OPT Collections Representative Jobs
Collections Representative jobs are generally open to F-1 OPT students, though roles at banks and regulated lenders may require additional background checks. Standard OPT work authorization covers this field. Your STEM OPT extension applies if your degree is in business, finance, or a related quantitative discipline.
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Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
Established in 1991, Collabera has been a leader in IT staffing for over 22 years and is one of the largest diversity IT staffing firms in the industry. As a half a billion dollar IT company, with more than 9,000 professionals across 30+ offices, Collabera offers comprehensive, cost-effective IT staffing & IT Services. We provide services to Fortune 500 and mid-size companies to meet their talent needs with high quality IT resources through Staff Augmentation, Global Talent Management, Value Added Services through CLASS (Competency Leveraged Advanced Staffing & Solutions) Permanent Placement Services and Vendor Management Programs.
Collabera recognizes true potential of human capital and provides people the right opportunities for growth and professional excellence. Collabera offers a full range of benefits to its employees including paid vacations, holidays, personal days, Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, 401K retirement savings plan, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance.
Job Description
Position Details:
Industry: Financial Services
Work Location: Newark, DE
Job Title: Collections Representative
Duration: 6+ months (Strong possibility of extension)
Available Shift/s:
- 2nd Shift; Monday – Friday; 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM with rotating Saturdays and one day off during week when working Saturday
- Training: Will participate in current training program (4 weeks = 2 weeks classroom, 2 weeks OJT); Monday – Friday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Job Description:
- The Collector works in the Collections and Recovery Operations environment and is typically aligned with routine inbound or outbound collections calling processes.
- This role can work in any stage of delinquency and frequently requires guidance on non-routine situations.
- Primary responsibilities are collections, customer servicing, submitting extension requests and other loss mitigation and recovery activities.
- Contacts delinquent, charged-off, or high-risk customers in order to secure payment and determine reason for delinquency on active loan/credit card accounts.
- In the recovery area, collectors will work with customer to establish full balance repayment plans or settlements.
- Works an established list of accounts on an automated collections system and/or auto-dialer.
- This person can resolve routine billing inquiries and negotiate payment arrangements to cure delinquent accounts.
- Understands and educates customers on account terms and alternate payment programs and methods.
- Navigates a computerized data entry system and other relevant applications while staying within our regulatory and compliance guidelines within Collections.
Job Requirements:
- Excellent communication skills
- Customer Service focus
- Ability to understand and discuss personal and financial difficulties
- Ability to recommend and negotiate payment arrangements
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced environment
- Strong computer skills
- Previous collections experience
- Previous customer service experience
- Strong negotiation skills
Company Description
Established in 1991, Collabera has been a leader in IT staffing for over 22 years and is one of the largest diversity IT staffing firms in the industry. As a half a billion dollar IT company, with more than 9,000 professionals across 30+ offices, Collabera offers comprehensive, cost-effective IT staffing & IT Services. We provide services to Fortune 500 and mid-size companies to meet their talent needs with high quality IT resources through Staff Augmentation, Global Talent Management, Value Added Services through CLASS (Competency Leveraged Advanced Staffing & Solutions) Permanent Placement Services and Vendor Management Programs.
Collabera recognizes true potential of human capital and provides people the right opportunities for growth and professional excellence. Collabera offers a full range of benefits to its employees including paid vacations, holidays, personal days, Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, 401K retirement savings plan, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance.
Job Description
Position Details:
Industry: Financial Services
Work Location: Newark, DE
Job Title: Collections Representative
Duration: 6+ months (Strong possibility of extension)
Available Shift/s:
- 2nd Shift; Monday – Friday; 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM with rotating Saturdays and one day off during week when working Saturday
- Training: Will participate in current training program (4 weeks = 2 weeks classroom, 2 weeks OJT); Monday – Friday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Job Description:
- The Collector works in the Collections and Recovery Operations environment and is typically aligned with routine inbound or outbound collections calling processes.
- This role can work in any stage of delinquency and frequently requires guidance on non-routine situations.
