by Alejandra Molina
Assistant Editor
“Success in the American Workplace: A Workshop for International Students” provided the needed information for international students planning to work in the United States after graduation.
The Career and Placement Center and the International and Study Abroad Center collaborated to put forth this workshop.
International students must go through a detailed process to find a job in the United States.
In the workshop, Immigration Attorney Adam Green explained the numerous steps international students must go through.
Green talked about visas and green cards for international students and scholars.
When international students graduate from the University of La Verne, they qualify for Occupational Practical Training, which is a full-time job.
They are allowed to stay in that job for one year, Green said.
International students must get a job with a company willing to sponsor them to stay with that job.
They must not only hire the international student, but also provide a sponsor, said Phil Hofer, director of the International and Study Abroad Center, who was also a speaker. The student must apply for a temporary visa as well.
Each year, the U.S. government has a quota for the number of people who can get the visa status, Hofer said.
“It’s not difficult to get if they meet all the requirements,” he added.
Hofer also stated that the company must pay them a prevailing wage, that is, the same amount of money a citizen of the United States is getting paid. If not, the international worker would not be eligible for the visa.
Hofer believes the United States is a stable place for international students to work.
“The U.S. economy has been a vibrant and active one,” Hofer said. “It is a good economy for international students to work in.”
The workshop was specifically designed for international students and about 35 attended.
“I was very pleased with the turn out,” Hofer said.
Not every international student wants to work in the United States, but many plan to do so, Hofer said.
“We want to let them know how they can do that legally,” Hofer said.
Most international students attending ULV are here for their graduate or master’s degree. About 20 international students at ULV are undergraduates.
A question that arose in the workshop was whether the United States was closing its borders to international students.
Since the bombings that took place in the early ’90s and after the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the United States has passed very strict laws regarding foreigners coming to the country.
Laura Kiralla, director of the Career Development and Placement Center, and Jill Bergman, assistant director, also made presentations at the workshop.
Bergman said the workshop was an excellent resource for international students seeking work in the United States.
“The job search process and interviewing is different here in America compared to other countries,” Bergman said.
Bergman and Kiralla spoke about business etiquette, including manners, dress appearance and how students should approach a professional.
They stated how resumes and business letters are composed in a different way than in other countries.
“Some countries require photos and personal information on resumes,” Bergman said. “There is equal opportunity in America and we don’t do that.The workshop was a great way to get them together as a group. It helped us reach a lot more students in one day.”
