WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.380 --> 00:00:01.860 line:15%
Hi, I'm Nitin Agrawal.
2
00:00:01.860 --> 00:00:05.250 line:15%
I grew up in Nepal and I'm the co-founder of Interstride.
3
00:00:05.250 --> 00:00:08.430
Historically, international students have often struggled
4
00:00:08.430 --> 00:00:10.140
to find employment in the US.
5
00:00:10.140 --> 00:00:14.793 line:15%
Almost 80% of students have to either return home,
6
00:00:15.630 --> 00:00:18.280 line:15%
or have a challenge at least finding employment here.
7
00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:22.203
(upbeat music)
8
00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.640
They don't realize how little time they have
9
00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:32.300
in order to do their research,
10
00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:34.120
understand which companies are sponsoring,
11
00:00:34.120 --> 00:00:36.320
what roles are being sponsored,
12
00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:37.890
how can one get a green card,
13
00:00:37.890 --> 00:00:39.990
which companies are sponsoring green card.
14
00:00:47.660 --> 00:00:50.810
The process starts with an F-1 Visa,
15
00:00:50.810 --> 00:00:53.460 line:15%
a requirement for any international student
16
00:00:53.460 --> 00:00:57.023 line:15%
to enroll in an academic program at a US college.
17
00:00:58.330 --> 00:01:02.060
Curricular Practical Training, or CPT,
18
00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:05.210 line:15%
is a pre-graduation program that allows students
19
00:01:05.210 --> 00:01:08.250 line:15%
to gain practical experience directly related
20
00:01:08.250 --> 00:01:11.953 line:15%
to their major, through either employment or internships.
21
00:01:13.060 --> 00:01:17.810
Optional Practical Training, or OPT, is a similar program
22
00:01:17.810 --> 00:01:20.640 line:15%
that allows students to work up to 12 months
23
00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:22.740 line:15%
in relation to their field of study,
24
00:01:22.740 --> 00:01:26.260 line:15%
either before or after graduation.
25
00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:27.910
Students have the opportunity
26
00:01:27.910 --> 00:01:32.720
to transfer their F-1 student visa to an H-1B visa
27
00:01:32.720 --> 00:01:35.490
with the help of a sponsoring US employer.
28
00:01:35.490 --> 00:01:39.580 line:15%
The H-1B status allows the student to live and work
29
00:01:39.580 --> 00:01:43.313 line:15%
in the US for up to six years after graduation.
30
00:01:44.300 --> 00:01:47.760
A green card is the key to permanent residency,
31
00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:49.700 line:15%
allowing you to work and live
32
00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:51.973 line:15%
anywhere in the US indefinitely.
33
00:01:59.570 --> 00:02:03.320 line:15%
Less than 60 to 90 days, that's pretty much what you have
34
00:02:03.320 --> 00:02:05.800 line:15%
before you're sent back to your home country.
35
00:02:05.800 --> 00:02:08.130
At least at an undergraduate level,
36
00:02:08.130 --> 00:02:11.350
the freshman year is a good time to transition
37
00:02:11.350 --> 00:02:13.880
from your home country to the US,
38
00:02:13.880 --> 00:02:15.620
but starting sophomore year,
39
00:02:15.620 --> 00:02:18.470
the student should start thinking about an unpaid internship
40
00:02:18.470 --> 00:02:21.640
just to get your professional experience on your resume,
41
00:02:21.640 --> 00:02:22.970
some US experience.
42
00:02:22.970 --> 00:02:25.250
But by junior year, definitely,
43
00:02:25.250 --> 00:02:27.480
they should have some sort of paid internship.
44
00:02:27.480 --> 00:02:29.540
That summer internship during the junior year
45
00:02:29.540 --> 00:02:31.970
can eventually turn into a full-time opportunity.
46
00:02:31.970 --> 00:02:34.020
So that's a building process,
47
00:02:34.020 --> 00:02:37.713
to show that you have had past professional experiences.
48
00:02:44.220 --> 00:02:48.180
Diversity is key, I think, for most of these top companies.
49
00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:50.380
Their operations are global so there's no doubt
50
00:02:50.380 --> 00:02:52.930
they're looking for international talent.
51
00:02:52.930 --> 00:02:54.290
I would say, as an international,
52
00:02:54.290 --> 00:02:55.890 line:15%
you should be willing to relocate,
53
00:02:55.890 --> 00:02:59.283 line:15%
don't be very picky about your first job.
54
00:03:01.120 --> 00:03:04.710
If a candidate is trying to find employment in the US,
55
00:03:04.710 --> 00:03:05.730 line:15%
they need to be familiar
56
00:03:05.730 --> 00:03:08.710 line:15%
with the American professional work culture.
57
00:03:08.710 --> 00:03:10.880 line:15%
There are different nuances with each and every culture
58
00:03:10.880 --> 00:03:15.260 line:15%
but once you have a few months, or even short internships,
59
00:03:15.260 --> 00:03:17.900 line:15%
where you've worked in an American setting,
60
00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:19.610 line:15%
you learn these things very quickly.
61
00:03:19.610 --> 00:03:22.070 line:15%
But the importance is to show on your resume
62
00:03:22.070 --> 00:03:24.000
that you've had some experiences
63
00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:26.810
and that you understand what kind of work you'll be doing
64
00:03:26.810 --> 00:03:30.570
and the employer's more confident in you
65
00:03:30.570 --> 00:03:32.070
before they take you on board.