Preparing for a Career in Healthcare as an International Student

As an international student, it is imperative to connect with Immigration and International Support Services before pursuing or committing to any professional opportunity. This allows the Career Development Center to provide several levels of support, such as helping you find volunteer opportunities, internships, and jobs; reviewing your professional documents; and preparing for interviews!

The Importance of Networking

In the U.S. workplace, networking is paramount to success. Even if you are not looking for a job right now, networking can bring interesting and relevant opportunities your way.

LinkedIn is an online tool for networking where you can make connections with professionals. Be sure to create or update your LinkedIn account with your MCPHS information. When people know what interests you, they can help you find opportunities that you may otherwise miss. You might find your next mentor or business partner through networking. Throughout your time at MCPHS, consider attending networking events, conducting informational interviews, and reaching out to your professors. These connections can pay dividends throughout your career.

Volunteering

Volunteering is a way to gain transferable skills and experience. Volunteer experiences can be found at the following:

• After-school programs and organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA
• Animal shelters and adoption centers
• Community and senior citizen centers
• Food banks and meal programs
• Hospitals, community health centers, assisted living/nursing homes, and other health care settings
• Town/city agencies such as recreation departments, public health, and libraries
• Organizations including the American Red Cross, United Way, and organizations dedicated to a particular health care issue such as the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Think about volunteering with the population you want to work with. For example, are you interested in working with pediatric patients? Volunteer to work with young children to gain an understanding of early childhood development. Interested in researching new treatments for diabetes? Volunteer with the American Diabetes Association to learn more about the disease. Important: Ensure that your volunteer experience is not a role within your field, because that might be considered an internship. For additional questions, contact MCPHS Immigration and International Support Services.

General Job Search Tips

Skills you may highlight as an international student include adaptability, determination, resourcefulness, flexibility, intercultural competency, and the ability to navigate through a different social and cultural system. Market these skills in your resume/cover letter and during your interviews!

Develop an excellent U.S. resume by using the resources available through the Career Development Center and the Writing Center. Once your professional documents are polished and tailored to your field, connect with your career advisor to identify job search strategies and resources.

Online Resources

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provides information about H-1B status and filing for a Green Card.
• Cultural Vistas has been facilitating connections between Americans and international visitors for over 60 years.
• Internationalstudent.com was started by a group of international students living in New York City. This site helps students deal with American immigration authorities and the education system.
• Overseasjobs.com hosts an international jobs database of positions available in companies worldwide and provides job search resources.
• Myvisajobs.com provides insight on top companies that sponsor international students.
• Careershift.com houses thousands of job postings and provides in-depth information about millions of companies.

Interstride

The Career Development Center has partnered with Interstride, an online platform that helps international students find jobs in the United States. Interstride simplifies complicated sponsorship information and makes it easy to identify the top-sponsoring companies in the United States.

Interstride is only a supplemental tool for your job search. MCPHS Immigration and International Support Services are the designated F-1 student advisors for questions about your immigration status and work authorization. Before accepting any opportunity, you must contact their office.

Interstride provides the following:

• Information on individual companies and the number of visas they have sponsored
• Resources on the visa application processes in different countries
• Practical advice for living abroad
• Tools to help students organize the job search
• Networking and mentorship
• Webinars and workshops

In collaboration with Immigration and International Support Services, the Career Development Center has uploaded information on all international students to the Interstride platform. You will receive an email from Interstride in early September with instructions on how to activate your account. We encourage you to do this as soon as possible. You can login using your MCPHS credentials (m#, email, and password) at interstride.com/mcphs/ or student.interstride.com.

Career Development Center Resources

Ready to learn more? Check out our Blackboard page, which houses resources that will aid you throughout your time at MCPHS. We offer how-to guides, directions on how to make an appointment, webinars, and so much more! Additionally, practice your interviewing skills virtually using the Big Interview platform, and research job opportunities using Interstride and CareerShift.

For additional questions, please contact us at careerservices@mcphs.edu.