In the Loop Newsletter
Feb 19, 2025
Dear Huskies,
Navigating professional development is both exciting and challenging, and as international students, you bring unique perspectives and valuable skills to the table. In this newsletter, we’re sharing strategies and resources to support your career exploration, planning and implementation, helping you move toward your personal and professional aspirations.
Career exploration begins with self-reflection. The University of California, San Francisco has developed a helpful mind map to guide you in identifying your core interests, skill sets and values. Once you’ve gained clarity, you can begin brainstorming potential career options. If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge or explore a new field, take advantage of UW’s free LinkedIn Learning access—covering topics from project management to data science, with new content added regularly.
Once you’ve identified at least one area of interest, it’s essential to refine your professional materials. Your resume/CV and LinkedIn profile are crucial tools in showcasing your skills and experience. Depending on your field, you may also want to develop a creative portfolio. Start early and update these materials regularly as you gain new experiences. The UW Career and Internship Center offers workshops and resources on resume building, cover letter writing and LinkedIn profile optimization. Refer to their website for a refresher!
Internships provide valuable hands-on experience and insights into your chosen field. A strategic approach can help you find the right opportunities. Here are some tips to refine your internship search:
- Use multiple platforms: Explore platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, UW Handshake and specialized job boards for your field.
- Set alerts: Enable job alerts for internships in your desired field, location or companies.
- Use targeted keywords: Refine your search with specific terms like “marketing internship remote,” “summer software engineering intern,” or “research assistant internship.”
- Keep track of progress: Keep a record of the positions you apply for, including deadlines and contact information, to stay organized.
Remember, internship opportunities can come from various sources, including networking. Building professional relationships can open doors to roles that aren’t publicly advertised. Networking is the process of building and nurturing relationships with professionals, peers and others who can offer guidance, share insights or connect you with opportunities. In addition to your friends and mentors at UW, consider scheduling informational interviews —20 to 30 minute conversations with professionals for insights and advice (learn more here). UW offers an extensive network of alumni in various sectors of employment. Check out Huskies @ Work, your specific departmental listservs and mentorship programs for more ways to connect.
Securing an internship does not stop at the application. Interview preparation is another key component. Before each interview, we recommend you to research the organization, practice common interview questions (learn more about the STAR method) and gain real-life practice via events like the upcoming UW Career Fair for low-stakes conversations with recruiters.
For international students, securing an internship involves additional logistical steps, such as obtaining work authorization. To learn more about timelines and requirements of work authorization, make sure to check out online resources, webinars and consultation opportunities with the ISS.
Your journey as an international student is filled with opportunities for learning, growth and success. By staying proactive and leveraging available resources, you’ll be well-prepared to achieve your career aspirations. Professional development takes time, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. Consider forming a career planning group with peers to share insights and support each other along the way.
As always, CIRCLE is here to advocate, engage, and support you at UW. Feel free to visit us in 250 Schmitz Hall every Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for office hours. Drop in and talk to a friend!