Resources for International Students

We recognize there are unique challenges for international students when it comes to searching for internships and jobs. We know that international students bring unique skills and benefits to employers, and we want to help you navigate the complexities of securing opportunities to adavnce your career.

We recommend that international students consider adopting a global job search approach; one that takes advantage of resources to target internship, networking , and job opportunities in their home country, the United States, and the rest of the world.

Whatever path you choose, we are here to help you succeed. Below you will find a few tips from our work with your classmates.

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FAQ's

*This document is for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice

1. What is sponsorship? “Sponsorship” does not mean “work visa” or “H-1B.” In immigration, a “sponsor” is just who facilitates a particular status, which means that F-1/J-1 students are already sponsored by the University of Notre Dame. This includes students who have graduated and are authorized for F-1 OPT or J-1 AT. You may work for an employer who is willing to sponsor you for an employment-based immigration status (ex. H-1B, E-3, EB-1, etc.), which you would need if you plan to work in the US beyond your current F-1/J-1 student status. For more information about employment-based visa classifications, see the USCIS web page.

2. How do I know which companies will sponsor me? - While there is no way to know in advance if a company would choose to sponsor you, data is available on which companies have applied to sponsor international employees in the past. One strategy that is often successful is to pursue internships with companies that have a history of applying to sponsor employees. It is important to remember that just because a company is willing to sponsor some applicants/employees, doesn't mean they are willing to sponsor all applicants, and just because the company is willing to sponsor someone doesn't mean the work authorization will be granted. Sites like Interstride , CareerShift , and MyVisaJobs allow you to filter for this.

3. What is CPT? - Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization for F-1 visa holders to gain practical work experience as part of their Notre Dame degree. CPT can include internships, cooperative education, or other required practicums. See the CPT web page for more information.

4. What is OPT? - Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of work authorization allowing F1 visa holders to work in their field of study (but is not tied to their degree completion). While most students are eligible for 12 months of OPT per degree level, STEM-designated majors are eligible to apply for a 24-month OPT extension. See OPT/CPT handout for more information. See the OPT web page for more information.

5. When should I tell a recruiter/hiring manager that I'm an international student? Unless citizenship is a requirement of the job, US employers cannot ask about your immigration status until after an offer is made. That being said, you are often your best advocate for a job and it may be advantageous to mention your work authorization benefits and elaborate on your responses to the screening questions (e.g. “Are you legally authorized to work in the US? Will you now or in the future require sponsorship?”). A hiring manager doesn’t want to know about your “international student” status as much as they want to know about your work authorization restrictions and you never want the employer to feel misled. 

It’s typically not advisable to begin a conversation with a potential employer by asking, “Do you sponsor?” as this could reduce your candidacy to what you want from them versus what you could provide to them. Most international students are eligible for 1-3 years of post-graduation work without further sponsorship. It may be best to lead with that and get to the question of sponsorship once you have built a relationship.

Do your best to research in advance to see if that organization has sponsored foreign nationals for previously, and if they sponsor in the specific area/division you wish to work in.

6. What if I can't find an employer who will sponsor me? - Whether or not you find a company that wants to sponsor you, it’s important to invest in backup plans. Give your best creative efforts towards your dream scenario, but make sure to network and apply to other opportunities that could help you at least use your OPT or offer you meaningful work outside of the United States. A clearly defined “plan A” and “plan B” will set you up well. Interstride has some great planning tools, including this video.

 

7. What kind of work authorization am I eligible for as an F-1 student? Employment for students is either categorized as “on-campus” or “off-campus” employment. To determine on vs. off campus employment, there are three questions to consider:

• • Who is paying you? (answer should be “ND” for on-campus employment)

  • Where is the work being done? (answer should be “ND’s campus” for on-campus employment)

  • Is the work serving ND students in some way? (answer should be “yes” for on-campus employment)

  • For F-1 students, off-campus employment authorization options are typically limited to CPT and OPT. The primary difference is that CPT must be an integral part of the student’s program and can therefore only be done before meeting degree requirements. Not all students have CPT available to them, as it depends on their program. See more about CPT and OPT here.
    
    

8. What do I need to consider for my internship / job options? -
   Students in F-1 status should have employment authorization for any off-campus work, sometimes even for “unpaid” positions. Your options for employment will depend on the following:

• • Your major - All off-campus work must be directly related to your major.

  • Where you are in your program - You must have been enrolled in your academic program for at least one academic year (fall and spring semesters) before you can apply for off-campus work authorization, and certain kinds of work authorization (ex. CPT) are only available to you during your I-20 program dates.

  • Time requirements - You can engage in part-time employment during the academic year, with exceptions during designated school breaks.

  • Looping in the right people -

    • Academic Advisor or PI - parameters for work related to your academic program (ex. Letting them know about your internship, enrollment in program internship course)

    • CCD - resume assistance, networking with employers, etc.

    • ISSA - work authorization benefits, SSN process, etc.

