Job Search Tips for International Students

If you are an international student seeking an internship, research opportunity, or full-time job, you will not want to miss this blog! ECS has compiled advice from two engineering alums and a current Ph.D. student who have been successful in their job search. Gain further insight from these three professionals below as they share resources and best practices for the job search & the workplace.

Wally Yang graduated in 2020 with a B.S. degree in Computer Science & Engineering and works for Meta as a Production Engineer.

Shlok Sundaresh graduated in 2014 with a M.S. degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering and works for Tosoh SMD as a Global Commercial Manager - Technical Products.

Mohit Jangid is a current Ph.D. student (May 2023) in Computer Science & Engineering with a specialization in Cyber Security. Mohit has held several internships including, a Software Quality Assurance Intern at ANSYS and a Research Intern at CISPA.

What resources did you use during your internship/full-time job search?

Mohit: I attended the career fairs and events that were specific to international students. I also utilized ECS as well as Buckeye Careers for refining my resume and getting job search tips. Additionally, I sought advice from senior students in my major and consistently applied for 3-4 selected internship opportunities per week. Apart from Handshake, I used job search engines such as Indeed.com to apply for jobs.

Wally: I used Handshake to find employers and jobs. Additionally, I used ECS for resume reviews and reserved interview rooms for my phone interviews.

What core skills or qualities do you think employers find most useful?

Shlok: Critical thinking/problem solving abilities, teamwork, leadership, excellent communication skills and integrity are skills/qualities that employers value.

Wally: The ability to work on a problem and overcome obstacles rather than simply knowing the answer to an algorithm question. Demonstrate you can understand the problem, work the problem, and come up with a solution, as well as understand how to improve the solution based on different environments.

What advice would you give a current student who is seeking an internship or full-time position?

Mohit: Think from the employer's view: What qualities do you desire in a candidate you would hire for your company? Especially for international students, building an online portfolio is a useful source to judge someone before the interview. Spend time showcasing your academic and non-academic experiences. Be ready to answer the "why" behind your pursuits.

Shlok: Ensure you dedicate sufficient time for your job search. Tailor your resume specific to the role you are seeking. Carry out due diligence on the organization and role you are interested in. Reach out to your network or employees in your interested organization to understand the company culture - ask questions! Most importantly - be patient, confident, thick skinned and never lose faith during the application process - rejection is part of the process!

Wally: For computer science students specifically, build your resume with outside classroom projects. Write your own design documents, write your own code, and demo it.

It is important to make a good impression at work. How do you show professionalism in the workplace?

Shlok: Have a strong work ethic, be punctual, take initiative, manage time effectively, be productive and support your team. Remember, high EQ (emotional quotient/intelligence) helps!

Mohit: If you receive an internship offer, then you are naturally good at doing your tasks. Be natural in that way. Work principally and systematically. Actively seek help and ask questions when needed. 

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.” - William Arthur Ward