International Students

The Engineering Career Center (ECC) is dedicated to supporting international students with their job and/or internship search. Below you will find resources to assist you with the internship and job search.

If you are an international student and you are considering participating in an internship opportunity, please reach out to the Office of International Services for guidance regarding working off-campus. The Engineering Career Center does not process CPT applications.

The Engineering Career Center also DOES NOT process Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications for full-time employment. If you need help with your OPT application, please visit the Office of International Students (OIS) at UIC.

Need Help? Schedule An Advising Appointment

Career Resources for International Students Heading link

Job Search Advice from UIC International Alumni and the ECC Heading link

  • Apply Online

    Apply for LOTS of jobs/internships online (hundreds). You can use Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, Google Jobs, and other job boards.

  • Networking

    Developing a professional network of people in your desired industry is very important in the US! Many jobs are never posted, but are obtained through networking. View the ECC’s networking guide here.

  • Complete your Profile

    Complete profiles on Handshake and LinkedIn to increase the chances of a recruiter reaching out to you about a job.

  • Attend Events

    Attend on-campus career fairs and look for off-campus events to attend as well.

  • Work Authorization

    Learn the differences between CPT, pre-completion OPT, and OPT. Please visit the Office of International Services for more information.

  • Connect with Alumni

    Find and connect with UIC alumni on LinkedIn and Handshake to find out where they have interned and where they work now. Then network with them!

smiling student

I did my Master’s in Industrial Engineering. After graduating I was searching for a job but it was difficult out there. I was not able to get the desired outcome as needed. I knew something was going wrong in my job search.

That’s when ECC came in. I took serious efforts in improving my resume, interview skills, etc., and the ECC helped me a lot. When I was a student I hardly visited them, but as an alum, I started visiting them regularly. They were very helpful. They helped me a lot by giving me job search tips, conducting mock interviews, and preparing me for opportunities. I started getting more and more interview calls, and finally I landed a job.

I would advise all the current students to start seeking help from the ECC from early on so that you are ready for the opportunity when it knocks your door. I would again like to THANK the ECC for helping me out. Thank you.

Vinit Shah  |  MS Industrial Engineering Alum