OPT Retention Specialist Jobs
Retention Specialist roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in business, communications, psychology, or marketing. Most positions qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B visa sponsorship. Your 12-month OPT window, extendable to 36 months with a STEM extension, gives you enough runway to prove your value and secure long-term sponsorship.
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Summary
Please note that while this role will operate remotely, it is required that the candidate resides in the Western region of the United States. This includes candidates residing in Pacific or Mountain time zones. At this time we are not considering candidates in the Bay Area
Do you love local businesses, and want to help them grow? The Yelp Customer Success team is seeking a dedicated and driven Inbound Sales Retention Specialist to provide a 5-star experience to our small business advertisers! As a member of the Inbound Sales Retention team, you will be committed to supporting, consulting, and retaining our advertisers post-sale. We’d love to have you apply, even if you don’t feel you meet every single requirement in this posting. At Yelp, we’re looking for great people, not just those who simply check off all the boxes.
What you'll do:
- You will help strengthen Yelp’s revenue retention by providing exceptional and timely customer support
- You will be logged into an inbound phone queue for the majority of your day, consulting and educating our current Yelp advertisers
- You will show clients the value of Yelp by highlighting their investment returns through ad performance metrics
- You will use strong listening and conflict resolution skills to handle escalated clients
- You will become an expert in Yelp’s advertising solutions and adapt product recommendations quickly to suit client needs - asking probing questions and handling objections will be critical to your success
- You will exhibit strong communication skills, both externally with clients and internally with other Yelp employees
- You will remain organized and efficient in a fast-paced environment
- You will consistently achieve/exceed monthly goals
- Use Chatbench, Yelp’s internal tool that provides secure access to a number of LLM models, to research, draft proposals, analyze data and overcome objections
What it takes to succeed:
- You have a Bachelor's Degree or 3+ years of relevant client facing experience
- You are technically proficient with computers and information systems
- You have strong communication skills (verbal and written)
- You excel with problem solving and troubleshooting
- You have experience in account management, sales, advertising, or small business (preferred)
- You have a love for local businesses and understand their importance in local economies
- You have excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to track and complete numerous details
- You have the ability to handle tough conversations with business owners in a professional, solutions-oriented manner
- You have the ability to strike a balance between consulting and supporting as needed
- You are willing to receive and implement feedback
- You have the ability to embrace a fast paced and always-changing environment
- You will need access to an individual hardline high-speed internet connection in your workspace. This job cannot be performed using satellite internet or a mobile hotspot
What you'll get:
- Effective your first day: Medical, vision, and dental
- Mental health support and services via Modern Health
- 15 days PTO (accrual begins on date of hire and increases with 2+ years of tenure thereafter), 12 paid holidays, plus one floating holiday and 7 paid wellness days
- Up to 14 weeks of parental leave
- Monthly wellness subsidy
- Flexible spending account
- 401(k) retirement savings plan
- Employee stock purchase plan
- Work from home reimbursement
- The base salary is $50,000 + performance based incentives
Closing
At Yelp, we believe that diversity is an expression of all the unique characteristics that make us human: race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, and education — and those are just a few. We recognize that diverse backgrounds and perspectives strengthen our teams and our product. The foundation of our diversity efforts are closely tied to our core values, which include “Playing Well With Others” and “Authenticity.”
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or family status, veteran status, medical condition or disability.
Actual salary offered may vary based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, an individual's location and experience.
We will consider for employment qualified candidates with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable law (including, for example, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for roles based in San Francisco, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for roles based in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and the California Fair Chance Act for roles based in California).
Where required by law, a criminal background check will not be conducted until after a conditional offer of employment is made, and any evaluation of a candidate's criminal background check will be subject to an individualized assessment that takes into account the candidate's specific criminal records and the responsibilities and requirements of the particular role.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at accommodations-recruiting@yelp.com or 415-969-8488.
Note: Yelp does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to any recruiting alias or employee. Yelp is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
Notice to Washington Applicants - Washington State Fair Chance Act
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Retention Specialist
Target companies with H-1B sponsorship history
Search Migrate Mate for Retention Specialist roles filtered by sponsorship history. Companies that have sponsored H-1B visas before are far more likely to do it again than employers encountering the process for the first time.
Emphasize quantifiable retention outcomes
Employers sponsor visas for people who demonstrably move the needle. Lead with metrics: churn rate reduced, renewal rates improved, customer lifetime value increased. Concrete numbers make sponsorship conversations much easier to justify internally.
Apply early in your OPT period
Starting your job search within the first three months of OPT authorization gives you the most runway. Employers are more willing to invest in sponsorship when you have 12 months ahead of you, not three.
Know whether your degree qualifies for STEM OPT
Degrees in data analytics, information systems, or applied behavioral science often qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. Confirming your eligibility early gives employers confidence they have three full years before H-1B sponsorship becomes urgent.
Frame sponsorship as low-risk for the employer
Retention roles require little specialized equipment and are straightforward to document for an LCA. Come prepared to explain that the H-1B process for this type of role is well-established and that many mid-size companies complete it without dedicated immigration counsel.
Build internal advocates before the sponsorship conversation
Sponsorship decisions rarely come from HR alone. Build relationships with your direct manager and team lead early. Internal advocates who understand your contributions make it significantly easier for HR to approve the sponsorship process.
Retention Specialist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Retention Specialist jobs qualify as specialty occupations for H-1B purposes?
Most do, provided the role requires a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field such as business, communications, marketing, or psychology. The key is that the degree requirement must be tied to the role itself, not just a general preference. Roles at larger companies with structured customer success or CRM functions tend to have the clearest specialty occupation documentation.
Can I work as a Retention Specialist on OPT without a STEM degree?
Yes. Standard OPT is available to all F-1 students regardless of degree field, giving you 12 months of work authorization after graduation. If your degree is in a non-STEM field like communications or psychology, you won't qualify for the 24-month STEM extension, so prioritizing employers willing to sponsor H-1B within your first year is important.
What types of employers are most likely to sponsor Retention Specialists for H-1B?
SaaS companies, subscription-based businesses, financial services firms, and large consumer brands with dedicated customer success or loyalty teams are the most consistent sponsors. These industries have established immigration processes and retention functions significant enough to justify sponsorship. Browse Migrate Mate to find Retention Specialist roles at employers with verified sponsorship history.
How does the 60-day grace period affect my job search as a Retention Specialist on OPT?
If your OPT employment ends, you have 60 days to find a new authorized position before you fall out of F-1 status. During that window, you can interview and accept an offer, but you cannot begin working until your new employer is properly listed on your OPT documentation or an alternative status is in place. Start your search immediately if your position ends unexpectedly.
Do Retention Specialist roles typically require reporting to my DSO?
Yes. Any change in employer, job title, or work location must be reported to your Designated School Official within 10 days under OPT reporting requirements. If you move from a customer success role to a retention-focused position at a new company, that counts as an employer change and must be updated in SEVIS. Keeping your DSO informed protects your legal status.