Know the facts 6 tips for securing a sponsored job in the U.S.

Written by Katharine Boshkoff, Global Vice President of Career Development Corporate Relations at Hult. Note:  Weve made every effort to ensure that the information in this article is  correct at time of publishing. However, because visa and immigration laws are complex and ever-changing, please check the U.S. Department of State or U.K. Home Office website for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements. Every day I see media headlines proclaiming upcoming changes for H1B visas in the U.S. So far, there are no plans for a massive overhaul, but there is momentum for a few very positive changes—and this is good news for the international students currently enrolled at Hult. For the moment, however, there is a lot of negative hype in the media, and we advise our students to hone in on the facts. For skilled workers, here is a fact for you: there are just as many H1Bs today as there were in previous years. Non-US employees who applied for this year’s lottery actually improved their odds  because applications were  down  by 10%. A higher percentage of my students at Hult achieved H1Bs because the odds were in their favor. A higher percentage of Hult students secured H1Bs this year because the H1B lottery odds are actually better compared to previous years. -Katharine Boshkoff, Global Vice President of Career Development Another fact: the US economy is in overdrive, unemployment is down, demand for skills are up and H1B visas are statistically easier to get than ever before. For the class of 2016 it was a very good year, and the best one we’ve had since the Great Recession. So what should you do if you are an international student wanting sponsorship? My team and I monitor visa requirements on a global level and have learned a lot working with thousands of students who have successfully achieved visas over the last several years. Here are a few tips: Tip 1. Don’t forget small companies According to the US Government Website,  Myvisajobs.com the top three high volume H1B sponsors are Infosys, Cap Gemini, and Tata Consulting Services. Many students will target these companies for H1B jobs, assuming they are mostly likely to be H1B sponsors. As has been recently published by Quartz Media,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"New Data on H1B Visas†, these H1B holders were most often hired for lower paying jobs in outsourcing. With the current US focus on attracting skilled labor and shifting away from  commodity coding jobs, it’s important to remember to target smaller US companies with a keen need for your skills. Small companies are less bureaucratic, have a specific focus, and are often more flexible in hiring rules. Additionally, successful small companies are growing fast and are hungry for talent—why shouldn’t that be you? Without the influential brand of an established company, they may not be able to win US citizens who have skills like yours. You are the scarce commodity they seek. So, get out there and find the small company that needs you most. For those of you in universities, these companies may not come to campus. They don’t have the time or resources to spend much time hiring, much less visiting a campus. You need to find  them  and convince them of your value. When you land a job with a small company who may not have sponsored before, be prepared to point them in the right direction on visa rules. We direct our students to the  US Government Visa Website  and  immigration attorneys,  who visit our Hult campuses throughout the year. Tip 2. Know your value and be unique I see it all the time: international students bring rare skills to the US market. Your culture, language, local market knowledge, and skill sets are needed by US employers! This is exactly why we have a visa policy. The US cannot develop enough specialized talent to feed the growth of industry. You need to figure out what you offer that the market needs, declare it, and look for the organizations that need you. Own what makes you unique. Tip 3. Get traction by doing an internship An internship is great for any student, but it is particularly critical if you are an international student who wants to demonstrate and establish a track record of value and experience.   50% of our student internships convert directly to jobs.  Via internships, students build strong local networks,  impress their employers with the impact they can bring to the company, and gain relevant and practical business knowledge for use in their next job. Even if you don’t want a job in the US, I still highly recommend doing an internship. Here’s why: it presents the opportunity to load your resume by demonstrating skills in a branded US company. Taking these experiences back to your home market only increases your value. It can’t hurt you—it can only help. Tip 4. Be creative Little known fact: if the H1B visa doesn’t work out for you, there are several visa types international students can consider. These include the L1 Visa, TN, E1, E2 and O. You can look all of these up at the US  travel.state.gov  website or check my previous blog posts in which I go into greater detail about who qualifies. Tip 5. â€Å"Skill up† in high-demand areas In the end, capital needs labor to grow. This is the truism you need to remember when you see another round of media hype. While you are in the US, I can’t stress enough how important it is to acquire the skills you need to differentiate yourself. At Hult, you get this opportunity in the academic program, but you can also augment your skills with technical tools in many of the additional online courses and bootcamps. Don’t stop learning, don’t stop growing, and you will reap the reward of the time you invest in the long-term. I’ve seen this happen too many times. Take advantage of the various opportunities at Hult to augment your skills and differentiate yourself. Tip 6. Never give up This might be the most important tip I can offer. Be persistent. I have seen thousands of international graduates achieve a job in the US. With a little imagination, a lot of hard work, and the drive to succeed, you can, too. Just don’t believe all the negative hype. If you would like to find out more about Hult’s global business programs,  download a brochure here. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog  Why business schools need to go beyond business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .