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Introduction
International students oftentimes encounter difficulties obtaining employment in the United States.
The challenges and issues that American students face can be compounded by a number of factors
including immigration laws and a potential language barrier. However, planning ahead and
understanding the employment process and culture in the host country can help to reduce anxiety.
This guide is intended to provide international students with an overview of the information they will
need to be familiar with in order to successfully search for jobs and potentially secure employment. It
is by no means intended to be comprehensive, but it represents an important step toward achieving
career success in the U.S.
Index
CareerMAP & International Student checklist ........................................................................................3
Resume writing……………………………………………………………………………..…………..………………………………….…...4
Cover letter writing………………………………………….………………….…………………...............................................8
What are American employers looking for?...........................................................................................13
Job search Strategies...………………………………………….………………………..……………….………………………..………14
Interviewing………………………………………………………...…………………………………..………………...………………….…17
Visa basics…………………………………………………………...…………………………….…………………………………...………..21
Additional resources…………………………………...………………………………………………….…….…………………….…….26
International Student Job Search Guide
2
International Student Checklist
Learn how your visa works as it relates to the job search
Visit Career Services Resources for International Students
Attend International Student workshops and any workshop offered by the
Career Services Center
Utilize CSC to Identify Employers who hire international students.
Network outside your group to establish connections
Join student organizations related to your major
Attend the Multi-Ethnic Career Conference
Connect with International Alumni who are local business owners to obtain internships
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
3
Resume
Resume Formats:
Resumes intended for U.S. employers may look slightly
different from those in other countries. For example,
U.S. resumes do NOT include:








A photograph
Marital status
Residency status
Date of birth
Social security number
National origin
Salary expectations
Reference list
There are several different
types of resume formats you
can choose to use. Make sure
you choose the format that
best highlights your
education, skills, and abilities.
Some common types include:

Paragraph form

Resume using bullets

Summary of Skills resume - This is a resume that
focuses on your skills, rather than work
experiences you’ve had (or not). This is good for
those who have not had lots of experience but
have gained skills from what they have done. It
is also useful for experienced workers.

Related/Other Experience resume - This type is
helpful when you have experience in and outside
of your field.

Computer-friendly resume
Resumes should include the following:
Name, address, phone number(s), e-mail
Objective: While an objective is considered optional, if
you know your specific objective and the
qualifications for that objective, you can state it. For
example, “To work as a Public Relations Assistant in
an advertising company.” If you are unsure of your
objective, you may state your interest in the job that
you are applying for in your cover letter.
Education: Degree, name of institution, city and state,
major(s), date of graduation.
Experience: Job titles, company name, city and state,
responsibilities and achievements, employment
dates; may include volunteer experiences, field
experiences, co-ops, internships and summer
employment.
Activities: Professional, educational or organizational
involvement
and
leadership
responsibilities
assumed.
Computer Skills: List the software and/or hardware
with which you are familiar.
Optional categories:

Job objective

Languages

Publications & patents

Relevant course work
International Student Job Search Guide
Whatever resume format you choose, you also can
choose what type of resume organization you use. The
most common types of organization for resumes are:
Chronological - Most preferred by employers; lists
most recent experiences first, and so on.
Functional - Used by career-changers; experience is
presented through listings of accomplishments
and skills, rather than by sequence of work
history.

Honors and awards

Travel

Military experience

A statement indicating “References
available upon request”
4
Appearance:
Attractive and easy to read: Use capital letters,
bullets, underlining, highlighting, appropriate
margins and spacing. If a computer resume is
being created underlining should be omitted as
it interferes with scanning.
Concise: Typically one page for the new or recent
college graduate. There are some exceptions to
this rule: Doctoral/Masters degrees, and
Education, Human Services, and Nursing Majors.
Free of spelling, grammatical, and typographical
errors. (Don’t count on your computer’s spell
check to catch everything, so proofread!)
Computer produced, word-processed; printed on
neutral color paper.
Remember, there is no one
“correct resume” format for
you to use – the best resume
is one that clearly and effectively communicates your
experience, skills, achievements, and future potential.
Resume Tips for International Students

Introduce employers to foreign companies and schools by providing a frame of reference. For example:
A $10 million marketing firm
MIT of Turkey
One of the top five universities in China
Nigerian version of McDonalds

Emphasize strong English skills on the resume. For example: "Translated written and spoken English on a
daily basis for two years."

Ensure that writing skills are up to American standards by taking courses that include writing.

Check for grammatical and spelling errors as well as awkward use of language.

Have your resume reviewed - Come to Career Services Monday to Friday. Bring a hard copy of your resume with you to the Career Services Center between 2pm and 4pm - no appointment needed.

You can view various resume samples by going to the sample resume book
www.udel.edu/CSC/students/sampleresumebook/index
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
5
Juan Lopez
juanlo@udel.edu
Sample resume
Local address
10 Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 765-4321
Career Objective: To obtain a full-time research position working in a field related to biology or
biochemistry
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Biological Sciences, May 2016
Minor: Biochemistry
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Overall GPA: 3.4/4.0 Major GPA: 3.7/4.0
Related Course Work: Biology of Organisms, Introductory Biology, Ecology, General Physiology,
Microbiology, Genetic and Evolutionary Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology of the Cell
Skills
Native speaker of Spanish language. Fluent in English and Italian languages. Knowledge of Microsoft Office
(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access); Adobe Acrobat; Netscape Applications. Leadership and communication
skills.
Experience
Teaching Assistant, Biology Lab, September 2014-Present
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
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Taught students laboratory techniques, including microscope use, slide staining, and plating
Led students in completing lab work and discussions
Created assignments and quizzes for students related to lab and lecture material
Collaborate with other teaching assistants and course professors on a weekly basis to standardize
grading, discuss student progress, and troubleshoot laboratory problems.
Substitute Teacher, Elk Run School District, May 2012-May 2014
Elk Run, DE


