How to research careers abroad and pick the right school
An international education in the U.S. can open the door to new career pathways, help you climb the ladder within your field or be a stepping stone to further study.
If you want to attend an international study program but lack clarity around your future career goals, it can be hard to know which programs will set you up for success down the line. When weighing your options, it’s important to consider not only which degree programs align with your interests and fit within your budget, but also which universities offer the best international student job opportunities, graduate outcomes and career services for international students.
Here are a few tips on how to solidify your career goals, explore degree options and find the right international study program in the U.S.
International education tip 1: Self-reflect to clarify your career goals
Students are often inclined to choose a degree program first and think about a career much later. Wrong order! To determine the best postgraduate program to pursue, you’ll be better off with a long-term vision of the work you want to do and the career you want to have.
So, how do you clarify your long-term career goals? Start by reflecting on your interests, values and skills. Think back on previous educational and professional experiences. What academic courses or job opportunities felt meaningful and energizing? In which experiences did you encounter success?
To narrow in on a career path, try answering the following questions:
- Interests: What school subjects capture your attention? What fields or industries appeal to you?
- Values: What impact do you want your work to have on the world?
- Skills: In what work or classes do you excel?
- Personality: Do you prefer to work with people or data? Do you prefer to work alone or with a team? Are you creative?
- Lifestyle: Where do you want to live? How much money do you want to make?
International education tip 2: Cross-reference your passions with high-paying, high-demand jobs
Once you’ve made a shortlist of potential career paths, make sure to research the U.S. job market. There are plenty of job opportunities for international student graduates, but pursuing a career in an industry with a high growth rate improves your odds of employment and career longevity.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. are in the following industries:
- Renewable energy
- Health care
- Cybersecurity
- Logistics
- Technology
- AI
The growth rates for jobs in these industries, like nurse practitioner, data scientist and information security analyst are all predicted to grow more than 30% in the next few years. These careers also tend to offer strong salaries. Nurse practitioners, data scientists and information security analysts, for instance, all make an average of US$100,000+ per year.
International education tip 3: Choose an affordable degree program with a strong return on investment (ROI)
With a clear picture of your career path, you’ll be better able to identify which degree programs will set you in the right direction.
It’s important to research your program options carefully. Even within the same field of study, different degree programs vary in terms of duration, graduation requirements and cost.
For most students, scholarships and savings won’t cover all their international education expenses. Private international student loans can bridge the gap. To keep your student loan repayments manageable, U.S. News & World Report recommends keeping your debt-to-income ratio below 8%. This means choosing affordable degree programs that lead to lucrative careers.
Here are four options for postgraduate degrees in growing fields that can lead to strong starting salaries, positive long-term ROIs and low debt-to-income ratios:
Mechanical engineering
- Average starting salary: US$66,771
- Average base salary: US$65,959-US$149,904
- Average monthly debt-to-income ratio: 4.4%
Nursing
- Average starting salary: US$64,108
- Average base salary: US$71,000-US$104,500
- Average monthly debt-to-income ratio: 6.1%
Accounting
- Average starting salary: US$46,000-US$72,000
- Average base salary: US$62,720-US$103,990
- Average monthly debt-to-income ratio: 6.6%
Computer science and information technology
- Average starting salary: US$100,000
- Average base salary: US$100,000-US$200,000
- Average monthly debt-to-income ratio: 7%-7.4%
The above degrees also qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension, allowing you to work in the U.S. for up to three years after your international education. To confirm whether your degree program is STEM-designated, check out your university website or the international student center on campus.
For a streamlined loan repayment process, check out international student loans from MPOWER Financing. MPOWER offers no-cosigner student loans with competitive, fixed interest rates and no prepayment penalty to make your repayment process as stress-free as possible.
International education tip 4: Choose career-forward schools
When choosing a university abroad, you’ll evaluate schools for criteria like location, cost and reputation. Don’t forget to look for schools with career-forward infrastructure, from co-op and internship opportunities to career services for international students.
Here are three criteria to look for during your school hunt to ensure the best career outcomes after graduation:
1. Real-world learning opportunities
U.S. employers look for soft skills like communication, leadership and collaboration just as much as they look for technical skills. For international students in particular, having U.S. work experience on your resume gives you a competitive edge during the hiring process.
Look for universities that offer international student job opportunities through their degree programs. A number of MPOWER-eligible schools offer curricular practical training (CPT) for international students, which incorporates off-campus co-op or internship experiences into course requirements. Students have the opportunity to apply curricular learning in real-world settings, network within their industries and hone their soft skills.
2. Career advising
Check that your preferred universities have robust career services that equip international students with professional connections and know-how to thrive after school. Ask whether your target school provides:
- Personalized support in the form of one-on-one counseling, resume and cover letter review and interview prep.
- CPT and OPT advising to help you find the most relevant and beneficial international student job opportunities
- Strong employer partnerships with internship and job placement opportunities
- Career fairs, alumni events and other networking opportunities
3. Strong alumni outcomes
Alumni outcomes can indicate how well a particular university or degree program prepares its students for the job market. Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with international alumni from your target universities to discover where graduates have found employment and what roles they’ve landed.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to alumni and ask about their graduate school experiences. They can provide useful insight into what the degree program did or did not prepare them for in their careers, as well as what on-campus resources and international student job opportunities they took advantage of.
Start with confidence – check if your dream program and school is on the MPOWER eligible school list
The first step to a lucrative and fulfilling career in your desired field is the right degree program at the right school. It’s worth spending the time and effort to reflect on your goals and research your options carefully.
MPOWER only selects schools with proven career outcomes for international students.
For unparalleled student outcomes and the opportunity to fund your degree with no-cosigner, no-collateral international student loans from MPOWER, get your degree from one of MPOWER’s 500+ eligible schools in the U.S. and Canada.
