International Students

Information for International Students

In general, not being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident adds a level of difficulty to a job search, but there are employers who are willing to hire foreign nationals. It will depend on the industry and the employer. Practical Training work authorization offers students who have studied in the U.S. on F-1 visas the opportunity to work for up to twelve months in a field related to their studies; J-1 students may apply for Academic Training.

If you hope to remain in the U.S. for longer than the period of your Training, it is especially important to plan ahead with ISSS. Understand the bases on which you may stay long term and be prepared to explain them to an employer. For reasons beyond your control, an employer must sponsor you for an H-1 visa in order to hire you after your Training period expires, and thus you will impose more paperwork and slightly more expense on an employer than will a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

Career Services can help you in your job search both in America or overseas.  We work closely with International Student & Scholar Services and Penn Global in serving our international students.

Sidebar

What's New?

Becoming the Owner of Your Own Education

Hertha Maria Torre Gallego, COL ’24, Madrid, Spain

Introspective, wistful, and intense — that is how I remember the months I spent working on my college applications. Yet, as an international student from Spain, I also found the process difficult and …

By Career Services
Career Services
Read more »

Working For My Home Country of Portugal while Living in the United States

Joao Estaca, COL ’24, Lisbon, Portugal

This summer I worked as an intern at the Portuguese Embassy in Washington DC. This was my first experience working in a government job, especially tied to my home country. I had thought of …

By Career Services
Career Services
Read more »

Working With Beers… And Changing My Country?

Guilherme de Macedo Feitosa, COL ’24, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil

I honestly never saw myself working in a brewery until the summer of 2021, but it took just one email to change my mind. At the time, I was …

By Career Services
Career Services
Read more »

What Is Upskilling?

Before you land a job, you might spend hours learning a particular set of skills to thrive in that industry and role. Once you start your first day, however, your learning should be far from over. Upskilling is when you …

By Forage
Showcase your skills. Find your career fit.
Read more »

Evidence-based Strategies to Optimize MCAT Preparation

As you start thinking about medical school admissions, you will repeatedly hear that the MCAT is a marathon, not a sprint. This means that the endurance and stamina required to master this exam – physical, mental, and emotional – must be built …

By Doris Tabassum
Doris Tabassum Associate Director, Graduate School Advising
Read more »

Penn Stories

Career Resources

LinkedIn Learning

Out and Proud: Approaching LGBT Issues in the Workplace

Careercake
Attracting and maintaining a diverse workforce offers a slew of benefits to organizations. It boosts innovation and problem-solving by providing…

Communicating Across Cultures

To succeed in cross-cultural professional settings, it’s important to understand the differences in how people communicate. Language isn’t the only…

Uncovering Your Authentic Self at Work

Kenji Yoshino
Despite decades of diversity and inclusion efforts, people sometimes feel forced to choose between being included and being themselves. Join…

Understanding and Supporting LGBTQ+ Employees

Rhodes Perry
Have you ever felt there was an aspect of yourself that you needed to hide at work? Have you ever…

The 3-Minute Rule: Say Less to Get More

Brant Pinvidic
Want to deliver a pitch or presentation that grabs your audience and makes an impression? You can do it. But…

Location

Phone
(215) 898-7531
Address

McNeil Building Suite 20
3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Service Hours

M 9am-5pm
T 9am-5pm
W 9am-5pm
TH 9am-5pm
F 9am-5pm