International students studying in the USA often look towards gaining work experience while studying at US institutions. One of the most prominent avenues for international students who wish to work while in school is Curricular Practical Training (CPT). An employment authorization, CPT is one of the biggest opportunities for international students holding F-1 visas. This allows them to work in a field that specifically corresponds to their major. For some students, finding the right CPT jobs for international students in USA becomes the first stepping stone into building a career they dreamed of. In this blog, we dig deeper into companies that hire CPT students in the USA, the top employers, and tips on how to get entry-level jobs for CPT students.
What is Curricular Practical Training, or CPT?
CPT is an internship work authorization program whereby international students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn in school by providing them with practical experience in their field while still working on a degree. This is distinct from OPT, which is typically taken right after graduation. CPT can be either full-time or part-time, but only if it is pertinent directly to the course of study undertaken and directly associated
with and necessary for the student’s course of study, like internships, cooperative education programs, or practicums.
A Competitive Advantage Given by CPT to International Students
- Practical Experience: CPT jobs give students practical exposure to applying their knowledge outside the classroom. In such ways, when they graduate and start applying for full-time positions, they are at a better competitive level in the job market.
- Networking: Students become exposed to working with U.S.-based companies, network with them, and establish professionals who could be hired later and sponsored for an H-1B visa.
- Earning Potential: Most CPT jobs are paid, therefore providing students with the money to earn while completing their degree.
- Career Path Exploration: With CPT, a student is allowed the time to try various types of roles and industries, which can benefit them when deciding what career path to take after graduation.
Most Famous Companies Hiring CPT Students in the USA
Finding employers that hire CPT students could be challenging, but some US employers are familiar with the program. They regularly hire international students for internships and co-ops, especially in the following industries, with prominent companies that hire CPT students regularly:
- Google: This company is known to aggressively recruit talented students for internships and co-op work assignments. Google provides numerous opportunities for international students, including those eligible for CPT.
- Microsoft: An international student can apply for a summer internship with Microsoft in software development, data science, or relevant fields.
- Amazon: Most of the students hired as interns at Amazon are international students looking to secure summer internships in software engineering, product management, or operations.
- Intel: The semiconductor manufacturing company Intel hires international students for CPT programs in engineering, R&D, and IT.
- IBM: IBM interacts with CPT students very often for technical roles in the company which include software development, data analytics, and cloud computing.
- Deloitte: One of the greatest consulting firms in the world, Deloitte is engaged with international students for various accounting, consulting, and IT roles.
- Tesla: This electric car manufacturer also provides international students with internship and co-op opportunities in engineering, manufacturing, and business operations.
- Goldman Sachs: For students in finance and economics, they might get internship opportunities at Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s leading investment banks.
- Apple: Apple commonly recruits students for internships and opportunities in developing software, hardware engineering, and data science among others.
- Facebook/Meta: Meta has internship opportunities in software engineering product management and in data analysis.
- These are just some of the many employers hiring CPT students. Each year, there are many more small and medium firms, and start-ups that offer CPT as well.
- Entry-level jobs for the CPT students mainly include internships, co-op programs, and part-time jobs that are relevant to the academic curriculum for which these students enroll. These jobs act to provide students with an arena where they can acquire practical experience that supplements their curriculum.
Types of Entry-Level CPT Jobs:
- Software Development Internships: Most companies, including Google, Microsoft, and IBM, regularly offer software development internships for CPT students, primarily for those in STEM fields.
- Data Science and Analytics Internships: CPT students majoring in data science, statistics, or business analytics can quickly find CPT jobs in USA at a company like Amazon, Facebook, etc.
- Engineering Co-op Programs: Manufacturers and producers of aerospace and automotive goods companies commonly fill engineering co-ops and internships with CPT students.
- Finance and Accounting Internships: CPT finance, economics, or accounting majors can easily obtain entry-level positions at financial institutions and consulting firms.
- Marketing and Business Development Internships: Organizations will provide students with some of the best companies in different industries, such as technology, health and pharmaceuticals, and consumer products, with internships in marketing, sales, and business development.
CPT Jobs Salary: What to Expect in Terms of Salary Range
Salaries for CPT jobs will depend heavily on the industry, the location of work, and especially, the field. International students should expect relatively competitive pay for such work, at least when it is considered to be in high demand fields like tech, engineering, or finance.
- Tech internships usually range from $25 to $45 per hour. Software development interns generally make more than $40 an hour in huge corporations such as Google and Amazon.
- Finance interns generally earn around $30 to $40 per hour in financial services, for instance working at Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan.
- Engineering Interns: Engineering interns working at companies like Tesla, Boeing, and GE Aviation typically earn between $25 and $35 an hour.
- Marketing and Business Interns: The entry-level marketing or business development intern’s salary is usually between $15 and $25 an hour. This again varies with location and company.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
READ: How to Find CPT Jobs For International Students
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
How to Get Jobs on CPT
- Start Early: The application process often takes months. Preparation can be made early, and so should a person’s job hunt. In addition, because of the recruitment cycles of some companies, starting as early as possible is advisable.
- Resume and Cover Letter: For each job tailor your resume and cover letter to strengthen your relevant coursework, projects, or previous internships that may relate to the job description.
- Get ready to interview: Many employers conduct technical interviews, sometimes as part of the process to fill a job in tech or engineering. Use practice solving problems in code or working through a case study in preparation for these kinds of interviews.
- Use Your University: The international student office and the career center on campus can be excellent resources for you. They will walk you through how to apply for CPT jobs and connect you with employers who hire CPT students.
- Stay Persistent: Stay persistent, keep applying. It is a battle. Stay with that. The job searching process would be challenging, especially for international students.
Final Thoughts
CPT jobs in USA are one of the best sources for international students. Whether you are searching for student job openings on CPT or top companies, it’s all about preparation, persistence, and leveraging your network. Once you apply to the right companies, prepare a strong resume, and prepare for interviews, an ideal CPT job that aligns with your career goals can easily be found.