Rina Nagatani (CAS ’23)
BE, computer engineering
My name is Rina Nagatani. I’m a 2023 graduate from the College of Arts and Sciences with an F1 student visa from Japan.
I currently work at Penn Medicine near campus as a medical scribe, and will be going into research in ophthalmology and artificial intelligence for the rest of this year.
My expectations from a job were that my current skills would excel and be in demand—I didn’t want to be just another new face in the office—but also that I would constantly be exposed to new ideas and give me room for development. While choosing between job offers, I considered location, living costs, future opportunities, and interests. Staying in the Philadelphia area but away from campus was a reasonable mixture of familiarity, comfort, and a fresh start. I thought about how I can maximize my time in the US to accomplish the most and that living outside of the university bubble would still give me a different sense of what it’s like to live in the US while not needing extra time to adjust to the environment. Frankly, I didn’t have a concrete idea of what my dream career was so most importantly, I wanted to pursue a field that truly interested me and be surrounded by people and environments that challenge me.
I’m currently on my first year of Optional Practical Training (OPT). I had to file an OPT I-20 request through my iPenn portal, submit an application and fee to USCIS, and wait for my approval. I started this entire process at the end of February 2023 for an estimated job start date of June 1st 2023. Once I received my employment authorization document (EAD) card, I was able to start my current job. Since I already have plans for the next year to work here, I will have to renew my F1 visa and reapply through USCIS to get a new EAD card for my OPT STEM extension.
Since I think interviews are my strong suit, it was important for me to have the initial application materials to be well-written. The Penn Career Services website was helpful in finding some templates/examples of resumes and cover letters that I was able to adjust to my needs. My friends and supervisors from my internship at the time were helpful in suggesting jobs that would fit my expectations and narrowing down my offers once I received them. It was interesting to hear what they thought would fit my personality, skills, and potential, versus how I expected myself to turn out.
I was on Handshake and Indeed, which I used as a brainstorm platform to give me ideas on what type of institutions/companies I would like to work for. I decided to look into some academic institutions in the locations I saw potential in, and came across this position on the Penn Medicine website.
Thankfully, the whole application process starting from the ISSS side did not take as long as the estimated number of days but that does not mean it will go smoothly for everyone and be the same each year. At the time I started my application, I was still in the process of interviewing for jobs but it definitely helped to plan ahead regardless of whether I was fully prepared to stay in the US after college or not.
I didn’t go through any negotiations since I fully understood and was satisfied with my offer but I was surprised at how briefly and suddenly employers will address salary/benefit topics. If this is a major factor in your decision to take the offer, I would suggest being prepared with questions because for me, this discussion happened over a spontaneous phone call from HR.
Working at Penn Medicine has really exceeded my expectations. Not only does the job itself come with the opportunity to learn about specifics of the field but it gives me the perks to getting to know a variety of people such as experienced doctors, residents, technicians, and even patients. I’ve been able to shadow doctors in the operating room, discuss the most up-to-date ongoing research projects, and hear about people’s individual life experiences and how they ended up where they are today. I always say that my job goes beyond the perks of the job description. This was a position I would’ve never imagined myself taking so I’m pleasantly surprised and feel lucky that I happened to choose a job that I enjoy.
Words of Wisdom:
Many of us are in a fortunate position where we are able to take risks and have the resources from family, friends, and mentors to fall back to if we fail. My mentality was that if there is any time to take chances, now would be the time to do so. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t assume that you know everything because especially with looking for jobs or starting a new one, being open minded and flexible are the most important qualities that will eventually direct you to the best decision you can make at that moment. For me, my coworkers are what makes this job so special, so being yourself really can go a long way for you and for others.