A WELCOME TO MICHIGAN FROM THE UCC!
The UM University Career Center (UCC) provides various types of services to support career exploration, job and internship searching and continuing education for both undergraduate and graduate students. Below are miscellaneous resources to assist international students with their next steps.
Table of Contents:
- U.S. Job/Internship Preparation & Search
- Global Job/Internship Search
- Graduate & Professional School
- Adjusting to U.S. Language & Culture
- If you have any questions about your student visa and work authorization, please visit the UM International Center.
Quick Links
Handshake Interstride GoinGlobal
U.S. Job/Internship Preparation & Search
Resume
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UCC General Resume Resources
- Instant Resume Feedback with VMOCK and Targeted Resume
- Incorporating Job Descriptions Into Your Resume
- Resume Guidelines for International Students
Additional External Resources
- ResyMatch.io (Scans and compares your resume to your target job description--see video tutorial)
- ResyBullet.io (Evaluates your resume bullet/s based on an "ideal bullet formula"--see video tutorial)
- First-Time Resume Writing Tips for International Students
- 185 Super Effective Resume Verbs
- Here’s What You Should—and Shouldn’t—Capitalize on Your Resume
- Beat the Robots: How to Get Your Resume Past the Automated System and Into Human Hands
- 8 Things You Need To Know About Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- 20 ATS-Friendly Resume Templates
Cover Letters
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UCC General Cover Letter Resources
- Lettersmith: A nifty writing tool to build your network and apply for jobs
- Cover Letter Guidelines for International Students
Additional External Resources
- 7 Tips for Writing a Cover Letter with No Experience
- 3 Keys to Writing Cover Letters That Stand Out
- How to Write a Cover Letter: The All-Time Best Tips
- 30 Genius Cover Letter Openers Recruiters Will LOVE
Networking
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UCC General Networking Resources
- UCAN, UM University Career Alumni Network
- Finding the Hiring Manager on LinkedIn
- How to Form Relationships
Additional External Resources
- How to Use LinkedIn’s Alumni Tool for Networking
- How to Write a Networking Email
- 4 Types of Networking Emails—and How to Write Them
- 4 Tips for Building Relationships Through Informational Interviews
- What to Do at a Career Fair
- How to Stand Out at Virtual Career Fairs
- Questions International Students Should (and Should Not) Ask at Career Fairs
- Networking Tips for International Students
- Networking as an International Student
- 5 Networking Tips for International Students
- 5 Steps to a Successful Informational Interview
- 12 Do’s and Don’ts When You Network as an International Student
- Network as an International Student to Land Your Dream Career Pathway
Interviews
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UCC General Interview Resources
- Big Interview for efficient, self-directed practice. Log in with your umich credentials and create a basic profile as a "Student". Click on Practice-->Practice Interviews-->Choose appropriate Industry or Competency/Skillset
Additional External Resources
- U.S. vs. International Interviews
- 4 Steps for International Students to Excel at U.S. Interviews
- How to Pitch Your Value in Interviews
- How, Why, And When To Share Your Immigration Status On Job Interviews
- Job Interview Tips for International Students (ICAway podcast)
- How to Prepare for a Job Interview So You’ll Convince Them You’re the Right Hire
- 13 Questions Hiring Managers Love to Ask in Phone Interviews
- The STAR Method: The Secret to Acing Your Next Job Interview
- Your Ultimate Guide to Answering the Most Common Interview Questions
- Called Back for a Second Interview? Prepare to Answer These 10 Questions
- Do’s and Don’ts of Virtual Interviewing
- 8 COVID-Related Interview Questions You Should Be Ready to Answer During—and After—the Pandemic
- 57 Smart Questions to Ask in a Job Interview in 2022
Volunteering & Internships
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
Additional External Resources
- Try Volunteering to Build Job Skills as an International Student
- 4 Ways International Students Can Gain U.S. Work Experience with F-1 Visas
- 4 Internship Tips for International Students in the U.S.
- 6 Internship Tips for International Students
U.S. Job Search
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- Career Readiness Competencies that U.S. employers value
- Navigating the U.S. Job Search for International Students
- IC: Work Authorization
- UCC: Putting Together an Effective U.S. Job Search Winter 2022 (handout) (need umich sign on to access)
- Presentation recording Winter 2022
- Career Advice for International Students Seeking Employment in the U.S. by Niandong Wang & Serena Wang
Additional External Resources
- Are You Career Ready?
- Spreadsheet to Track Everything in Your Job Search
- Common Cultural Barriers to the U.S. Job Search
(view accessible text version of Common Cultural Barriers Handout) - The 31 Best LinkedIn Tips to Make Your Profile Shine
- U.S. Employer’s Guide to Hiring International Students by Interstride
- Professionalism in the U.S. Job/Internship Search
- How to land a job in the U.S. (as a foreigner) in 2022
- How to Scrub and Build Your Social Presence Before Searching for a Job
- Job Search Tips for New International Students
- WEBINAR: Career Brand Building for International Students
- 10 Job Search Tips for International Students This Summer
- 9 Ways International Students Can Build Job-Search Muscle This Fall
- MyVisaJobs with listings by work authorization type and field
- 4 Salary Negotiation Tips (Including Sample Scripts)
- How to Negotiate Salary: 37 Tips You Need to Know
- ICAway Podcast for International Students
- ICAWAY webinar recordings
- Here Are 15 Possible Reasons You’re Not Getting Hired—and How to Fix Them
Global Job/Internship Search
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- Pursuing A Career Abroad: Where to Start (March 1, 2021 program's recording)
- Career Exploration Abroad post-OPT (March 24, 2021 program's recording)
- Understanding the Netherland’s Orientation Year Visa (April 6, 2021 program's recording)
- Global Careers in the Netherlands: Understanding the Orientation Year Visa, Relocation & Job Market (October 20, 2021 recording)
Additional External Resources
- GoinGlobal provides career guides and postings based on countries and cities. Sign up for a training session on how to make the most of this resource.
