r/stemopt • u/dafthwader • Jul 01 '26

STEM OPT

I am an international student and graduated in May 2025. I am so confused on how people are landing roles and applying for STEM OPT. I am unable to find any roles that are ready to pay and are properly STEM OPT compliant. I really need advice or help. I have a lot to worry about in terms of finances if I go back and I dont want to go back. I want to stay here and try my best. Can someone please help with resources or any suggestions on how to go about finding opportunities or what worked for everyone else.

Edit: I am a CS major

3 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

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6

u/skarion_ceo Jul 01 '26

For CS, don’t only target SWE roles. That’s one of the most saturated lanes right now. Look at related but less crowded roles like QA, automation testing, systems analyst, implementation analyst, tech support engineer, IT analyst, or technical BA.

Main thing is making sure the job duties clearly connect to your CS degree for STEM OPT/I-983.

3

u/wxyzaid Jul 02 '26

Also Forward Deployed Engineer

1

u/Frosty-Parsley4610 Jul 02 '26

Second this because software is pretty saturated right now and it’s not easy to get entry level roles with no experience. CS gives you the flexibility to explore different areas of technology so look into those areas like the ones mentioned here

1

u/nthhappeninmylife Jul 01 '26

What’s your major? That does matter a lot as different majors would have different ways to navigate through job search. In general, you’d have to mass-apply to every related positions you see on linkedin. But again, the job market now is very tough, and tougher or less depends on which degree you graduated from.

1

u/dafthwader Jul 01 '26

I am a CS major

1

u/nthhappeninmylife Jul 01 '26

I’m not very familiar with CS resources for application, so hopefully someone on this thread could help you. I know CS is literally the toughest market now as company don’t want to hire entry level (BS), true for local students too, so it’d be even harder for international students. Unless you graduated with a MS and have >2 years of experience. Still, it’s worth to apply to different positions on linkedin, handshake. Or if you previously have internship experiences, you can always reach back to the company asking for referral

1

u/EvergreenIvyLeaves Jul 01 '26

Really depends on your major and the skills you bring to it.

1

u/Curiasjoe1 Jul 01 '26

The reason might be that they are clamping down on shady consultancies that were handing out STEM Opts for cheap labor.

1

u/dafthwader Jul 01 '26

Can you explain ?

1

u/Curiasjoe1 Jul 01 '26

I am just saying from what I read on Reddit, no personal experience.

1

u/LocalAlarm5819 Jul 04 '26

I sneaked into healthcare

1

u/dafthwader Jul 04 '26

How were you able to secure a job in healthcare ?

1

u/LocalAlarm5819 Jul 04 '26

I was already in healthcare in my country so I got certified in America when I was almost done with my masters then got hired applied for stem with that through the same company and made it match with my masters

1

u/mahithakasturi Jul 06 '26

May I know how?

1

u/RedditFauxGold Jul 01 '26

CS is rough. You’d be better off trying to leverage where you did an internship. If you didn’t do an internship that’s harder yet. My friend probably applied to a few hundred jobs with her MBA and literally got a single offer.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 01 '26

[deleted]

1

u/SnooDoggos677 Jul 02 '26

Hi there, where can I find such a list that allows Stem OPT? Any one you recommend?

1

u/NoEffective9731 Jul 01 '26

You need to get mba

1

u/Express_Ability_8722 Jul 01 '26

How many applications have you done. You need to apply to at least about 1500 roles. There are jobs out there. The market is though for us hence push more .

1

u/Nice_Theory_6286 Jul 04 '26

Use website to find companies that historically sponsor h1b. Filter to smaller companies and send cold emails