Introduction

Internships stand as a one-time opportunity in the career of international students in the USA on F1 OPT, CPT, and J1 visas. The job search for international students in the USA has always been a tough challenge due to the intense competition and lack of knowledge and resources to identify the right organization. These reasons make the hunt for internships a little more challenging for international students.

There are various platforms that can be helpful to grab internship opportunities for the international students but choosing the right one needs appropriate research and also need to meet the educational requirements. The freshers from various technologies seek an alternative where they can gain experience and knowledge which can gradually help them to grow in their specific field.

Start the internship search as per the Visa category:

In the process of initiating the search for your internships firstly you should be aware of the available opportunities as per the specific visa category. The visa category for the international students is subdivided mainly into:

• • J1 Visa
• • F1 Visa

Visa options:

1. F1 Visa

The international students under an F1 visa in the process of their graduation have a great option to start work initially in their domain as per the permitted hours for their visa category. Internships are one of the best alternatives for F1 visa holders under their CPT/OPT to get paid internships in the USA, unpaid internships in the USA, on-campus internships, or off-campus internships in the US.

CPT Internships:

Students under the CPT visa are in their graduation process and have a great chance to get experience in CPT internships in the US right before their graduation. This helps them to get experience in their field even before completing their graduation. There are certain points to ensure before initiating the search for the internships as follows:

The internships work should be in accordance with the degree course or field of the students so that the experience could be helpful in their career.

For starting the internship work under the CPT visa the student at least is supposed to complete their first year of the university.

Before starting the internship work the students are supposed to apply for the authorization on their student Visa.

Need to submit the received and updated approved I-20 form before starting their internships.

OPT Internships:

Search for OPT Internships in the USA helps the freshly graduated candidates to get experience in their specific major. The student might be in their post-graduation or graduation process and are allowed to work on the paid as well as unpaid internships.

The OPT internships aren’t needed to be specifically related to the students’ degree or student curriculum.

The OPT visa allows start working after getting the approval from the USCIS (United States Citizenship Immigration Services).

Under the OPT visa the internships can be up to the duration of 12 months or longer if STEM eligible.

It is an ideal step to verify the information with your concerned DSO before proceeding with any internship opportunity to be in the safe zone.

2. J1 Visa:

One of the other visa categories of international students in the US who would be looking for internship opportunities is the US J1 Visa. Under the J1 Visa students can enroll in academic training for 18 months and can work with respect to the hours allowed.

The J1 Visa holders should receive approval in writing from the concerned sponsoring institutions.

The internship opportunity must be in relation to the field of study similar to the F1 Visa to get employed.

To get work as an Intern under J1 Visa the candidate should currently be in a foreign college or university or should be graduated within the past 12 months.

To get work as a Trainee under J1 Visa the candidate should possess a degree of as well as one year of experience and should have been an intern in the US for 12 or 18 months of duration.

How can I find Internships in the US?

Getting started with the process of searching for internships probably needs the right set of steps to conduct before actually initiating it. Therefore, there are certain points that are to be taken into consideration.

1. Be clear with your vision:

The most essential part is to acknowledge and understand the focus area for the job application. Based on the field of study, past experience targeted skills, and job area we can pertain the targeted area for the internship application process. After acknowledging it we can ascertain the companies, job titles as well as skills to focus on.

2. Create your Network:

One of the strongest tools in the current century is the available technologies that ease the process of building connections in your specific field. A strong network under any situation is always going to benefit you if the base of the network is set up on human relations. There are various tried and applied methods using which you can build your network strong and useful.

Build your network by socializing if you’re an extrovert at the common platforms of professionals in your domain. You can socialize with your professors and student leaders in your university to work on practical projects and to get more ideas diverse thoughts, and skills.

Socializing at your workplace amongst superiors and subordinates also provides an opportunity to grow your skills and bring consistency to your work performance.

If socializing in person is not your thing then creating networks on online platforms can also be a cool option. There are platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter that can work to build a strong network amongst the professionals in your domain across the globe.

Whether the networking is practiced in person or on online platforms avoid sugar-coating the other person to bring connection.

The process of networking cannot last long by just taking help and not offering it back. The process of creating a network is always approached when carried out by both parties.

Building a network should always be carried out for a long time. Therefore, it becomes essential to approach the professionals on a regular basis.

3. Build a professional resume and cover letter:

The most basic tool in the process of the job search is your resume. Therefore, it is important to pay attention while creating a resume. A professional resume can work efficiently to get good responses from the hiring managers. Click here to get tips to build your resume. A cover letter might be a traditional method in the job search but still very useful to get responses from the applied job openings.

PS: United OPT can assist in your resume preparation click here to know more.

4. Apply to Internship openings

As an internship is different than full-time job opportunities, it is necessary to apply for the internship in the very beginning phase. To get the best candidate for the vacancy, companies mostly overwrite the job description or add more than necessary skills, so it’s advised to apply for such companies as well whose job description meets at least 60% of your skillset. Try to filter out the companies on these standards to save time and get the most of:

The company must be accepting applications from International students on CPT; you should read the job description carefully or you can also check on their website in the career section.

The company should be near to your university location so that you don’t have to spend extra on transportation or residence; try to look for remote jobs for CPT/ OPT visa status.

As most of the applications you make online are been scanned by ATS (Application tracking system), it is necessary to fill in the information very precisely.

