Our lobby is open 9:00-5:00. We also offer virtual appointments.

International Students

At the Career & Internship Center, we understand that international students navigate many transitions in coming to the UW such as moving to a new country or understanding U.S. academic and work culture. We are here to be a resource in helping international students understand and navigate available opportunities.  Topics we can help international students with include preparing for career fairs, finding internships, and finding on-campus work and jobs in the United States, home country, or abroad. In addition, we have quarterly workshops on those same topics which international students can attend in person or online. Our office can also help with empowering international students to advocate for themselves as they look for opportunities.

Different roles in the internship and job search process:

  • • Be aware and understand visa restrictions and the various processes/timelines of qualifying and applying for CPT & OPT.
    • Enroll in concurrent academic course alongside your experience (if applicable)
    • Obtain and fill out the proper paperwork for applications
    • Understanding employment authorization
    • Be able to communicate to employers work eligibility & visa status.

  • ISS staff advises international students with F-1 or J-1 visas who are enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs on the Seattle campus of the
    University of Washington. ISS is located in Schmitz 459.

    • Provide guidance on maintaining F-1 or J-1 immigration status while attending the UW
    • Process F-1 and J-1 immigration benefits
    • Navigate university policy and understand F-1 and J-1 visa restrictions
    • Ensure university and student compliance with immigration policies
    • Provide educational tools, including workshops and tutorials

  • Student Legal Services (SLS) is an on-campus law office that provides a safe and confidential space for all UW-Seattle and Bothell students who have legal questions or concerns. We offer free 40-minute consultations on a broad range of issues and located in Husky Union Building (HUB) 306.

    • Advise international students with the process of applying for CPT/ OPT
    • Advise international students on factors that may affect their immigration status while studying at the University of Washington
    • Advise international students on the most common Post-Graduation work visa options
    • Discuss the specifics of various nonimmigrant visa categories that allow for international students to study in the United States and helping decide which visa type is best for them

  • • Coach international students on finding, applying, and interviewing for internships and jobs (both on-campus, in the U.S and abroad).
    • Create and edit resumes and cover letters
    • Conduct mock interviews
    • Prepare for career fairs
    • Help navigate and practice talking to employers about their status
    • Strategize ways to cultivate and practice necessary skills for the area of work students are interested in

  • Your departmental advisers are responsible for signing off on your CPT paperwork and demonstrating that the CPT opportunity aligns with your academic major.

    *If you are a pre-major student you can enroll in GEN ST 350 as your CPT credit

  • Employers are responsible for knowing (though not all are aware) if they accept CPT/OPT and H-1B Visas.

Career Suggestions for International Students:

  • Job Seeking Tips for International Students- List of FAQ’s that are asked by international students about job searching and the hiring process.
  • Be proactive!– Whether you are creating your first resume, finding and applying for internships and jobs, these processes all take time, effort, and patience. To be successful, international students should plan ahead and put in the effort. In 2018-2019 academic year, there were 697 unique employers hired UW international students as interns in and over 3,000 unique employers have hired UW international students as interns in the past 8 years. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to seek out opportunities! 

Employer profile: How AlphaSights hires international students

Carrie Li, Talent Acquisition Manager at AlphaSights, talks about exciting opportunities for new grads at the firm and career pathways for international students.

AlphaSights is a global information services firm that provides clients with knowledge on-demand. Our mission is to …

By Interstride
Interstride
Read more

Q&A with queer international film director

Join the Asian Languages & Literature department with filmmaker Kit Hung for a film and discussion event entitled “Screening Queer Hong Kong,” featuring two short films: “Always My Child” (Hong Kong, 2011, 24 mins) and “Forever 17” (Hong Kong, 2019, …

By Kirk Heynen (He/Him)
Kirk Heynen (He/Him) Career Coach
Read more

Dipayan Ghatak: Expert product manager shares job-hunting tips for international graduates

Dipayan Ghatak is a Senior Product Manager at Walmart. He leads the enterprise productivity product suite within Walmart, which means leading productivity applications for all Walmart associates globally. Previously, he worked for Expedia and Microsoft. Dipayan earned his Master’s of …

By Interstride
Interstride
Read more

Free Consultations for International Students – with MentorX

Free personalized 1v1 job consultation for international students, provided by MentorX.

Monday, February 12th, 2024, MGH 134, UW-Seattle campus

Please scan the code below or click here to register for a session.

Unlock Your Career Potential! Tailored advice for every …

By Briana Randall (She/Her)
Briana Randall (She/Her) Executive Director
Read more

Smithsonian Internships for ALL majors for undergrads and alumni

Click here to apply to the internships now open at the Smithsonian! Much more comprehensive information on eeach internship in the slides below.

 The Smithsonian has thousands of internship and fellowship opportunities year-round for ALL MAJORS! Even better, you do …

By Lily Burnstein (She/Her)
Lily Burnstein (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Sidebar

Student Stories & Advice

Adrian An

Student Stories & Advice
  • Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering Northeastern University Seattle
Meet Adrian >

Vivian Chen

Student Stories & Advice
  • Department of Food and Resource Economics University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Meet Vivian >

Jiani Huang

Student Stories & Advice
  • Master of Science in Information University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Meet Jiani >

Luna V

Student Stories & Advice
  • Research Technologist UW Medicine
Meet Luna >

Bonnie Cheng

Student Stories & Advice
  • Ed.M in Mental Health Counseling, Teachers College Columbia University
Meet Bonnie >

Saghar Amini

Student Stories & Advice
  • Legislative Assistant State of Washington
Meet Saghar >

Jiwen Xiao

Student Stories & Advice
  • Graduate School of Education University of Pennsylvania
Meet Jiwen >

Lucy Zhong

Student Stories & Advice
  • Grad Student - Architecture University of Pennsylvania
Meet Lucy >

Lukas M

Student Stories & Advice
  • Technical Associate McGovern Institute for Brain Research
Meet Lukas >

Jae Won Choi

Student Stories & Advice
  • UX Designer Genospace
Meet Jae Won >

Featured Resources

Interstride

One-stop-shop for international students and global opportunities.

We know the international student journey can be challenging. From finding jobs from …

International Students and Internships

International students in F-1 status who meet certain eligibility requirements can participate in internships using CPT.  Learn more about CPT …

Resumes for Jobs & Internships in China

This resource is provided courtesy of MentorX. 10 different sample resumes written in Mandarin.

H1-B Sponsor Databases: Target Employers for International Students

GoinGlobal H1B Plus Visa Database
The powerful H1B visa search engine, developed by GoinGlobal, quickly identifies U.S. employers that have …

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: How to assess an employers commitment

Tips on how to assess an employers commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion while navigating the job search process.

Employment Info for International Students

There are opportunities for international students to intern and work in the U.S., but there are also many challenges.  The …