
Tips For Negotiating Salary For OPT Jobs In USA
There are many types of OPT jobs in USA, some are part-time some are full-time. Whereas some are paid and some are unpaid. There are many students that look for paid jobs and often face harsh salary negotiations.
There is almost every candidate that faces bargaining or negotiations when it comes to payment or salary. For such situations, a student should consider the points below:
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Have clear number
As there are many jobs for OPT students, there are many OPT students looking for jobs. When a student is entering the screening process of a paid job, they should have a number fixed in their mind.
The employer or the recruiter is also set with the questions and the amount that they will pay you so why not have a fixed amount for them too. Having a clear number can help a lot in negotiation as you will have something to negotiate with.
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Show your capabilities
Optional Practical Training is for teaching and training the students. And the concept of paying them is somewhere related to the employer and to the student as well.
Before negotiating or during negotiation, a student should present their capabilities to the employer. A capability can be a skill, an experience, a different degree, or any specific quality that makes them different.
Companies that hire OPT students do look for something different and sometimes create difficult situations for the students to negotiate.
A student with the complete firm should talk about the reasons why they should be getting more paid.
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Practice the interview
Every student that is aware of what is OPT is also aware of the interview that is coming their way. As they practice all the other questions of the interview, they can also practice the salary part.
OPT jobs for international students are mostly unpaid, so when the opportunity has come with the paid job, a student should practice it all. This part of the interview also needs to be practiced with confidence, script, and the correct tone.
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Say No when required
OPT jobs in USA are many so a student should not hesitate in saying no or rejecting an offer. OPT student jobs are not permanent employment in which a student should compromise.
A student can find many opportunities in many companies that hire OPT students. A student can reject the offer when there is no scope of negotiation with the employer and then can look for options too.
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Ask more
Optional Practical training gives the opportunity to a student to do more and to learn more. A student with a fixed number in mind can also ask for more so that the employer can at least settle at their selected amount.
Asking for more should not change the whole meaning of what is OPT but should maintain the decorum of the OPT. A student that has their own value can ask for more money or position or responsibility in the company.
A student should ask within the range but should not hesitate in asking for something more than what they deserve.