International Student Job Search FAQs
Many on-campus opportunities provide valuable work experience and generally do not require any special approval. Seek opportunities that relate to your career area or that provide any opportunity to develop skills relevant to your career goals. Students apply for directly through the campus department. On campus jobs are listed in Husker Hire Link, job boards, on campus jobs, or through departments.
What are graduate teaching or research assistantships?
Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are awarded to qualified students to assist with financial responsibilities associated with full-time enrollment in graduate school. Graduate assistants are generally awarded a tuition waiver and monthly stipend for each semester they are employed. Graduate assistantships might be available through academic or other campus departments. If you have questions, please contact the Graduate Studies web site.
What is work-study? Do I qualify?
Federal work-study is a part of the federal financial aid program available only to students who are U.S. citizens. As an International student you will not qualify for work-study.
What about scholarships? Do I qualify?
Most UNL scholarships are available to U.S. citizens only. However, the Office of International Affairs has some scholarships available to international students. For more information, please contact the Office of International Affairs.
Depending upon your visa status, you may or may not be eligible to work off campus. Employers may be identified through resources such as career fairs, job listing sites, and direct contact with employers. Husker Hire Link provides access to employers through campus interviewing, job listings and resume referral.
Volunteer experiences are generally permitted and provide wonderful opportunities to gain knowledge of a career field and specific skills. (For example, gain marketing skills through a charitable organization, tutor to elementary students, or translate for a human services organization.) Short-term volunteer experiences are promoted through UNL Student Involvement. Longer-term volunteer experiences are promoted through UNL Career Services as non-paid internships. Organizations cannot hire an international student as an unpaid intern or volunteer if they generally would pay a U.S. citizen to do the same work.
Internships and cooperative education experiences (Curricular Practical Training or Academic Training) are permitted with some additional documentation. These experiences permit students to engage in employment in their major field of study during the course of their academic program. Such training must be an integral part of an established curriculum and must comply with immigration regulations.
Optional Practical Training enables an employer to hire an international student after graduation for work related to their course of study. Authorization is granted by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (CIS). Another option is the Specialty Occupation Visa. Employers intending to recruit and hire internationals have the option to petition for an H-1B visa (authorizing 1-6 years additional work in the U.S.).
Do U.S. employers hire international students?
Yes and no. Some U.S. employers will hire international students, while other employers will not. Most employers can be classified into four categories:
- Those that want to hire international students because they might have international business dealings.
- Those that will consider hiring international students for positions for which they cannot find qualified U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Those that will only recruit and hire U.S. citizens or permanent residents because they do not wish to incur the expenses involved in hiring international students and sponsoring them for H-1B visas.
- Those employers who are unable to hire international students due to their relationship with the federal government (i.e. federal government agencies, government contractors, and defense contractors).
If an employer is open to the idea of hiring an international student, they may:
- Interview and hire the international student for a internship (CPT or Academic Training) or an optional practical training (OPT) experience.
- After the student completes the short-term experience, the employer could decide to end the employment. If the employer wanted to continue to employ the international student on a more permanent basis, they could attempt to obtain a H1-B visa by completing all three of the steps below:
- Petitioning the government for an H-1B visa (authorizing 1-6 years additional work in the U.S.)
- Seeking approval from the United States Department of Labor which includes documenting attempts to hire a U.S. citizen for the position
- Hiring a lawyer and absorbing a variety of fees
Due to the expenses involved in sponsoring an employee for an H-1B visa, some employers will not hire international students into CPT or OPT positions. While UNL Career Services supports all UNL students, including international students, we cannot control an employer’s willingness to interview or hire international students.
Is there a list of employers who hire international students?
There is no comprehensive list of employers willing to hire international students. While one year an organization may hire international students, the next year they may choose not to or there might not be any openings.
How can I explain the options for hiring international students to an employer?
Career Services and International affairs have collaborated to produce an overview of the options. You may download it as a PDF and provide it to employers.
RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
International Students: Gaining Career Experience in U.S. Presentation.
Office of International Affairs: Provides more detailed information on employment, other compensation and reimbursement of foreign students and scholars at UNL.
International Job Listings: Resources for international students, jobs in other countries and ESL jobs in other countries.
