Overview
To be successful in your job and internship search, you must have a strategy. There are several challenges DACAmented and undocumented students face that other students do not. Follow the steps in this guide to build your confidence, increase your productivity, and achieve career success!
Please know that under no circumstances do you have to share information about your migratory status with anyone at any time, including with faculty, staff, or peers. You have the right to protect yourself by not disclosing your status and by only sharing it with trusted sources.
- The Career Center regularly attends meetings of the Undocumented Student Worker Group.
- Most Career Center staff have completed the UndocuAlly Workshop offered by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion.
- For parents, the Career Center has staff members fluent in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.
General Resources for Your Job and Internship Search
- Meet with a Career Advisor — Schedule a 30-minute appointment with a Career Advisor on Handshake to help you put together an internship and job search strategy that includes: resume critique, LinkedIn profile, networking strategies, interview practice and salary negotiation best practices.
Which career advisor should you meet with?
- Attend Events — Bookmark the Career Center Events page as well as the Handshake Events page to stay up to date on upcoming career development and recruitment events.
- Handshake — Claim your Handshake account to complete your profile, view upcoming events and internship and job opportunities.
- Job Prep Toolkit — A comprehensive collection of resources to help you explore careers, develop your resume, practice your interviewing skills, build your network, and more.
- VMock — VMock is our free A.I. resume review tool that you can use to create or edit your resume. Watch this 5 tips video and this VMock demo to get started.
Career Development and Job Search Resources
- List of Internship and Fellowships — Resource sheet with internships, fellowships and jobs available for students who lack DACA or a social security number. (Maintained by UC Merced's Services for Undocumented Students.)
- Immigrants Rising Mental Health Career Program — Provides undocumented professionals in California with the career-specific hands-on training, professional development, and mentoring.
- Pre-Health Dreamers — Promoting education and healthcare access for immigrant communities.
- Immigrants Rising Pre-Law Program — For current undergraduate students and those with a bachelor’s degree, who are interested in applying to law school.
- DreamSF Fellowship — The DreamSF Fellowship is a paid leadership and professional development program in the Bay Area open to all, regardless of immigration status.
- Fellowships through SCU — The Office of Student Fellowships supports Santa Clara University students and alumni as they apply for competitive national and international fellowships.
- On-campus Experiential Learning/Fellowship Opportunities — Check out these opportunities to gain experience and build your resume right here on campus.
- Find a Worker Co-Op — Undocumented students may be eligible to work in worker co-ops (businesses where members are both workers and owners of the business). Learn more about worker cooperatives. You should consult a trusted immigration attorney who has experience working with undocumented students.
- Start Your Own Business — Undocumented students may be eligible to start a business to serve the public directly or to start a business to contract their work to a company (independent contractor). You should consult a trusted immigration attorney who has experience working with undocumented students.
- Volunteer to Gain Experience — Undocumented students are able to volunteer and this is a good way to gain experience and build your network. Start by checking out Idealist.org, VolunteerMatch.org, and Catholic Volunteer Network.
- Participate in Study Abroad — Studying abroad is possible! Consult with the Global Engagement team to learn more.
Filling Out Job Applications
Source: https://careerservices.upenn.edu/filling-out-job-applications-as-a-dacamented-or-undocumented-student/
Filling out applications may often be confusing. Because of this, it is first helpful to know what employers can and cannot ask and our interpretation of the answer to certain common application questions depending upon status.
An employer CAN LEGALLY ask:
| Question |
Answer – Students with DACA |
Answer – Undocumented Students |
| Are you legally authorized to work in the United States? |
Yes – because you have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or work permit |
No |
| Will you now or in the future require sponsorship to work in the United States? |
No – because you have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or work permit that can be renewed |
No – undocumented students are typically ineligible for sponsorship, but in some circumstances may have the ability to adjust to lawful status via employment sponsorship. Consult a trusted immigration attorney. |
An employer MAY NOT ask:
- What is your visa type or visa status?
