Making the U.S. Experience Count at Home

As you transition back to life in your home country, you may want to continue interacting with people from the United States, do further study on U.S. issues, work in a bilingual environment, or even study again in the United States or another country. One advantage of studying in a different country is that it can offer you a more global perspective and expand your mind.

If you are considering a career in the United States or in another country your U.S. university has great career service resources. You should visit the career services center while you’re still at school to prepare for applying for a job either in the U.S. or abroad. Keep in mind that the selection process is long and because of immigration regulations you may need to begin applying for jobs a year before you graduate.

When you start looking for a job or career, think of the professional and personal growth you've undergone while in the United States. By studying in the United States, you gain an advantage over other job applicants because of your experience and education. If you can present these skills on your resume (curriculum vitae) and in your interview(s) well, you can impress almost any employer. IES, Institute for the International Education of Students, has a useful website that will help you learn to "market" your international experience in the United States (a link to this site is provided in the Resources section).

To sum up IES's resume tips:

• Make sure your international experience gets noticed by formatting your resume to highlight the U.S. institutions at which you studied, or with separate categories such as - "International Education" or "International Experience".
• List any languages that you speak, internships, major projects, or field experience you had in the United States, in the appropriate categories.

Independent travel is an option for students who feel that they are confident enough to tour on their own. If you decide to travel independently, your student travel office or a travel agent can be helpful. There are numerous travel guidebooks and resources on the Internet. Also, ask friends who have traveled independently to find the best places to go and tips on what to do while you're there. Remember that as a student on a visa, you may not have a lot of time after your studies to stick around and travel around the U.S. Speak with you international student coordinator to find out what options you have.
 See our Resources section for links to purchasing guidebooks and booking tours.

You can help turn your U.S. experience into a useful résumé-builder, and even the start to a future career. Some students have such a positive experience that they decide they would enjoy a career that would give them an opportunity to live and work in the U.S. There are several ways to go about testing out possible careers in the U.S. One way is to investigate the possibility of doing an internship. This can be an excellent way to not only be able to live in the U.S, but also to get experience in a field in which you are interested. You will be paid for some types of internships; others can count towards college credit. In case where the internship is paid you can still work for the employer based on Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program. This form of training allows to work but only if the internship will result in class credit. Talk with a career counselor/internship coordinator at your college/university about internship opportunities in the U.S.

There are a few ways to be able to stay in the U.S. and work after you have completed your studies. Since obtaining a work visa is fairly hard to get, international students have the opportunity to complete an Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which gives students an year to search for a job in their field of study without being limited to F-1 visa requirements. In case where you may be looking for a work visa after graduation keep in mind that employers may be resistant to going through the process of applying on your behalf. Remember to speak with your international student coordinator about different possibilities for work in the U.S.

Volunteering is a great way to gain valuable skills while completing your study in the U.S. There are many opportunities in the town where you will be studying and volunteering is a great way to make contacts with other students as well as people from the local community. For more information about volunteering, visit your Volunteer/Community Service Center at your university.

Since you will be aware of the challenges that come from living and studying in the U.S., you will be in a unique position to understand the needs of other international students who are planning on studying in the U.S. Getting involved with international students or organizations can be a great, and rewarding way to remain involved in the international community and international affairs. It also affords you the opportunity to share what you’ve learned with others who can benefit from your experiences in the United States.
Here are some suggested ways you can continue your American experience at home:

• Join international student groups or clubs
• Mentor new students, who plan to study in the U.S.
• Tutor English to non-native speakers
• Offer to speak to prospective students interested in studying in the United States
• Volunteer or work for community/national organizations, which have an international focus/agenda
• Continue to read on-line news from U.S. newspapers and other U.S. publications
• Attend U.S.-themed cultural events and celebrations about the United States.
• Frequent local U.S. restaurants or cook U.S. food at home
• Remain in contact with friends you’ve made in the United States via e-mail