New workshop for international student career success launches

Global Initiatives Specialist Raghav Kidambi hosted the first of three workshops for international student career success, "The Global Edge", on September 19th.
Global Initiatives Specialist Raghav Kidambi hosted the first of three workshops for international student career success, "The Global Edge", on September 19th.

by Courtney Van Hoosen | Office of Global Strategies
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Fulfilling a demand of more support for international students during their career development and job search, the Office of Global Strategies has partnered with University Career Services on a new workshop this semester—“The Global Edge: Career Strategies for International Student Success."

The workshop is created in partnership with University Career Services and facilitated with the International Student and Scholar Office (ISSO). It will be held two more times during the Fall 2019 semester. More than 30 students and staff attended the first session, held on September 19th. The next two sessions will be held on:

  • Wednesday, October 23rd, 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in the Jackie Gaughan Center Ubuntu Room
  • Wednesday, November 6th, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Jackie Gaughan Center Ubuntu Room
The Global Edge workshop aims to prepare Nebraska’s international students as they pursue employment opportunities during and after their degree, including Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunities. Through CPT, international students on F-1 student visas are able to complete internships that are closely related to their major while continuing their degree at a U.S. institution of higher education. Similarly, OPT enables those students to be employed post-graduation without full sponsorship for up to 12 months, or 36 months for majors eligible for STEM extensions.

“I think I found it very useful for me as an international student, to help me to search for jobs in the United States,” workshop attendee Abdo Rashed said after the September session. “It also helped me to evolve my resume.”

Led by international Nebraska alumnus and Global Initiatives Specialist, Raghav Kidambi, the workshop covers topics including resources offered by Career Services, understanding what U.S. employers desire, leveraging one’s unique cultural background as an international student, and job search strategies to identify companies and opportunities for CPT and OPT. A representative from ISSO will attend each workshop for students who have F-1 visa regulation questions during the presentation. ISSO also hosts a separate workshop on the specifics of the paperwork and application process for OPT positions.

View the ISSO OPT Information Session schedule here.

“I learned how to build yourself and find your advantages, and then share your resources to others,” attendee and accounting student Jiajie Xu added.

In addition to the workshop, Kidambi will also be hosting three Resume Lab sessions designed specifically for international students in a group coaching format. At the Labs, international students will have a chance to receive in-depth feedback from Kidambi and a Career Services Peer Guide about their resume, cover letters, job search strategies and more. The three labs will be hosted on the following dates, all in the conference room of University Career Services (Nebraska Union, 236, 2nd floor):
  • September 26, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
  • October 30, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
  • November 13, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Kidambi is also open to meet with international students for more individualized questions about the job search strategy and how to identify opportunities.

“I hope that international students are able to learn something from my own personal experience as an international student that I share in this workshop, in addition to research from the industry and higher education,” Kidambi said. “I believe that the Global Edge workshop will be a true difference maker in the lives of international students here at UNL.”

For more information on the Global Edge workshop or resume labs, please contact Raghav Kidambi at the Office of Global Strategies at rkidambi2@unl.edu.