5) First Job Execution
Feedback loops
Most companies do a Performance Review once a year. For an international student, that is too late. You need to know how you are doing now. Every two weeks, ask your manager for 15 minutes of 1-on-1 time. Ask one specific question: 'What is one thing I can do better next week to be more helpful to the team?' This shows you are coachable. If there is a problem with your work, you find out early and fix it before it becomes a reason to deny your visa sponsorship.
This is the Secret Sauce. When a company applies for your H-1B or Green Card, they often have to prove that you are an expert or that you are vital to the company.
- Volunteer for high-visibility projects. Try to get your name on a patent, a white paper, or a major company-wide presentation.
- When the company's lawyers ask for evidence of your impact for the government, you can give them a list of major projects you led. This makes your visa case much stronger because it proves you aren't just an entry-level worker, you are a key player.
6) Career Mobility
In the U.S., your career is like a ladder. To get higher, you sometimes have to move your hands to a different rung. However, for international students, this ladder is attached to a very important rope: your Visa. If you move too fast or at the wrong time, you could fall.
Here is how you manage your career moves while staying safe and growing your income.
Record your progress
Mark this subsection complete to track your progress.