Provided substitute teaching instruction for students in grades K-6
Assisted with administration of state standardized testing
Activities



Golden Key Honor Society, Fall 2013-present
Greek Council, Treasurer, Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Hall Government, President, Russell Hall Spring 2013-Spring 2014
International Student Job Search Guide
6
Arun Patel
Sample Resume
fakeemail@udel.edu
Office Correspondence:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
270 Brown Laboratory
Newark, DE 19716
Phone: (302) 831-1234
Home Address:
200 E. Main St.
Apartment 6-D
Newark, DE 19711
Cell: (302) 123-4567
Education
Master of Science in Organic Chemistry, May 2015 (expected)
University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Thesis: “Method for Producing Unsaturated Organics from Organic Containing Feeds”
Advisor: Dr. John Brown
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, May 2013
The College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
Advisor: Dr. Ming Lee
Experience
Research Assistant, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Delaware, August, 2013 – Present
Advisor: Dr. John Brown
Research Focus: Destruction of toxic organic chemicals.
Method for indirect chemical reduction of metals in waste.
Method for reducing volume of radioactive composition.
Independent Study Research, the College of Wooster, September 2011 – June 2013
Advisor: Dr. Ming Lee
Research Focus:Water purification and removal of heavy metals from aqueous effluent streams.
Worked on corrosion problems associated with heavy metal casting.
Awards
Wooster Section of the American Chemical Society Senior Award, 2012
Phi Beta Kappa, 2012
Cary R. Wagner Prize in Chemistry, 2012
Merit Scholarship, the College of Wooster, 2011-2013
Dow Chemical Company Foundation Scholarship, 2011-2013
Professional Associations
American Chemical Society, 2012-present
Publications
Patel, A., Chang, A., & Johnson, E. (201) “Towards a conceptual model of toxic waste extraction from aqueous
effluent streams,” Chemistry International, under review.
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
7
MEGFAN ZHOU
6 E. Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
Sample resume
(555) 555-5555
student@udel.edu
EDUCATION
University of Delaware, Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics
5/2014
Bachelor of Science, Operations Management and International Business Studies
Minor: Finance
GPA: 3.13/4.0
EXPERIENCE
Intern, International Institute for Exchange Programs, Wilmington, DE
5/2013 – Present

Support the operation of an exchange program involving dozens of companies that currently

employ 300 seasonal international employees
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Improved the efficiency of a database containing the information for thousands of employees
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Assist in the management of leases for all international employees at five housing complexes
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Investigate possible commercial real estate investment opportunities by visiting sites and

submitting a summary and opinion to company board members

Analyze the benefits and projected profitability of entering the residential real estate market

Write press releases for new outside enterprises opening within the Harristown-owned complexes
Intern, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Newark, DE

Prepared presentations complete with cost estimates for dozens of subcontracting cases

Analyzed the efficiency of work processes in an attempt to identify more optimal strategies

Implemented Excel database for arbitration awards to expedite research process

Participated in business meetings, grievance hearings, and business luncheons

Attended contract negotiations between union and Commonwealth for 45,000 employees
6/2012 – 8/2012
SKILLS

Native speaker of Mandarin, fluent in English

Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office – Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher

Exceptional understanding of PC and Mac hardware and software
ACTIVITIES
Executive-Mentor Scholars Program, Student Mentee

4/2011 – Present
Selected from dozens of applicants to participate in the prestigious academic program
where students are paired with a professional mentor in their field of interest in order to
gain valuable insight relating to their career aspirations
Students In Free Enterprise, Founder

Initiated contact with the national headquarters in order to establish a team on campus

Helped to create club structure, mission and constitution in preparation for full recognition
by the University
Asian Student Association, Member

Chair committee tasked with organizing and running events focused on preparing
members for success after college

Participate in volunteer events both on campus and within the local community
International Student Job Search Guide
9/2011 – Present
3/2011 – Present
8
Sample E-Cover Letters
Subject: Professor Ames Referral – Technical Writer
From: David Munroe Smith
Dear Ms. Allen:
Professor Ames told me that you are looking for a technical writer for Impact, Inc. and suggested that I e- mail
you my resume. I have used some of Impact’s publications in my classes and am very excited about the
prospect of being part of a top communications company. I am well qualified for the position with a grade point
average of 3.5 and successful experience in two technical writing internships where I honed my desktop
publishing, editing, and proofreading skills.
After reviewing the attached resume, I hope you will want to arrange an interview with me to discuss the
position further. I can be contacted via phone at 302.831.1234. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
David M. Smith
Subject: Internship with Adolescents Posted on UD Website
Dear Ms. Kramer:
I am interested in applying for the position of social services intern you listed in Blue Hen Careers at the
University of Delaware. As a sophomore majoring in Human Services, my eventual goal is to become a clinical
social worker specializing in treating adolescents. I have volunteer experience working with this age group, am
fluent in Spanish and am excited about the prospect of expanding my experience through an internship with the
Latin American Community Center.
Please review my attached resume. I would be happy to provide additional information or come to the Center
for an interview. I’ll call you next week to follow up. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Sylvia Juegos
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
9
Cover Letters
A cover letter is a formal letter of introduction usually attached to a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). In
general, it serves as a way of introducing yourself to an employer and encourages him/her to consider
reviewing your resume for a job within the organization. All cover letters should:

Explain why you are sending a resume.
- Don't send a resume without a cover letter.
- Don't make the reader guess what you are asking
for; be specific: Do you want a summer internship
opportunity, or a permanent position at graduation;
are you inquiring about future employment
possibilities?


Tell specifically how you learned about the
position or the organization — a flyer posted in

Call attention to elements of your background
— education, leadership, experience — that are
relevant to a position you are seeking. Be as specific
as possible, using examples.

Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation,
enthusiasm, and communication skills.

Provide or refer to any information specifically
requested in a job advertisement that might not be
covered in your resume, such as availability date, or
reference to an attached writing sample.
your department, a web site, a family friend who
works at the organization. It is appropriate to
mention the name of someone who suggested that
you write.

Convince the reader to look at your resume.
*Adapted from the Career Center at Virginia Tech
Indicate what you will do to follow-up.
The cover letter will be seen first. Therefore, it must
be very well written and targeted to that employer.
Do:
Don’t:

Send a letter with every resume
you send.
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Address to just a title or
department.

Address letter to a specific person
and include his/her title.

Be pushy or assuming.


Mass produce.
Print each letter individually.

Limit to one page.

Sign your name.

PROOFREAD letter carefully and
repeatedly.
International Student Job Search Guide
10
Sample Cover Letter
Name
Address | City, State Zip | 123.456.7891 | bluehen@udel.edu
August 4, 2013
Ms. Jennifer Smith
Recruiting Manager, Auto Engineers
12 Smith Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dear Ms. Smith:
Paragraph 1
 Sentence 1 – If you know someone in the organization, or were told about the position by someone who is
connected to the organization, this should be stated first. (e.g., Bob Smith recommended that I contact you
regarding the internship at XYZ Corp.)
 Sentence 2 (If you do not have a connection to the organization, this will become your first sentence.) – A
sentence about the characteristics that best qualify you for the position. (e.g., I am a Mechanical Engineering
student at the University of Delaware with internship experience at General Motors and leadership experience as
the President of the Society of Automotive Engineers.) State the position title that you are interested in applying
to (e.g., …with a specific interest in XYZ position).
 Sentence 3 (If not stated in your introduction sentence) – How did you hear about the position? (e.g., I saw the
internship posted on the University of Delaware’s Blue Hen Career Network.)
 Sentence 4 – Thesis – Provide a preview of what you will be discussing in the rest of your cover letter, based on
key skills addressed in the job description (e.g., I believe that my AutoCAD and leadership skills, coupled with my
interest in automotive engineering, make me an exceptional candidate for this position.)
Paragraph 2 (3-4 sentences)
 Expand upon the skills you mentioned in your thesis sentence. (From the above example, the candidate would
expand upon AutoCAD skills and leadership experiences. The candidate would reference instances in which he/
she utilized these skills.)
Paragraph 3 (2-3 sentences)
 Why are you interested in this organization? In your thesis sentence, you will mention your interest in the
organization, but will need to expand upon your interest in this paragraph.
 Remember to show that you have researched the organization and don’t make generalizations. (e.g., I
understand that XYZ Corp does work in ____ areas, which directly aligns with my interests. As a student
at the University of Delaware, I researched ____ issue and took classes in ____.)
Paragraph 4 (3-4 sentences)
 Indicate that you have enclosed your resume and state that if they have questions they can reach out to you
through email or phone and include that information.
 Don’t forget to thank the employer for his/her time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Your Written Signature
Your Typed Name
Enclosure: Resume
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
11
Sample Cover Letter
Name
Address | City, State Zip | 123.456.7891 | bluehen@udel.edu
April 2, 2014
37B Duke Street
Newark, Delaware 19711
Ms. Kathy Zistl
Human Resources Manager
IBM Corporation
590 Madison Ave. 12th floor
New York, NY 10022
Dear Ms. Zistl:
I was given your name by Mitsuko Clemmons, graduate assistant at the Career Services Center at the
University of Delaware. I am interested in securing a professional position with IBM Corporation in the field
of Management Consulting and/or Marketing. I was unable to interview with you on campus in February
because of my late return to the US after spending winter session studying International Marketing and
International Law in The Czech Republic.
Currently a senior at the University of Delaware, I will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing
with a minor in International Business in May, 2009. Through my educational background and past work
experiences, I have developed strong oral communication, analytical, and research skills. As a student
assistant at Career Services, I honed my presentation and interpersonal skills. A review of my resume
summarizes the skills and abilities I can offer IBM. In addition, I am willing to relocate to any part of the
country where a challenging job may await me.
My enclosed resume will provide more details about my skills and accomplishments. As you requested, I
have also enclosed a list of three references. I am very eager to discuss potential employment with IBM
and would welcome an interview at your earliest convenience. I may be reached at my current address, by
phone at: (302) 266-6879, or by way of e-mail at: kawalek@udel.edu. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey M. Kawalek
Enclosures: Resume; List of References
International Student Job Search Guide
12
What are American employers looking for?
Employers place teamwork at the top of the list of overall candidate skills/qualities rated as important.
(See Figure 41.) Although communication skills typically tops this list (as it did for the Class of 2013),
verbal communication skills dropped to third most important, tied with the ability to plan, organize, and
prioritize work. Important to note, however, is that even the lowest-rated skill/quality (ability to sell or
influence others), is still rated between somewhat important and very important.
It appears that employers are successfully choosing team players to fill their entry-level positions. When
asked to give letter grades to their college graduate recruits, the highest grades of “A-” were in the areas
of teamwork and
analytical/quantitative
skills. (See Figure 42.)
While all of the remaining
attributes received the
letter grade of “B+,”
communication skills
(both verbal and written)
received lower numerical
averages in terms of
grading.
Source: Job Outlook 2014 |
National Association of
Colleges and Employers
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
13
Job Search Strategies
Once you have successfully composed a resume and cover letter, it’s time to begin to search for jobs to apply to.
Remember, not all jobs are posted in obvious places like newspaper classifieds! In fact, many job openings are not
posted at all! Instead, they are publicized informally by company contacts via word of mouth. The job search strategies
below are among the most common and successful. Using these strategies to achieve your career goals necessitates a
great deal of planning, persistence, hard work, and a good attitude
Networking
Informational Interviewing
Your actual search for a job can begin in an obvious, yet
not so obvious place…with the people you know. The
concept of networking simply ties into a human trait – the
desire to help others. Never underestimate the
knowledge and influence of people you know.
While the goal of interviewing is to obtain a job offer,
the goal of information interviewing is to gather
information. Like networking, information interviewing is
based on the premise that people are a tremendous
source of information. Its purpose is to gain information
about a career field upon which to base some career
decisions and to put you in touch with possible job leads.
A network is a series of interlocking connections with
people who may be helpful to you in your job
search.
Begin building a network by first contacting members
of your family, other relatives, neighbors,
personal friends, general acquaintances,
professors, work associates and service activity
colleagues. Do not set limits on who should or
should not be part of your network.
Begin with people you know (your network
contacts). Choose from this group those who
are in career fields to which you aspire or
people in related career areas.
What about people you don’t already know? Identify
them through newspapers, telephone books,
professional association directories and
professional counselors.
Create a professional LinkedIn profile.
Let everyone know that you’re looking for a job and
what type of job you’re looking for
Determine if they can provide you with information
about a certain type of job, provide you with
information about a particular organization, or
refer you to others who know about a career field
or specific organization.
Maintain these contacts by checking back with them
periodically.
Follow through on any suggestions offered.
International Student Job Search Guide
If you have located an office name, but don’t have
the name of an individual, call and speak with
the secretary or receptionist. Explain politely
and succinctly why you are calling (for
information, not employment) and ask if you
can be directed to an appropriate person.
Schedule an appointment for a specific amount of
time (30 minutes maximum).
An alternative is to send a letter ahead of time
stating what you want, indicting you will be
telephoning and asking that the secretary or
receptionist be alerted to your call.
14
Be prepared! Take an active role to get the most
out of your information interview.
Review in your in your mind what you want to
learn from an individual.
Have questions prepared ahead of time. The
following are some sample questions you
might wish to choose from:

