Interviewing Tips for International Students

Interviewing is a skill that you will develop over time and requires preparation and practice. This is your chance to have a conversation with the interviewer and make connections with them. Most importantly, it is a great opportunity to convince the employer that you are the ideal candidate for the position.

Here are some additional interview tips for international students:

Legal and Illegal Interview Questions

• An employer SHOULD NOT ask:
  What is your visa type, nationality, place of birth? Or, of which country are you a citizen?
  What is your native language? What language do you most often speak?
• An employer MAY ask:
  Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? (p.s. the answer is yes!)
  Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for an employment visa?
  Which languages do you read, speak, or write? (Provided that foreign language skills are job related).

Discussing Your Visa Status in the Hiring Process

• While there is no set rule on when to disclose your international status, the best way to approach this is to assess how much the employer values you as a candidate. Usually, we recommend that you not bring this issue up during the first interview, but on the other hand, you should not wait until you receive the offer from the potential employer.