At the end of September, Andrews University will launch its partnership with Interstride, a platform that assists international students in the U.S. and American students seeking jobs abroad with job searches. Andrews will join over 180 U.S. colleges and universities offering the platform to their students.
How does Interstride work?
Interstride connects students outside their countries of residence with opportunities and employers that meet their specific needs. It contains a customizable job search function that helps students find positions in which they can work. Additionally, students who want to work abroad can access information about other countries, including facts about the cost of living, the people, the culture, and each country’s process for legally working overseas. Interstride can also be used as a networking tool to connect students nationwide.
How can I use it?
Once the platform launches, Andrews University students can log in to Interstride using their AU login credentials without creating a new account. Students will then be able to create and modify their profiles to suit their needs, personalizing their preferred location, the industry they want to work in, and their immigration status.
On Oct. 11 from 12:30-2:00 p.m., International Student Services (ISS) and the Career Center will host an information session providing information on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Curricular Practical Training (CPT) processes for international students seeking internships or jobs. An Interstride demonstration will also be conducted during that workshop. The location of the workshop will be emailed to students.
Interstride is one of several career tools being operated by the Career Center. Currently, students have access to other major job search platforms such as Handshake, an online recruiting platform for students and alumni; Parker Dewey, a project-based internship platform; and Forage, a platform for simulated internships.
Joydel Trail, director of the Career Center, manages the Interstride partnership. She explained that Interstride does not replace any of the university’s current job search platforms but instead offers specific support to targeted student populations.
“Andrews University is committed to supporting our diverse population of students,” she said. “We want to make sure that we provide access to jobs, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our students.”
She also cautioned international students that the primary source of immigration-related information regarding students’ work authorization should always come from the ISS Office. Students are advised to ensure that they consult with ISS before they engage in any work, whether on or off campus.
Students will be alerted of the Interstride launch through various platforms, including by email, through flyers across campus, and announcements on campus-wide TV monitors in the coming weeks. For more information about the platform, contact the Career Center at 269-471-6288.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.