During the past year, Quinnipiac University’s Office of International Students & Scholars and the Office of Career Development & Experiential Learning have collaborated to bring a new platform, called Interstride, to life.
“Our office identified a need to provide additional support and tools to help our international students navigate an increasingly complex employment and visa environment,” Sarah Driscoll, director of international student services, wrote in an email to The Chronicle.
Interstride is a free online platform designed to assist international students with post-graduate job searches, career development and global networking.
The platform launched in June to a small group of student leaders for testing before the office held the official launch party on Sept. 2 for all students. Over 120 Quinnipiac students are already using the platform.
Farida Gamuchirai, a graduate student in the Master of Science and Business Analytics program, was one of the first students to test the platform.
“It’s great to see it actually come to life now,” Gamuchirai said.
One of the challenges international students face is finding U.S. companies that sponsor visas like Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Career Practical Training (CPT).
Other platforms, like Handshake or LinkedIn, do not have clear information on international hiring practices or effective search mechanisms. Interstride uses advanced job search filters to identify companies in the U.S. that sponsor work visas and green cards. Students can filter opportunities by industry, location and employer sponsorship history.
“The process can be quite daunting and overwhelming,” Kristina Galligan, senior director of student & alumni career development said. Interstride “takes a lot of confusion out of the job search process.”
The platform “has a lot of added functionality for finding companies that are hiring or have hired internationally,” she said.
This function sets Interstride apart from other platforms.
“The thing that I love the most about the platform is all the filters that it has to just help you narrow down your search,” Gamuchirai said.“Especially for international students, it is a very useful tool, while still very easy to navigate.”
“Interstride helps narrow things down in a more efficient way, it saves time (compared to other platforms),” she added.
In addition to advanced search filters, Interstride offers a variety of resources for career development and global networking.
Students can access and attend online webinars hosted by industry experts and professionals, such as immigration attorneys. These experts teach students how to pursue sponsorship or navigate the complicated visa process. Workshops for career readiness and immigration resources are also available through the platform. These programs are specifically designed to help international students succeed in the U.S. job market.
“Interstride helps international students make informed decisions and feel more confident about their future,” Driscoll wrote.
Online resources for connecting with the Quinnipiac community, including posted events hosted by the Office of Career Developments and OISS, are also available within the platform.
Students can easily connect with international peers and network within the greater community.
While initially created for international students, Interstride also offers opportunities for domestic students within the global community.
“It’s like a one stop shop for globe trotting, immigration, things like that,” Gamuchirai said. “I would encourage everyone who is globally minded to join the platform.”
Domestic students can use the platform to search for global internship and job opportunities in over 160 countries.
Students “would see all these resources for what it’s like to work and live in [that country]” and information on “what it might be like to pursue a visa there,” Galligan said.
“Whether you’re an American student eager to intern or work overseas, or an international student hunting for U.S. employers who sponsor, Interstride has helpful tools to navigate that journey,” Driscoll wrote.
The Office of International Students and Scholars and the Office of Career Development & Experiential Learning will be at the university wide career fair on Oct. 14, to showcase the new platform and help students access the variety of resources available to them.
“We really want to make sure we’re giving our international students (the) best in class service, just like our domestic students,” Galligan said. “We’re really excited about the potential (of this platform).”
Galligan hopes to include Quinnipiac graduates from the last three years on the platform later this fall. These alumni will provide additional support and resources for international students exploring employment opportunities.
Once the alumni are included, “it will be an even stronger resource for student networking,” she said.
Remmy Khamis, a graduate student in the M.S. Cybersecurity program, expressed excitement for the future of the platform.
“Especially students who are graduating soon, to see how it’ll help them,” he said, and “to also see how the results from it motivate students who are coming in.”
He is looking forward to students successfully using the platform to land job opportunities in the U.S. and just wants to “see that final outcome.”
The launch of Interstride brings an exciting new chapter in Quinnipiac’s international career development resources as the new platform continues to grow.
