International Students

International students are eligible for employment with the University when they arrive on campus. On-campus employment opportunities can be found on Handshake. When looking for on- campus jobs on Handshake, international students are only eligible for “non-work study” positions.  

There are 3 types of on-campus jobs: Standard Campus Jobs, Dining Services Jobs, and Academic Jobs.

• Standard Campus Jobs are found on Handshake and include positions like: Graduate Assistant, Office Assistant, Student Assistant, Peer Tutor, Resident Assistant, etc.
• Dining Services Jobs are found on Compassgroupcareers.com and include food service positions at the Dining Hall, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Catering, etc.
• Academic Jobs are found through faculty/departments in your major. You should speak with your professors or people in your college to find out about openings for positions like: Teaching Assistants (TA), Research Assistants, Grader, Lab Assistants, etc.

Successful on-campus applications include cover letters, resumes, and good interviewing skills. We highly recommend getting free assistance from the Career Center in the following ways:

1. You may visit our CAREER CORNER (UC 108) for feedback and brief assistance.
2. You may make an appointment with your Career Counselor on Handshake or by calling our office at 361.825.2628. 

There are several ways you can build your resume and portfolio without having a job including: Forage, projects, volunteering in related activities, or leadership.

• Forage is a free resource for project-based experiences with hundreds of job simulations designed by the world’s top companies. You can register and search for relevant assignments. When your project is complete, you post it in the platform and recruiters from that company may review it and contact you if they are interested in your work. Whether they contact you or not, you can put this project on your resume. Be sure to include Forage and the host company name such as Lululemon, J.P. Morgan, RedBull, KPMG, British Airways and MORE! Register and search here: https://www.theforage.com/
• Projects interest employers because it shows them how you are applying your skills and knowledge outside the classroom. These can be personal projects such as repairing car engines (Engineering), developing a website that uses scraped information for some purpose or create a program that scrapes the internet news and posts the top 3 articles to your social media (Computer Science), creating or revamping a database (Computer Science or MIS), or conducting research (Science, Psychology). What skills do you have that could help someone or some organization? If you’d like to discuss some ideas, please see your career counselor.
• Volunteering at organizations is great experience. There are many organizations, both on and off campus, that need help. Some examples include: supporting your favorite student organization by organizing/analyzing their membership and financial data (Computer Science, Business Analytics), assisting at Metro Ministries homeless shelter clinic (Healthcare Administration, BioMed), or helping the local Ronald McDonald House with their social media marketing (Marketing, Communication). *Note: Volunteering for a project or regular hours off campus to gain work experience that is related to your major requires approved CPT paperwork.
• Leading a student organization is a great skillset for your resume and it is very much like a job. Employers are seeking applicants who have done more than go to class. Leadership shows that you have initiative as well as strong organizational and communication skills. Perhaps you could increase membership, or improve fundraising efforts, or even reduce attrition. All of these items would be impressive examples to add to your resume.

• Important: Meet with an advisor at the International Student Programs and Support office BEFORE you begin searching for internships or off-campus jobs. As a result, you will be informed about your specific major requirements, timelines, and paperwork for CPT/OPT (UC 226, 361.825.3346).
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is an opportunity to gain internship experience related to your major field of study. To be eligible for CPT, you must be enrolled in a full-time academic program for at least one academic year.
• Optional Practical Training (OPT) is another option for employment that is related to your major. It is typically used after completing your degree, but you should start applying for positions before you graduate.

While online applications are common, they often get lost in the shuffle. Stand out by taking a more direct approach: 

• Networking: 80% of jobs are found because of networking. Talk to people you know. Share your resume with all your contacts. Also, reach out to potential employers via LinkedIn. Use LinkedIn Learning to help you. Craft personalized messages to recruiters and even company leaders to establish a strong connection. 
• Applying Online: When job hunting online use resources designed to help international students such as GoinGlobal, Handshake, or Parker Dewey. 
• Cultural Adaptation: Familiarize yourself with American workplace culture and behaviors. Engage in meaningful conversations, demonstrate approachability, and work on making a positive impression. 

Enhance your skills and make yourself a more attractive candidate by focusing on growth and development: 

• Refine Your Communication Skills: Cultivate and polish your language skills, as strong communication is highly valued by employers. Enhance your written and verbal communication abilities and capitalize on mock interview opportunities to hone your interview skills. 
• Continuous Learning: Dedicate time to expand your knowledge and skills. Read books, attend networking events, and utilize online resources to stay updated and sharpen your expertise. Take advantage of the resources you have access to through the University such as LinkedIn Learning or online resources like Forage.  
• Digital Presence: Establish a professional digital presence, especially on platforms like LinkedIn. Share relevant content, showcase your accomplishments, and connect with industry professionals. 

Make your application materials stand out by tailoring them to each opportunity: 

• Resumes and Cover Letters: Craft resumes and cover letters that align with the specific role, company, and industry you're applying to. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that match the job requirements. 

Target companies that are open to hiring international candidates or have a presence in your home country. These organizations are more likely to appreciate your unique perspective and background. GoinGlobal and MyVisaJobs are good resources to do this.  

• Don’t Apply Without Research: Avoid applying to companies that don't offer sponsorship if you require it. Focus your efforts on internships and positions where you are eligible for long-term employment. 
• Don’t Be Dishonest About Visa Status: Always be honest and transparent about your visa status with recruiters. Dishonesty can harm your credibility and chances of securing a job. 
• Don’t Undervalue Your Experience: Even if you lack formal work experience, highlight relevant activities like club memberships, leadership roles, projects, coursework, and customer service skills gained from non-professional settings. 
• Don’t Apply Randomly: Instead of applying for multiple positions across different departments within the same company, focus on roles that genuinely align with your interests and qualifications. 
• Don’t Overlook Global Mindset: Emphasize your global mindset and willingness to work across cultures when applying to companies. Many organizations value candidates who can contribute to their international teams. 
• Don’t Neglect Feedback and Improvement: If you face rejection, take time to reflect and improve your application. Reapply after making necessary enhancements, or consider applying for full-time roles after graduation. 

 Remember that persistence, honesty, and a proactive mindset are key to achieving success in your career search. 

GoinGlobal 

• A job board that lists companies who have sponsored American work visas in the past. Go to the H1B/OPT tab to search companies and/or job titles.

Handshake 

• A job board for TAMU-CC students where you can find on-campus jobs/internships as well as off-campus jobs/internships.
• When searching for positions, go to ‘All filters’ and scroll to ‘Work authorization’ section. Select the filter that applies to you.  We suggest using one of the following options:  a) Open to CPT, and/or b) Open to OPT.

MyVisaJobs 

• A good resource on explaining work visas and finding companies that will sponsor a work visa.  
• Search companies that accept H-1B visas  

Devex 

• This is a great recourse for the global development community. Many civil societies and NGOs hire global talent and will sponsor a work visa.   
• This site also provides career related events, career blogs, and general news & updates about the world of development.