Beating the odds how international students get sponsored jobs Hult Blog

Note:  Weve made every effort to ensure that the information in this article is  correct at time of publishing. However, because visa and immigration laws are complex and ever-changing, please check the U.S. Department of State or U.K. Home Office website for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements. Thank you for your interest. You can see the webinar here: If you have looked for work in a country that requires an EU or US passport (or a visa), then you may be acutely aware that employment sponsorship can be difficult to achieve. It is not, however, impossible. Many students are successful every year in the US, and an occasional few land sponsored jobs in the EU as well. You may be wondering, what’s the trick to beating the odds? Having counseled thousands of students and worked with employers all over the world, I believe successful students adhere to five critical factors that result in a winning formula. Choose a Strategy of â€Å"You† I tell my students that the most important strategy project they will ever undertake is to shrewdly position themselves for a challenging employment market. Savvy international students use every skill and asset they possess to attract employers. They leverage and promote their prior work experience, their degrees, internships, and volunteer work, with a laser focus on jobs that are the most in demand. But even more important than that, they go where the demand exists. They keep up-to-date on industry trends and where the need for talent is high. This year, high demand jobs are in the following fields: accounting, data analytics, social media and advertising, IT, including web development and mobile apps, business development, and retail sales. Listen to Katherine Boshkoff giving advice on U.S. visas and sharing her 7 top tips on how to land an international job. Present Your Hot Skill-Set The top quality students who land a foreign job and sponsorship possess is this: they present unique skills that their future employers could not fulfill. Their skill sets are so â€Å"hot† that employers cannot turn them down. As an example, some of the most in demand industries in the US are in fields we refer to as â€Å"STEM† (Science Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing). Jobs in these areas are so essential to economic growth in the US that they offer special visa exemptions that allow graduates in those fields to stay in the US for up to 29 months after graduation. Additional examples of in demand areas are: Android and mobile apps, digital marketing and social media, data analytics, including data visualization, statistics and Google Analytics. Another critical skill set that is in high demand and is almost always overlooked by students are language skills, and knowledge of local markets. For example, in Dublin, Ireland, where many technology companies established business development offices to support sales in Europe, there is an acute demand for multi-lingual students. Language skills position students for high growth careers in business development and sales. During my recent tour of global employers, there was a consistent request for students with language skills and interest in working in emerging markets like Nigeria, India, China, Russia, and parts of Latin America. Some employers will train students in the US during their OPT year following graduation and then transfer them back to their home countries for further executive development. Start Fast Securing a job can take six months or more. Beating the odds means starting your job hunt as soon as possible so you’ve got time to get in front of the right employer (and that can mean getting in front of a lot of employers). Students who start their job search on the  first day of school arrive with polished CVs that are properly formatted and written in impeccable English. Their LinkedIn profiles lay out their professional experiences simply and clearly, highlighting their key skills. And their accompanying profile picture is appropriately professional. Students who begin their search right away start by networking and meeting people in their first month of business school, usually developing a network of local contacts within two months. Be Superb at Social Media In markets with a high demand for talent, corporate recruiters will engage in a â€Å"passive† search. This happens when recruiters find  you through social media (like LinkedIn) and reach out to ask if you’ll apply for a job at their company. This year, one of our current MBA students was passively searched by Amazon in the first three months of his MBA studies. He had a stellar LinkedIn profile that highlighted his highly unique IT engineering skills. This January, after completing a four-week interview and assessment process, he was offered a post-graduate job with H1B sponsorship and a six-figure compensation package. Who says a sharp LinkedIn profile can’t pay off? Break the Mold Students often fall into the trap of following the well-worn path pursued by other job seekers. Because candidates see that Cisco files a number of H1B petitions and renewals every year, it becomes a mecca for international student job applications. Students miss the point that most H1Bs are filed by smaller companies looking for a highly unique talent pool. Many of these types of companies are desperate to hire multi-language international students to support foreign expansion. Although startups may only hire and sponsor one highly skilled international student—it could be you. To become the chosen one, my advice is to think differently, avoid the â€Å"popular† companies, and connect with the small or medium-sized companies that do not recruit on university campuses, but are  looking for exactly the skills you’ve got. Listen to Katherine Boshkoff giving advice on U.S. visas and sharing her 7 top tips on how to land an international job. Please believe that you can win  an international job, plus sponsorship, in spite of the fact that most Fortune 500, US-based, companies have a policy not to sponsor their employees. I see my students succeed every year. Their secret is very simple: they  are not average. They start their job search earlier than their peers, and they find a way to stand out and be unique in a competitive job market. Many choose alternative companies, as opposed to those that are well known, and pursue smaller ones  that are hungry for foreign talent. And finally, they succeed because they know that the job search is a marathon, not a sprint, and they keep going when times get tough, holding tightly to their goals and their prediction of a successful finish. To find out more about Hult’s programs  download a brochure.   See  Katharine Boshkoff’s LinkedIn profile Fill in your details to access the webinar Online Form Career webinar with KB Close Make the most of what your career has to offer with a Masters in International Business from Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog Top 10 questions to ask when looking at business schools, or give your employability a huge boost with an MBA in international business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to explore everything about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .