International students often find it challenging to make their way into the U.S. workforce given varying visa regulations, work authorization limitations, and competition. Staffing agencies are a workable, often overlooked solution for international students to not only acquire work experience but also start a long-term career as well. This blog clarifies the functioning of staffing agencies, the benefits they provide to international students, tips on leveraging staffing agency positions, and how Get Hire Technologies, best staffing agency in USA, can help you in this process.
What the staffing agencies do and why they are essential for work opportunities
Staffing agencies are a great way to find workers for filling temporary positions, contract-to-hire, and direct hire positions. They act as a middleman, who makes the recruitment process easier for employers and opens up shortcuts for people looking for jobs. The agencies could be very useful for an international student as they:
1. The application of cold is still very time-consuming, whereas such a service is already offered.
2. Provide students with job opportunities in various fields such as IT, finance, healthcare, customer service, and others to discover and develop a diverse skill set.
3. Provide a chance for students to receive U.S. work experience, which is highly desirable by recruiters.
4. Advocate on behalf of the candidate and point out their potential to employers not well-versed in foreign employment.
Working with staffing service providers instead of the old job search method
International students may turn to traditional methods of job searching, such as networking, campus placement, and online applications, which can be time-consuming and unclear. Staffing agencies like Get Hire Technologies, however, continue to engage with hiring managers and have a leg up on the job that they get before it goes public. The active matching of candidates to roles at agencies saves candidates from sending out speculative applications and waiting for a response as well as for the employer to reach out to them.
Familiarity with restrictions on visas and work permits
Perhaps a major issue for international students is their visa status. In the U.S., the majority of international students are on an F-1 visa and are eligible for Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. Staffing agencies do not make up visa rules; they can operate within them:
CPT: Agencies will be able to assist with placement in an internship or in a part-time (CPT) assignment if the activity is an integral part of the student’s program and has been approved by the school.
OPT: OPT includes options for agencies to hire graduates in positions that match their degree, and OPT (and OPT STEM extensions) may offer greater flexibility for contract/full-time positions.
Agencies do not sponsor H-1B visas directly, but often have contract-to-hire jobs that can result in employer-sponsored opportunities. Agencies can provide introductions to those employers who are willing, upon request.
What are the career benefits for international students? What are the career advantages for international students?
Bridge to U.S. experience: An agency placement to experience work environments in the U.S. is offered to bridge students into the U.S. work world while transitioning from a different culture and helping them develop a local resume.
Short-term roles: Skill validation – allow students to showcase technical and soft skills quickly, generating a range of references and work samples to share with potential employers.
Variety of roles: Agencies will allow students to try various verticals or roles within that vertical (e.g., QA Testing, Data Analyst Intern, IT Support, etc, Business Analyst) and help them find the one that suits them most.
Earlier hiring process: Agencies are more inclined to fill jobs in days and/or weeks, not months, particularly after graduation and during semester breaks.
Networking multiplier: Reach out to recruiters at an agency and they often have a relationship with the client companies, which can lead to more opportunities than just the placement.
Ways to implement staffing agencies efficiently
Create a resume that is ready for the U.S. job market: Get your resume ready for U.S. recruiters; short, achievement-based and keyword-optimized for ATS and recruiters. If possible, specify measurable results.
Clearly communicate visa status: Explain to agencies the current visa status & work authorization (CPT/OPT dates). This will help them line up the right jobs with you and prevent dead ends.
Highlight soft skills: Communication, Collaboration and Flexibility are important in contract jobs. Give examples of cross-cultural teamwork or leadership in campus projects.
Look for positions with transferable skills: Find out what skills are required for the job that match your career objectives, not just the position.
Availability: Contracts and temps need to be flexible. Provide the desired time frame and restrictions for on-campus during semesters.
Inquire on conversion rates: some staffing companies report on their own conversion rates of contract positions to permanent jobs. Prefer to work with agencies that have been successful in the contractor-to-hire process.
Request written references from supervisors after brief assignments. These will count towards future profiles and interviews.
Evaluating and selecting the appropriate agency
Specialization: You do need to find agencies that are specialized in your industry or the type of role you are looking for, whether it is tech staffing agencies, finance staffing agencies or healthcare staffing agencies, or an admin staffing agency.
Reputation and reviews: Check on Glassdoor, LinkedIn, or a career center at your university for recommendations. Staffing veterans can provide personal stories and anecdotes. Staffing service alumni can tell their personal stories.
Resume assistance, interview coaching and workplace support services are some of the services provided by various agencies. Such services can be incredibly helpful for international students who are adapting to the American work environment.
Fee structure: Most respected agencies won’t charge you as a candidate; they will charge the employer. Steer clear of companies that charge employers a lot.
Communication style: Select agencies that communicate quickly and make it easy to understand their next steps—this is indicative of how they treat their candidates as clients.
Empowering to achieve long-term career benefits. Optimize for maximum long-term career value.
Treat contract roles as auditions: This means demonstrating quality, initiative and building relationships; all of these will increase the likelihood that a contract role will be converted into a full-time opportunity.
Track achievements: keep track of measurable results (e.g., better efficiency in processes, fewer bugs, faster support-ticket resolution) to be presented at future interviews.
Create a professional portfolio: Save examples of work, project summary, and client feedback as appropriate. A portfolio is an easier way to show capability.
Extend Networking: Build relationships with managers, mentors and peers through agency placements. Keep up to date on LinkedIn and follow up with individuals who can endorse your work.
Anticipate visa planning early: If the intention is to work in the U.S. long-term, have conversations about sponsorship planning with sponsors early on. Employers who are open to sponsorship can be identified and targeted by agencies at times.
How can Get Hire Technologies assist international students
Get Hire Technologies, best staffing agency in USA, is aware of the complex needs of international students looking for purposeful employment in the U.S. Our approach includes:
Curated roles: In partnership with employers, we have contract-to-hire pipelines for employers who value diverse talent.
Candidates get job-ready with Career Coaching, which involves Resume Optimization, Interview Prep, and CPT/OPT.
Clear guidance: We explain to employers where we have sponsored and what the chances are with regard to the conversion of roles.
