International Students

Skills for Success

Communication

The Minnesota English Language Program offers many resources and tips for non-native English speakers on speaking, reading, academic skills and US culture.

Want to practice your conversational skills? Check out these opportunities and student groups.

Leadership and Teamwork

Many employers look for leadership and teamwork skills in their candidates. Check out the following opportunities to develop these skills.

• Leadership Minor
• UMN Student Organizations
• ISSS Student Programs

Build Career Experience as a Student

Student Employment

• Gain professional experience through working on campus! There are a variety of types of on-campus student jobs and internships, you can learn more on the Student Employment Website.
• International Students are able to work up to 20 hours a week, visit the ISSS page to understand more about working on campus for F-1 students and for J-1 students.

Research

• UMN is a top 10 public research university, where it is possible for all students to participate in research activities
• Undergraduate students: visit the Office of Undergraduate Research page to learn more about participating in research and also review the Frequently asked Questions and answers.

Volunteering

• Volunteering is doing an activity for the benefit of the community without receiving payment or compensation for your efforts
• UMN has the Center for Community Engaged Learning where you can learn more about volunteering in the Twin Cities area, as well as Service Learning courses that you can take for credit, and the Community Engaged Scholars Program
• Volunteering has many benefits, personally and professionally! Learn more why volunteering can help your career development from Idealist.

Informational Interview

An informational interview is a casual conversation with someone working in a position that you are interested in, and it can help you learn about a job, a career path, a company, or an industry. It’s a common practice in the U.S.

But if you have never done this before, it could be intimidating, even for domestic students. Here are some great tips to get you started!

Connect with International Alumni

• One of the first steps of informational interview is finding the person you want to speak to. UMN alumni are happy to help, especially our international alumni!
• Talking to international UMN alumni can help you discover opportunities and strategies you may not have thought of before. Join the Maroon & Gold Network to access UMN alumni and friends of the university who have volunteered to connect with students.

Interviewing

• Interview Prep Tips
• Practice interviewing online through InterviewPrep 
• Schedule a practice interview at your career office

Before searching for an internship or a job, whether it is paid or unpaid, on or off campus, it’s important to understand immigration requirements and university policies regarding your visa type. 

For F-1 Students

• Off Campus Employment:
  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is work authorization which allows a student to work in a job directly related to the student‘s major area of study before degree completion. CPT authorization is provided by ISSS and can be granted within 7 business days of application submission.
  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) is work authorization which allows a student to work in a job directly related to the student‘s major area of study either before or after degree completion. OPT authorization is provided by USCIS and is usually granted within 2-3 months after the student submits an application.
• On-Campus Employment for F-1 Students. 

For J-1 Students

• Off Campus Employment
• On-Campus Employment 

H-1B Visa Info

• H-1B Status Frequently Asked Questions
• Every semester, ISSS hosts an workshop on employment-based visa options such as H-1B, O-1, and L-1 visas. 
• View these workshops on the ISSS event calendar or sign up for the ISSS Weekly Update to receive notifications about these events.

Job and Internship Search Sites

• Handshake: Job, Internship, Volunteer Posting and Career Events database for U of M students
• Indeed.com
• LinkedIn.com 

Consider a Variety of Career Options

• MN Nonprofit Job Board: Many government organizations and nonprofits hire international students for internship positions. Meet these employers at the Government & Nonprofit Career Fair. 
• Staffing Agencies: Staffing agencies hire short-term, temporary positions on behalf of other companies. These could be great opportunities to gain experience in addition to internships. 
• Check with your career center for major and industry specific job posting sites

International Student Friendly Companies

Use these resources to research companies in the United States that are likely to be international student friendly. When exploring these resources it is important to use your research skills. Take note about the job title and salary range to understand whether the position is for entry level, mid-level, or experienced professionals.

• US Citizenship & Immigration Services H-1B Data Hub
• Myvisajobs.com is an “employment website for foreign workers seeking opportunities in the United States.” Here are some tips for navigating this tool:
  • Just because an organization listed on this site has sponsored H-1B visas, that does not necessarily mean they will hire international students and/or recent graduates.
  • When searching for visa sponsors, you can check the “Cap Exempt” box to see employers that are exempt from the H-1B cap.
• H-1B Grader

GoinGlobal is a resource website for global careers, it is accessible through Handshake.

View this helpful playlist about how to use GoinGlobal in your job search from how to access the GoinGlobal site through Handshake, where you can view resumes, cover letters and interviews around the world, how to research employment around the world, and how to use the H-1B visa tools in GoinGlobal.

Here we will share Career Fairs and Events for Non-U.S. Jobs that we have found. Note: this is not an exhaustive list, more career fairs and events likely exist, if you find something we should share – let us know! 

• China: the UMN China Office collaborates with other U.S. Universities to offer career events. Connect with the UMNChina official WeChat account to view the most updated details, or contact the UMN China Office.
• Canada: Career Fair Canada
• Japan: Career Forum; and MyNavi
• South Korea: Job Korea USA

We have thousands of U of M alumni working all over the world and they can be a great resource for you to learn about a specific career field, the job search process in a specific country, and continue to build your network. 