What credentials (education degrees,
licenses, etc.) are required for
effectiveness in this occupation?

How much variety would you say there is
in the type of work you do?

Is there much opportunity for travel?

What types of employers hire people in
your line of work?

What kinds of work values attract people
to your occupation? (security, income,
prestige, etc.)


What do you find most rewarding/least
rewarding about this career field?
What is the typical entry level salary range
for positions in this field? What is the
potential?

What is a typical career path?

What is the future job outlook in this field
(increased or decreased opportunity, etc.)
Cold Contacts
Making a cold call, or
cold contact, means
approaching an
employer whom you
have never met and
introducing yourself
as a potential
addition to his/her
organization. It is important to thoroughly research the
organization and visit the “careers” section of its
website, carefully plan what you are going to say about
yourself and the reason for the call, keep the call short
and professional, to follow up by sending your resume
and cover letter. Cold contacts can be made via mail,
telephone, or email. Below are some tips for contacting
potential employers telephonically:






Follow-Up

Always ask for a referral to someone else. Ask the
person with whom you are speaking to refer you to
others who would be good sources of information.

Evaluate what you have been told critically. Are there
trends developing from one person to another? (In
the end – you’ll have to make your own judgments
about the validity of the information.)
Make sure you have the correct name and title of the
person with whom you’ve spoken. Write a thank
you note!
Career Services Center - University of Delaware


Know the name and title of the person you wish
to reach.
When the secretary answers, ask directly for the
person you want.
If the secretary asks, “May I help you?” take him/
her up on it. State you wish to speak to Mr./Mrs.
Ask when he/she will be free.
Insist politely if there is another block to your
reason for calling.
Try to pinpoint when the person you wish to
speak to will return. Then YOU return the call.
Once you have gotten through to the right
person, identify yourself and indicate that you are
following up on a letter (if that is the case).
Have some questions prepared that relate to the
organization—something you found out in your
search (i.e., new products, expansion of facilities,
etc.)
Try not to drag out the conversation. Once you
have established interest, get to the point.
State that you are calling to find out if there are
any immediate openings in your field or if
openings are anticipated in the near future.
Try to arrange a meeting and suggest a time to
discuss possible job opportunities. If there are no
openings, inquire if they have any suggestions of
other organizations you might contact.
15
The Internet
Blue Hen Careers is a database of hundreds of
internships and jobs. To access it:
 Go to www.udel.edu/CSC
 Once you log in, you will see the Blue Hen Careers
homepage where you can search for jobs -- including
full-time, part-time, volunteer, and summer jobs -- posted specifically to UD students and alumni or to job seekers nationwide!
The internet is a valuable resource in your job search,
containing a wealth of information about employers and
potential job vacancies. Keep the following tools in mind:
Your login will give you access to:
Online newspaper classifieds e.g.
www.bonafideclassified.com (contains the classified
sections of over 1,700 newspapers in the U. S. and
Canada.)

Schedule a career counseling appointment or a mock
interview (to schedule a mock interview, be sure to
click on the "60 minutes" option in the drop-down
box)

Search hundreds of jobs and internships

Sign up for On-Campus Interviews

Find an Alumni Mentor
Through Blue Hen Careers, you also have access to a
number of other useful career resources including:


CareerShift – search job listings, get up-to-date
contact information for millions
of companies, and access indepth information about contacts and companies
posting jobs, and create personal marketing
campaigns, including unlimited resumes and cover
letters easily, and save them to access, print or email.
Passport Career—provides extensive job search
resources for 75+
countries (250+ cities).
There are 15,000+ pages
of unique content and
country-specific resources to help you with your
career/internship interests around the world, as well
as across the USA.
In just a few clicks, you will find country– and city–
specific employers, critical business culture
information, network contacts, job leads, an H1B
database with 340,000+ U.S. employers , a robust
job/internship database with over 1 million
opportunities in 203 countries, and helpful
information on resumes/CVs, interviews, salaries,
and much more.

