BU Alum, Takamitsu Shirono

Education: B.A., Computer Science & Mathematics, May 2021
Current position/employer:Software Engineer, Bloomberg L.P.

 

What is your greatest piece of advice for international students on how to get an internship?

The underdog mentality. Understanding that international students are often put at disadvantage with the job search process in the US has served as an incredible motivation for my career development in college. If you want to get your dream job, you need to work twice as hard as your American peers who are pursuing the same job. Whether that be networking, personal development of soft and hard skills, or internship search. Work hard for it and remind yourself everyday that this is not an easy feat to accomplish. This mindset kept me grounded, but also provided mental ease when facing multiple rejections on internship applications; it is naturally harder to get an internship as an international student, so one simple rejection doesn’t reflect your lack of effort or qualities. Move on, and keep on trying!

What resources at BU or elsewhere did you use to get your internship(s)?

My first go-to would be Center for Career Development (CCD), from resume/cover letter reviews to networking opportunities with alums. Handshake is a great platform for sourcing internship and full-time opportunities as they have the ability to filter companies who are willing to sponsor international students. Being in constant communication with your International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) advisor helps a lot to keep yourself updated about the OPT application process, any recent guideline changes, and tips or tricks to work in the US as an international student.

Additionally, joining a professional community on campus that focuses on your interests and major could further your domain expertise and provide more networking opportunities. For example I was part of Alpha Kappa Psi professional fraternity, where I learned most if not all of my networking and professional development skills which helped me tremendously during job application processes. Taking on leadership roles at student orgs (Shoutout to BU Japanese Student Association!) also provide you with valuable experience which you could discuss during behavioral interviews.

Lastly, a large proportion of my job experience during college came from my employment by various BU departments. Although there are many restrictions for international students working off-campus (both during and outside of academic semester), working on-campus is generally not prohibited. Many students don’t recognize this, but there are many on-campus employment opportunities that serve as great substitutes for internships. Look through your department’s website, reach out to your professors, and keep an eye out for emails from BU!

 

Do you have any general recommendations/reflections on networking and employment that you would like to share with international students?

I got my current job through a referral. Of course, referral alone doesn’t get you a job, but it lets you put your foot in the door. As an international student, this could make or break your internship/job hunt.I recommend joining professional organizations aligned with your career interest from early on in your college career to build out the network to get referrals. If you’re an upperclassman and feel that you might not benefit as much in these clubs, reach out to alumni on LinkedIn. Ask your friends if they have anyone in their network they could refer you to.

Lastly, I found bilingual hiring opportunities to be the most successful hiring opportunity. Boston Career Forum was extremely helpful for Japanese-English bilingual hiring, so try to look for something similar that works well with your nationality.

Good luck, and feel free to reach out to takshiro@bu.edu for any questions.