Introduction

Successfully completing graduation is one of the best feelings for international students in the USA. The journey till graduation is completely focused on making a good score and developing the right skills. Path till the graduation is challenging but the biggest challenge after graduation is to find a job in your major within a limited time period.

An OPT candidate should be clear with a certain points before beginning the OPT job search on their profile. The time-bound of the unemployment days under initial OPT needs the job search to be conducted very carefully and it should focus on quality work instead of quantity work.

Wondering how to start the job search after graduation? Or when to start looking for a job after graduation? Here are a few steps and information for the international students in the USA which can help to get the right method in the OPT job search.

Initial steps in the job search before graduation

The right method involves starting the OPT job search before graduation to land a successful job. There are a certain questions that arise about the right time to start a job search? Or is it required to start looking for a job before graduation? Well, we have got you covered with all the important steps.

Finding the suitable time to start the job search in the process of graduation differs as per the major of the job seeker as well as the industry. Looking to the past history for the process of hiring for international students in the US, it always varies as per the organization rules as some companies prefer immediate hiring while some have adopted a long process before hiring.

Another important aspect is to identify your skills and area of strength in your specific domain. It is always best to keep multiple job options as per your domain to get multiple responses within a limited time frame but it is also important to keep your area of interest as your main goal. Initiating the job search provides the opportunity of enough time to look for the job matching your specific interest.

Although it is good to be focused on your particular domain, this shouldn’t stop you from exploring other job areas in your domain. Being a fresher you should always be eager to obtain as much knowledge and experience as to grow yourself.

Identify the aspects for your job search

1. Job Location: Selecting the right location for the job search is very essential to identify the targeted geographical area. The targeted location should always be chosen wisely after analyzing factors like cost of living, Health care, employment opportunities, transportation, education, culture, and taxes.

2. Expected Salary: Research the average salary range in the industry with respect to your field. Decide the amount as per your expectation within the range. The expected rate should always be identified as per the level of experience.

3. Job titles: Particular domain allows the candidate to explore multiple job areas. Candidates can choose suitable job areas as per his or her expertise. It would be a wise choice to focus on multiple job titles as this increases the chance to reach a vast area.

4. Job type: As per the availability of time as well as the work permit one can decide the type of job that can be done. One of the major selected OPT job types is a full-time job. Candidates can choose the job type as per their preference either Full-Time job, contract job, Internships.

5. Level of experience: Before initiating the job search make a note of the fieldwork performed until date; this can help one to understand their level of experience if it is Entry level, mid-level, or senior level. It is necessary to understand the level of experience to find the best matching OPT job.

6. Relevant skills: The skills covered during the education should categorize as per the expertise of the candidate. The most suitable skills are supposed to be mentioned in various platforms during the OPT job search to implement the job search successfully.

Phases of the job market:

1. Dawn of the job market: (January to February)

The starting months of the year in the winters are also a start for the job market. The employers, candidates & hiring managers return from the holiday season and the market re-opens. Though the dawn for the OPT job market rises at a slower pace, it is still the best time to initiate the job search as William Shakespeare said, “Better early than late”.

The winter season is a great time to look for full-time OPT job opportunities in the market as the companies allocate their updated budgets for the year. The hiring managers have an adequate amount of time and resources during this phase which makes them take more time in choosing the right candidate. It is a great time to target your desired companies.

The winter season is a slow phase; therefore it is always better to make a follow-up in building a necessary network in the industry via all available resources. A strong network will help to get good responses throughout the year.

2. Spring brings a pleasant times in the job market: (March to May)

Spring is still a pleasant time to apply for the job openings in the market. The cycle for the hiring process that initiates during the winter season continues the consistency till the end of the winter. Spring brings the determination on the process for hiring. This makes spring a pleasant time for the candidates to make the OPT job application. The time before the summer break for hiring is comparatively faster.

3. Summer break for the job market: (June to August)

Summer holidays bring vacation time for the OPT job market as well. Most of the companies wind up the process for hiring before the summer break. Therefore, it is not a suitable time to search for jobs during the summer season. The hiring managers are hardly conducting the hiring process during the summer phase of the job market. The number of openings are a very few during this season and the openings are mostly for fresher’s at a low pay-scale.

4. The last phase for hiring: (September to October)

Autumn represents the last phase for the hiring process as we move to the last month of the year. Likewise to the January and February the last phase is also one of the best times for the job search. The waves for the hiring process rises after the summer phase. The hiring managers return fresh from the summer break and continue the process of hiring much more smoothly and faster.

5. Isolation period of hiring: (November and December)

The holiday season during November ending and December is a time to put the job search beside till the New Year. The employers have already completed the hiring goals before the holiday season. It is not a good point to apply for jobs.

Some of the tasks which you can do during this stage can be to update your resume and put efforts to make it more precise. You can also make a job application during the December ending to grab the employer’s attention quickly once they are back in the office in January.

FAQs for the right time to start the job applications for the international students in the US on F1 OPT, CPT:

1. What is the right time for an international student in the US to start the job search process?

It is advisable for the international students to start the job search process in advance to be in the safe zone. The international students in the US have a very limited time to find a suitable job. The ideal time to start the process for job search would be at least one year in advance because it requires some time to understand the job market and interview process.

2. When could be the right time to apply for a job before graduation?

It is difficult to find out the right time to start the job applications before graduating as the fresher’s are completely new to the job market. The accurate time to start the job applications for the students in the US before graduation will be 3-4 months from the expected graduation date.

3. What is the right time to apply for OPT EAD?

The authorization for the OPT visa is conducted by the USCIS. The approval for the OPT visa might take 3-5 months of time span. Therefore, it is appropriate to apply for the OPT visa before 3 months of the desired time to start employment.

4. How difficult is it to find a job for international students in the US?

The process of finding the best suitable OPT Jobs is always difficult. The difficulty in the job search for the international students is mainly towards finding an employer accepting international students.

Employers are hesitant towards accepting international students as it is time consuming and costly.

5. Which companies hire international students?

There are certain companies willing to hire international students. Here is a list of some top companies.

6. Is it possible to get a job before graduation in the US?

Yes. The candidates in the process of their graduation can get employment experience either on-campus or off-campus looking at their skills and knowledge. It is always a good step to start the job search in advance.

7. How can I prepare myself for the interview?

Be clear with certain measures to follow to crack an interview. Click here to know more!

8. What is the first step to start a job search?

The first step to start the job search is to identify your job preferences like the job title, skills and job area.

9. How to prepare a resume?

Here is a detailed article that will guide you about the resume preparation as per your concerned industry to find suitable jobs.

10. How to explain a gap year in my resume?

The best method to explain the gap in your employment could be the honest reason behind the gap. It might sound silly but the best could be to disclose the honest reason. Another step can be to conduct any professional training which can be explained as the reason for the gap in employment.

Conclusion :

We have tried to cover all the possible aspects which can help the international students during their job search before as well as after the graduation. It is always good to be prepared well in advance when it comes to searching for jobs while being a fresher in the US job market. Looking for the jobs in advance will keep you in the safe zone and will allow you to explore more about the available OPT job opportunities in the job market.