Riley Guide
International Student Job Search Guide
The “careers” section of a company’s website
Online job listing services e.g. Blue Hen Careers and
Monster.com
Other popular internet sites to assist you during your job
search:
 Vault.com
 Experience.com
 O*NET OnLine (occupational network
database)
 The Riley Guide
 JobWeb.com
 College Grad Job Hunter
 NationJob Network
Social Networking:
It is crucial to your job search and future career that you
learn to market yourself, network with others and stay
current on issues in your field. The following social networking tools will help you do just that. For more information visit:

H1-1B Visa Jobs

Entry Level Jobs for OPT Students

Job Openings for OPT/CPT Students - North America
Twitter Handles to follow:
@Intstudents
@students_JOBS
@careers_intl
/UDCAREERS
Other Resources:
Local Chambers of Commerce, Lerner Career Services
Center,Student Groups on Campus, and the Morris
library.
16
Interviewing
Interviews in the U.S. are generally conducted over the phone or in person. Once your resume or personal contact
has gotten you the interview, it is important to impress the employer in conversation with your professionalism,
communication skills, personality, confidence, and explanations of past work experiences and accomplishments.
Before you arrive for your interview, make sure you carefully review available information about the company (e.g.
online and in the press if applicable), reread the job posting, and prepare answers to questions about your goals,
values, and education, and experience. Below is a very limited list of sample, non-technical interview questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Tell me about yourself.
Why did you pursue a degree/career in _______?
What are your short-range and long-range goals?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
What is important to you in an employer?
Why are you pursuing a job with us?
Tell me about a time that you exercised leadership in a recent situation.
Tell me about a time when you worked as part of a team.
Tell me about a time that you were under a great deal of pressure. What was the source of the
pressure and how did you handle it?
10. Why should I hire you?
11. Do you have any questions for us?
*A full list of the 40 most common interview questions can be obtained at the Career Services Center or by visiting:
http://www.udel.edu/CSC/pdf/InterviewPrep.pdf
Questions 7-9 are examples of behavioral
interviewing questions. Behavioral interviewing is a relatively new, but widely used
mode of job interviewing. The behavioral
interview technique is used by employers to
evaluate a candidate’s experiences and behaviors in
order to determine their potential for success. This
approach is based on the belief that past performance is the best indicator of future behavior. In fact,
behavioral interviewing is said to be 55% predictive of
future on-the-job behavior, while traditional interviewing is only 10% predictive.
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
17
To properly answer these questions, it is important to
provide enough information so that the employer can
properly understand the situation and your involvement.
Make sure to focus on what actions YOU took and
indicate how you cultivated valuable skills such as
leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, decisionmaking, time management, flexibility, and
communication. Even if you don’t have a great deal of
work experience, companies expect you to be able to
relate past experiences – from undergraduate or
graduate school, campus activities, volunteer work,
membership in an organization, etc. – to the job for
which you are interviewing. Below is a formula, known
as the “STAR Method,” to help your answer behavioral
interview questions:
Inappropriate Questions
According to the criteria established by the U. S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Act, there are guidelines that
employers need to follow in conducting job interviews:
Questions should not be asked to which answers will
have a disparate effect in screening out any minorities
and/or members of one sex (disqualify a significantly
larger percentage of members of a particular group than
others). Questions must be job-related; that is, necessary
to judge an applicant's competence for the job in
question.
In order to comply with these criteria, employers should
not ask questions concerning:
* Marital and Family Status
Situation - Describe the situation that you were in or the
* Religious or Political Affiliation
task that you needed to accomplish. You must describe a
specific event or situation, not a generalized description
of what you have done in the past. Be sure to give
enough detail for the interviewer to understand. This
situation can be from a previous job, from a volunteer
experience, or any relevant event.
* Age (except to establish that the applicant
meets minimum age requirements by law)
Task - What goal were you working toward?
Action - Describe the actions you took to address the
situation with an appropriate amount of detail and keep
the focus on YOU. What specific steps did you take and
what was your particular contribution? Be careful that
you don’t describe what the team or group did when
talking about a project, but what you actually did. Use
the word “I,” not “we” when describing actions
Result - Describe the outcome of your actions and don’t
be shy about taking credit for your behavior. What
happened? How did the event end? What did you
accomplish? What did you learn? Make sure your
answer contains multiple positive results.
Make sure that you follow all parts of the STAR method.
Be as specific as possible at all times, without rambling
or including too much information. Oftentimes students
have to be prompted to include their results, so try to
include that without being asked. Also, eliminate any
examples that do not paint you in a positive light.
However, keep in mind that some examples that have a
negative result (such as “lost the game”) can highlight
your strengths Page
in the18face of adversity.
International Student Job Search Guide
* Ancestry, National Origin, Race or Color
* Sexual Orientation
How Do I Handle Inappropriate
Questions?
Most individuals, if they are interviewing with large
organizations, will not encounter these inappropriate
questions. These personnel offices and their interviewers
are well versed in the laws. However, in the event that
you are asked a question which seems inappropriate to
you, there are several ways to handle the situation:
1st - Deflect the question. Simply state why you are a good
candidate for the job and ignore the actual question.
2nd - You can give an honest, assertive, but not contentious
reply. Example: Interviewer: "Does your spouse mind if
you travel?"
Applicant: "We are completely
supportive of each other's career ambitions."
3rd - Your best protection against inappropriate questions is to
be prepared to deal with them in advance. Think of how
you want to reply or not reply to these questions and
practice the responses with a friend, counselor, or a Career
Services Center staff member.
4rd - Consider very carefully whether or not you want to work
for such an organization. This interview may be a preview
of discrimination you may encounter on the job.
5th - If you feel your legal rights have been violated, discuss the
situation with a Career Services Center staff member. We
can refer you to the appropriate government agency.
18
For women:
Well-fitted two-piece matched suit, blouse, pantsuit,
or skirt with hosiery and basic dark flats or low
pumps; make sure all clothing is ironed and free
of stains and holes
Choose a dark or neutral shade like black, navy,
brown or gray for your suit
Wear plain style, non-patterned hosiery
Minimal or natural-looking makeup; and clean nails
or clear nail polish that is not chipped. Nail
length should not be excessively long.
Make sure hair is clean and neat.
Minimize jewelry - avoid dangling earrings and wear
no more than one ring per hand and a dress
watch
Do not carry a purse with a briefcase
As a precaution, take an extra pair of hose in case of
a run
Perfume should not be overpowering
Be absolutely certain to shower and apply deodorant
before your interview. Americans are very
concerned with personal hygiene and body odor
is considered unacceptable. You never have a
second chance to make a first impression!
For men:
Well- fitted suit in navy, gray, or black (pinstripe or
solid) or navy blazer and gray dress slacks; white
or light blue dress shirt; tie (silk or silk-like) that
contrasts with the color of your suit and
contains understated patterns;
Dark socks (mid-calf) and dress shoes (lace-up, or
leather slip-ons in either black or brown);
leather belt that matches your shoes.
A full-length coat, as nice as you can afford, can be
worn over your suit
Avoid flashy cuff links, rings and neck chains.
No earrings.
Your belt should match your shoes.
If you have a beard or mustache, it should be clean
and neatly trimmed.
Make sure that hair is clean and neat; fingernails
should be trimmed short.
Be absolutely certain to shower and apply
deodorant before your interview. Americans
are very concerned with personal hygiene and
body odor is considered unacceptable. Cologne
should be minimal.
Other guidelines to consider:
Career Services Center - University of Delaware

