For international students looking for IT jobs in North America, almost no one can avoid one stage: doing online assessments, or OAs. At first, it might feel a bit exciting or challenging, but after a while, it really gets exhausting. Besides updating your resume and applying for jobs every day, you have to spend a huge amount of time practicing coding problems and preparing for tests on different platforms. On top of that, each company often has its style of questions, and it can feel like you’re being drained dry.
Some OAs have a huge number of questions and tight time limits, with algorithm difficulties close to Leetcode's hard level — but with very little prep time. What’s worse is that every company’s style is different. Amazon focuses on system design thinking, ByteDance leans towards dynamic programming, and Palantir prefers logical analysis questions — there’s no one standard. Even if you practice a lot, unfamiliar question types can still trip you up. Plus, many companies now add personality tests and situational judgment questions, so sometimes you don’t even know if you failed because of your coding or because the AI didn’t like your personality profile.
Being an international student narrows the path even more. Most people flood applications during the fall season, so OAs come in waves, and you’re often squeezed to complete several tests a day, sometimes three or four. Add schoolwork, internships, and part-time jobs, and managing your time feels like a battle. Some skip meals, stay up until 2 a.m. practicing problems, yet still worry they won’t solve the next day’s test and miss out on opportunities. This constant high-pressure grind can easily lead to exhaustion and anxiety.
Even worse, finishing an OA doesn’t guarantee any follow-up. Many companies don’t give feedback and silently reject candidates. You might spend an intense night finishing a tough test, only to never hear back. This long, uncertain process causes many to doubt themselves: Am I good enough? Am I just not cut out for this? The truth is, it’s not about you — the process itself is brutal.
Facing these struggles, maybe the best we can do is find a pace and try to keep our balance. Only take on what you can handle each day. Don’t blindly compete with others, but don’t give up easily either. Taking breaks, talking with friends, or changing your environment can help ease the pain. Yes, OAs are tough, but they’re just one step in the journey, not the end. Being an international student means facing extra challenges, but it also means learning to persist and grow. The hardship is part of the process, not the whole story.
Release time:2025-05-21
