Navigating the job market is always challenging, and international students face additional hurdles that are unique to their situation. These include applying for work authorization and finding employers willing to sponsor visas. At the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program, we understand these challenges and aim to provide our students with the resources and guidance needed to succeed.
On September 20th, we hosted the International Students Welcome Lunch + Mingle, bringing together students to discuss career development, immigration practices, and the importance of personal branding in this competitive job market. Moderated by Abbe Rosenthal, MA, PCC, DYL Certified Coach., the event featured valuable insights from Stephanie Acuna, Senior International Student Advisor at Rutgers Global, and Supreet Kaur, an MBS alumna whose inspiring journey highlighted the transformative potential of the MBS degree.
Navigating immigration practices with Stephanie Acuna
Stephanie Acuna offered expert advice to demystify Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) processes for our international students.
- CPT & OPT explained: Acuna outlined the eligibility criteria, procedural requirements, and best practices for in-person students, emphasizing the importance of correctly defining employment to meet the regulatory guidelines.
- Available resources: Acuna highlighted resources available to students, including in-person workshops and online sessions available through the Global Portal.
- Career opportunities: Acuna encouraged students to take advantage of the upcoming Winter Career & Internship Mega Fair and explore job postings on Handshake, Rutgers’ premier career platform.
An Alumna’s Journey: Supreet Kaur
Supreet Kaur, graduating with a Master of Business and Science (MBS) degree in 2019 with a concentration in Analytics: Discovery Informatics & Data Sciences. She shared her remarkable journey, from entering the U.S. in 2017 to receiving a job offer from Microsoft and being featured on Business Insider. She has previously shared advice with MBS students during a Virtual Friday alumni career panel.
Kaur began her journey as a student worker for the PSM program while pursuing internships. With no prior experience, she empathized with the challenges many international students face trying to secure their first jobs. The PSM program, with its supportive environment and resources, played a crucial role in her early career development.
After graduating, Kaur started her career as a data scientist at a small firm. She later joined Morgan Stanley, focusing on data and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, where she began building her personal brand.
Kaur's journey is a testament to the transformative power of personal branding. She emphasized that building a brand means that people know you exist. She chose LinkedIn as her platform, where she actively shared insights and wrote posts three to four times a week. Within a year, her consistent efforts earned her recognition as a LinkedIn Top Voice.
Earlier this year, Kaur joined Microsoft as a Data and AI Solutions Architect. During her talk with our students, she shared her job search strategy, which included volunteering on projects to build relevant experience and networking with hiring managers instead of relying solely on cold applications.
Kaur also discussed her self-sponsored EB2-NIW visa process, encouraging students to explore alternative visa options to reduce dependency on employer sponsorship. She credited her personal brand for significantly supporting her application.
Kaur concluded by sharing actionable steps students can take to build their personal brands throughout the program:
- Tap into MBS resources. Leverage the Principles of Communication and Leadership course, the alumni-student mentoring initiative, executive coaching, and professional Design Your Life (DYL) workshops with Rosenthal.
- Attend events offered by the Career Center and the PSM program, especially in-person opportunities, to build connections and skills.
- Participate in the Externship Exchange Program to gain hands-on experience. Kaur leveraged her externship project at Citi during her Morgan Stanley interview to strengthen her candidacy.
- Build a network. During her job search, Kaur actively identified hiring managers and companies willing to sponsor visas. Networking played a pivotal role in her success.
- Develop transferable skills. Kaur encouraged students to reframe their existing experiences and focus on how they can apply these skills to new opportunities. (Wondering where to start? Check out our list of must-have skills for navigating the workforce.)
Rosenthal reminded students to leverage their MBS connections for mentorship, job opportunities, and lifelong support. She encouraged students to attend more events, explore Virtual Fridays, and embrace networking opportunities.
Thank you to Stephanie Acuna and Supreet Kaur for insightful discussions! We look forward to seeing our students apply these lessons and continue building their bright futures.
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