5 Things to Know if You Want to Work in the US or Canada as an International Student
Working in the US as an international student is a great opportunity to build your resume and gain a different but valuable perspective. No matter the work experience, having that new perspective will help you at some point in your career. However, there are 5 things you need to know before getting a job opportunity in the USA as an international student:
1.Some careers and industries are more demanding than others time-wise, so you need to be aware of the lifestyle that comes with it
In every country, you have some careers that are more demanding than others; however, this can be accentuated in the US. Industries like consulting, tech, and finance, for instance, are really time-consuming. You can expect to spend more than your 9-5 in the office and work after hours. While this sounds like a lot, these industries usually compensate well for the time demanded. If you are interested in one of these demanding industries, you should network and research them as much as you can to understand what the lifestyle is like. Use LinkedIn, but also TikTok and YouTube as a starting point.
2. American work-life balance is different from what you know from home
While there are only 2 weeks of paid vacation and no official parental leave, the US has another way to manage work-life balance. While 2 weeks of PTO don’t seem enough, there are multiple ways for you to get more time off by balancing the bank holidays. There are a few websites that have tips on how to plan your PTO to maximize your time off. You can also find that Americans enjoy life a bit differently; they do more small adventures during the year and don’t wait until they are on vacation to enjoy life.
3. Network with previous international students as much as you can because they have done the impossible, aka finding a job as an international student
While it can be complicated to get hired right now as an international student, use your network as much as you can. Capitalize on your home country’s network and your university’s. People can be more favorable to talk to you if you already have something in common. Being an international student is a strength and alumni will recognize that. Not everyone will be in a hiring position, but they may know other people and can refer you to them.
4. Use every resource that your university has
No matter how long you are studying abroad in the USA for, you should use as many resources as you can. American universities probably have the best support systems and tools I have seen. Go talk to your career advisor, go to as many career fairs as you can, have them review your resume, go on coffee chats, try to meet employers coming to campus.
There are so many things you can do on campus to help you get hired!
5. Use our resources to help you get hired!
We have successfully found multiple internships as international students and jobs in the USA, and are now coaching international students to do the same. We can help you review your resume to fit the American resume standards, practice for American interviews, and strategize to find a job. You can now get a free 15-minute review session using this link: https://calendar.app.google/RgLxhzhEhskVqKsw6
We will answer these questions:
“How do I build my resume while studying abroad?”
“What should I put on my resume as an international student?”
“Ways to gain resume experience while studying abroad”
“How to build a strong CV during exchange programs”
“Best resume tips for students with limited experience”
Finding a job or an internship in the United States as an international student is difficult but not impossible. Use these 5 tips to your advantage, and good luck!
