Navigating Internships As An International Engineering Student

How I would go about finding a summer role as an international student First, you need to know it’s not too late to find a summer internship! I know how challenging it can be to find an internship as an international student, but with the right strategy and a proactive approach, you can still land a role. Here’s how I’d go about it: 1️⃣ 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 Not all companies can or will sponsor visas, so start by targeting those that do. Use platforms like: ⭐ MyVisaJobs.com (for sponsorship trends) - https://lnkd.in/eC7W8Bsu ⭐ H1BGrader (to check past sponsorships) - https://h1bgrader.com/ ⭐ Simplify and Handshake (filter for visa-friendly employers) - https://lnkd.in/eveZBcg2 ⭐ FrogHire.ai (helps international students find companies open to sponsorship) - https://lnkd.in/eEubGzFR 2️⃣ 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 & 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 Many roles have rolling deadlines, so apply ASAP! Don’t wait to mass apply. Apply within 7 days of the job posting going up. It’s not a hard rule, but it’s a good way to stay competitive. 3️⃣ 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 & 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 Your friend group can be a great resource for job leads and company insights. Back in college, my friends and I would recommend each other to recruiters and share our knowledge of companies that sponsored international students. If you don’t know someone at the company yet, a warm referral can really help your application stand out. 4️⃣ 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 & 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⭐ Engage with company recruiters on LinkedIn. ⭐ Find professionals in your field (working for the company of interest) and ask for informational interviews. ⭐ Join community centered or professional networking groups like ColorStack for additional support. 5️⃣ 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 If traditional internships are limited, consider: ⭐ Research assistant roles at your university or other universities. ⭐ Micro-internships with Parker Dewey - https://lnkd.in/ekQxh6_E. ⭐ Summer research programs. See list here: https://lnkd.in/eJWieBN9 To get you started, here are some non-FAANG companies known to hire international students:  🌸 Salesforce 🌸 Bandwidth Inc. 🌸 Eli Lilly and Company 🌸 EBSCO Information Services 🌸 Cisco 🌸 EY 🌸 Deloitte 🌸 Dell Technologies 🌸 HubSpot 🌸 Duolingo 🌸 IBM 🌸 Slack 🌸 Amgen 🌸 The Home Depot 🌸 ServiceNow 🌸 DEKA Research & Development You can also follow Put Me On to see new roles that opened recently. 💬 If you know other companies open to hiring international students, drop them in the comments. You never know who you’ll be helping. If you’re an international student still searching, don’t get discouraged! Roles keep opening daily. Stay proactive and remember, I’m rooting for you 💙 #putmeon #internationalstudent #hiring #internships #college #studentsoflinkedin #jobs

I recently go asked "what is one thing that no one tells you about networking when you're an international student?" When I came to the U.S. 6 years ago to study Data Science, I had no idea how important networking would be for my career. Coming from Spain, I thought hard work and a good resume would be enough. Spoiler: it wasn’t. As an international student, job hunting comes with extra challenges: visas, sponsorships, and navigating a system that sometimes feels overwhelming. But here’s the truth: networking changed everything for me. Here’s what worked: 1️⃣ Reaching out to alumni: - I was at Suffolk University in Boston, and I used LinkedIn to connect with alumni in Data Science. At first, it felt awkward—what could I possibly say? But I learned this: people love sharing advice when you ask the right questions. Instead of asking for jobs, I asked about their journeys, challenges, and advice. Those conversations didn’t just lead to referrals; they gave me confidence and clarity. 2️⃣ Leveraging LinkedIn: - LinkedIn became more than just a job board. I posted about projects I was working on, shared my thoughts on the industry, and commented on others’ posts. Over time, recruiters and professionals in my field started noticing me. 3️⃣ Attending industry events: - From local meetups to webinars, I treated every event as a learning opportunity. The key wasn’t handing out resumes—it was making meaningful connections. One conversation at a career fair even led to an internship that shaped my path. Looking back, I realized networking isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about building relationships. As an international student, those connections helped me navigate a career system I didn’t grow up in, and they became my biggest advantage. What’s your go-to strategy for networking? Let’s share tips below—I’d love to hear what’s worked for you!

