International Student Career Resources

CPT
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is a type of work authorization that allows F-1 international students to participate in paid off-campus academic internships during their degree program. The purpose of CPT is academic, not just for employment purposes, and the internship must be considered an integral part of a student’s degree program. Graduate students requiring CPT should review the information on the Viterbi Grad CPT webpage. Undergraduate students requiring CPT should review information on the Internship & Co-Ops for Credit webpage.

OPT
Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a type of work authorization that permits F-1 students to gain work experience in their field of study while in the United States. OPT is not a visa; rather, it is a type of employment benefit for F-1 students who are maintaining their visa status. Students should review the OPT information provided on the VASE website in addition to the OIS Post-Completion OPT page.

Work Authorization
U.S. employers must check to make sure all employees, regardless of citizenship or national origin, are allowed to work in the United States. Having an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is one way to prove that you are allowed to work in the United States for a specific time period. Find out more by visiting the F-1 Student Employment page.

• Viterbi Career Gateway: Gateway is a career-related resource dedicated to the needs of Viterbi students. This system allows you to search for engineering internship, co-op and full-time job postings and filter for positions that offer visa sponsorship. Gateway also contains information about Viterbi-specific events and resources.
• Career & Internship Toolkit: Our online toolkit provides resources for career planning, resumes & cover letters, the job & internship search process, networking, and interview preparation.
• Career Advising: Our counselors can provide one-on-one sessions to help you to navigate the complexities of the international job market. Schedule an appointment on Viterbi Career Gateway or attend drop-in hours (Monday-Friday, 12-3 p.m.) to get your questions answered.
• USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub: The data hub provides information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers. Users can search for H-1B petitioners by fiscal year, NAICS code, employer name, city, state, or ZIP code.
• Interstride: This interactive career platform was designed by international students to enhance their career exploration and job search experience. USC students have free access to Interstride (log in with your netID and password).
• GoinGlobal: This career and employment resource contains more than 16 million worldwide internship and job postings searchable in the local language, as well as English.

• Center for Engineering Diversity (CED): CED supports the needs of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds pursuing engineering degrees, including African-American, Hispanic, and Native American students. It offers programming and a 24/7 student lounge equipped with group and individual workstations, computers and printers. Located in RTH 210.
• OIS Events: OIS offers programming throughout the semester to meet the needs of international students and scholars. Programs include LA Today, International Coffee Hour, the English Language Program, and job search workshops.
• USC Career Center: Visit the USC Career Center website for access to international student resources and information about the job search, part-time and full-time jobs, visas, and more.
• USC Writing Center: The USC Writing Center provides individual consultations and workshops to help students develop stronger writing skills. Its website also includes handouts, video tutorials, and other resources to aid writing development.
• USC American Language Institute (ALI): ALI has been providing English language instruction, assessment, and resources to support the academic and professional success of non-native speakers of English pursuing degrees at USC.
• USC Cultural Centers: USC's student affiliation groups help to strengthen the USC student community and celebrate its diversity. Cultural centers include APASS (Asian Pacific American Student Services), CBCSA (Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs), El Centro Chicano, the LGBT Resource Center, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services, and the Office of Religious Life.