The information below is focused on assisting all international students with the career development process including the internship and job search process in the U.S. and beyond. Many international students may have F-1 or J-1 visa status and as these visas have different on-campus, off-campus and post-graduation requirements. You are strongly encouraged to visit the International Studies Office (ISO) before seeking any form of employment (paid or unpaid) and remain aware of any applicable restrictions, requirements and deadlines. The information around international student eligibility and requirements is important and dynamic; please do your due diligence to keep abreast with any changes. We at the Career Center are happy to help you as you navigate this process!
Jump to a section:
- UVA Career Resources
- Cultural Guides to Working in the U.S.
- U.S. Employment Regulations & International Friendly Employers
- Internship & Job Search Strategies
- Networking
- UVA Student Groups & Resources
- Career Fairs, Job Databases & Professional Associations
UVA Career Resources
- Career Resources for UVA International Students: Inside of Handshake find advice for talking to employers, lists of companies who have hired UVA international students, videos of UVA international student alumni sharing their advice for finding opportunities in the US and more!
- Pre-Health for International Students: Resources to support your pursue of health professional schools.
- Job Searching as an International Student 10-minute Video:
Cultural Guides to Working in the U.S.
- Common Cultural Barriers and Expectations in the U.S. Workplace
- USA Guide: A Look at American Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
- GoinGlobal has country-specific guides including cultural advice for working in the U.S.
U.S. Employment Regulations & International Friendly Employers
- U.S. Employment Regulations
- H1base.com: includes U.S. immigration details, H1-B visa information, and employment opportunities
- USCIS
- GoinGlobal provides country-specific information on work authorization in countries across the global including the U.S. and Canada.
- The International Students’ Road to Employment in the U.S.
- International Company Directory in Virginia
- How to Find Employers in Handshake
Internship & Job Search Strategies
- Challenges and Misconceptions
- Talking to Employers
- When to Reveal Your International Student Status to an Employer (Brandeis University)
- How to Talk to Employers about Your Work Status as an International Student (University of Colorado Boulder)
- Finding Opportunities and Applying to Jobs in the U.S.
- Myvisajobs.com: another reputable online database of American employers that submitted petitions for H1B visas
- Strategies for Seeking Employment in the U.S.
- Strategies for Seeking Opportunities Outside the U.S.
- How to Navigate a Career Fair (authored by an UVA International Student)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Interviewing with a U.S. Employer
- Practice Answering the question "Tell me about yourself." (get feedback including insight on non-verbal queues, word usage and delivery of speech)
- Additional Resources for International Students
Networking
In seeking advice from any career counselor or advisor in the U.S., you will undoubtedly be advised about the benefits of interviewing for information and networking as a means to finding an internship or job. Indeed, it is common to find employment as a result of having the right connections. The ability to make connections with people, or networking, is a skill you can begin developing while on Grounds. Consider these options:
- How to Conduct an Informational Interview
- Virginia Alumni Mentoring
- UVA Clubs in the U.S. and around the Globe
- Career Advice from UVA International Student Alumni
UVA Student Groups & Resources
- International Students & Scholars Program
- Office of the Dean of Students
- International Student Support Group
- English Learning Support
- International Language Programs at the International Center
- The Writing Center at UVA
- Center for American English Language and Culture English Learners Programs
- Student Organizations
Career Fairs, Job Databases & Professional Associations
- Career Forum (Forms in Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Toyko in the Winter, Shanghai, and Sydney for Japanese-English Bilingual Speakers)
- Career Nation (job postings and resources to connect professionals from Africa and the US)
- European Career Fair
- GradConnection (Primarily Australia but also Asia Pacific)
- Cturtle (Worldwide but primarily Asia)
-
Jobware (Germany)
- JobStreet.com (Primarily South East Asia)
- Latpro (Spanish bilingual jobs)
- Pan-African Professional Alliance
- Recruit Net (Worldwide)