Everyone tells you New York is full of opportunities. Fewer people tell you how to actually 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 stages of building their careers here. 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 Thales, 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.
For international students, the practical question underneath every career conversation is the same: how long can I actually stay and work here? The answer, for IENYC graduates, is more favorable than most people realize.
All master’s programs at IENYC carry STEM designation, which means graduates qualify for up to three years of work authorization through the OPT and STEM OPT pathway, rather than the standard one year. For many alumni, this was a deciding factor in choosing IENYC over other programs.
“The thing is, IENYC offers you one year of studies. And since it’s a STEM program, you have three years to stay in the US, which is most of the time the most difficult thing to acquire for international students. That’s basically one of the main selling points for me since I wanted to work in New York.” — Fausto Thales
Sebastian Kiil, also a graduate of the Master in Global Business and Sustainability, had a return offer from BCG in Germany when he made the decision to come to New York:
“Another program might have given me a completely different experience, but it wouldn’t have given me three years of OPT, which is something that I really value.” — Sebastian Kiil
Three years gives you something one year doesn’t: time to find the right role, build real experience, and explore longer-term pathways like H-1B sponsorship without constant pressure. Full details on the OPT process are on the international students page.
The city puts you around people and opportunities that don’t exist anywhere else. But that proximity is only valuable if you act on it. As Sebastian 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, 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.
Lucena Noales, completing 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, unprompted. 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, open doors — if you put in the work during the course to stand out.” — Sebastian Kiil
“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 Thales
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, make new connections. That is how you find a job, or the next opportunity, or the next version of yourself.” — Fausto Thales
“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 Kiil
“Don’t be afraid. Go out, speak to people, and make the city yours.” — Lucena Noales
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 Thales
OPT (Optional Practical Training) allows international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after graduation. Standard OPT lasts one year. A STEM-designated degree extends that to three years total. That additional time gives you room to find the right role, build meaningful experience, and explore longer-term visa pathways like H-1B sponsorship. All master’s programs at IENYC carry STEM designation. Full details are on the international students page.
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 a genuine opportunity, and follow up consistently. LinkedIn matters. Alumni communities matter. Being in the city matters, because in-person relationships still form faster here than anywhere else. Start earlier than feels necessary.
For competitive roles in finance and consulting, start in March or April, before your program even begins. Large firms run structured hiring processes months in advance. The IENYC Talent and Careers team will orient you to this during the pre-semester orientation week, but the earlier you start, the better your chances of catching the right cycle.
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 programme at IENYC.
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