Practical Job Search Strategies for International Students

1. Practical Job Search Strategies for International Students Fred (Prakash) Kollaram, BSEE, MSEE. President, h1visajobs.com SUNY Institute of Technology Utica, NY April 6, 2004 h1visajobs.com

2. Speaker Originally from India. Naturalized US citizen. BSEE from India, MSEE from USA. F-1OPTGreenCardUS Citizenship. Software Engineer/Project Mgr. (20+ yrs.). Immigration Researcher / publisher. Employed/Sponsored Students on F-1 OPT . Sponsored H-1B, H-1A, Green Card. h1visajobs.com

3. Students • From CS/IT/MIS? • From Business? • From Engineering? • From other disciplines? • Currently on OPT? • Will be on OPT in Spring 2004? • Will be on OPT beyond Spring 2004? h1visajobs.com

4. Reality. How Jobs get filled? Free & Comfort Zone. Resumes On File. Transfer/promote , Referrals. Fee $$ Referral Program ($1000) Fee $$$$$$Advertisements ($3000+)Key: Your resume must be with hiring manager while job opening is still hidden. h1visajobs.com

5. Reality. Hidden Job Market. • 70% jobs filled without advertisements. • How jobs are created?- Resignation - Long leave - Promotion - New Projects - Busi. Expansion - Busi. Relocation • Who knows first? - Management - Employees - Business Associates h1visajobs.com

6. Reality. Why Hire You? Companies hire int’l students for their own reasons.- Shortage (+) - unattractive location (+)- small company (+)- unattractive benefits package(+)- minority ownership (+) - low salary (+)- urgency (+) h1visajobs.com

7. Strategy for Success Uncover Hidden Job Market • Network – With Students - If you are not selected in job interview.- If you do not like job opening.- After you join.Network – With All - Professors - Friends - Relatives - Neighbors - Religious Gatherings h1visajobs.com

8. Exercise 1: Networking Strategy (2 Minutes) List 10 people that you can network with. (Professors, classmates, friends, relatives, neighbors, etc.) 1.Fred Kollaram, h1visajobs Online Databases 6. ___________________ 2. ________________________ 7. _____________________ 3. ________________________ 8. _____________________ 4. ________________________ 9. _____________________ 5. ________________________ 10. _____________________ h1visajobs.com

9. Strategy for Success (Continued). Already in the US (+) • Do - Focus on local employers OPT in hand (+) • Sell - No paperwork needed • Sell - You can start working right away OPT not in hand (-) • Do: Get OPT in hand. US Economy is growing. h1visajobs.com

10. Strategy for Success (Continued). J-1 visa - home return restriction (-) • Do - Obtain waiver.J-1 visa - no home return restriction (+) Sell - No paperwork needed. No industrial experience (-) • Do - Learn opening/company’s line of business. • Sell - Sell projects and thesis as experience. • Sell - Independent study you have done. h1visajobs.com

11. Strategy for Success (Continued). US educated (+)Sell: My school is one of the best on the East Coast. • Sell: Done several advanced hands-on projects (in employer’s area of interest). h1visajobs.com

12. Strategy for Success (Continued). I speak good English (+). • Sell: All education in English. • Sell: I did over 10 presentations in school to over 100 people. • Sell: Active member of …. association • Sell: I possess good inter-personal skills. • Sell: I possess excellent communication skills. No one expects you to talk like an American. h1visajobs.com

13. Strategy for Success (Continued) Why hire you?Comfort zone / Compatibility • Sell: Give personal assurances. • Do: Focus on firms with owners from your country. Owner’s name? • Do: Focus on companies that export to your country. Site: http://www.imex.com/membership/country.htmlhttp://www.world-exchange.biz/http://www.alibaba.com h1visajobs.com

14. Strategy for Success (Continued). Why should a company hire/ sponsor you?Size / Location • Do: Focus on small companiesin your city and surrounding small towns / rural areas. • Don’t: Keep away from large cities (Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, etc.). h1visajobs.com

15. Strategy for Success (Continued). Why should a company hire/sponsor you?Lower Salary Budget, Cannot find US citizens/permanent residentsDo: Accept lower (reasonable) salary unless you have other offers. Sell: I can start working right away. Sell: Looking for long term relationship. h1visajobs.com

16. Exercise 2 (2 Minutes) Give 5 reasons why an employer “should” hire/sponsor “you”. What makes you better than your competition?Do not list “I have a BS/MS Degree.”Do not list: “I am a good team player’ Be specific. 1. ___________________________________________2. ___________________________________________ 3. ___________________________________________4. ___________________________________________5. ___________________________________________ h1visajobs.com

17. Resume Tips • Sell, Sell, Sell, Sell, Sell, Sell, … • Must have a buyer • Purpose of resume - get interview • Purpose of interview – get job • Should be concise, well laid out. • No spelling or grammatical errors • Objective – Very important. h1visajobs.com

18. Resume Tips (Continued) • State positive things; not negative. • Emphasize on hands-on experience not on courses taken. Use “verbs”- past tense:planned, analyzed, identified and prioritized tasks, sized work efforts, designed, implemented, experimented, …. h1visajobs.com

