International Students

On-Campus Jobs And Internships

See our Find On-Campus Employment resource and visit CCE to discuss your on-campus job search strategy with a career counselor. Note that full time F-1 and J-1 students are eligible for “casual” employment on campus, which means you are paid by Columbia University.

Off-Campus Jobs And Internships

Navigating LionSHARE

When conducting a job or internship search, review the Find an Internship or Job resource to learn how to find opportunities on LionSHARE. You can filter positions by choosing the field “Work authorization” and checking the boxes for “Will sponsor or doesn’t require US work visa” and/or “Accepts OPT/CPT.” This is helpful to identify employers that can hire international students. It is also important to carefully review job descriptions as sponsorship information is often included. In your profile in LionSHARE, you also are asked two questions about your status: Are you legally authorized to work in the US? and Will you now or in the future require sponsorship? F1 students are legally authorized to work in the US using CPT and/or OPT (benefits of F1 status, review ISSO website for eligibilty details) so the answer is Yes to question 1 and Yes to question 2 as you will require your employer to sponsor you if you are to remain working in the US after your OPT exprires. 

Your Job and Internship Search

As an international student, it is essential that you fully understand your eligibility to work in the location of the internship or job and the process to gain work authorization. Eligibility to work considerations include:

• Location of the internship or job, i.e., is it in the U.S. or another country?
• Your visa/work authorization for the location of the internship or job
• How long you have been in full-time student status in the U.S. for positions in the U.S.
• Requirements specified by the employer for the internship or job
• Whether the position is paid or unpaid (Note: for off-campus positions in the US, any wages or other compensation like a stipend or housing requires authorization through Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Curricular Practical Training (CPT).

Employers should meet all requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) before you accept an internship. Learn about the six criteria for unpaid internships as outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor. If any of these criteria are not met, you should be paid. Unless you are working on campus, all internship experiences should use either your OPT or CPT. Please meet with ISSO before accepting any positions to ensure you maintain your legal status.

Avoiding Scams and Fraudulent Opportunities

We at the Center for Career Education are committed to partnering with employment professionals that comply with employment laws in all recruiting activities. As you conduct your job search avoid scams and fraud activity by identifying fraudulent postings. If you suspect a position or employer you encountered through LionSHARE is fraudulent, please contact us at careereducation-ear@columbia.edu.

Illegal Interview Questions

Any questions that are meant to reveal your age, race, national origin, citizenship, gender, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, or arrest records are illegal. See our resources on Illegal Questions and How to Respond.

Communicating with Employers 

Networking with Employers and Alumni

For many international students, connecting with employers and alumni can be daunting and vary widely from networking back home. A great way to start is to find alumni who are from similar backgrounds. Having an instant connection about your cultural background can help ease the nerves of networking. You’ll also gain valuable tips about how they networked effectively. Take advantage of attending events on and off campus. We also encourage you to make an appointment and practice with a career counselor, as networking is a skill that you can develop.

Applying to positions

When applying for opportunities “will you now or in the future require sponsorship” is another way companies can legally ask about your status. Answer as truthfully as possible. For example, if you are an international student on an F-1 visa and want to work in the United States after your OPT finishes then the answer to this question is yes.

A company who accepts OPT and/or CPT means that they are willing to hire international students who have OPT and/or CPT. This does not necessarily mean they will provide sponsorship and it is up to you to talk to your employer about whether they sponsor in order for you to stay with the organization after your OPT finishes.

OPT, CPT And Work Authorization In The USA

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a benefit of F-1 student status that allows students to gain experience in their field of study by applying for off-campus work authorization. To learn more about pre-completion OPT, post-completion OPT and STEM extension, please visit the ISSO website. 

You may use a small portion of your OPT as students to gain off-campus experience and save the remainder of your OPT time for after graduation. If you prefer not to use your OPT until after graduation, there are other ways you can supplement your experience such as joining a student organization on campus, volunteering through Community Impact at Columbia University or applying for internationally based summer opportunities abroad.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is authorization for employment that is an integral part of the established curriculum of your degree program.  Find out more about CPT by visiting the ISSO website.  Undergraduate students in CC, GS and SEAS can apply for academic credit affiliated with an internship. Each school has eligibility criteria and a process to register for a fieldwork class. Your first steps are to speak with with your academic advisor, major department, and ISSO to determine your eligibility and the process to pursue CPT.  We at CCE can work with you to find internships where employers accept students with CPT work authroization. 

Employment sponsorship is when a company supports your application for an employment visa to stay and work in the US.

Your Next Steps 

We encourage you to explore a three-pronged approach to your career search including graduate school, opportunities in the US and global opportunities concurrently as you progress through your studies. Meet with your career counselor to discuss your plans after graduation. 

CCE Resources 

• CCE International Student Events
• GoinGlobal
  • Offers lists of employers who have sponsored visas in the past. Once logged in, go to the “H1B Info” tab at the top for the list of employers, and then utilize this list to begin searching for opportunities of interest.
• Uniworld
  • Provides a directory of US firms in foreign countries and foreign firms in the US. Utilize this directory to identify employers to target when searching for opportunities.
• MyVisaJobs
  • Provides lists of employers who have sponsored visas in the past and other career information for international students.

Additional Columbia Resources

• American Language Program
• Writing Center
• International Student Advisory Board (ISAB)
• Columbia Alumni Association International Clubs
• International Students & Scholars Office
• International @ Columbia