OPT Sales Jobs
Sales roles are widely available to F-1 OPT students, but finding employers who actively sponsor visa transitions matters as much as landing the interview. OPT gives you up to 12 months of work authorization, with a 24-month STEM extension available if your role qualifies under a STEM-designated degree.
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The Hotel Landing is the premier luxury lakeside destination in the Upper Midwest, where every experience is thoughtfully curated and every guest interaction is defined by discretion, personalization, and impeccable service. We are passionate about creating moments of elegance, authenticity, and lasting memories—combining refined hospitality with a welcoming, service-driven culture. Our team is committed to excellence, innovation, and building relationships that elevate both our brand and the experiences we deliver.
Job Overview:
Solicit, capture, plan and coordinate small meetings with 10 rooms or less, social and catering only functions, while maximizing the banquet space to meet and ideally exceed catering revenue goals. Position is responsible for finalizing catering only business. Recommends program and procedural changes.
Responsibilities:
- Solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat business through efforts (outside sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking, etc.) while maximizing banquet space to meet/exceed revenue goals.
- Execute a territorial marketing strategy to capture the maximum amount of revenue and meet and ideally exceed sales goals.
- Plan, upsell and detail the meeting/function with the client including: space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc.
- Complete the contracts, prepare the appropriate paperwork, including banquet event orders, coordinate with the appropriate areas in the hotel and resolve any issues, complaints and problems to ensure a quality product delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Prepare status and period end reports.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures, products and competition, including their strengths and weaknesses, to continually improve sales strategies and achieve goals.
- Professional and positive communication to both guests and fellow associates.
Qualifications
Education/Formal Training
More than two years of post-high school education
Experience
Experience required by position is from one to two full years of employment in a related position with this company or other organization(s).
Knowledge/Skills
- Requires thorough knowledge of the practices and procedures of the catering, food and beverage, menu development and pricing.
- Requires knowledge of the hotel's policies and procedures and the ability to determine course of action based on these guidelines.
- Requires ability to investigate and analyze current activities and/or information involving readily available data and indicating logical conclusions and recommendations.
- Must possess communication skills in terms of the ability to negotiate, convince, sell and influence professionals and/or hotel guests.
- Ability to drive to outside sales calls.
- Excellent comprehension and literacy required to develop marketing plan, create menus and programs, etc.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Excellent hearing required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Excellent vision required for viewing set-ups.
- Excellent speech communication skills required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying - tables, chairs, boxes (50 lb. maximum) occasionally.
- Bending/kneeling - taping down cords, skirting tables, picking up floor after function, occasionally.
- Mobility - ability to service clients on a moments notice, variable distances. Continuous standing - function observation, client site inspections (one hour minimum to four hours maximum). Climbing - up to 55 steps, 3-5% of 10 hours.
- Driving - distance varies for sales calls (approximately 20%).
Environment
Work inside 70% of 10 hour day; outside 30% of 10 hour day.
Benefits:
At Sage we create a culture of belonging. Our team members serve with creativity, and passion. Sage associates execute unforgettable experiences and take pride in our communities. We set new standards in hospitality.
The Perks:
- Sage Hotel & Restaurant Discounts across the US
- Paid vacation, sick and holiday pay
- Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance
- 401k
- Convenient Location
- Free Shift Meal
- Complimentary Parking
Salary: USD $70,000.00 - USD $80,000.00 /Yr.
Why us?:
The Hotel Landing is the premier luxury lakeside destination in the Upper Midwest, where every experience is thoughtfully curated and every guest interaction is defined by discretion, personalization, and impeccable service. We are passionate about creating moments of elegance, authenticity, and lasting memories—combining refined hospitality with a welcoming, service-driven culture. Our team is committed to excellence, innovation, and building relationships that elevate both our brand and the experiences we deliver.
Job Overview:
Solicit, capture, plan and coordinate small meetings with 10 rooms or less, social and catering only functions, while maximizing the banquet space to meet and ideally exceed catering revenue goals. Position is responsible for finalizing catering only business. Recommends program and procedural changes.
Responsibilities:
- Solicit, negotiate and book new and repeat business through efforts (outside sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking, etc.) while maximizing banquet space to meet/exceed revenue goals.
- Execute a territorial marketing strategy to capture the maximum amount of revenue and meet and ideally exceed sales goals.
- Plan, upsell and detail the meeting/function with the client including: space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes/decorations, etc.
- Complete the contracts, prepare the appropriate paperwork, including banquet event orders, coordinate with the appropriate areas in the hotel and resolve any issues, complaints and problems to ensure a quality product delivery and customer satisfaction.
- Prepare status and period end reports.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures, products and competition, including their strengths and weaknesses, to continually improve sales strategies and achieve goals.
- Professional and positive communication to both guests and fellow associates.