Be punctual. Try to arrive 15 minutes prior to
the appointment. This gives you additional time
to use the restroom, straighten your clothing,
and touch up hair/make up. If the interview is
taking place in a city or town unfamiliar to you,
it is a good idea to map out directions and even
drive to the location the day before your
appointment to determine how much time you
should allocate for travel.

Always send a thank you note to your
interviewer(s) within 24 hours

Make sure you dress professionally.
19
Remember, the interview is your chance to impress the
employer(s)! While in many cultures is it customary to
be modest about your skills and accomplishments, this is
not the case in the U.S. The American culture values
individualism and competition, so don’t be afraid to
openly and honestly disclose the full range of your
strengths. Be sure to prepare detailed narratives
discussing your education, experience, skills, and
personality traits and demonstrate how they relate to
the job you are interviewing for.
THIS PAGE FEATURES A NUMBER OF ACCEPTABLE
OPTIONS FOR INTERVIEW ATTIRE.
Moreover, make sure to highlight your language skills!
Many international students fail to mention that they
are bi-lingual or even tri-lingual. In most cases, the
employer will quickly realize that you not native to the
U.S., so showcase your international perspective and
talent for languages. Don’t be shy about your accent –
your English is better than you think and constantly
improving. Frame your cultural background as an asset,
and the employer will too!
Finally, it is important to remember that employers are
evaluating you in two major categories: 1) skills and
qualifications and 2) whether your personality
represents a good “fit” for the organization, its
members, and its corporate culture. This means that in
addition to your showcasing your ability to perform the
job function(s) you need your personality should mesh
well with that of the interviewer. Make sure you have a
firm handshake, good eye contact, friendly smile,
professional appearance and good sense of humor.
Oftentimes, an interview can feel more like a
conversation or a “getting to know you” session. Pay
careful attention to the demeanor and style of your
interviewer(s) and try to act in a way that matches his/
hers. Leaving a professional and competent, yet friendly
and easy-going impression should be your ultimate goal.
International Student Job Search Guide
20
Know What
You
Can Do
With Your Visa



Career Services Center - University of Delaware
F-1 Visa: CPT - OPT
J-1
H1B
21
Visa Information
There are basic requirements which must be met for any
F-1 employment:
To apply for CPT, the student must submitted a
completed “CPT form” (available at the OISS website)
along with the necessary documents listed on the form.
Once the CPT is approved, the school official will issue a
new I-20 reflecting the work authorization.

Must currently be in valid F-1 status or J-1
(student) status and in good academic standing.
Eligibility:

Must be enrolled in a full course of study, unless
participating in Post-completion OPT.
To be eligible for CPT, students must meet the following
conditions (in addition to the basic requirements listed
above):

Must maintain employment eligibility.

Must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time
basis* at a DHS-approved school for one full
academic year. Exception exists for graduate
students whose programs require immediate
curricular training.

The student will continue to be enrolled for a full
course of study during the CPT

