SEAHO Report - Winter 2022 - 45

FEATURE ARTICLES
As I navigated these next two years of graduate school, in the back of my mind I was constantly saying
" what am I going to do after I graduate? " I knew I wasn't ready to go home, so I then started thinking about
working full time or immediately beginning my doctoral journey, but I knew the latter would only be under
dire circumstances. However, I knew I would have to put in the work to make myself stand out from other
candidates given the circumstances I faced being an international student. The best way I thought would help
me in being successful during my job search was to ensure I was getting experience in the areas I could talk
to within any of my interviews. My work ethic spoke for itself. This was critical as I knew on the inside, I had to
ensure I was putting in 5 times the amount of work needed to stand out to employers during the job search
process.
My supervisor nominated me for so many different awards because she thought that I should be recognized
locally, regionally, and nationally for the work I was doing in the department. Some of the awards I received
included: ACUHO-I Outstanding Graduate Student, Bob Huss Outstanding Graduate Student Award, SACSA
Outstanding Graduate Award, NASPA Region IV-W Rising Star Graduate Student Award, and Arkansas
Association of Student Affairs Most Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Receiving these awards were just a
testament to the work I was doing and everyday I was thankful for them.
Everything done in the last two years, including finishing my final semester of graduate school via zoom led
up to the ultimate moment. The job search. As an international student, if you choose to work within the
United States post-graduation, you would be able to do so for a year through Optional Practical Training
(OPT). OPT is not a visa, rather, it is a type of employment benefit for F-1 (student visa type) students who
are maintaining their visa status. A tricky situation with OPT, is your work has to align with that of your most
recently awarded degree. Ultimately, after the completion of your 1 year of OPT, an institution or company
can choose to proceed with the sponsorship of your H-1B visa. This is where things get difficult.
The H-1B visa program allows companies and other employers in the United States to temporarily employ
foreign workers in occupations that require the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly
specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher in the specific speciality, or its equivalent. The initial
duration of the H-1B visa is three years, however it may be extended for a maximum of six years.
I started compiling my job search non-negotiables and questions I wanted to ask. Two of the key things that
were important to me during this process included the following:
* The institution is close to an international airport so that I am able to fly back home at a cheap cost.
* The institution engages in the H-1B visa program so that I am able to gain sponsorship after my 1
year of OPT is over.
Before accepting an interview, I would reach out to the search committee and inquire if the department
sponsored international students, and sometimes I would be met with responses varying from " Sorry, we do
not " , or " Sorry, we used to do this, however COVID has interrupted our ability to do so " . I would also have
institutions who stated they've never done it, but would find out what it takes. Based on the responses, my
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SEAHO Report - Winter 2022

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