Student Services Career Development Center Macalester College
Career Development Center

If you would like personalized assistance, please contact the CDC for an individual appointment, or stop by during drop-in hours Monday through Friday between 2 P.M. and 4 P.M.

International Students Job Search: U.S. Employer Expectations

The information below will help you plan your job search in the U.S.  It is important to remember that there may be cultural variations between the expectations of employers in the U.S. and employers in other countries.

Self-Promotion

  • Assertiveness
  • Confidence in openly discussing goals and accomplishments
  • Follow-up with employers (e.g. phone calls, thank you letters, etc.)
  • Appropriate dress

Directness in Communication

  • Open and direct responses to questions
  • Eye contact with interviewer, relaxed posture, and other appropriate non-verbal behavior

Self-Disclosure

  • Personal descriptions of experiences, hobbies, strengths, weaknesses, etc.
  • Answers to questions related to personality (e.g. leadership style, problem-solving)

Career Goals

  • Demonstrating knowledge of self, career goals, and how they relate to the job
  • Discussion of long-range career plans

Informality in the Interview Process

  • Congenial interviewing environment that encourages openness, some joking, exchange of information, etc.

Individual Equality

  • Race, sex, age, etc. should not affect interview relationship

Preparation About Organizations

  • Obtain as much information as possible about job and organization before interview
  • Demonstrate awareness of organization in letter of application and during interview


Macalester College · 1600 Grand Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105  USA · 651-696-6000
Comments and questions to cdc@macalester.edu