19. Resume Tips (Continued) • Reviewer has 10 seconds to determine if he/she should move on to next resume. • Bullets are easy/quick to read. • Do not say:- no experience - recent graduate- need sponsorship - will take any job- looking for job in … city only. h1visajobs.com

20. Resume Tips (more) If you have industrial experience: • Sell: I have worked in the industry for n number of years, went back to school for further specialization in xyz area. Getting back to industry. • Show education at the beginning or end of the resume. • Do list courses taken, do say “Deans List.” h1visajobs.com

21. Resume Tips (more) If you have no industrial experience • Show education at beginning of the resume • Show experience you gained while working in lab, projects, thesis, research, programming, testing. Use bullets and past tense. (See example) • Show Dean’s list, assistantship, awards, rewards, memberships. h1visajobs.com

22. Exercise 3 – Transferable Skills. 5 Min. Circle all your transferable skills h1visajobs.com

23. Exercise 3. Transferable Skills (Continued)Circle all transferable skills you possess. h1visajobs.com

24. Exercise 3. Transferable Skills (Continued)Circle all transferable skills you possess. h1visajobs.com

25. H1visajobs.com Online Database CS-H1B (Information Technology) • PLATEAU SYSTEMS LTD671 NORTH GLEBE ROAD   ARLINGTON, VA    22203Contact Name: ED AYYASH    Title: HUMAN RESOUCES MANAGER   Phone No.: 703-292-0200   Ext: Salary: 63000.00/Year   Job Code: 033   Job Title: QUALITY ASSURANCE ENGINEER   US DOL Case# I-03246-0694823    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: ARLINGTON,   VA   POLARIS SOFTWARE LAB (INDIA) LTD.Woodbridge Place   Iselin, NJ    08830Contact Name: BALAJI VENKATESH    Title: Head of HR & Management Services   Phone No.: 732-404-1199   Ext: Salary: 55000.00/Year   Job Code: 030   Job Title: Programmer Analyst   US DOL Case# I-02326-0322843    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   PRITHVI INFORMATION SOLUTIONS LLC425 North Craig Street , Suite # 202   Pittsburgh, PA    15213Contact Name: MADHAVI VUPPALAPATI    Title: President   Phone No.: 412-682-4025   Ext: Salary: 50000.00/Year   Job Code: 030   Job Title: Software Engineer   US DOL Case# I-03008-0366649    To sponsor 008 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   PYRAMID SYSTEMS, INC.2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 209   Arlington, VA    22202Contact Name: TUNG DU    Title: Human Resources Manager   Phone No.: 703-553-0800   Ext: Salary: 35000.00/Year   Job Code: 030   Job Title: Programmer Analyst   US DOL Case# I-03070-0444135    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA    h1visajobs.com

26. H1visajobs.com Online Database BUSI-H1B(Business Administration & Management) • ASHOKA1700 N. Moore St.   Arlington, VA    22209-1929Contact Name: LUCY PERKINS    Title: Vice President   Phone No.: 703-527-8300   Ext: Salary: 60000.00/Year   Job Code: 187   Job Title: Desk Officer for Latin America   US DOL Case# I-03155-0561069    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   BLUE RIDGE PARTNERS, INC.2717 No. Pershing Drive   Arlington, VA    22201Contact Name: ROLAND T BUTLER    Title: President   Phone No.: 703-528-8320   Ext: Salary: 29900.00/Year   Job Code: 185   Job Title: Intrnational Trade Consultant   US DOL Case# I-03195-0619773    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   CAPITAL INVESTMENT GROUP LLC1590 N. Colonial Terrace   Arlington, VA    22209Contact Name: CHRISTY SALAM    Title: Assistant General Manager   Phone No.: 703-412-3750   Ext: Salary: 42.30/Hour   Job Code: 187   Job Title: President & General Manager   US DOL Case# I-03094-0477735    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   CVENT, INC.200 N. Glebe Road   Arlington, VA    22203Contact Name: THOMAS G KRAMER    Title: CFO   Phone No.: 703-226-3500   Ext: Salary: 40500.00/Year   Job Code: 189   Job Title: Senior Product Consultant   US DOL Case# I-03210-0644041    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA   E-SATISFY COM, INC. D/B/A TARP1655 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 200   Arlington, VA    22209Contact Name: MARY CAZALAS    Title: Corporate Secretary   Phone No.: 703-524-1456   Ext: Salary: 77000.00/Year   Job Code: 186   Job Title: Measurement Manager   US DOL Case# I-03195-0620327    To sponsor 001 worker(s). Job Location: Arlington,   VA    h1visajobs.com

27. Useful Resources • Handouts • Visit http://www.h1visajobs.com- BUS, CS, ENG. Username: users@sunyit.eduapr2000 Password: users • Online Database of American Employers for International Professionals. • One-on-one counseling. • Questions to: Robert Palazzo or David Garrett h1visajobs.com