Navigating the U.S. Job Market
An Event for International Students
Passport to Payday is an annual event for international students at NDSU who would like to know more about navigating the U.S. job market. Through an evening of presenters, students will learn about CPT, OPT, and internships, get an update on current immigration laws, better understand employment in academia, and information on preparing for the upcoming career fairs.
This event is hosted by the NDSU Career and Advising Center and the International Student and Study Abroad Office.
**The 2022 date and location of this event are yet to be determined.
Please find information on Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) on the International Student and Study Abroad Services webpage.
>> NDSU ISSAS Immigration Resources
Links and Resources:
- NDSU Faculty and Scholar Immigration Services
- NDSU International Student and Study Abroad Services: Immigration Resources
Contact Information:
NDSU International Student and Study Abroad ServicesMemorial Union 116701-231-7895Staff Contact Page |
Gokey Immigration Law Office1129 5th Avenue South, Fargo, North Dakota 58103701 356-5995www.gokeyimmigrationlaw.com |
Tabitha ThomasDirector of Faculty ImmigrationOffice of the Vice Provost for Faculty & Equity701-231-8052tabitha.thomas@ndsu.edu |
International students are encouraged to seek out internship opportunities as their immigration status and academic schedule allows. Internships can be a wonderful way to learn more about an industry, and in some cases, can lead to longer-term employment.
Internship Can Help Students:
- Test a career decision before graduation
- Gain a competitive edge in the professional job market
- Gain “real life” experience
- Earn money to help with college expenses
- Network with professionals and potential employers
- Improve resume writing, job searching, and interviewing skills
#NDSUintern Experiences:
Interview with Swetha Thiyagarajan | Pharmaceutical Sciences (Ph.D.) | Biogran
[Link to interview transcript]
Interview with Adikie Essegbey | Construction Management (Master’s degree) | McKenzie County
Jasmin Kaempfer | Marketing/Sales (Bachelor’s degree) | Korber Medipak Systems NA, Inc. Fargo Automation Division
Where to look:
- Upcoming career fairs will be a great place to start looking for jobs and internships! Click here for more information about the Spring 2022 Career Fairs.
- Handshake – Did you know that NDSU has a job board that is only for their students and alumni? That means that the employers are posting in this system because they want YOU!
- Looking for more options? We’ve compiled a whole webpage dedicated to different job boards and some unique and helpful features of each. Check out this page to learn more.
- Considering applying for faculty positions down the road? We’ve got a video for that too – click here for Faculty Job Search Tips and Tricks!
- Maybe you are interested in applying for an industry position and have some questions on which documents to use, how to find “hidden” job markets, and how to best us your time. We have a video for that, too!
How to prepare:
- Get your documents ready – employers might be looking for a resume, CV, cover letter, or other documentation.
- Resumes: check out our Resume Guide Handout or our videos created specifically for writing bullet points, how to tailor the resume, and some basic Dos and Don’ts.
- CV or curriculum vita: we have a CV Handout with guidelines and possible tips, but also many of the document development videos for resume also pertain to creating CVs.
- Cover Letters: utilize the Cover Letter Handout or our videos for the purpose and format of cover letters, 5 essential fundamentals, and how to write each section of the document.
- Meet with Career and Advising Center staff for advice, feedback, or assistance creating these documents! Staff is available for drop-ins in Ceres Hall 306 and via our Zoom Career Studio weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm so come by whenever it is most convenient! You can also schedule an appointment if preferred through Bison Advise or reaching out to the office at 701-231-7111 or ndsu.cac@ndsu.edu.
Staying organized:
- There is likely a lot of information you have to keep straight, so consider using tools to keep things organized! Here’s a Job Search Log to help keep track of contacts, dates and times for follow up, website details, and so on.
- Handshake also allows you to upload many documents to be used for applications through the system and for convenient storage. You can also track notes about interactions with each of the employers on the platform.
Contact the Career and Advising Center for any additional questions regarding your job search.
Career and Advising Center
Ceres Hall 306 | 701-231-7111