Similarly to when preparing for a U.S. job search, we encourage you to conduct informational interviews with professionals outside of the US if you are interested in working outside of the US.

• Visit the University of Minnesota Alumni Association page to learn more about alumni networks outside of the US
• The Maroon and Gold Network also has ways to connect to UMN community members around the world, explore using the map feature or filtering options
• LinkedIn is a global tool that can help you with career exploration and building a network around the world, visit your Career Center if you need help learning about LinkedIn. Below are some resources from UMN colleges about LinkedIn that you might be interested in:
  • Concise Advice: LinkedIn – UMN CSE Career Center
  • LinkedIn – Carlson Business Career Center
  • LinkedIn – College of Liberal Arts Career Center

Additional Online Global Job Search Platforms

List of links to job search websites covering multiple countries and regions.

Disclaimer: These job boards and websites are NOT administered or controlled by the University of Minnesota, and the University makes no representations or warranties regarding those sites or the opportunities that they post.  Please investigate opportunities and employers thoroughly before committing, and share any questions or concerns with Career Services staff.

Discussing Rankings with a Global Employer

College and University rankings are systems of organizing higher education institutions based on various factors. Rankings may have been important for some students in deciding to come to the University of Minnesota. For some global employers, college and university rankings may be part of the various factors in their consideration of candidates for internships and full-time positions. To learn more about University Rankings and how to discuss this with an employer, visit the Rankings Resource.

Recordings of UMN Global Career Panel Events

• Work and Immigration to Canada (2024)
• Work and Immigration to Netherlands (2024)
• Living & Working in Japan by Career-Tasu (2024)
• Graduate School in Europe with a Spotlight on Germany (2023)

Beginning the academic job search process:

• Preparation for an academic position begins when you enter a graduate program, far before you look for position postings. At all stages of your graduate study, it is important to connect with faculty (especially your advisor) to discuss the job search for your field, join professional organizations and develop a network, pursue many research and teaching opportunities, and update your curriculum vitae (CV) regularly.
• Be sure to create a plan for job searching as you move into the final years of your degree program. As you research positions, gather information requested by job postings early as processing transcripts and writing recommendations may take time. Remember to send thank-you notes to recommenders! Have your application materials reviewed by the Center for Writing, faculty, and colleagues.
• Be prepared for multiple interviews and other contacts with potential employers at conferences and events. Always dress appropriately and keep interactions professional.
• Know that depending on the academic job market in your area of interest and your qualifications, it may take some time to find a position! Work with your advisor and other faculty for ways to stay professionally involved with your field while continuing your search.

Types of academic jobs: 

• Faculty positions: Faculty positions may be tenure-track, and often involve a mix of teaching, curriculum development and research.
• Postdoc fellowships: These 1-3 year positions allow you to expand or deepen scholarly research, while gaining teaching experience.
• Administration positions: There are many ways to apply your transferable skills in an academic setting beyond faculty positions.
• Non-tenure-track teaching: Adjunct or part-time instructors may work at a state university, private two- or four-year college or community college.

Sources for position listings: 

These are many of the common online sources that colleges and universities utilize to advertise both faculty and postdoctoral research positions. Not every school will utilize the sources listed here so visit the human resources pages of institutions you are interested in to view postings specific to their school as well.

• Chronicle of Higher Education
• Higher Ed 360
• HigherEdJobs
• Inside Higher Ed
• University Jobs
• Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
• National Postdoc Association
• Postdoc Jobs  
• Find a Postdoc
• UMN Employment Site

Handshake is the University of Minnesota’s professional job, internship, and volunteer database connecting students and alumni with employment opportunities throughout the world. Handshake is available to students and alumni. Search and sign up for career events and opportunities to interact with employers

• Council of International Graduate Students (CIGS) aims to provide international graduate students a cohesive and strong platform to come together, share their stories, voice their concerns and benefit from their time at the University. CIGS aims to accelerate both academic and social communication between international and domestic students/alumni.  Equally importantly, CIGS is a place for all international graduate students/alumni to get together and have fun! Visit the CIGS Facebook page, website, or email at [email protected].
• Minnesota English Language Support (MELP) Offers an Academic English program open to graduate students that offers classes to improve skills in a variety of areas including research writing, pronunciation skills, public speaking ,etc.. MELP also offers a fee-based one-on-one tutoring service that can help international students get customized help to make fast progress in specific areas like pronunciation. Email [email protected] with any questions about MELP services.
• The Center for Writing's Student Writing Support program provides free writing instruction for all University of Minnesota students—graduate and undergraduate—at all stages of the writing process and on all types of writing projects, including resumes, and cover letters. Visit their site for information about hours, locations, and how to schedule appointments or access walk-in consultations. See also the Center’s online quick help resources especially for multilingual students.

Earning a masters, Ph.D or professional degree after completing your undergraduate education can be an excellent opportunity to:

• Gain expertise in a particular academic field
• Earn qualifications for certain career pathways
• Pursue careers in academia

There are many good reasons to consider graduate education, but it’s important that you first identify your career or academic goals and then decide whether graduate school will help you. Careers in the biological sciences, business and engineering have different expectations of what degrees are necessary for advancement, and the process of evaluating which programs might be best for you vary by field as well. Meeting with a career counselor in your college to discuss your career goals can be helpful in understanding which options might be best for you.

