International Students Explore Internship Possibilities Monday, November 25, 2024
“We’re a University that celebrates and wants to make sure as many students as possible can gain experiential learning opportunities prior to graduation. International students who get connected to the idea of career readiness and prepare for it can have that experience.”
Abel Ang, of Malaysia, and Jana Schmid, of Germany, both chose Point Park University because of its Downtown Pittsburgh location, knowing it was uniquely situated to offer internship opportunities in the city. Little did they know they’d actually be the first interns in a new arrangement on campus, acting as student managers of the campus café.
Ang, a business management major with a concentration in entrepreneurship, and Schmid, a business management major with a concentration in international business, were the first students to enroll in Experiential Learning Business Management. The experiential class focuses on re-branding and re-imagining the University's coffee shop at 100 Wood Street.
Ang and Schmid discovered the internship by staying in touch with supervising professor R. Hagen Starz, whom they’d had in class the year before. That rapport created an opportunity Ang and Schmid wouldn't have otherwise had, and it's already paying dividends in career readiness.
Opportunities for International Students
“As international students, a lot of people don’t know what they can and can’t do for employment,” Schmid said.
International students with an F-1 visa have some parameters for their work opportunities. In their first year of study, international students are limited to part-time on-campus jobs that are not federal work-study positions. At Point Park, these are primarily in the cafeteria and tutoring centers.
However, Rebecca Lee, director of International Student Services and Enrollment, cautions that there are not enough positions for every student who wants one, so an international student can’t count on that opportunity initially.
After a year, international students can have internships both on and off campus that directly relate to their field of study, called Curricular Practical Training (CPT). To qualify, international students must receive course credit for these experiences, with Career Readiness and International Student Services and Enrollment advisement, so that it is placed on their I-20 and they stay within federal regulations.
After graduation, they can apply for up to a year of Optional Practical Training (OPT), which is full-time work in their field.
On-Campus Career Support
Dean Jolin, director of career readiness, emphasized the commitment of the Professional Career Readiness Center (PCRC) to help international students pursue CPTs.
“We’re a University that celebrates and wants to make sure as many students as possible can gain experiential learning opportunities prior to graduation,” Jolin said. “There are significant challenges, due to their F-1 status. However, international students who are connected to the idea of career readiness and are prepared for it can have that experience. You can have it, but you have to start a little earlier and your process looks a little different.”
Jolin suggests international students learn about the process before introducing themselves to a potential employer, so they can assure the employer they will take care of the details. “The students who know the policies and know how to talk about it to the employers have a better shot at getting the internship,” he said.
Michael Clarke, program manager for experiential learning in the PCRC, helps international students through the process.
“Once they actually obtain an internship or co-op, that’s where I start working with them to make sure they follow the procedures to maintain their F1 visa,” Clarke said. “It’s a matter of making sure they have the documentation in place.”
A Proactive Approach
Lee, Jolin and Clarke all stress the importance of following employment and internship protocol during college years so that an international student doesn’t jeopardize their chance for an OPT after they graduate.
“As an international student, you have to be very proactive,” Ang said. “Opportunities don’t just come.”
For those proactive students like Ang and Schmid, Point Park offers a world of opportunities, many within walking distance or accessible via the U-Pass program, which gives full-time on-ground students free rides on public transportation.
Ang, who plays on the soccer team, was attending a school in Kentucky before transferring to Point Park in Spring 2024.
“The other school was in the middle of nowhere, so I saw Point Park was a great place for opportunity,” Ang said.
Ang has also worked on campus as a tutor and has a second virtual internship with a veterinary acquisitions company.
Schmid was recruited for the track and field team at Point Park. She has a second in-person internship with the German Chamber of Commerce.
Jolin estimates that about 90% of Point Park’s international students are also athletes. In Clarke’s experience, though this makes scheduling more difficult, the students who pursue the internships can handle it well.
“A lot are student-athletes and have a tight schedule. But they’re dedicated as athletes, and it seems to carry over,” Clarke said.
As Schmid looks for possible OPTs for after graduation, she said Handshake has been a good resource. Handshake is an online platform the PCRC supports to give students and graduates free access to job and internship postings. It can also be filtered for employment opportunities that are available for students who do not possess U.S. citizenship.
@pointparku Meet Abel Ang – an international student at Point Park University from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! 🇲🇾 Why did Abel choose Point Park University? Get a glimpse into his journey as an international student and how he’s embracing every opportunity along the way! 🌍 #PointParkU #PointParkUniversity #DowntownPittsburgh #InternationalStudentLife ♬ original sound - Point Park University
Tips from the PCRC for International Students
Dean Jolin and Michael Clarke offer some advice to international students who want to pursue an internship/CPT:
- Be informed about the process so that you can present it to the employer with confidence that you can take care of the details and it doesn’t fall on them. Check the International Students Canvas group, maintained by Lee, for instructions.
- Meet with a career counselor in the PCRC to have your resume reviewed and practice interview questions.
- Use Handshake and filter for opportunities that do not require U.S. citizenship, or network to find opportunities.
- Once you secure an internship, meet with Clarke to be sure communication is clear between the employer, as well as Lee, your academic advisor and faculty internship supervisor.
- Be sure not to work more than 20 hours per week in total with all jobs and internships. Follow all the rules so you don’t jeopardize an opportunity for a full-time OPT after graduation.
Learn more about the international student experience at Point Park
Anne Barbosa
Sisan Tudor
Guilia Follador '24
More About: Downtown Pittsburgh, Rowland School of Business, internships, transfer, Career Development Center, business management, international