Resources for International Students

Working in the United States

These websites contain information regarding employment for international students wanting to work in the United States. It is often difficult for international students to find employment in the United States after graduation as the government sets a cap on the number of H-1B visas it confers every year and many companies and organizations are unable or unwilling to sponsor students for the H-1B work visa. International students must have a work visa in order to lawfully work in the United States. It is helpful when looking for a job to seek out companies who have said they sponsor international students in the past. In addition, it is wise to seek out employers who may conduct business in students' home countries. International students have the most success if they can bring to the employer a skills set that an employer may not be able to find in a U.S. citizen or lawful resident. These skills include language skills, technical skills such as computers, engineering, or medicine.

The University of Michigan International Center provides a comprehensive list of resources and suggestions for F-1 and J-1 students seeking a job in the United States. These websites include information regarding on-campus employment, curricular practical training or CPT (lawful employment off-campus in students’ area of study), optional practical training or OPT (full-time employment for one year after completion of study) and H-1B employment (full-time employment 3-6 years beyond graduation). Duke Visa Services also has useful information regarding student working visas. For more information, contact the Career Center at 110 Page (919-660-1050) and the Career Resource Center in 106 Page.

University of Michigan Employment Index

H-1B Employer Database
With this governmental site, you may search for employers who have submitted Labor Condition Applications. You may view and search the H-1B Labor Certification Database by employer name or state.

Characteristics of H-1B speciality workers
This governmental website gives information about the salary, age, education, industry, and occupation of H-1B speciality workers in different years.

Employment visa information

Information for engineering students

Working internationally

Many international students may wish to return to their home countries to work after graduation or students may want to work internationally. Many web tools provide directory information about international companies and organizations and searching for jobs internationally. With these directories, you may search for organizations by country or by industry area.  The European Career Fair also provides information, contacts, and jobs for students at all levels wishing to work in Europe in various industries and positions. The fair is held every year in February in Boston.

Business.com
Search by industry area or key word.

Hoover's Directories
Searching by companies and organizations by country.

Riley Guide
Provides comprehensive information about international agencies and NGOs and how to search for jobs internationally. Also allows for searching for companies and organizations by country.

Besides web resources, several publications in the resource room provide information about working internationally. Sample resources include:

Almanac of International Jobs and Careers by Ron & Caryl Krannich published 1994
Careers in International Business by Edward Halloran; VMG Career Horizons 1996.
International Business in New York City by Weissman Center for International Business 2000.
International Job Finder by Daniel Labor, Planning Communication, 2002.
International Organizations by Ency of Associations published 1998.
Nations of the World 4th edition Grey House Publishing published 2004.
World Chamber of Commerce Directory by Worldwide Chamber of Commerce published 2000.

Career Search now offers an international search option so you may search for companies and organizations internationally.

Other resources for searching for jobs in the UK and Europe:

Jobs in the UK

Jobs and Internships in Europe


Top international employers
This section lists the industry areas and links to different large companies in various countries.

Argentina
Acindar Iron and Steel Foundries
Cresud Agriculture
Colorin Paints

Belgium
Almanij Banks Commercial and Savings
Delhaize Group Food and Drug Stores
Dexia Group Banks Commercial and Savings

Brazil
Petrobras Petroleum Refining
Banco Bradesco Banks Commercial and Savings
Banco Do Brasil Banks Commercial and Savings

Chile
Cintac Service and Steel Innovation
Cencosud Food and Drug Stores
Chilectra Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services
Santander Santiago Banking (Branch from Spanish Bank)

China
Sinopec Petroleum refining
State Grid Utilities
China Natural Petroleum Petroleum refining

France
Peugeot Motor Vehicles and Parts
BNP Paribas Banks Commercial and savings
Carrefour Food and Drugs
Total Petroleum refining
AXA Insurance Life and Health

Germany
DaimlerChrysler Motor Vehicles and Parts
Deutsche Telekom Telecommunications
Metro Food and Drugs Stores
Siemens Electronics and Electrical Equipment
Allianz Insurance P & C
Volkswagen Motor Vehicles and Parts

India
Indian Oil Petroleum refining
Reliance Industries Petroleum refining
Bharat Petroleum Petroleum refining

Italy
Assicurazioni Generali Insurance Life and Health
ENI Petroleum refining
Fiat Motor Vehicles and Parts
Enel Utility
UniCredito Italiano Banks Commercial and Savings

Japan
Sony Electronics and electical equipment
Nippon Telegraph/Telephone Telecommunications
Hitachi Electronics and electical equipment
Matsushita Electric Industrial Electronics and electical equipment
Toyota Motor Vehicles and Parts

Netherlands
Royal Dutch/Shell Group Petroleum refining / UK
ING Group Insurance Life and Health
Royal Ahold Food and Drug Stores
ABN AMRO Banks Commercial and Savings
EADS Aerospace and Defense

Russia
OAO Gazprom Energy
Lukoil Petroleum refining
UES of Russia Utilities

Spain
Telefonica Telecommunications
Santander Central Hispano Banks Commercial and Savings
Endesa Utilities
Cepsa Petroleum Refining
ACS Engineering, Construction

UK
Aviva Insurance Life and Health
HSBC Holdings Banks Commercial and Savings
BP Petroleum refining


The University Career Action Network (UCAN) provides general and career information on various international countries and cities:
Amsterdam
Athens
Beijing
Cairo
Dublin
Hong Kong
London
Madrid
Paris
Rome
Santiago
Singapore
Sydney
Tokyo

Some pages on the Duke Career Center website may contain links to pages
belonging to other organizations. The Career Center is not responsible for
the upkeep and content of these pages and cannot guarantee the relevance,
timeliness, or correctness of these outside materials. Nevertheless, the
Career Center welcomes feedback and suggestions on how to improve its
website and correct errors. Please find contact information for the Career
Center at
http://career.studentaffairs.duke.edu/undergrad/contact_us/index.html