Employment must not only be related to your
major field of study, but must also be a required
part of the student's academic program. Work
which is not required by your degree program
may meet the requirements for curricular
practical training if you receive academic credit
for the employment experience
F-1 Visas
On-Campus Employment
F-1 students are generally permitted to work on-campus
while attending school given that the basic requirements
(listed above) are met. Employment on-campus is
limited to part-time (20 hrs/ week) during Fall and Spring
Semesters and can be full-time during Winter and
Summer. Check with OISS before accepting any oncampus position.
Off-Campus Employment
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
Students who are holding an F1 visas may be eligible for
employment authorization through Curricular Practical
training (CPT) for work experience that is a required of
an established curriculum. These experiences may
include alternative work/study, internship, cooperative
education, or any other type of required internship or
practicum which is offered by sponsoring employers
through cooperative agreements with the school.
Students can engage in CPT on a part-time basis (no
more than 20 hrs/week) during the Fall and Spring
semesters. Students can apply for full-time CPT (more
than 20 hrs/week) during the Winter and Summer
semesters. Graduate students in sustaining status can
also engage in full-time and CPT authorization ends
when they defend the dissertation.
International Student Job Search Guide
Important Notes:
If you participate in 12 months or more of full-time
curricular practical training, you will not be
eligible for post-completion optional practical
training (OPT).
Students enrolled in English language training
programs are not eligible for CPT.
Full-time permanent employment does not qualify
for CPT.
22
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
An F-1 student may be eligible to engage in up to 12
months of optional practical training after each level in F
-1 status. Employment must be directly related to the
student’s major field of study. Eligible students may
apply for "pre-completion OPT " (before completion of
program) and/or "post-completion OPT " (after
completion of program). Although students may engage
in both pre-completion and standard post-completion
OPT, the maximum amount of time that can be granted
for all standard OPT combined is 12 months per
educational level. Students do not need a job offer in
order to apply for OPT. Students recommended for OPT
will receive a new SEVIS I-20 with an OPT
recommendation notation. Students need to have
authorization from USCIS before they can begin
employment. Students can apply for post OPT 90 days
prior to graduation or 60 days after graduation,
however, the application must be received by USCIS by
the 60th day post-graduation. If it is received after 60
days, it will be denied Consider this when making your
OPT appointment. Once the student applies, the
authorization can take up to 90 days to obtain. For
information on how to apply for OPT (pre/post), please
visit the OISS website (www.udel.edu/oiss)
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must meet the following
conditions (in addition to the basic requirements listed
above):

Must have been lawfully enrolled on a full-time
basis* at a DHS-approved school for one full
academic year.

The student will continue to be enrolled for a full
course of study during the Pre-OPT