- Primary responsibilities are collections, customer servicing, submitting extension requests and other loss mitigation and recovery activities.
- Contacts delinquent, charged-off, or high-risk customers in order to secure payment and determine reason for delinquency on active loan/credit card accounts.
- In the recovery area, collectors will work with customer to establish full balance repayment plans or settlements.
- Works an established list of accounts on an automated collections system and/or auto-dialer.
- This person can resolve routine billing inquiries and negotiate payment arrangements to cure delinquent accounts.
- Understands and educates customers on account terms and alternate payment programs and methods.
- Navigates a computerized data entry system and other relevant applications while staying within our regulatory and compliance guidelines within Collections.
Job Requirements:
- Excellent communication skills
- Customer Service focus
- Ability to understand and discuss personal and financial difficulties
- Ability to recommend and negotiate payment arrangements
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast paced environment
- Strong computer skills
- Previous collections experience
- Previous customer service experience
- Strong negotiation skills
See all OPT Collections Representative Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Collections Representative
Target employers comfortable with work authorization
Third-party collections agencies and fintech companies hire OPT students more readily than large banks. Smaller agencies focus on performance, not sponsorship complexity, making them practical first employers for building U.S. collections experience.
Highlight compliance and regulatory knowledge
Familiarity with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act signals professionalism to hiring managers. Mention FDCPA awareness in your resume even if self-taught. Employers in collections value candidates who understand legal boundaries around consumer contact.
Emphasize bilingual communication skills
Fluency in Spanish, Mandarin, Hindi, or other languages is a genuine competitive advantage in collections. Many employers actively seek bilingual representatives. This skill can make you the stronger candidate and offset any hesitation about OPT authorization timelines.
Address your OPT timeline proactively
Collections supervisors care about retention. In interviews, clarify your remaining OPT duration and explain whether you qualify for a STEM extension. A concrete timeline reduces uncertainty and signals that you've thought through your authorization situation.
Pursue STEM OPT extension if eligible
Business analytics, finance, and information systems degrees often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Filing before your initial OPT expires gives employers three additional years of authorization, meaningfully improving your candidacy for collections roles with sponsorship potential.
Gain relevant certifications before applying
A credit or collections certificate from a recognized industry association strengthens your application. Certifications demonstrate commitment to the field and help offset employer uncertainty about OPT, especially for roles at larger financial services companies requiring background verification.
Collections Representative OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Collections Representatives?
Yes. Collections Representative roles are eligible for F-1 OPT work authorization as long as the position is directly related to your field of study, such as business, finance, or communications. You must have an active EAD card before starting work. Third-party collections agencies and fintech lenders tend to be the most open to hiring OPT candidates.
Do Collections Representative jobs typically lead to H-1B sponsorship?
Some do, particularly at larger financial institutions and fintech companies where the role is classified as a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor's degree. Smaller collections agencies may not sponsor. The clearest path to sponsorship is joining an employer with an established immigration program and demonstrating strong performance during your OPT period. Migrate Mate lists collections roles filtered by sponsorship history to help you identify realistic targets.
Does a collections job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. If your degree is in business analytics, finance, information systems, or another qualifying STEM field, you can apply for the 24-month extension regardless of your job title. A Collections Representative role at an E-Verify employer satisfies the employment requirement. Confirm your degree's CIP code appears on the STEM designated degree program list before applying.
Are there background check concerns for OPT students in collections roles?
Regulated employers, especially banks and credit unions, run credit and criminal background checks that apply to all candidates, including OPT students. A clean record is typically sufficient. The background check process is the same for OPT holders as for any other candidate. Third-party agencies generally have lighter screening requirements if this is a concern.
What happens to my OPT status if I lose a collections job?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of cumulative unemployment, or 150 days if you have a STEM extension. You must report the job separation to your DSO promptly so your SEVP record stays accurate. Finding a new qualifying position within that window keeps you in valid status. Search Migrate Mate for open collections and financial services roles to minimize gaps in employment.