<p>So, how is the job market for internationals who complete their under-graduation in US? Is it the same as the locals? Is it harder than locals to get a job? Like, will an international need to get a 3.6 GPA to get a job a local can get with 3.4 or something like that?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>That depends highly on what industry you want to get into.</p>
<p>So…</p>
<p>What industry do you want to get into?</p>
<p>If it is government related (such as defense contractors) then it is a lot tougher for internationals to get in, but everywhere else it isn’t as extreme of a difference.</p>
<p>Mechanical Engineering, hopefully branching into Aerospace later on. But not defense, etc. The corporate world basically.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about maybe Boeing or Airbus etc.</p>
<p>Well most companies favor u.s. citizen since the company would have to sponsor your visa and need someone to fill in your place when you have to go back to your country to get a new visa etc. </p>
<p>Government jobs, you will need security clearance for almost all of them and as aerospace engineer, if you are not u.s. citizen, its really hard to get job out there. I would suggest not to major in aerospace or civil if you want to get a job in USA.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That isn’t true. It is actually a fairly small subset of government jobs that require a security clearance.</p>
<p>For government engineer jobs, most require security clearance bonehead.</p>
<p>The only barrier I can think of is if you need the company to sponser a visa. </p>
<p>The logic of suggesting not to go into aerospace is logical. But howmany indians work as aero E’s at nasa.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No. They don’t. Some do. A higher percentage do than in any other industry. But it is not most.</p>
<p>Is the security clearance a very tedious and huge process?</p>
<p>Is the sponsoring of a visa by a company very costly and tedious to the point that they will only hire exceptionally brilliant students or so?</p>
<p>It depends on the situation. It is more tedious/expensive/lengthy for higher levels of clearance, and for internationals, it is near impossible.</p>
<p>So how are all the Indians working at NASA? Also, for Airbus/Boeing etc, is a very high level of clearance required?</p>
<p>Not every job at NASA needs a security clearance. Only things that are sensitive to national security need a security clearance, and NASA does a lot more than that. They do a ton of just fundamental aerospace research. Boeing only requires a clearance if you are working in a select few jobs in the defense branch. The majority of people there don’t even have a clearance though. Airbus doesn’t have any engineering operations in the United States, so that is a non-issue, although I believe they have plans to open a manufacturing facility for A320’s over on this side of the pond sometime soon. Their engineering operations take place over in the UK and France and other European countries.</p>
<p>The bigger obstacle is that a lot of jobs on the defense side of things require U.S. citizenship. That is a lot more common than requiring a security clearance.</p>
<p>[36%</a> of scientists at NASA are Indians: Govt survey - India - The Times of India](<a href=“http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/36_of_scientists_at_Nasa_are_Indians_Govt_survey/articleshow/2853178.cms]36%”>36% of scientists at NASA are Indians: Govt survey | India News - Times of India)</p>
<p>If your surprised, don’t believe it, then go to MIT click and on a random professor, is he american? no Indian, choose another, american? nope chinese. These are the best of the best right? US just needs great scientists for defense and space programs, and majority are international because all the best ones come here from all over the world but none of us go over there. I also know for a fact that Boeing even has several Iranians there, simply because they are brilliant. US has always done this at all levels of industry from meat packing industry to cutting-end research, we just like to be in denial and think idealistically that being ‘American’ is a pre-req to working in government and defense research. just my opinion; i’m not an expert. If you have any firm data to deny this then present it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t have firm data, but it is much more difficult to get a job in defense as a non-American. Not impossible, but definitely harder. You have to be a much stronger candidate simply because the employer has to jump through a lot more hoops to get you in and it has to be worth their time and money. If you have proven yourself to be brilliant, then it is less of a problem, but if you are just an average or slightly above average engineer, you are going to get passed up in favor of someone from the US.</p>
<p>boneh3ad, I totally agree with that…You have to be proven and brilliant…above the competition. As a side comment, I think there are many internationals here that fit this description, I think is because if u take the top top % of science students/researchers in many countries across the world their dream destination is typically the US. so there’s a lot of internationals with such high qualifications here; it almost gives a false picture that all India and China are all engineers and genius but it’s scewed reality because your only seeing the best individuals from each of the countries here.</p>
<p>Bottom line, more doors are open to US citizen in aerospace, electrical, and civil. No one will be willing to teach you the top secret that must be kept within its own government to someone who is potentially a spy or intention to give access to espionage. Its just aerospace industry are in someway tied to government and wants their employee to have well rounded to get into any project whether it be for public commercial or for the goverment. Aerospace and civil is only two major engineer area that will limit your scope of job search but rest, you can easily find job… just not government related with top secret or knwoledge pertaining threat to national interest.</p>
<p>Actually I don’t want to be in the defense of any country. I am thinking about the commercial corporate world. Like the non-defense section of Boeing, etc. I don’t think it should be that hard of a problem.</p>
<p>If not aerospace, I will be going into jobs of Mechanical Engg (my undergrad major).</p>
<p>So, what do I need to work on most? Grades? Which grades do they look at? What should I work on most?</p>
<p>Well, you should have good overall/major GPA and do some co-op/internship relate to the field you would like to get into. Boeing probably won’t even give you an interview if you don’t meet certain GPA requirement. Just do your best to stand out by doing everything you can to appeal yourself to boeing and ace the interview</p>
<p>The co-op/internships are easy to get, even as an international?</p>
<p>No, co-ops and internships are substantially harder to get as an international student. Many companies will outright dismiss you if you are not an American citizen, regardless of the need for a security clearance.</p>