Does A J-1 Visa Intern Have Any Advantages In Securing A US Internship? By A.H. Lostocco
CHI Publishing
March 10, 2009
This is a question that I am frequently asked by prospective J-1 candidates. I am also asked a similar question by our clients, who want to understand the logic and reasoning for using internationals. There are actually five (5) good reasons for using internationals on J-1 VisaŽs.
1.The biggest advantage is the willingness of an international to do an internship for up to 18 months.
This is a major selling point when you approach a host company. In the competitive environment that exists in the world today companies cannot afford to add staff because they are benevolent and philanthropic. They do it because they expect some type of return on their investment or because it has a tangible or intangible benefit to the company. Where your true marketability advantage comes from is that US students, for the most part (99%) will only do a three (3) month internship in the summer.
2.The second big advantage is flexibility in your start date.
Our experience has been that internationals are much more flexible in terms of when they can start an internship. American candidates for the most part are tied to the summer months when they are not in University. International candidates however do their internships after University or take a break in their studies so they are more flexible which works well for US employers. So remember to stress that you can be flexible on when you can start.
3.The third big advantage is being bi or multi-lingual.
Time and again I see resumes that only mention that the student speaks English. Many US companies operate on an international basis, and having interns that can speak more then one or two languages is a real plus. Why, because most American students only speak English. So the more languages you speak, the more impressed the company might be.
Here is an example you might want to keep in mind. We placed an intern with a company that did a great deal of international import/export work. When they discovered that he spoke Russian, they had him handle much of the international communications. When he was about to finish his internship, they offered to him get an H-1 Visa and later a "green card" because they needed his expertise.
4.The fourth advantage is that you will be bringing new and different ideas and ways of doing things to your host company.
American companies pride themselves in being innovative and open to new ideas and concepts. As an international student or young professional, your host company will view you as a source of new and fresh ideas. So us this advantage to explore new ideas with your host company. During your interview with your potential host company, take the opportunity to share your ideas with them and to show them that you are an innovative thinker.
5.The fifth advantage is the "International Student Mystique"
There is a certain mystique attributed to anyone from somewhere other then your hometown. In fact there is a joke that goes like this:
Question: "You know what they call anyone who is from more then 50 kilometers away?"
Answer: "An expert!"
All joking aside, because the US is such a big country, separated from much of the world by oceans, Americans are enchanted with internationals. Also, since for most of us in the US, our ancestors came from another country; we tend to welcome internationals with open arms. In the US there is a natural curiosity and willingness to provide an opportunity for an international student to experience the American way of life.
Your goal is to maximize the advantages through the two vehicles that you have available to communicate who you are—your resume, and your phone interview. By capitalizing on these advantages you can tip the scale to your favor in your search for an internship.
To learn more about finding an internship, I suggest you read "US Internships for International Students and Young Professionals" by Alexander H. Lostocco you can find it at www.amazon.com
If you have any additional questions feel free to contact me directly at lostocco1@internship4america.com. If you would like to review some of my other articles on instituting an internship program youŽll find them listed at www.internship4america.com. If you have had a similar experience I would like to hear about it.
Alexander H. Lostocco