F-1 job search guide
CPT vs OPT
This is career support, not immigration legal advice. Rules change. Confirm dates and eligibility with your Designated School Official (DSO) and USCIS. DM Growth Partners does not file immigration forms, and does not guarantee a job, OPT approval, or sponsorship.
The short difference
A CPT job search is for work tied to your curriculum, often an internship while you are enrolled, authorized by your DSO. An OPT job search is for optional practical training related to your major, commonly about 12 months after graduation.
Students mix the two up because both can lead to a US job. They are different authorizations, with different timing. Confirm your case with your DSO before you treat one as the other.
CPT, while you are enrolled
Curricular Practical Training is work tied to your curriculum, such as an internship or co-op. Your DSO authorizes it before you start, usually after one full academic year.
The job search still looks like an internship search: a US resume, a role related to your program, and a start date you do not begin until your DSO has authorized it.
OPT, usually after the program
Optional Practical Training is commonly 12 months of work related to your major. Post-completion OPT is the usual path after you finish your program, with an application window around your program end date and a limit on days without a job.
That search is broader than a single internship. It needs a weekly application plan, a clear answer on work authorization, and employers who hire international students.
How to use both in a job search
Many students use CPT for an internship while classes are still underway, then start an OPT job search as the program end date gets close. The materials carry over: the US resume, the work-authorization line, and the list of employers. The authorization does not carry over by itself. Each one is confirmed with your DSO.
Common questions
What is the difference between a CPT job search and an OPT job search?
A CPT job search is for work tied to your curriculum, often an internship while you are enrolled, authorized by your DSO. An OPT job search is for optional practical training related to your major, commonly about 12 months after graduation. Confirm your case with your DSO.
Do you file CPT or OPT forms?
No. We do not file OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or any other immigration forms. Ask your DSO, and a qualified immigration attorney when you need legal advice.