Real Experiences of Finding a Computer Science Job in the U.S.

Finding a job in the U.S. isn’t easy for us international students studying computer science. Although the field seems full of opportunities and promising prospects, once you start sending out resumes and preparing for interviews, you quickly realize the process is way more complicated than you expected. Technical skills are just the foundation; the real challenge is how to showcase your abilities and stand out among many other candidates.

At the beginning, many people feel lost and don’t know where to start. Some dive straight into practicing coding problems, while others just send out resumes blindly, but neither approach guarantees quick results. From my experience, having actual project experience is really important. If you’ve worked on practical projects during school—even a full-stack website you built on your own—and you can clearly explain what technologies you used and what problems you solved, that’s much more convincing than just the knowledge gained from classes. Companies want to see if you can apply your skills, not just what you’ve learned.

Spending time on your resume and LinkedIn is essential. Especially the resume—don’t just rely on templates or filler words. Be specific about your achievements. For example, if you created a small app, explain what it does, what problems it solves, and if it has any user feedback. Don’t overlook the skills tags and project links on LinkedIn either—some interviewers check your profile first before deciding whether to interview you.

Direct referrals are a crucial part of the process, especially for international students. If you know alumni or friends working at a company—even if you’re just acquaintances—don’t hesitate to reach out and ask if they can refer you. Most people understand how hard job hunting is and will be willing to help if you’re sincere. Many interview opportunities actually come from these personal connections.

Lastly, you have to be patient. Job hunting in the U.S. often means sending out many applications, waiting, and facing rejections. Sometimes you feel fully prepared, but the results aren’t what you hoped for. Maintaining a good mindset is key—every interview, whether successful or not, is practice and experience. Keep going, and eventually, a company will recognize your value.