Here are some scenerios that may help put these answers in context: 

• Sarah is an athlete on the ND swim team who is double majoring in Economics and Finance. She has a job offer to teach swimming classes at a camp this summer. Both Economics and Finance have internship components for students to access CPT; however, this job is not related to either major so CPT is not possible and Sarah cannot accept this position.
• Maria is a Neuroscience student with a job offer for the upcoming summer that is related to her major. Maria’s major does not have an internship component that would allow her to access CPT for this position. She will need to talk to ISSA about the possibility of using OPT for this job.
• Qiang has an unpaid internship in NYC next summer, but the company is giving him a subway card and a one-time $500 stipend to assist with his expenses. Since Qiang is still receiving some compensation for this internship, he should talk to ISSA about applying for work authorization.
• Andrea is a junior with a Business Analytics major and a Spanish minor. She was offered a part-time spring internship with the state health department, where she will be analyzing the effectiveness of public health initiatives. She also has an offer with the state health department once she graduates. Andrea is eligible for CPT for her spring internship, as the work she is doing is directly related to her major. She will also apply for OPT before she completes her program to begin her work after graduation.
• Ramesh is a freshman with a Chemistry major. He has been accepted to join the PATH Rising Teacher internship in the summer, where he will be creating lesson plans and teaching Chemistry to elementary students. By the end of his spring semester, Ramesh would have completed his first full-time academic year, and the internship is related to his Chemistry major. He would be eligible to apply for CPT.

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F1/J1 Work Authorization

As an international student, there is a lot to consider when pursuing internships and jobs, so be sure you're well versed on the regulations of your work authorization.

Check out this guide to OPT and CPT - If needed, this document can be shared with current or prospective employers to help them understand their involvement with OPT and CPT processes.

Below are links to important information about CPT, OPT, and the STEM extension.

• F1 visa and CPT
• F1 visa and OPT
• STEM extension for F1 OPT

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Job Search Resources

When considering applying for jobs in the United States, we highly recommend meeting with an advisor in the International Student and Scholar Affairs Office to determine your visa requirements for your internship or full-time job after graduation.

Finding Work in the U.S.

Many U.S. based organizations value the diversity that international students bring to their organizations.

• Use Handshake and filter for work authorization
• Interstride - The #1 way international students find jobs, immigration support and network. Designed for international students, by former international students.
• myvisajobs.com: View opportunities and U.S. companies that sponsor
  • Work Visa USA: MyVisaJobs.com blog featuring career/work topics
• Goinglobal: Resource for organizations that submitted H1B requests
• H1Base: USA Immigration, Work Visa and Employment Solutions
• USCIS.gov: United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• US Department of State: Bureau of Consular Affairs
• Job and Internship Databases section of the website
• Meruelo Family Center for Career Development on-line resources for additional industry specific sites

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Finding Work in Other Countries

• Goinglobal: This online resource provides country and city specific career and employment information, including worldwide job and internship postings, H1B employer listings, and career resources updated daily.
• IrishCompass: Create an account and look for alumni from your home country or countries of interest utilizing filters.
• International Notre Dame Alumni Clubs: Look for alumni in the country where you wish to work. Another excellent took to find and connect with alumni around the world.
• Guccu - China Job Board: Contains the most detailed and updated information reflecting the current situation of the Chinese market. 35,000 employers are registered here. New job vacancies are posted daily and updated every 2 weeks.
• Universumglobal: This site provides global insights and employer rankings
• EURES: The European Employment Services allows you to filter jobs by country, sector or occupations.
• Make it in Germany: Germany-specific site to understand visa requirements and prerequisites to work in Germany.

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Finding On Campus Jobs

Finding work on-campus is easier for international students than it is to find work off campus due to visa regulations. Visit the Notre Dame Student Employment website for opportunities, or connect with departments of interest.

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Companies That Hire International Students

Below is a list of companies that have hired Notre Dame international graduates in recent years. More information can be found in the First Destination Survey data. Search engines like Interstride and Career Shift also provide H1B filtered job searches.

U.S.	ABROAD
Deloitte	Arthur D. Little
PwC	Wayfair Berlin
EY	Accenture
Goldman Sachs	Goldman Sachs
JP Morgan	Norges Investment Management
Citigroup	Biogen
Bank of America	Ascent Network
KPMG	University of Notre Dame - Abroad
Credit Suisse	Wang Leonard
University of Notre Dame	Walter Services Germany
Bain
Morgan Stanley
Amazon
Morningstar
Microsoft
Google
Deutsche Bank
Eli Lily
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Black Rock
Barclays
Accenture
William Blair
USC Consulting
Texas Instruments
Procter & Gamble
Grant Thornton
UBS
Capital One
Cisco
Tesla
Akuna Capital
Microsoft
Facebook
IBM
Adobe
Metlife
LinkedIN
Kearney
Ares
Capgemini
Intel
LEK Consulting
Apple

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Access the Database: International Student Outcomes Database

Employer FAQ: Hiring International Studnets on OPT/CPT

1. What is OPT, and why should my business care?

Answer: OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a work authorization that allows international students in the U.S. to work for up to 12 months (or up to 36 months for STEM fields) after they complete their studies. It allows businesses like yours to hire highly skilled, educated talent without requiring sponsorship during the OPT period. You don’t need to file any paperwork to hire someone on OPT; the student handles this with their school and U.S. immigration authorities.

