How I navigated the J-1 visa journey to land my first tech sales job

What is it like to pursue a job in the U.S. as an international student? In this blog, Brice Rosette shares: 

· His challenges and lessons learned;

· The way he navigated job uncertainty;

· How he leveraged his skillset;

· Advice for those on the job market.

Brice Rosette, Co-founder of My Access Abroad

In April 2019, I landed my first full-time corporate job in tech sales in Raleigh, North Carolina, after what felt like years of persistence and navigating the complexities of being an international exchange student on a J-1 visa. Let’s rewind and talk about where it all started.

I first arrived in the U.S. as an exchange visitor student from France in 2017, with no real understanding of what life there would be like. The only American exposure I had up until then was watching TV shows growing up. Needless to say, the first semester in Washington, D.C. was eye-opening. By the end of it, I realized that a year wasn’t enough to fully understand American culture or explore the opportunities the country had to offer. It was a bit of a bittersweet realization, and just before Christmas, I made the decision to stay. I knew I wanted more time there and felt I could contribute to the country in a meaningful way.

With that decision, I started researching my options for staying beyond my exchange program. It wasn’t easy. I didn’t have a network to rely on, nor the financial resources to pay for services like internship placement agencies. Every online search seemed to turn up different advice, and I became overwhelmed by conflicting information. I lost months trying to figure out where to even begin. I spent countless hours applying for hundreds of irrelevant jobs that were out of reach because of visa restrictions.

I wasn’t alone in facing the hurdles of staying in the U.S. after my exchange program. If you’re a student or a young professional on a J-1 visa, you’ve probably also heard this line before: “Thank you for applying, but we are unable to sponsor a work visa.

I certainly did… over and over again. And maybe you have too, or maybe you’re still learning the ropes about the U.S. job market and want to maximize your chances of securing a position after graduation. Let me tell you, it was extremely difficult to land a job in the U.S. It wasn’t just because of my visa status. Even though I had the privilege of being French, I still had to navigate a system that didn’t always make room for international candidates.

Eventually, I found an unpaid internship in Charlotte. It was not exactly what I was looking for, but at least housing was provided. Sometimes, the office manager would pay us at the end of the week to clean the office. It wasn’t my dream job by any means, but it was a step forward. It took an additional 9 months before I landed my first real tech job, and I’ll never forget that feeling of victory when it finally happened.

It was during a trip to Puerto Rico with my girlfriend (now my life partner). My J-1 visa was about to expire in just three months, and I was running out of leads. The clock was ticking, and I was feeling the pressure. Then, I got a call for an interview from an automation tech startup in Raleigh. What I thought would be a typical, formal interview turned into something extraordinary: a 5-hour conversation with the CEO. We talked about everything from our personal stories, the company’s origins, our shared values, his vision for the future. It was a connection I hadn’t expected, and I knew by the end of it that this was a special opportunity.

We wrapped up the interview at a Thai restaurant, and I walked away feeling more excited than I had in months. It didn’t take long for the company to offer me the job. It felt like a dream come true, and for the first time since my arrival in the U.S., I knew I had found the perfect fit for my skills and passions.

So, as cliche as it sounds, if I did it, you can too. I managed to extend my J-1 visa three times. After my unpaid internship, I found a company that was even willing to sponsor me for an H-1B visa and green card. When COVID hit, my partner and I decided to leave the U.S., but that’s a story for another time.

This daunting experience in the U.S. led me to become a recruiter. I wanted to see the other side of the hiring process. Now, I understand what hiring managers and recruiters are looking for and how they partner to find the ideal candidates. My goal with My Access Abroad is to help you get that same clarity and insight, especially if you’re an international candidate interested in technology, sales or consulting. I want to share everything I wish I knew when I was in your shoes from understanding visa options to finding companies that actively seek international talent, we’ve got you covered.

So, how did I end up working in tech sales, despite having no experience?

There are a few things I did (although I wasn’t fully aware at the time): 1. Be crystal clear about my goals; 2. target fast-growing markets with a talent gap; and 3. believe in myself.

  1. I was crystal clear about my career goals.

I’ll never forget the moment that sparked my career in B2B sales. In October 2016, while fundraising for my school’s sports nonprofit, I struggled to secure sponsors. One day in Strasbourg, France, I noticed two people handing out organic apples as part of a Biocoop store promotion. Curiosity led me to visit the store, meet the owner, and ask about his marketing campaign’s success. That spontaneous conversation led to a €1,000 sponsorship in exchange for a targeted street marketing campaign with my peers. This moment ignited my passion for sales. I pursued this passion through my major in Sales Management and Negotiation for my Master’s, my role as the Sales Director of our student-run agency, and my study abroad exchange in the U.S., which I chose because I thought it was the best place to learn about sales. Looking back, knowing exactly what I wanted—and having a compelling story to back it up—was key to landing a job in the U.S.

  1. I targeted a fast-growing market.

In 2017, when I was job hunting, the business process automation industry was transforming into Robotic Process Automation (RPA). At that time, senior sales people typically only had 2-3 years of experience, and many medium-sized companies were struggling to find qualified candidates for their sales teams. That explains why/how I got lucky: a medium-sized business was looking for its first sales hire and couldn’t find the right person. They were ready to hire someone who was the right fit with their company culture, mission, and offered a fresh perspective. I was exactly what they needed.

I broke into a new industry and took a leap that turned out to be life-changing. Truthfully, however, I would’ve saved myself months of searching if I had spent more time understanding the emerging market trends and industries that were growing, rather than focusing only on companies with established brands.

This brings me to a point that’s important for anyone job-hunting today, especially internationally: understand the future of work. According to Gartner, the future of work describes the changes in how work will be done over the next decade, shaped by technological, generational, and social shifts. By understanding where the world of work is heading, you can identify and build the skills that employers will value now and in the future.

Research has found that nearly 40% of U.S. jobs are in occupations that are likely to shrink. Some roles, like bookkeepers or accountants, may disappear entirely or be replaced by newer, emerging job categories, with AI it may even be more.

  1. I believed in myself, even when the odds were stacked against me.

One day, I met a former international candidate who had secured a job at Deloitte. She told me that sales roles weren’t an option because only certain job categories were available for visa sponsorship. According to her, only experienced sales professionals in a niche industry, fluent in a foreign language, were ‘worth’ the investment for a company. In hindsight, I understand her perspective. At the time, her perspective didn’t stop me from trying anyways. If you ask anyone in my network, I was borderline obsessed (and a little foolish) with this goal. I believed in my ability to defy the odds.

Reflecting back on this journey, landing my first tech job was not easy. There were many moments when I felt lost and uncertain. But, I learned so much along the way: the importance of persistence, building connections, and staying true to my values. Most importantly, I learned that with a growth mindset, it’s possible to build a career and life in the U.S. even if it starts with an exchange visa.

If you’re in a similar situation, just know that your journey won’t necessarily be linear, but with patience, resilience, and a bit of luck, your hard work will eventually pay off. If you’re considering staying in the U.S. after an exchange program, don’t be afraid to take the leap and explore your options. The destination may be complicated, but the process itself can be incredibly rewarding. The right opportunity is out there waiting for you… It’s up to you to find it.


About Brice Rosette

Brice has spent the last 6+ years driving growth and building global talent acquisition strategies for professional service firms across North America, Europe, and North Africa. His background spans business development, corporate recruitment and consulting, with a focus on emerging tech and digital transformation. He has lived and worked in the US, Mexico, France, and China, giving him deep insights into those markets and the complex challenges international students and professionals face in global careers. He co-founded My Access Abroad to help overcome these barriers.