Educational guidance only. Not legal advice.
OPT Timeline (Practical Planning)
The best OPT outcomes usually come from early planning and clear role alignment. This timeline is focused on the part that affects job safety: building a clean connection between your duties and your field of study.
6–12 months before graduation
- • Pick 2–3 role families that map cleanly to your major.
- • Build at least one “proof artifact” (project/report/dashboard).
- • Start collecting keywords and tools used in your coursework.
Read: planning before graduation.
60–90 days before graduation
- • Write a “duties map” for each target role (tasks + outputs).
- • Update your resume with bullets tied to coursework and outcomes.
- • Create a calm recruiter explanation of your role alignment.
0–30 days after graduation
- • Apply consistently to aligned roles first (lower drift risk).
- • Avoid vague assistant roles unless duties are clearly defined.
- • Track applications + follow-ups weekly (simple spreadsheet).
During your OPT job
Even a good role can become riskier if your duties change. Keep your work connected to structured outputs, and watch for drift into generic tasks.
See: OPT job risks.
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