Tips on Finding Work as an International Student
Hi y’all!
I hope this spring semester is treating everyone kindly. Before I get into the article, I thought it would be good to introduce myself. My name is Melissa Marie Wang (or Mel for short—like the burger bar near campus! No affiliation though…sigh). I am a junior double majoring in Information Science and English, and I am an international student born and raised in the Philippines (but I spent a few years of high school in Singapore). When I’m not debugging code or analyzing a reading, I’m busy working as both a student representative for the Admissions Office and a data research assistant for Professor Alexandra Watson within Barnard’s English department.
When I first came to Barnard, one of my goals was to earn a stable income while I pursued my studies. There are a hundred valid reasons why one may want to work while juggling academics and a social life. In my case, I wanted to be more financially independent and prove to myself that I could earn enough to spend on activities I enjoy (we all love New York, but living here can get expensive). However, I was at a complete loss as to where to start my job search and how to prepare the necessary paperwork (because yes, there is paperwork). Below are a few tips and pieces of advice I’ve collected over the last three years, and I hope that they help other international students navigate the process of job hunting during their time at Barnard!
Before anything else, reach out to International Student Services (ISS). ISS is a department under the umbrella of Access Barnard, the office on campus that serves students who identify as “international students, first-generation, or low-income.” Reach out to ISS by sending an email or by dropping by Milbank Hall (don’t be shy!). ISS has a bunch of different resources that can help you understand Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), or the process of applying for a Social Security Number or for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Those are a lot of acronyms, but don’t be scared! ISS holds several workshops throughout the year that walk through these different topics, and their staff are always more than happy to meet for a one-to-one session to explain things in greater detail.
Apply to on-campus jobs. There are so many different jobs around both Barnard’s and Columbia’s campuses! You could work as a tutor, teaching assistant, departmental assistant, lab intern, notetaker, library assistant, Admissions student representative (*wink wink*), and so much more! Barnard lists all its student job openings on a website called Workday, where you can easily submit your resume and application for any job you want. Plus, on-campus jobs do not require CPT or OPT, so you don’t have to worry about applying for those!
Beyond Barnard is an amazing resource. Beyond Barnard is our career counseling center. If you need help with anything job-related—setting up your resume, writing a cover letter, prepping for an interview, starting your LinkedIn profile, etc.—either give them a call, send them an email, or drop by their office in Elliott Hall!
CPT, OPT—huh??? I used to get these two confused all the time, so let me explain. They are both types of authorization that an F-1 visa holder is required to obtain before working for an off-campus employer. Authorization will be given if you are offered an internship or job that is directly related to your major. But CPT and OPT have a few key differences. CPT is offered only while you are studying and not after graduation, mainly because it has to be for credit. OPT is offered exclusively after you have completed your degree. Let’s use an example: say you’re a sophomore studying Computer Science, and you’re offered a summer internship at Google. You would then apply for CPT, and because you need some academic credits associated with CPT, you would also need to propose a one-credit independent study class at Barnard, which you will take the following semester. But let’s say you’ve graduated (yay!), and you’re offered a job at Apple. You would then need to apply for OPT authorization, which will grant you a certain number of months of employment while on your F-1 visa.
It’s okay to be overwhelmed. Looking for work as an international student can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re starting the process for the very first time. I remember not understanding any of the documents and struggling over how long my to-do lists were getting. But that’s completely normal! You are not alone in this. First off, you’re reading this blog post, so you know at least one other person (me!) who’s gone through the ✨journey✨ that is finding work while being an F-1 visa holder. Secondly, Barnard has so many resources that can help you on your journey! Besides the departments I’ve already named, the Furman Counseling Center and the Wellness Spot are both wonderful offices that can help you if you need support in terms of mental health and emotional support (and if you just need someone to talk to about everything on your mind). Finally, there are a number of student organizations that you can reach out to if you want to meet other international students going through the same experience as you are.
Finding work as an international student is a process that comes with its own ups and downs. But it is completely doable, and it is significantly less stressful and daunting because Barnard provides its international students with so many different helpful resources. Your Barnard community always has your back—so yeah, reader, you’ve got this!