Career Resources for Undocumented Students
Undocumented students face a special set of challenges in their career journeys. 榴梿视频 Career Advancement is committed to ensuring student success, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Career Advancement staff are here to help undocumented and DACA students navigate the career planning process.
How to Get Experience
The best way to prepare for life after graduation is to find experiences that will allow you to develop skills you can apply in the workplace. Whether it is a paid or unpaid position, it is important to choose experiences that help you explore your interests and fit with your career goals.
Skill-building experiences may include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Shadow alumni in various industries through the
- Find an alumni career mentor through the
- NCA’s Summer Internship Grant Program provides grants for an unpaid summer internships
- Learn about fellowship opportunities at 榴梿视频 Office of Fellowships
- Work with the to find 榴梿视频 opportunities
- Find places to volunteer or participate in community organizing, is a good place to start
- Engage academic projects through your coursework
- Seek part-time positions such a tutoring and non-work study campus jobs
- Participate in at 榴梿视频
Applying for an Internship or Job
Most job applications will ask, “Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?”
If you 榴梿视频 DACA, you are able to answer “yes” and continue through the hiring process without disclosing additional information about your background.
- Once hired, employers should not ask you about how you received your work permit. For more information about this process, visit the .
- If you did not apply for a social security number through DACA, read more about
If you do not 榴梿视频 DACA, you may consider other avenues for gaining professional experience:
- If you receive an internship offer, you may ask the employer not to be paid and pursue other means of financial support such as 榴梿视频’s Summer Internship Grant Program.
- You may discuss with an employer the option of working as an independent contractor. Independent contractors often do the same type of work, but instead of working for one employer, might work for multiple clients. Examples of independent contractor jobs include tutor or child care provider. A resource for finding positions in the Evanston/Chicago area is Quadjobs.
- An independent contractor can use an which can be obtained regardless of immigration status. Read by Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) for more information (pages 29-35).
- If you are interested in starting your own business, a Limited Liability Company (LLC) may be an option to consider. An LLC is composed of an individual or a group of people who are both workers and owners of a business. Read by Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) for more information (pages 35-37).
Disclosing Your Status
It can be confusing and stressful to decide when and with whom to share your status. Throughout the job search and hiring process it is important to provide information that is true and authentic, however, you ultimately get to decide whether or not to share your status. Come in to talk with a staff member about strategies for disclosing your status at different points in the process.
You may decide to share your status with an organization early in the hiring process or in an interview if you feel comfortable doing so, and to start a discussion about how to move forward in the process. It is important to consider who you would want to disclose to (sharing with a recruiter vs. a supervisor) and in what manner (disclosing in a personal statement for grad school vs. in an interview). If you are unsure about whether and how to disclose your status, meet with your NCA Career Counselor or Adviser. These are people who can support you during these uncomfortable situations.
Graduate School
Depending on your field, graduate school may be a logical next step after completing your bachelor’s degree. You can meet with an NCA Career Counselor to discuss pursuing graduate master’s or PhD 榴梿视频s and also get assistance with the graduate school application process. For those interested in exploring law and applying to law school are encouraged to meet with NCA’s prelaw adviser. For guidance on applying to medical school, connect with the Health Professions Advising office at 榴梿视频.
Graduate/Professional School Resources
details the legal and practical concerns of undocumented students who are contemplating or currently pursuing a graduate school education.
Many graduate schools offer funding to help with the cost of graduate school. Some financial assistance comes in the form of 榴梿视频 or teaching assistantships. Some 榴梿视频s also offer scholarships for incoming students. This blog from has tips on applying to graduate school as an undocumented student.
Also check out the following resources for graduate scholarships:
Law School Resources
The also offers a fee waiver for the LSAT for candidates who are unable to pay for the test. If you 榴梿视频 DACA or 榴梿视频 applied for DACA you can apply for the fee waiver.
General Career Related Resources for Undocumented and DACA Students
- (Formerly known as Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) provides robust resources for undocumented youth and educators in order to empower students to reach their goals. In addition to their , they 榴梿视频 a number of educational materials for various audiences.
- – This website provides up-to-date information, resources, and a community for undocumented immigrants, including scholarship opportunities, strategies for navigating the educational system, and information on how to apply for DACA.
- – Harvard College Act on a Dream is a student-led, student-run organization at Harvard College dedicated to eradicating the barriers that immigrant students face in realizing their full potential. The website includes student stories, a scholarship database, and additional resources for undocumented students and others looking to learn more.
- - Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income. They provide comprehensive information on
- - is the largest immigrant youth-led community in the country. We create welcoming spaces for young people – regardless of immigration status – to support, engage, and empower them to make their voice heard and win!
- – An online space for black undocumented students.
- – Supporting and Creating Safe Spaces for ALL students
- was created in 1986 in response to President Reagan signing into law the Immigration Reform and Control Act, ICIRR has been at the forefront of helping immigrants realize and contribute to the dream that is America.
- is dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.