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International

Ace Your Career Journey with OPCD

International students, we’ve got you covered! The OPCD offers targeted programs and connections with international alumni. Gain real-world experience through on-campus jobs and Forage projects. Navigate the U.S. job market and beyond with our expert support.

International students at Wake Forest bring unique experiences and skills, like independence, multilingualism, and a willingness to take risks. These traits help them excel in grad school and the workplace.

The OPCD offers programs just for international students, covering resumes, job searching, and networking in the U.S. Our career coaches also guide students to resources specific to their home countries and work with the WFU Center for International Services and Support on visa requirements for CPT and OPT.

We also provide one-on-one coaching to develop strategies for success, including building alumni connections, gaining skills through on-campus work or platforms like The Forage, and participating in career fairs and networking events.

These efforts help international students land diverse roles, from marketing jobs in Winston-Salem to analyst positions at Dell and internships through the Wake Washington program.

Resources for International Students

Wake Forest University is dedicated to providing the support necessary to help international students plot a course to jobs in the United States or abroad. Meet with the OPCD to learn more about the resources available to assist international students towards professional success.

Navigating U.S. Work Authorization

Depending on the type of employment you are seeking, it’s important to understand necessary work authorizations in the U.S.

While the OPCD provides career guidance, always consult the Center for Immigration Services and Support (CISS) for official immigration advice.

Preparation for U.S. Job/Internship Search 

Job searching in the U.S. is highly culturally specific. Know what U.S. employers expect.

  • Resume & Cover Letter: Your resume and other application materials may look different from those in your home country. 
  • Networking: How to conduct informational interviews, use LinkedIn, and reach out to contacts.
  • Interviewing: Resources on mastering the “behavioral interview” (the STAR method) and the importance of small talk, eye contact, and asking questions at the end of the interview.

Job/Internship Search

Use this step-by-step blueprint to build a high-probability target list of U.S. employers willing to sponsor your F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, or H-1B visa: 

Use Handshake

  • Use the work authorization filter to find job and internship opportunities open to international students.

Find Employers

Create a list of employers who hire international students by starting with the USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub

  • Filter by the current fiscal year and your target city/state, but leave the employer name blank. This generates an Excel list of all local companies that petitioned for an H-1B visa.
  • Focus on “Initial Approvals” (new employment). If a company has high “Continuing Approvals” but zero initial ones, they rarely hire new grads transitioning from OPT.
  • Find the classification code for a known sponsor in your field (These are called NAICS codes – and, for example, 541411 is the code for tech). Plug that code back into the Hub to uncover smaller, niche competitors who actively sponsor.
  • Note: This interface is dense, data-heavy, and contains zero live job openings. It is strictly a research database, not an application portal.

STEM Extension

Eligible for the 24-month STEM extension? Be sure to use E-Verify.gov

  • If you qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, you cannot legally work for an employer unless they are actively enrolled in E-Verify.
  • Use geographic filters, leaving the company name blank, to find a complete list of certified E-Verify employers in your city of choice.
  • NOTE: Enrolling in E-Verify is not a guarantee that a company sponsors H-1B visas. It only ensures they can legally employ you during your STEM OPT extension.

Research Target Organizations

H1BGrader

  • Wage Range Intelligence: Use the site’s salary tool to find the prevailing wage for your target role and city to back up your salary negotiations.
  • NOTE: Consider downloading the H1B Sponsor Checker extension to view an employer’s visa history automatically while browsing LinkedIn or Indeed.

MyVisaJobs

  • Cap-Exempt Directories: Use this tool to quickly find universities, research non-profits, and teaching hospitals. These employers can sponsor your H-1B at any time of year without entering the annual April lottery.

Global Opportunities

Seeking a position outside of the U.S.?