Everyone tells you New York is full of opportunities. Fewer people tell you how to find them, especially as an international student navigating a competitive market, an unfamiliar culture and a visa timeline all at once.
We sat down with three alumni from IE New York College who are at different points in their careers. Their paths are different. Their industries are different. But the advice they give converges on the same few things. Here is what they said.
This came up from every single person. The US job market, especially in finance and consulting, runs on timelines that most international students don’t expect.
Fausto Gonzales, a graduate of the Master in Global Business and Sustainability at IENYC, puts it plainly:
“Once you get admitted to the program and you’re sure you are coming, immediately start applying. Especially all the large firms that have very structured processes in finance and management consulting. They start hiring a year in advance or longer in the US. In order not to miss that cycle, as soon as you know, just go for it and pretend like you’re already in New York.”
Classes at IENYC start in August, but the Talent and Careers team begins orientation the week before. Even so, if you are targeting competitive roles in finance or consulting, March and April of the year you arrive is when many processes open. That’s before you have even packed your bags.
International students who want US work experience face a practical question early on: what does the program make possible after graduation, and what do you have to do to get there?
All master’s programs at IENYC carry a STEM designation. For students who meet the eligibility requirements, this opens the possibility of applying for Optional Practical Training and the STEM OPT extension, which together can provide up to 3 years of work authorization in a field related to your degree, rather than the standard 1 year.
For eligible graduates, that time creates room to build US work experience that carries weight and adds value in other markets. Alumni have gone on to work in roles in different industries and regions, supported by a community that stays connected after graduation.
Your eligibility, approval and duration of OPT are determined by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Full details on qualification requirements and the application process are on the international students page.
The city puts you in the midst of people and opportunities that don’t exist anywhere else. But that proximity is only valuable if you act on it. As Sebastian Bauer, a graduate of the Master in Global Business and Sustainability, puts it:
“New York is a huge advantage for networking because everyone here is extremely open. There is no limit from the outside. It is fully up to you. No one holds it against you for being younger or still being in university. Just stay confident and be open to talk to pretty much anybody.”
The corollary: the city does not chase you. You have to show up. That means going to events outside class, staying for the conversation after and following up the next day. It means treating every speaker in your classroom as a contact, not just a voice at the front of the room.
Luciana Nogales, who completed the Master in Global Business and Sustainability through the 3+1 pathway, describes how the Talent and Careers team operates: “It is not a service. It is a network in motion.” The team runs employer partnerships, career advising and active sourcing through a dedicated employer partnerships director. The students who get the most out of it are the ones who bring something to the table, not just a request.
This comes up every time. At a school where class sizes are deliberately small and professors are working practitioners, the gap between teacher and industry contact basically disappears.
“The professors are very high profile. It is extremely easy to just talk to your professor on a personal note. They are more than happy to help, give introductions and open doors — if you put in the work during the course to stand out.” — Sebastian Bauer
“Professors here are very available. They do office hours outside class. They helped me understand not just the subject, but where I wanted to take my career.” — Fausto Gonzales
Fausto arrived without a clear direction. He left with one — and with the connections to pursue it. Four internships, a role at KPMG, and a master’s built on top. “The program gave me the tools and connections to keep developing myself.”
“Come with an open mind. Be open to whatever the city puts you in. Go to speaker events, go to class. You will learn a lot, meet new people and make new connections. That is how you find a job, or the next opportunity, or the next version of yourself.” — Fausto Gonzales
“Be ready to grow. Approach New York as the multifaceted, huge community it is. Don’t be shy. Do everything you can at the start, then decide which direction to go.” — Sebastian Bauer
“Don’t be afraid. Go out, speak to people and make the city yours.” — Luciana Nogales
We asked Fausto to sum up his experience in a single word. He didn’t hesitate.
“Amazing. What they have built here is an extraordinary institution where everybody helps each other, where you can always talk to whoever you want, and keep developing yourself with what you learn from them.” — Fausto Gonzales
OPT (Optional Practical Training) is a temporary work authorization that international students on F-1 visas can apply for after graduation. Standard OPT covers up to one year. Students with a STEM-designated degree who meet the requirements may be eligible to apply for a 3-year extension to work in a role related to their field of study. All master’s programs at IENYC carry STEM designation, though eligibility and approval are determined by US Citizenship and Immigration Services. For eligible graduates, this period is an opportunity to build professional experience that carries into roles around the world.
Mostly through people, not job boards. The students who find roles in New York build their networks aggressively during their studies, treat every professor introduction and alumni event as an opportunity and follow up consistently. LinkedIn matters. Alumni communities matter. Being in the city matters because in-person relationships form faster here than anywhere else.
For competitive roles in finance and consulting, start in March or April, before your program begins. Large firms run structured hiring processes months in advance. The IENYC Talent and Careers team will guide you through this during the pre-semester orientation week, but the earlier you start, the better your chances.
For business, finance, consulting and sustainability roles, New York is hard to beat. The concentration of employers, the density of professional networks and the openness of the city’s culture toward ambitious internationals make it one of the best places in the world to launch a career. The challenge is that it requires active effort. The opportunity is there. Whether you take it is up to you.
Want to see where IENYC graduates are working? Visit the alumni impact page or explore industries and sectors to see the full range of career outcomes. Ready to take the next step? Find your program at IENYC.
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Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Ashleigh now calls Madrid, Spain home, where she has built a career shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of languages. Her work grows out of a passion for learning, storytelling, and meaningful cross-cultural connection, with language as the thread that ties it all together.
Her academic journey took her from studying Spanish and French and Secondary Education at the University of Southern Mississippi to graduate studies in Spain, where she completed a Master’s in Spanish at the University of Salamanca and a Master’s in Translation and Interpretation at the University of Alcalá. Along the way, she has worked across classrooms, research projects, and creative spaces, contributing to academic, multilingual, and editorial initiatives that connect language, knowledge, and culture.
