ISO March 2009 E–Newsletter
We hope you had a relaxing spring break.
Although it may seem to be quite early, the spring is really the best time to make
summer plans so hopefully the following information will help you plan smart and
make the best decisions on how to spend your summer.
Firstly, if you plan on spending the summer in your home country, then the earlier
you start looking for airline tickets, the more chances you’ll have to find a great
rate. In addition, you may also want to start getting in touch with job contacts
back home and sending in applications for prospective jobs in order to make some
extra money at home over the summer.
For other international students who will be staying in the US over the summer,
work plans would most likely revolve around summer internships. With the current
economic recession, options for summer internships may be limited especially in
regards to paid positions. But since internships continue to be an invaluable tool
to gain skills in the workplace and to apply concepts learned in the classroom to
real life situations, their importance have to be underscored.
The uncertainty of what kind of economy will emerge from the current financial melt-down
also means that the more opportunities to network and create professional relationships
in your field of study, the better your chance of finding an OPT position after
graduation. Although internships that are available this summer may not provide
any type of monetary compensation, in some fields the work experience alone pays
off in the end. Depending on the availability of summer internships, you may also
want to consider volunteering as an option to gain experience especially if you
are in your Junior year or if you need to build up your résumé.
International students in the US who seek employment such as summer internships
are required to apply for OPT employment authorization in advance so if you are
considering seeking an internship, be sure to check with the International Student
Office at your school so that they can inform and direct you accordingly. Since
it usually takes a few months for your application for OPT to be approved, starting
the process in Spring is important to ensure that all the paperwork is completed
on time.
Please be sure to refer to one of our previous newsletters for further information
on summer internships such as resumes and interview tips at www.isoa.org/newsletter_march_2008.aspx. In addition to
the websites listed there, you can also consult www.idealist.org which has job listings and volunteer opportunities.
Stay smart by being informed about what is happening around you and planning accordingly.
Best wishes for the rest of the semester from ISO!
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