Choosing a graduate school as an international student could be an intimidating process. Below are some factors to consider when making your program decision:

Location: Location can be a factor when choosing a program. Consider the different cultural components of different states in the US. Determine if you already have an existing support network in the locations you are considering or if you could easily access one (other international alumni, groups from your home country, etc.). Finally, also take into account the career options that might be available in that particular location, cities might have more employment opportunities than smaller towns and some schools might only be recognized regionally.

Finding the right person to work with: For most Ph.D programs, choosing faculty who are doing research of interest to you is the most important factor when deciding where to apply. Conducting and writing your own original research (known as a dissertation) is the final step to earning your Ph.D and it’s important that you are doing research that connects to your academic interests. You can learn about faculty research by:

• Reading academic journals in your field of interest
• Speaking with professors at the University who are in your field
• Attending lectures by visiting faculty on campus

Program support for international students: Learn more about the services and programs available for international students by visiting the international student services website of the schools you are considering and talking with other international students attending the same school.

Career outcomes: Learn more about employment outcomes from graduates of the programs you are exploring, where do alumni work? Are they in the US or abroad? How strong is the alumni network? Talk to recent alumni or the program’s career center office to learn more and if available check the school’s LinkedIn alumni page.

Research Funding: Depending on your program, there may be a number of opportunities to  fund your education experience. For example, many Ph.D students’ education is funded and includes a stipend based on the work they do in research labs, and serving as teaching assistants for undergraduate coursework. Asking a program how previous international students have funded their educational experience is a great question to ask during an interview or informational session.

IELTS/TOEFL Score

TOEFL and IELTS requirements are not all the same, so it is important to make sure you understand the requirements for each school where you are applying.This information may be available on the specific program website or on the graduate school website for the university.

Resources on Application Materials – Writing personal statement resources

• U of MN Center for Writing - Free one-on-one support, Online quick help resources especially for multilingual students
• Minnesota English Language Program - MELP provides English as a Second Language (ESL) courses that can help non-native English speakers develop their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
• Creating Effective Personal Statements - In-depth advice on writing personal statements for graduate school applications from CLA Career Services at the U of MN.

Entrance Exams (ETS)

Depending on your program of interest, you may be asked to take an entrance exam. Below is a list of commonly requested entrance exams and website links for more information.

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE): used by most academic graduate programs and some professional programs. Be sure to check the requirements of each school to which you are applying. 
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): used by most business/management schools. 
• Law School Admissions Test (LSAT): is the only test used for application to law schools.
• Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) 
• Dental Admission Test (DAT)
• Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
• Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation are letters from specific people such as professors, internship and work supervisors, and Principal Investigators in a research lab who know you professionally and can comment on your ability to be successful in graduate school. Programs may request letters from specific individuals so it is important to know which letters each program requires. It may feel intimidating to ask for a letter of recommendation, but remember that professors know that students need these letters to apply and want to help you. To help make the request easier, consider:

• Attending office hours and actively participating in courses
• Sharing your interest in going to graduate school with professors and supervisors
• Providing a resume or C.V., and a draft of your research or personal statement when requesting letters of recommendations and giving your writers plenty of time (at least 6 weeks) to write a letter for you

When you are ready to ask someone for a letter of recommendation, you can make your request by e-mail and ask to follow up with an in-person conversation to discuss additional details. When you make your first request, it is important to ask if the person is willing to write you a strong letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be in support of your application.

Career Counselors - Meeting with a career counselor is a great first step. Career counselors in your college can help you think through your decision about applying to graduate school and help you decide whether your long-term career goals align with the programs you’re considering. They can also support you throughout the application process by providing feedback on your application materials and preparing for interviews.

Faculty - Faculty in your field of interest are an incredible resource throughout your process. They can help you identify programs and faculty you may want to consider researching based on your interests, help you understand how to navigate networking based on social and professional norms of the field, and provide support though letters of recommendation. If there is a professor doing work of interest to you at the University, consider sending them an e-mail requesting to meet with them to have a conversation about your academic interests and future plans.

Mentors in Your Field - During your preparation for graduate school, you may have other individuals who can support you throughout the process. This may include graduate students you’ve interacted with in a research or classroom setting, supervisors in internships, co-ops or jobs you’ve held, or people you’ve met at professional conferences in your field of interest. Gaining insight from these individuals is also a great way to build confidence in your candidacy and gain knowledge about your field of interest.

Many students decide they want to go to graduate school in their third or fourth year of college. You may feel that you do not have the time to complete all of the tasks in the application process by the time you graduate. You may need more time to:

• Explore and research graduate programs
• Take required classes
• Gain additional research or other experience

We encourage you to speak with a career counselor about how you can have a productive gap year(s) and continue to be  a competitive applicant. You can also speak with ISSS to discuss Optional Practical Training (OPT) if you would like to work in the US during your gap year.