Finding Internship Positions as an International Student

How to look for internships to help you in your career, while navigating the difficulties of finding positions as an international student in the United States.

As a junior soon to graduate from the University of San Francisco, finding summer internships has become top-of-mind. Looking through different job search platforms I've felt overwhelmed by the sea of options, all of which have different job responsibilities, candidate requirements, and application processes.

But, as international students, we have a few more obstacles to jump through. From making sure that the company is able to accommodate OPT/CPT, to going through the visa application process, looking for an internship quickly turns into a stressful and overwhelming task.

As a student currently in the process of searching for a position, here are a few tips that I am keeping in mind that I have collected over the years from friends, fellow international students, professors, and advisors.

Tip #1 - Start early

This may seem like an obvious tip, but I mean it sincerely. Start looking for positions months in advance, especially if you plan on using your OPT or CPT. It can take time to find companies that are willing to accommodate these, while also fulfilling your own criteria for what an internship role entails. While CPT takes a relatively shorter amount of time, applying for OPT can be a lengthy process that takes months so you don't want to put this off.

Tip #2 - Do your research

While doing research about what a specific role entails and what the company dies is important, this point specifically is about the work visa application process. Your school website will likely have a wealth of information about these processes and what you need to do in order to be able to work.

Furthermore, it's important to look into the characteristics of both OPT and CPT. Depending on your major requirements and what your plans are post-graduation, one of these options may work better for you than the other. In either case, knowing what's involved in each of them is important before you start looking for internship positions.

Tip #3 - Don't be fooled by unpaid positions

As I was struggling to find a position that would fit my needs, both professionally and practically, my friend suggested that I could look for an unpaid internship as a way to avoid the mess that is the work visa process. Don't be fooled. Looking into it further, I learned that unpaid work is still work, and therefore requires you to go through the same processes as paid positions. For unpaid volunteer work to not be considered work, there are several qualifications, which you can learn more about here.

Tip #4 - Apply even if you think you might not get it

This one is more of a general tip. I often see different job postings that I think could be really interesting or enlightening, but hesitate to apply because I don't feel fully confident in every single element of the job description or qualifications. Don't let this stop you from applying. After all, as an intern part of the point of the experience is to learn on the job. You'll receive training before you start working and as they say, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

Research shows that women tend only to apply to a position if they meet 100% of the qualifications, while men apply when they meet only 60%. Reading this statistic, I felt emboldened to start applying to more positions. Confidence is everything -- don't let these great opportunities pass you by!

In Closing

I hope these tips for finding an internship were helpful for you. Remember that everyone else is going through this process too, and you aren't alone! You might not find a position right now, but it isn't the end of the world. Keep looking and stay hopeful!

Leave a comment below if this was helpful, or if you have any questions!

Good luck!