- What is your nationality?
- What is your place of birth or of which country are you a citizen?
- What is your native language? What language do you speak most often?
Forms
Networking Resources
Eighty percent of jobs are found through networking, so reach out to others. List individuals in your network (e.g., friends, SCU alumni, faculty, staff, family) that can assist you in your search. Connect with the SCU community in a positive, productive way by explaining your situation, your goals, and stating clearly what type of help or advice you need.
Income and Tax Resources
Career Center staff are not qualified to provide legal or tax advice. For legal advice, we recommend you consult an immigration attorney. For tax advice, we recommend you consult a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
- Individual Taxpayer ID Webinar — People who are ineligible for a Social Security number can apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), regardless of immigration status. With an ITIN, you can report your earnings to the Internal Revenue Service, open interest-bearing bank accounts with certain banks, and conduct business in the United States. Find out how to apply, renew, and use an ITIN.
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) — For students interested in being self-employed or starting their own business.
- Become an Independent Contractor (Form 1099) — For students interested in being self-employed or working on a contract basis.
Applying to Graduate School
Additional Services and Resources for Undocumented Students
The Undocumented Student Working Group (USWG) is a cross-departmental group that includes students, faculty and staff who are passionate about supporting and advocating for our undocumented students and students from mixed-status families.
- LEAD Scholars — All undergraduate undocumented students are offered a spot in the LEAD Scholars Program and receive all of the support and benefits that the program offers.
- Undocumented Students and Allies Association — USAA is a Santa Clara student group that promotes and raises awareness of immigration issues on campus in order to create a more immigration-friendly campus.
- Volunteer with the Santa Clara Community Action Program — SCCAP is a community-based, service organization dedicated to applying activism and justice to address social issues in and around the campus community.
- Santa Clara University Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center — Provides pro bono advice and representation
on issues related to workers’ rights, consumer rights, and immigration rights.
- Support for Studying and Interning Abroad — Information, resources and scholarships provided by the Global Engagement division.
- Financial Aid — Resources and scholarships provided by the Office of Financial Aid.
- Off-campus Resources — Curated by Santa Clara's Undocumented Student Working Group.
- Immigrants Rising-Life After College Guide — This guide includes information, tips, and resources as well as personal narratives, student testimonials, and advice from experts.
- My (Un)Documented Life — Up-to-date information and resources for undocumented students, their families, and allies.
- Harvard Act on a Dream — Harvard College Act on a Dream is a student-led, student-run organization at Harvard College dedicated to eradicating the barriers that immigrant students face in realizing their full potential. The website includes student stories, a scholarship database, and additional resources for undocumented students and others looking to learn more.
- National Immigration Law Center — Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income. They provide comprehensive information on DACA and Workplace Rights.
- United We Dream — The largest immigrant youth-led community in the country. We create welcoming spaces for young people – regardless of immigration status – to support, engage, and empower them to make their voice heard and win!
- UndocBlack Network — An online space for black undocumented students.
- Teach For America — Supporting and creating safe spaces for all students.
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights — Created in 1986 in response to President Reagan signing into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act, ICIRR has been at the forefront of helping immigrants realize and contribute to the dream that is America.
- Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.
Self-Care and Values
Take care of your body to sustain your mental and emotional baseline. It starts with adequate sleep. Get seven to eight hours of sleep. Eat nutritious food, avoid junk food and exercise every day. These actions are central for wellbeing. Practice gratitude, be kind to yourself, celebrate small wins and have a community that supports you during the job search process.
Identify your internal and external resources. Recognize your positive core (i.e., abilities, talents, core values, interests, strengths) that makes you who you are and will help you understand how you can uniquely meet the needs of your chosen field and industry. Align your personal values with the company's mission, vision and values. Ask yourself, Why this job? Why do I feel this is a good fit for me? Learn more about values alignment in your search and work values matcher.