To avoid any inaccuracy, try to keep an excel sheet or word document to write down your skillset and other information which you know can be asked repeatedly for further applications.

Before submitting your application, make a habit to glance at it quickly and check for any missing information or any mistake.

Check your mail after submitting the applications that you are able to receive the confirmation, many times applicants put wrong contact information which is very unfortunate.

5. Interview preparation:

The interview invitation after applying for the job brings a positive approach to finally represent your skills and enthusiasm for the internship. It requires one to tight their reins and get ready for the challenge. The interview can be conducted via online mode or offline mode. Here are a few tips that can help to crack an interview:

Revise a few frequently asked questions as per the job title from the google search. This helps to get some idea about the probable questions that can be asked in the interview. Practicing the answers to the question that might be asked boost your confidence.

After or within the interview sessions you will be asked by the interviewer about any queries you have. The questions that you ask the interviewer tell a lot about your thought process and nature. Therefore, pen down a few questions prior to asking in the interview. Don’t interrupt the interviewer by asking the questions, ask your questions when asked by the interviewer.

Practice a few mock call sessions with your friends and companions to ease yourself and be persistent in the conversation.

Discuss with previous interns in your network their experience during their interview. You might gather a few steps to implement and a few to avoid from their experience.

Put good efforts into the dress code to reflect a positive impact in the interview. No matter the organization, people, or the policies but a professional dress will always draw the interviewer’s attention.

PAID VS UNPAID INTERNSHIPS

Can International students in the USA on F1 OPT, and F1 CPT apply for paid internships or unpaid internships?

PAID INTERNSHIPS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE USA

International students in the USA on F1 visas have 2 options in looking for internships which can be paid internships or unpaid internships. Choosing between paid internships or unpaid internships should be on the job seeker but here we have discussed in detail both the options.

The available internship opportunities whether it is paid or unpaid majorly depend on the type of industry, company, and competition. Majorly the information about the type of internship is mentioned either in the job description or before the interview gets scheduled. Paid internships might require prior work experience or more skills, responsibility, and answerability in comparison to the unpaid internship.

Majorly paid internships require the candidates to be capable of handling particular tasks with responsibility using their skills. Paid internships also provide a better platform to grow in one’s career as well as to achieve a higher job position. The pay range for the internships is decided by the organization looking to the job role and responsibility. Hours of work can be up to 20 hours per week. The pay could be quoted in salary or on an hourly basis.

One of the greatest benefits of working on a paid internship is that there is a higher chance of getting a job offer after completing the paid internship. Paid internships can be a great experience to learn and grow in one’s career along with compensation.

UNPAID INTERNSHIPS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE USA

The available openings for all the domains in the USA are more in comparison to the paid internships especially unpaid internships for the international students in the USA. Unpaid internships can be an ideal option for fresher’s having no knowledge about the practical world. Working as an unpaid intern not only helps to gain practical work experience but also helps to work on individual skills.

The amount of responsibility and performance pressure is quite low in the unpaid internships as compared to the paid internships. Unpaid internships create an environment for the intern to explore and learn the work freely.

Unpaid internships might not be offering compensation but is does offers to gain knowledge about the practical world that also before completing graduation. Therefore, unpaid internships are still a good option to gain work experience to get more priority in the job search over the fresher subordinates after the completion of the graduation.

Unpaid internships are also being offered by the companies associated with your school. Therefore, working on an unpaid internship can help to increase credit points in your education.

FAQ’s about how to find internships for the International Students on F1 OPT, F1 CPT, and J1visas in the USA:

1. Can an international student on an F1 visa do internships in the USA?

Yes, students on an F1 visa in the US can apply for internships after having a valid work authorization approved either on CPT (Curricular Practical Training) or OPT (Optional Practical Training).

2. How do international students in the USA get an internship?

As per the instruction from the university, a student can apply either off-campus or on campus. The internship should always be in respect to your domain to be eligible for getting the CPT to work visa.

3. Will I be requiring sponsorship on an F1 visa to work on an internship in the US?

Yes, only in case you wish to work on a fulltime opportunity after completion of the internship.

4. How much percent of internships are unpaid in the US for the international students in the US?

About 39.2% of the unpaid interns are hired on a fulltime job, whereas 60.8% of the paid interns are hired on a fulltime job.

5. What are the major internships offered in the USA between paid and unpaid internships?

The amount of unpaid internships is more in comparison to the paid internships. Finding an internship for international students is itself a great opportunity that forms the base of their career.

6. Is it illegal to work for unpaid internships in the USA?

No. Working on an unpaid internship is legal in case the intern is the primary beneficiary of the process.

7. What is the right time to look for internships for international students in the USA?

The job phases in the US market differ on a timely basis. Click here to find more information about the job phases in the US.

8. Can I work remotely for internships in the USA for F1 students?

Yes, the students on F1 OPT can work remotely. All you need to ensure is to get your payment on time at the end of the month.

9. How much do paid interns earn in the USA?

On average an intern having their bachelor’s makes between $14-$17 per hour in the USA.

Conclusion:

Internships either paid or unpaid it always the best way to learn about the practical world of your field. The mentioned information will map you about the process of searching for the right internship but United OPT can always assist you in the whole process. Feel free to reach our experts to find the best matching internship opportunities in your specific domain.