How OPT Jobs Can Maximize Your Opportunity as an International Student?

 Explore how OPT jobs can open doors to a successful future in the United States.

Starting a new journey in the United States is exciting for every international student, but the harsh reality often hits only after graduation. “Survival of the fittest” is in fact true when it comes to jobs, but don’t worry! This is where Optional Practical Training (OPT) gives you an upper hand. Textbook knowledge and hands-on industry experience can seem oceans apart, but with the help of OPT jobs, you can achieve all your career goals in the U.S.

You can build a strong professional network in your industry while showcasing your actual skills to people who could become your potential employers. To understand the significance of OPT and how you can increase your chances of becoming a professional, let us first understand what OPT means.

What is the Purpose of OPT?

If you are an international student on an F-1 visa, OPT allows you to work in the U.S. for up to 12 months after you have completed your academic program. The optimal purpose of OPT jobs for international students is to give them an opportunity to gain industry experience. If you are a student in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, you can extend your OPT period to another 24 months, making a total of 36 months.

What are the Requirements to Apply for OPT?

Here are some key points to check before you apply for OPT jobs.

●     Must be enrolled in a full-time academic program in the United States.

●     Must hold a valid F-1 visa

●     Can apply 90 days before the completion of degree

●     Should apply within 60 days of graduation.

●     Total duration: 12 months

●     Total duration for students in STEM 36 (if they apply for a 24-month extension)

●     Must choose a work related to their study.

●     Must work for at least 20 hours in a week.

What are the Benefits of OPT Jobs?

●     Gaining Experience

Gaining practical work experience in the U.S. is one of the significant benefits that OPT jobs have to offer for international students. This presents the students with an opportunity to apply what they've learned in classrooms and textbooks to solve real-world challenges.

 The U.S. is considered to be a competitive global market, and having this work experience in your resume can help you jump the queue in a long-shot interview! Besides that, employers value U.S. work experience as it is a critical asset and will help you secure a valuable position in the place of work.

●     Building a Strong Network

Building a professional network in the U.S. can seem next to impossible for an international student unless you're born with a silver spoon! But with the help of OPT jobs, countless international students have created their own careers.

Networking is a crucial step in entering the industry, and there’s nothing better than making connections through your work. OPT carves the path for these students to meet industry experts, their potential employers, mentors, and even build their own business.

●     Opportunity for a full-time job

The OPT period is assessed by several employers to decide whether or not a candidate is fit to work with them full time. Students who manage to perform well during their OPT period tend to land a full-time employment opportunity.

Through the full-time opportunity, the students become eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship. Which means through the completion of an exceptional OPT period, an international student can extend their stay beyond the OPT job’s period.

How Much Do International Students with OPT Jobs Make?

Without beating around the bush, let us understand how much an average international student makes during their OPT jobs in the U.S. and understand the industry-wise breakdown.

1.   Average wage for an OPT job in the U.S.

Salaries for OPT jobs usually start from $40,000 to $70,000 annually. Sometimes it goes higher, especially for STEM fields, which range between $60,000 and $90,000 every year.

2.   Which industries pay the most to OPT students?

●     Tech and Engineering: Students studying tech and engineering usually fall into higher brackets in terms of salaries, with starting salaries upwards of at least $60,000 or more.

●     Business and Finance: Salaries in business or finance can range from $50,000 all the way up to $70,000.

●     Less Technical Arts and Humanities: Students studying less technical arts and humanities could make between 40,000-50,000 dollars each year.

3.   Can Location Impact OPT Wages?

●     Salaries tend to be higher also where living indices are notoriously higher in major metropolitan areas, such as New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

●     Smaller cities or those located in rural areas will have lower salaries, but the cost of living is also generally lower.

4.   Do international students with experience get better wages?

Some students who have completed any internships, certifications, or other specialized skills are able to negotiate a higher salary in their respective fields.

Apply today!

In a nutshell, OPT jobs prove to be one of the best opportunities for international students to gain practical work experience in building their networks and advancing their careers in the United States of America.

In fact, with OPT employment, you are not merely applying theoretical knowledge to the real world; you also make your resume more valuable and marketable in the long term. This position can make a big difference in future career success and also in possible sponsorship for the visa.

Moving forward with your OPT, be proactive, seek out positions that will further your desired career, and always work on improvement professionally. How you utilize this time during OPT will have a great bearing on which pathway or direction is taken toward long-term goals.

You are invited to embrace this enriching phase with eagerness and commitment, which will prove the real stepping stone to a fulfilling career for international students in the United States.