Indian students facing challenges to secure internships in US

Indian students pursuing education in the United States, including those attending prestigious Ivy league universities find it difficult to get summer internships. This summer, preference for local candidates and slowdown in hiring has caused even students from prestigious institutions face difficulties in finding internship opportunities. The global economic downturn, compounded by the forthcoming US elections, has led to a scarcity of entry-level job prospects.

Internships are important for students because they give them a chance to learn on the job and improve their chances of finding a job later. But many Indian students in the US are finding it difficult to get internship offers, even if they are studying at top universities like the Ivy League schools known for their high academic standards.

Adarsh Khandelwal, who helps students with their education choices, said that this summer, about 400 undergraduate students, including those from Ivy League schools, didn’t get any internship offers. This is happening because of a few reasons, like the global economy slowing down and companies in the US preferring to hire local students during an election year.

The slowdown in the economy is impacting job opportunities for recent graduates and students looking for internships, even those studying subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) that were in demand before. Companies in fields like technology and consulting are either cutting jobs or not hiring new people, making it hard for students to find internships and unless students have skills in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), it is even tougher to find job openings. The tough times for Indian students in the US do not stop at internships. Things like high living costs, local unemployment rates, and problems getting sponsorship for visas add to their challenges.

Despite American colleges wanting to attract students from other countries, like India, it is not easy for these students right now. Many Indian students who have gone to study in the US are struggling to find internships and jobs because of the slow job market and because companies are preferring to hire local people. So, for Indian students in the US, it’s a tough time. They are finding it hard to get internships, which are significant for their future job prospects, and the overall job market is slow, making it harder for them to start their careers.

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