Qualifications
Education/Formal Training
More than two years of post-high school education
Experience
Experience required by position is from one to two full years of employment in a related position with this company or other organization(s).
Knowledge/Skills
- Requires thorough knowledge of the practices and procedures of the catering, food and beverage, menu development and pricing.
- Requires knowledge of the hotel's policies and procedures and the ability to determine course of action based on these guidelines.
- Requires ability to investigate and analyze current activities and/or information involving readily available data and indicating logical conclusions and recommendations.
- Must possess communication skills in terms of the ability to negotiate, convince, sell and influence professionals and/or hotel guests.
- Ability to drive to outside sales calls.
- Excellent comprehension and literacy required to develop marketing plan, create menus and programs, etc.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Excellent hearing required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Excellent vision required for viewing set-ups.
- Excellent speech communication skills required for verbal interaction with guests and associates.
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying - tables, chairs, boxes (50 lb. maximum) occasionally.
- Bending/kneeling - taping down cords, skirting tables, picking up floor after function, occasionally.
- Mobility - ability to service clients on a moments notice, variable distances. Continuous standing - function observation, client site inspections (one hour minimum to four hours maximum). Climbing - up to 55 steps, 3-5% of 10 hours.
- Driving - distance varies for sales calls (approximately 20%).
Environment
Work inside 70% of 10 hour day; outside 30% of 10 hour day.
Benefits:
At Sage we create a culture of belonging. Our team members serve with creativity, and passion. Sage associates execute unforgettable experiences and take pride in our communities. We set new standards in hospitality.
The Perks:
- Sage Hotel & Restaurant Discounts across the US
- Paid vacation, sick and holiday pay
- Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance
- 401k
- Convenient Location
- Free Shift Meal
- Complimentary Parking
Salary: USD $70,000.00 - USD $80,000.00 /Yr.
See all 6,799+ OPT Sales Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Sales
Target companies with H-1B filing history
Employers who have previously sponsored H-1B visas are far more likely to support your transition off OPT. Prioritize companies with a track record of sponsoring international employees in sales and business development roles.
Frame your international background as a sales asset
Multilingual skills and cross-cultural fluency are direct advantages in sales roles targeting global markets or diverse customer bases. Lead with this in your cover letter and interviews to make your background a selling point, not a liability.
Understand your OPT employment requirements
Your job must be directly related to your degree field to count as valid OPT employment. A business, marketing, or communications degree typically supports most sales roles, but confirm alignment with your DSO before accepting an offer.
Ask about sponsorship before the final interview round
Raise the visa sponsorship question early enough to avoid wasting time on employers who won't sponsor. A simple, professional question after an initial screen saves both parties time and signals that you understand your situation clearly.
Focus on enterprise and SaaS sales roles
Technology companies in enterprise software and SaaS are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors. Sales roles at these companies, including account executive and business development representative positions, frequently come with sponsorship pathways.
Start your H-1B preparation during OPT, not after
The H-1B lottery opens in March for an October start date. If your OPT expires before October, you may need a cap-gap extension. Work with an immigration attorney early so your employer is ready to file when the window opens.
Sales OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in sales on F-1 OPT?
Yes, sales roles qualify for OPT as long as the position is directly related to your degree field. A business, marketing, economics, or communications degree typically supports most sales and business development roles. Confirm the connection with your Designated School Official before accepting an offer to make sure your employment counts toward valid OPT usage.
Do sales jobs commonly offer H-1B sponsorship?
Sponsorship availability varies significantly by employer. Technology companies, especially those selling enterprise software or SaaS products, are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors for sales roles. Smaller companies and traditional retail or insurance sales positions rarely offer sponsorship. Focusing your search on OPT-friendly employers from the start saves time. Migrate Mate is built specifically to help F-1 students find sales roles at companies that sponsor.
Does a commission-based sales job qualify for OPT?
Commission-based and hybrid compensation structures are generally acceptable for OPT employment, as long as the role itself is related to your degree. The key requirement is that the work is degree-relevant and the position is legitimate employment, not self-employment. Fully commission-only roles with no base pay can raise questions about employment status, so review your offer structure with your DSO.
Can I work in sales on a STEM OPT extension?
Only if your degree is STEM-designated and your role qualifies. Business degrees are generally not STEM-eligible, so most sales roles won't support a STEM extension. However, if you hold a degree in a STEM field, such as data science, information systems, or engineering, and your sales role is technical in nature, for example a solutions engineer or technical sales position, a STEM extension may apply. Verify with your DSO.
What happens to my OPT if I'm between sales jobs?
F-1 OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment during standard OPT, and up to 150 days during a STEM extension. If you leave a sales role and don't find a new qualifying position within that window, your OPT authorization ends and you fall out of status. Report job changes promptly to your DSO and actively continue your search to stay within the unemployment limit.