In the bustling landscape of technology startups, F1-Hire has emerged as a pioneering force, redefining the job search process for international students in the United States. Founded in January 2023, F1-Hire is the brainchild of CEO Chen Hang and co-founder Minna Wang. Their mission is clear: to empower international talents and aid them in navigating the complex path to secure their first jobs in the U.S. market.
But what exactly is F1-Hire?
“F1-Hire is a software that simplifies and enhances the job search and management process for international students,” Chen said.
Born out of the expertise of its parent company, Houren Education, which boasts 14 years of experience in international education, F1-Hire understands the unique challenges faced by its users.
“Our software is designed to alleviate the common pain points for international job seekers, such as sponsorship issues and lack of experience, which can be significant barriers,” Chen elaborates.
The software provides tailored job recommendations and critical information about employers’ history with international hires.
The reason for starting this, according to Chen, is because the challenges international students face in the U.S. job market are substantial.
“From September to December 2019, F1-Hire analyzed approximately 730,000 job openings in the U.S., finding that only 1.6% of these were truly open to sponsoring international candidates,” Chen said. “It’s crucial to understand that not all open positions are accessible to international students, and our job is to make this landscape more navigable,” Wang adds.
F1-Hire developed the International Talent Friendliness Index (ITFI), which daily updates the percentages of job openings friendly towards international talents. This index serves as a quantitative indicator of the U.S. job market’s accessibility for international students, contrasting starkly with the general low unemployment figures that might suggest a thriving job market for all.
F1-Hire’s software integrates with major job search platforms like LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, Google Jobs, and Glassdoor, allowing users to cast a wider net in their job search.
“It’s not about sticking to one platform. Each has its competitive angle, and we equip our users to navigate through them all efficiently,” Chen said.
F1-Hire has already facilitated countless job applications, with a particular highlight being their collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC). Through this partnership, USC students can access F1-Hire’s premium features at no cost, providing them a significant advantage in the job market.
“We’re very proud of our USC collaboration, where our platform is actively used by the student community to great effect,” Wang notes.
In an effort to further support international students, F1-Hire, in collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC), is hosting a crash course on May 15th, from 1pm to 2pm.
Titled “Crash Course for International Students: Steps for Finding a Sponsoring Job in the U.S.,” the session aims to guide attendees through the crucial steps necessary to secure a sponsoring job in the U.S.
“We’re diving deep into the strategies that enhance job search effectiveness, offering practical tips that can dramatically improve job search productivity,” said Wang, the co-founder of F1-Hire. “This crash course is designed for both newcomers to the job market and those looking to refine their approach, ensuring all participants gain valuable insights to navigate the competitive landscape effectively.”
Liudy Zhou, a second-year master’s student in the USC Annenberg Public Relations and Advertising program, shared her experiences and challenges as a non-STEM major using F1-Hire while looking for jobs.
Zhou described the common hurdles she faces: “I’m currently facing some difficulties in job hunting. First, for many positions I apply to, especially in my field, there is hardly any response, and interviews are rare. I’ve also encountered a few interview scams, which were mostly direct marketing or ‘quote-unquote’ sales companies that are commission-based and not very reputable.”
But she found a new solution just recently.
“I started using F1-Hire this semester,” she said. “I learned about F1-Hire through the USC Career Center. An international advisor recommended it to me.”
Despite finding some of F1-Hire’s features less accessible for non-tech students, Zhou has been trying to maximize her use of the platform.
“As a non-tech student, some of the functions aren’t very usable for me, and much of the database is focused on tech or data-related positions,” she said. “However, I use the basic features like checking if companies are eligible to provide H-1B sponsorship and if they are E-verified.”
Zhou discusses how she is integrating it into her job search experience.
“I actually use F1-Hire in conjunction with another tool, Ultimate H1-B Sponsor Checker, which shows the sponsorship history over the past few years,” Zhou said. “It’s somewhat helpful, but since I haven’t found a job yet and haven’t reached the negotiation stage, I can’t fully assess how much it has helped. But it definitely serves as a crucial reference point.”
But with how complex finding a job can be, Zhou suggested more personalized support from universities to improve the resources provided to international students.
“As schools have a large base of international students, they could be more helpful if they focused more attentively on international issues, maybe adding a specific subtab on their websites with tailored advice,” Zhou said.
Through her experience, Zhou illustrates the unique challenges non-STEM international students face in the U.S. job market and the potential for specialized tools like F1-Hire to evolve and better meet their needs.
Looking ahead, F1-Hire aims to reach 100,000 users soon, with plans to launch ‘F1-Hire Direct Hire,’ a service designed to proactively connect employers with potential hires directly through the platform.
“Our future is focused on growth and improving our service to help students land not just any job, but the right job,” says Chen.
As F1-Hire continues to innovate and expand, its impact on the international student community remains profound. With tailored solutions and a deep understanding of the market’s nuances, F1-Hire not only helps international students overcome substantial hurdles but also ensures they are equipped to thrive in their careers in the U.S. As more students and employers engage with F1-Hire’s platform, the future looks promising for this visionary enterprise, making it a key player in the intersection of technology, education, and career development.