Employment must be related to your major field
of study

Students enrolled in English language training
programs are not eligible for OPT.
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
OPT STEM Extension
F-1 students in the Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics fields (STEM) may seek an extension of
their post OPT for an additional 17 months providing
they have employment with an employer that is everified. The student needs to contact OISS to apply.
H-1B Cap-Gap Extension
The duration of status (D/S), and any post-completion
OPT work authorization, will be automatically extended
for an F-1 student who is the beneficiary of a timely-filed
H-1B petition requesting change of status and an
employment start date of October 1 (the first day of the
following fiscal year).
Unemployment while on OPT:
Students on post-completion OPT may not accrue more
than 90 days of unemployment in the aggregate.
Students on STEM OPT are allowed an additional 30 days
of unemployment, so they may not accrue more than
120 days of unemployment in the aggregate.
Economic Hardship
F-1 students who experience a serious economic
hardship due to an unforeseen change in their financial
situation may qualify for off-campus employment
authorization. The Student must have been in F-1 status
for at least one full academic year and must prove to
USCIS that employment is necessary due to severe
economic hardship caused by circumstances beyond his
or her control that arose after obtaining F-1 status.
Examples of unforeseen economic hardship include "loss
of financial aid or on-campus employment without fault
on the part of the student, substantial fluctuations in the
value of currency or exchange rate, inordinate increases
in tuition and/or living costs, unexpected changes in the
financial condition of the student's source of support,
medical bills, or other substantial and unexpected
expenses." To apply for employment through Economic
Hardship, please contact your OISS advisor.
23
J-1 Visas
Academic Training
Students on a J-1 student visa are eligible for
employment through “Academic Training” for up to 18
months or the length of the program, whichever is
shorter. Doctoral students are eligible for an additional
18 months of post-doctoral academic training. The
training must be related to the student's field of study. It
is available before completion of your program of study
as well as afterwards. As long as you stay within the
stipulated time limits, it lets you work part-time during
the academic year (Fall & Spring) and full-time during
Winter and Summer; Students on sustain status may be
eligible for Full-time employment. Academic training can
be authorized by OISS upon the recommendation of
your academic advisor or by your J-1 program sponsor if
not OISS. For additional information including eligibility
and application procedure, please visit the OISS website
(www.udel.edu/oiss).
H1B Visa Basics
The H1B Visa is the official and primary U.S. work
visa / permit available to people from all over the world.
The US Government introduced the H1B Visa to offer
and enable highly skilled International Professionals the
opportunity to work in the U.S. It is the most popular
and sought after U.S. work visa and U.S. Immigration
requires every foreign national to obtain a visa in order
to legally work in country.
There are many reasons why U.S. employers want to
hire foreign national workers on H1B Visas including: to
help maintain their global competitive advantage, to
bring cultural diversity into the workplace, and the
innovative and strong work ethics and practices
that International workers possess. H1B workers also
contribute highly to the US economy in numerous ways,
help fill current labor shortages in many highly skilled
professions and have been instrumental in contributing
to the success of many of America’s largest and most
prestigious companies.
In order to obtain an H1B Visa, the employee must have
a minimum of a Bachelors degree and the position must
be considered a “specialty occupation.”
International Student Job Search Guide
The core specialty occupations include: IT, Computing,
Finance, Accounting, Banking, Marketing, Advertising,
PR, Sales, Recruiting, Engineering (all types), Teaching,
HealthCare/Medical, Legal, Lawyers, Networking,
Telecoms, Business, Management and Hospitality.
The number of H1B Visas issued each year is subject to a
cap that is determined by U.S. Congress. The current
H1B cap is set at 65,000 plus an additional 20,000 for
international students that graduate with an MBA or
higher from a U.S. university. This cap does not include
new applications for work with non-profit organizations,
government research organizations, or institutions of
higher learning. An H1B visa is typically valid for up to
six (6) years.
To obtain an H1B Visa you must first secure an H1B
sponsorship job with a U.S. sponsoring company. Your
H1B employer then files your H1B Visa Application with
the U.S. Immigration Bureau. Individuals can NOT
sponsor or apply for their own H1B Visa. Only U.S.
Employers can. * Source: http://www.h1base.com/
content/h1bvisa
Frequently Asked H1B Visa Questions
When is the best time to mention to an employer that
need H1B sponsorship?
“Many employers are intimidated by the U.S.
immigration process and are reluctant to sponsor H1-B
visas, or simply have a policy against it. Do not begin an
employment interview or letter with an inquiry
regarding H1-B sponsorship. Discussions about H1-B
sponsorship should come later, either when the
employer brings it up or when the applicant is offered a
position. The applicant's first task in an interview is to
convince the employer of his/her suitability for the job.
Only later, when an employer is close to making or has
made an offer, should the applicant raise the H1-B
sponsorship issue.” – www.gsd.harvard.edu
When is the best time to apply for an H1B Visa?
Best months to find H1B jobs - October to April; Worst
months to find H1B jobs - June to September (summer
months).
For more questions about your immigration and visa status,
please contact an OISS advisor at (302) 831- 2115
or oiss@udel.edu. Also, make sure you visit the OISS
website www.udel.edu/oiss, as it provides comprehensive
information on government regulations and other resources
to help you navigate issues that are most common to
international students and scholars.
24
The following is a list of select employers that have sponsored H1B Visas for University of Delaware international
students and alumni. Please be aware that this does NOT mean that they are currently accepting applications. This
information must be ascertained by you via contact with the employer. This list is intended to give you a starting point
for your job search.
AAA Mid-Atlantic
Capital One Financial
Heifer International
Aadhick Solutions Inc
Chesapeake Diesel
Honeywell Inc.
Accenture
Cisco Systems
ICON Clinical Research
ACS (Abacus Management &
Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc.
INVISTA Inc.
Consultancy Services)
Creative Financial Group
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Aerotek
Cumberland Therapy
KCI Technologies, Inc.
Aerotek/TEKsystems
Cvent, Inc.
MARLABS, Inc.
AGNIK, LLC
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Merck & Co., Inc.
AIG
Devereux Foundation
Microsoft Corporation
Bank of America
DuPont Company
Monsanto
BearingPoint
Eastman Chemical Company
Peri Software Solutions Inc
Bernard Personnel
EG&G Technical Services, Inc. (A
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)
Bloomberg L.P.
Delaware Electric Cooperative
Procter & Gamble (P&G)
Bohler Engineering
Dentsply
Scientech
Cambridge International
Division of URS Corporation)
Shell Oil Company
DMB Technologies Inc.
Siemens Corporation
DuPont Company
The Instrumentation, Systems, and
Ernst & Young, LLP
Automation Society (ISA)
Enterprise Business Solutions Inc
URS Corporation
Falcon Power Inc.
Walt Disney World Co.
First Financial Financial Group
Wireless from AT&T (formerly Cingular
FitnessGarage.org
Wireless)
Frontier
Xerox Corporation
Greene Tweed & Company
Halcrow
For a complete list of employers that have sponsored international students please log in to Blue Hen Careers from the
Career Services website. This database allows you to identify companies, apply to internships, full-time, and summer
job opportunities.
Additionally, you have access to employers that have positions they will be interviewing for on-campus. You also have
the opportunity to post your resume so employers may contact you with pertinent opportunities. Every UD student
already has a Blue Hen Careers account. (see page 16)
Career Services Center - University of Delaware
25
Additional Resources
www.h1base.com
www.h1visajobs.com
www.succeedinamerica.com
www.visanow.com
www.flcdatacenter.com/CaseH1B.aspx (U.S.
Department of Labor – find employers who have
applied for H1B Visas)
www.aila.org (American Immigration Lawyers
Association)
uniworldbp.com (UniWorld – American companies
operating internationally)
www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/
start_here/3employment_visa.htm
(Foreign Born - website to assist individuals with living
and working in the U.S.)
studyinthestates.dhs.gov
The University of Delaware Career Services center also
has a variety of valuable resources available online for
international students and regularly holds the
workshop “Job Search Strategies for International
Students.” For workshop dates and additional
information about the resources available at Career
Services, please visit www.udel.edu/CSC/students/
handouts.html#international or visit us in person at 401
Academy St.
Internet Resources for International Students in the U.S.:
• The Electronic Embassy – Connecting foreign embassies and international resources found around the
world. Currently includes a directory of all embassies
in Washington DC – www.embassy.org
• U.S. Immigration for Canadian Businesses and Professionals – Contains information about temporary
and permanent U.S. immigration work permits for Canadian businesses and professionals –
www.grasmick.com
• iStudentCity – A great site with information for international students from start to finish. Includes online
chats with other international students as well as helpful hints for job searching after graduation –
www.istudentcity.com/career/career_placement.asp
International Job Links:
• www.internationalstudent.com - Started by a group
of international students living in New York City with
the goal of helping other students deal with American
immigration authorities and education system -www.internationalstudent.com
• Monster.Com Work Abroad - As an extension of
Monsterboard.com, this site provides job postings for
Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Mexico, Middle East, and South America -http://workabroad.monster.com
• ForeignMBA.com - This site has useful information
for international MBA students as well as other international students who would like to work in the U.S.
Includes career profiles, corporate interviews, immigration information, lists of companies who have hired
MBAs, and more (No Fee) --www.foreignmba.com
• Hobson's Publishing Inc. - Publishing company that
produces casebooks profiling major employers and
career opportunities around the world. Contains a
searchable jobs database, a listing of international job
fairs, and corporate profiles all online -www.hobsons.co.uk
• Overseas Jobs - International jobs database of positions available in companies around the world. Also
provides job search resources -www.overseasjobs.com
International Student Job Search Guide
26