Every year, over one million students leave their home countries in pursuit of a dream. They arrive in the U.S. with a belief that’s been sold for decades: 🎓 Get a U.S. degree 💼 Land a job 🌎 Build a stable, successful life abroad But that narrative? It’s broken. Over the past few months, I’ve spoken to dozens of international students, many of whom are in their first or second year, who are struggling to secure internships. Some have applied to 1000+ jobs with zero traction. Is it the job market? Partly. But the real issue runs deeper —it’s a combination of mindset, missing strategy, and misaligned expectations. Here’s what no one tells you before you book that one-way ticket to JFK or SFO: 🔹 The number of international students coming to the U.S. has increased by 10–15% year-over-year for the past decade. $1.2M Last year. 🔹 More than 50% of them pursue Computer Science or Engineering. That’s over 500,000+ CS grads entering the workforce annually. 🔹 Companies need people with skills to grow revenue, whether directly or indirectly, not just a Degree. Now pair that with: Fewer entry-level jobs AI automating junior roles Preference for Tier-1 schools Reluctance to sponsor international talent It’s a tough game. And yet, most students rely on one method: apply online and hope. The truth? A U.S. degree no longer guarantees a job. So what actually works? Doing what 95% won’t. ✅ Start early — Your strategy, planning, and execution for your first job begins day one of your college, not post-graduation. ✅ Diversify — Explore non-engineering courses in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, energy, finance, construction, and design, where competition is lower and demand is real. ✅ Network relentlessly — Online and offline. From week one. At events, cafes, and libraries. Growth lives in discomfort. ✅ Lead with value — Volunteer, help small businesses, offer skills for free. People remember hustle and heart. ✅ Build your voice — Share what you’re learning. Pick a niche. Post on LinkedIn, Substack, X, and Reddit continuously for 2 years. Not summaries — real deep data and insights. ✅ Own your network — Identify 100+ people you admire. Engage weekly. Not to ask — but to share, provide value, and engage. ✅ Break your bubble — Don’t just hang with people from your home country. Learn from diverse and senior minds. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Be the 5% who choose differently: 🔹 Learn real-life problem-solving skills, not how to score a high GPA. 🔹 Start conversations with your target audience and offer value. 🔹 Stay consistent — even if it means learning by day, Ubering by night There are no guarantees. But when you take the hard path — the one no one else chooses — you earn something far more powerful than luck: leverage. To every international student wondering, Is it still worth it? Yes — if you're willing to think and act differently and grind for 18 hours a day for only 2 years. #internationalstudents #job #career

"Will you now or in the future require sponsorship?" If you're an international student in the U.S. applying for internships or jobs, you've likely come across this question. Back when I was doing my master’s, I would always answer “Yes” to this — because technically, I would need sponsorship one day. But I realized that saying “Yes” often reduced my chances of getting interview calls, especially for internships. Later, I learned something important — and I want to share it for anyone in the same boat: ➡️ During your master’s program, you’re allowed to work through CPT (Curricular Practical Training) — which doesn’t require employer sponsorship. ➡️ After graduation, you get 12 months of OPT, and if you're in a STEM program, you can apply for a 24-month extension — still no sponsorship needed. So when you’re applying for internships or even your first full-time job under OPT, you can say “No” to that question — because you’re not asking the company to sponsor you right now. What I’ve learned from speaking with hiring managers is this: Sponsorship comes at a cost. If a company sees "Yes" early on, it adds hesitation,— even if you’re fully eligible to work at the time. But once you’re in the door — doing good work, showing your value — it’s easier for employers to justify and support your case for future sponsorship. And even if your employer doesn't sponsor you, there are other options down the line — like self-sponsorship pathways (O-1, EB-2 NIW, etc.). ✨ Bottom line: Sometimes, it’s not just about knowing the rules — it’s about understanding how to position yourself within them. If you’re navigating this and need guidance, I’m happy to help! #InternationalStudents #JobSearchTips #CPT #OPT #Sponsorship #STEM #RegulatoryAffairs #CareerAdvice #MastersInUSA