes lead to H1B working visa and ultimately a green card. Either way, working in the U.S. for a year or 3 is still an invaluable experience that can open doors anywhere in the world. If you are an international student planning to apply for OPT, here are 3 key tips to set yourself up for success:
Number 1 is to take advantage when to graduate. Most students graduate in the summer. That means if you toss your cap in June, you’ll be facing a lot more competition for jobs and OPT positions. Whereas if you graduate a semester early or later i.e. in December you will face less competition. For that you can either take summer classes and graduate early or apply for extended internships and graduate later.
Number 2 is to Apply for the OPT as soon as possible. Apply the first day of your last quarter in school and don’t wait around until you get a job. You can apply before you even start looking for your job, and up to 90 days before you finish school. USCIS is receiving applications from across the nation, which means the process will take a long time — maybe three months or even longer. Therefore, applying early is the key.
Number 3 is to Choose your OPT start date wisely. Yes, you are allowed to choose your OPT start date. The good news is that USCIS gives you 2 months after graduation before starting your OPT. However, the OPT start date cannot be any later than 2 months after your course end date. For example, if your course ends on 15th June, your OPT start date can be any date between 16th June to 15th August. Here, it is important for you to note that with OPT status you can stay in the U.S. for 90 days while unemployed and the 12-month or 3 years of work period begins on the start date you choose on your application. If you are going on a graduation trip or vacation, do not set the start date for the day you graduate. You need some time to find a job, so select the OPT start date to be the date when you are confident that you will have a job.
Moving on to the next stage. Filing an OPT application is just the first step but now the main task at hand is to be job ready. Here are a few things you can do during your last term in school to improve your chances: First thing to do is to Be honest with yourself. To be honest, employers like long-term employees with local knowledge and connections. U.S. laws that prohibit discrimination between job applicants don’t necessarily stop them from picking an American citizen over you. For this reason, it is essential to make your professional profile and network extremely strong. During your last term at college, it will be very helpful to you if you establish connections and develop relationships with employees who are currently working at your dream company. Establishing a relationship takes time and that is why, it is advised to start developing a network as soon as possible so that when you need a referral for your dream job, you can simply ask your connection and move forward without wasting time. You can create a strong network for yourself by getting an internship, going to events, volunteering, meeting professionals and simply putting yourself out there without being afraid to ask for help. Just keep in mind that there is nothing to lose and one single connection can help you get your dream job. Bottom line: pass all of your classes and meet graduation requirements, but don’t let that stop you from getting out there and building connections.
Secondly, you should Practice applying for jobs. Go to linkedin, glassdoor and indeed and Look at all the job requirements and start applying for jobs right now! You have to wait until your EAD card arrives to start working, but you don’t need the EAD Card to apply for jobs. It’s not illegal to start interviewing just for the experiences. The best practice is to apply at startups and for those jobs which you are fine losing. Take every chance to polish your cover letter and resume which will prepare you for the future. This practice will help you brush up your answers to the interview questions, you will learn what employers like in your profile, what they dont and you can use this time to improve your profile to an extent which will give you immense confidence to crack the interview when you apply for that dream job of yours.
When it comes to actually landing that dream job that will allow you to complete your 1 or 3 years of Optional Practical Training, there are many things you need to pay attention to. More on that in my next video. Stay tuned to learn how you can crack an interview and get your dream job in the United States of America. Until then, feel free to connect with me if you have any confusion about OPT application and prepping yourself for the real job search. Have a successful week ahead and cheers to all of you from Your Career Goal.
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