- How To Write A Resume That Crosses Borders
- International Curriculum Vitae Example and Writing Tips
- How are Resumes different from CVs?
- Akadeus provides current job openings at Business and Management Schools across the globe
- AmCham China facilitates connections between Chinese employers and Chinese students studying in the U.S. through their Jobs Market platform
- CareerJet provides job listings from ~50 countries, featuring separate interfaces that are translated into 20 languages
- Career Forum features job fairs for Japanese-English bilinguals
- Computeroxy.com includes academic and research job vacancies in schools of computer, electrical and mathematical sciences and engineering in the U.S. but especially around the world
- Contact TAIWAN is designed to engage overseas Chinese individuals to work in Taiwan
- Global University China Career Union (GUCCU) provides Chinese students studying overseas with the tools and resources needed to prepare for the Chinese job market after graduation
- UNjobs lists vacancies with the United Nations and intergovernmental organizations
- Indeed Worldwide a job search engine for opportunities in Europe, Canada, the Middle East, and Asia
- Recruit.net an international, multilingual job search engine mainly covering China, Japan, India, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong
- iHipo.com international jobs, internships, and graduate school search engine for students and young professionals by country or region
- Jooble.org is a job search engine that searches jobs in 40+ countries
- HRDC Job Bank connects job seekers to Canadian job openings
- Monster International connects Monster.com users to 51 affiliated job sites in 44 countries
- Joblift delivers the best job search results from multiple job sites in the UK
- Seek.com includes job listings in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Asian executive jobs, job search and career tools, and volunteer opportunities
Graduate & Professional School
Preparing for Graduate & Professional School
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
Additional External Resources
- GradSchools.com: Graduate school directory
- Graduate school overview for international students
- See in particular Study Guide by Subject for more detailed information depending on your interests
- U.S. Graduate School Help for International Students
- How Grad School Officials Evaluate International Applicants
- Graduate School Admission Tests--Check out information about GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, DAT and OAT
Financing Graduate & Professional School
- 10 Ways International Students Can pay for Grad School
- International Student Loans for Graduate Students
Law School Resources
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
Additional External Resources
- 3 Tips for Applying to Law School as an International Student
- Applying to U.S. Law Schools as an International Student
Medical School & Other Health Professions Resources
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UCC General Pre-Health Resources
- Health, Science & Research Summer Programs Open to International Students
Additional External Resources
- F-1 Doctors
- Applying to Medical School as an International Applicant
- U.S. & Canadian Allopathic Medical Schools Accepting Applications from International Students
- International Students and DO Medical Schools
- U.S. Medical Schools that Accept Canadian Students
- International Friendly Medical Schools & Funding for International Students
- How International Premeds Can Find a Med School
- MD Program for International Students @ George Washington
- International Medical Graduate Toolkit
Dentistry
- ADEA Dental School Explorer searchable database will help prospective applicants identify dental schools open to consider international students. Fees will apply for a one-year subscription.
- F-1 Doctors
Physical Therapy
- Within the PTCAS Program Directory, each program provides information specifically for international applicants, including: citizenship types eligible for admission; TOEFL requirements; and policy on foreign coursework.
Physician Assistant
Links to external resources are included due to their potential interest to students. Inclusion of a resource does not imply University Career Center or University endorsement of the particular organization, opportunity, or resource described. Descriptions of a resource are taken from the external site and the University is not responsible for the content.
Adjusting to U.S. Language & Culture
What Foreigners Need to Know About America From A to Z: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More
by Lance Johnson
Writing Support, Conversation and Listening Skills
University of Michigan/UCC Resources
- UM Writing Support and Courses for Undergraduate Students
- Undergraduate Speaking and Writing Studio (for academic and professional purposes)
- UM Writing Support and Courses for Graduate Students
- UM Conversation Circles
Additional External Resources
- Live Online English Classes with Michigan Language Center (pronunciation, presentation skills, business English...)
- Watch news reports from Voice of America’s Learning English and their YouTube page
- Rachel’s English for pronouncing difficult sounds in American English
- TED Talks--See how English phrases are used through this searchable collection of thousands of TED Talks
- Short audio reports and commentaries (with transcripts!) via Scientific American
- Write Better Emails: 5 Copy-and-Paste Calls to Action You Can (and Should) Use in Your Emails
- How to Write Professional Emails That Get the Results You Want
Understanding Culture in the Classroom & Beyond
- How International Students Can Adjust to U.S. College Classes
- Formal Classroom Culture & Informal Classroom Culture
- I felt lost in a new academic culture. Then I learned about the hidden curriculum
- How to Get Better at Reading People from Different Cultures
- What Even Is Business Casual?
- Values in American Culture
- How to navigate your way through American workplace culture
Improving Business English
- 5 Daily Ways to Improve Your Business English with Resources You Already Have
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Business English Through Listening Practice
- How to Improve Your Business English
- How to Be Small Talk Savvy During the Job Search
- Mastering the American Accent with Downloadable Audio
- FluentU
- 5 Business Writing Skills Every Job Applicant Should Master
Co-Curricular Engagement
Co-curricular activities are an essential part of the U.S. college experience in that they provide students a break from studying while pursuing individual interests and developing important life and career skills such as teamwork, leadership, project management, and more.
University of Michigan/UCC Resources