2. What is CPT, and how is it different from OPT?

Answer: CPT (Curricular Practical Training) allows international students to work off-campus while they are still enrolled in their degree program. It’s typically used for internships, co-op programs, or part-time jobs that are related to their field of study. Students can work full-time on CPT during school breaks. Unlike OPT, CPT requires that the job be directly related to their curriculum. As an employer, you may need to provide a formal offer letter, but you do not have to file any forms with the government.

3. Do I need to sponsor an employee who is on OPT or CPT?

Answer: No, you do not need to sponsor a student who is on OPT or CPT. Students on these programs are already authorized to work. For OPT, they will have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card, and for CPT, their work authorization will be noted on their Form I-20 (a document provided by their school).

4. How long can a student work on OPT?

Answer: A student can work on OPT for up to 12 months after completing their degree. If they have a STEM degree (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), they can apply for a 24-month extension, giving them a total of 36 months of work authorization.

5. What kind of paperwork do I need to handle if I hire someone on OPT or CPT?

Answer: For OPT, you only need to verify the employee’s authorization by checking their EAD card (Employment Authorization Document) during the I-9 employment verification process. For CPT, you should see a notation on their Form I-20 confirming their authorization to work. You are not required to file any additional forms with U.S. immigration authorities for OPT or CPT hires.

6. Can I hire a student on CPT for a part-time position?

Answer: Yes, students on CPT can work part-time (20 hours or less per week) during the school semester and full-time during school breaks if authorized. The work must be directly related to their field of study and must be approved by their school.

7. What is the process for hiring someone on OPT or CPT?

Answer:

• Interview and Offer: Interview the student as you would any other candidate. If you decide to hire them, extend an offer.

• Verify Work Authorization: For OPT, check their EAD card for the work authorization dates. For CPT, request their Form I-20 to confirm they are authorized to work for your company.

• Onboard as Usual: Complete the standard I-9 form and onboarding process as you would for any employee.

8. What happens when a student's OPT expires?

Answer: When OPT expires, the student’s work authorization ends unless they have applied for another type of work visa, such as an H-1B. If you want to keep the employee after their OPT period, you can sponsor them for an H-1B visa, which allows them to work for up to six years. It’s advisable to start this process well before the OPT period expires.

9. What is the H-1B visa, and how do I sponsor an employee for it?

Answer: The H-1B is a work visa that allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. To sponsor an H-1B, your business will need to file a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of the employee. There are filing fees, and the process can be competitive since there’s a cap on the number of H-1B visas issued each year. If approved, the employee can work for your business for up to six years, in three-year increments.

10. Can a student on OPT work part-time or remotely?

Answer: Yes, students on OPT can work part-time or full-time, and they can also work remotely. The job must be directly related to their field of study. Be sure to maintain proper records of employment, as students need to report their employment details to their school.

11. What are the benefits of hiring a student on OPT or CPT?

Answer:

• No Sponsorship Needed Initially: Students on OPT or CPT do not require visa sponsorship from your business, which saves time and money.

• Access to Skilled Talent: You can hire highly educated and motivated candidates who are often trained in specialized fields.

• Diversity and Fresh Perspectives: International students bring diverse backgrounds and new perspectives that can enrich your workplace culture.

12. What if I want to keep an employee after their OPT or CPT period ends?

Answer: If you want to continue employing an international student after their OPT or CPT period ends, you will need to sponsor them for a work visa, such as an H-1B visa. Consider starting this process early because it involves filing applications with USCIS and may be subject to annual caps.

13. What is the STEM OPT extension, and how does it work?

Answer: The STEM OPT extension allows students with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics to extend their OPT period by 24 months. For your business, this means the student can continue working for you for a total of up to 36 months without needing sponsorship. To qualify, your company must be enrolled in E-Verify, a free web-based system that allows businesses to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.

14. Is it legal to ask candidates about their visa status during an interview?

Answer: You can ask if a candidate is authorized to work in the U.S. and if they will need sponsorship now or in the future. However, you should not ask directly about their visa type, nationality, or specific immigration status. Keep your questions focused on work authorization to avoid potential discrimination.

15. How do I verify that a student on OPT or CPT is authorized to work?

Answer:

• For OPT, the student should provide their EAD card, which shows the dates they are authorized to work. During the I-9 process, you can verify these dates.

• For CPT, the student will provide a Form I-20 that shows their work authorization details, including the employer’s name and the dates they are allowed to work.