Job Coach Jobs for OPT Students
Job Coach roles involve guiding individuals through career planning, resume development, and job search strategies, work that typically requires a degree in counseling, psychology, education, or human resources. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations under OPT, giving F-1 students a clear path to authorized employment in this field.
See All Job Coach JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 46+ Job Coach jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 46+ Job Coach jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Job Coach roles.
Get Access To All JobsCompany Description
AHRC New York City is a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced. We advocate for people who are neurodiverse to lead full and equitable lives. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture where curiosity, creativity, and optimism are valued and celebrated.
Job Description
AHRC NYC is seeking passionate Full-Time Job Coaches to join their Employment Services Program (EBS) in Staten Island. The job Coach must be dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in achieving meaningful employment. The job coach initially spends the majority of the time with the individuals on the job site and then gradually fades as they become proficient at the job.
Pay Rate: $18-$21 per hour depending on education level...plus a comprehensive Benefit package. See Benefit information below.
Schedule: 40 hours per week...schedule flexibility a must.
Why Work with Us?
- Make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
- Opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Job Security and Career Advancement.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload of about 10-15 clients, primarily in the field (90% of time spent at individuals' job sites).
- Teach, assist, and support new workers in their jobs using techniques such as demonstration of tasks, modeling, counseling, observation, and discussion.
- Provide training and support to workers with disabilities, ensuring their success in their roles.
- Assist new workers with travel from home to job sites when needed.
- Write detailed service notes after each session to monitor client progress and outcomes.
Qualifications
- One year experience working with individuals with disabilities preferred.
- Flexibility in work hours and ability to respond to the scheduling needs of the individual. May include early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.
- Direct Support Professional (DSP) experience preferred.
- Understanding of Person Centered Planning.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including effective writing and oral communication skills.
- High school diploma or GED.
AHRC New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status, partnership status, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, genetic information, or unemployment or any other protected characteristic under federal, state or local law.
Company Description
AHRC New York City is a family governed organization that envisions a socially just world where the power of difference is embraced. We advocate for people who are neurodiverse to lead full and equitable lives. Generosity guides us as we honor our legacy and continuously grow through a culture where curiosity, creativity, and optimism are valued and celebrated.
Job Description
AHRC NYC is seeking passionate Full-Time Job Coaches to join their Employment Services Program (EBS) in Staten Island. The job Coach must be dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in achieving meaningful employment. The job coach initially spends the majority of the time with the individuals on the job site and then gradually fades as they become proficient at the job.
Pay Rate: $18-$21 per hour depending on education level...plus a comprehensive Benefit package. See Benefit information below.
Schedule: 40 hours per week...schedule flexibility a must.
Why Work with Us?
- Make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
- Opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Job Security and Career Advancement.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Manage a caseload of about 10-15 clients, primarily in the field (90% of time spent at individuals' job sites).
- Teach, assist, and support new workers in their jobs using techniques such as demonstration of tasks, modeling, counseling, observation, and discussion.
- Provide training and support to workers with disabilities, ensuring their success in their roles.
- Assist new workers with travel from home to job sites when needed.
- Write detailed service notes after each session to monitor client progress and outcomes.
Qualifications
- One year experience working with individuals with disabilities preferred.
- Flexibility in work hours and ability to respond to the scheduling needs of the individual. May include early morning, evening and/or weekend hours.
- Direct Support Professional (DSP) experience preferred.
- Understanding of Person Centered Planning.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, including effective writing and oral communication skills.
- High school diploma or GED.
AHRC New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer We consider applicants for all positions without regard to age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, gender, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status, partnership status, military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, genetic information, or unemployment or any other protected characteristic under federal, state or local law.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Job Coach
Highlight your counseling or advising coursework
Employers reviewing OPT candidates want to see your degree connects directly to the role. Reference specific courses in career development, counseling theory, or workforce psychology to reinforce that your education supports the specialty occupation requirement.
Apply early relative to your OPT start date
Job Coach hiring timelines can stretch four to eight weeks. Submitting applications two to three months before your OPT authorization begins gives employers enough runway to complete interviews and onboarding without feeling pressured by your work authorization start date.
Address OPT proactively in your cover letter
Briefly note your authorization period and that no sponsorship is required for your initial OPT duration. Many hiring managers misunderstand OPT as a sponsorship burden, correcting that assumption upfront removes a common reason applications get filtered out early.
Target nonprofit organizations and workforce development agencies
These employers regularly hire Job Coaches and are often more familiar with OPT work authorization than private sector companies. Workforce boards, career centers, and community organizations tend to have structured onboarding processes that accommodate OPT documentation requirements.
Quantify your advising or coaching experience concretely
Rather than listing responsibilities, show outcomes. How many clients did you support? What placement or goal-achievement rates did you help produce? Numbers give hiring managers a clear picture of your impact and distinguish you from candidates with similar academic backgrounds.
Clarify STEM OPT eligibility if your degree qualifies
If your degree falls under an approved STEM field such as psychology or organizational behavior, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Mentioning this eligibility signals to employers that your work authorization window is substantially longer than the standard 12 months.
Job Coach jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Job Coach JobsSee all 46+ Job Coach jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Job Coach roles.
Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Job Coach on OPT?
Yes. Job Coach roles typically qualify as specialty occupations under OPT because they require a degree in counseling, psychology, education, or a related field. Your degree must be directly related to the work you'll be performing. Positions at workforce agencies, university career centers, and nonprofit organizations are the most common qualifying employers for this role.
Do Job Coach employers typically understand OPT work authorization?
It varies by employer type. University career centers and workforce development organizations tend to be familiar with OPT since they work closely with international students and job seekers. Smaller private employers may be less familiar. A brief, clear explanation in your cover letter, noting that OPT requires no employer sponsorship and that you have an Employment Authorization Document, usually resolves any confusion quickly.
Where can I find Job Coach roles that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters job listings by visa authorization type, so you can browse Job Coach openings without manually screening each employer for OPT willingness. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and encountering sponsorship-only positions after the fact.
Does a Job Coach role qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree, not the job title. Job Coach roles themselves are not inherently classified as STEM. However, if your degree is in a STEM-designated field such as industrial-organizational psychology or certain behavioral science programs, you may qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Check your degree's Classification of Instructional Programs code against the current STEM OPT designated degree program list to confirm.
What should I do if my Job Coach offer comes after my OPT start date?
OPT regulations require that you be employed, or actively engaged in a training opportunity, within 90 days of your program start date. If an offer is delayed, document any part-time coaching, volunteer advising, or training activities related to your field to maintain compliance. Contact your DSO promptly if you expect a gap, they can advise on reporting requirements and whether your situation remains within the 90-day unemployment limit.
See which Job Coach employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.
Search Job Coach Jobs