Getting More Practical Professional Experience with a Second Program

Students love the programs at Computer Systems Institute so much that it’s not uncommon for them to do more than one to get the most out of their education.

Ayse Unuvar has been in the US for nearly three years. She lives in the Chicago area, enjoys visiting new places, trying different foods, and going to the gym. She puts up with the crazy weather, even though she is from Turkey, where there is a more tropical climate. Her personal life is fulfilling, but she enriches it with her drive to succeed as a professional.  

Ayse has spent much of her time in America as a student attending classes at CSI’s Skokie Campus. After she got her certificate in one program, she decided to enroll in a second one, “I already studied marketing last year, so I have some skills,” she says. “I’m working at a company where I can use my skill set but I wanted to help the business more.” In order to do this, she decided to further her education by taking classes in CSI’s Customer Service Specialist program.

Ayse started as part of the Marketing Concentration, a 44 week program where she learned about topics like operations, content, social media, sales, and campaign creation. The entire program had an impact on her but one teacher stands out, “I had a teacher, Horace Clark, for marketing. I love them all but his class was very helpful and really fun for me.”

Experience with OPT and CPT

After she completed the Marketing Concentration last year, Ayse was approved for Optional Practical Training (OPT), where she started working with a trucking company. When she started learning more about her role there, she decided that she could benefit from continuing her education. In order to do this, Ayse enrolled in the Customer Service Specialist program. 

“I did my OPT but after that I knew I wanted to stay with this company so I started the new program. Now I’m studying and working at the same time,” she says. Although she is a student, Ayse is getting job training through the Career Practical Training, or CPT, option offered through CSI.

OPT and CPT are both career training programs that are available to most F-1 students. OPT is done after work in the classroom is completed. It is considered an extension of a student’s education. CPT is a little different because it is hands-on career training that a student does while they are taking classes. 

In Ayse’s case, she finished the marketing program, did her OPT, and wanted to stay with the company but felt she needed more education. She enrolled in the customer service program where she was approved to continue to work through CPT. She is currently taking classes while she works at the trucking company. 

“At first it was hard to study and work at the same time but I learned how to manage my time,” says Ayse. “ CSI has helped me feel more comfortable because there are some students like me here who do the same thing and have the same challenges. I see that there are many people like me so this encourages me.”

Planning for Success

Students on CPT keep busy between the busy work and class schedules. They need to learn how to balance those things. Ayse said that at first, it wasn’t easy, “Studying and working is hard, but I schedule my time,” she says. “It’s easier now because I learned how to manage my time better with school. I have presentations, I have homework, so it is hard doing it all at the same time but I am getting much better at managing.”

Ayse works 20 hours during the regular Monday through Friday work week. She takes her classes on weekends. Ayse has developed a plan that works for her, “I’m a morning person so I wake up early and I study in the morning. Sometimes I do my homework then.” She says that she also gets things done later in the day, “After work I do more of my homework if I don’t finish. I have to be ready for my courses on Saturdays and Sundays so I plan my schedule carefully! I try hard, but I’m not always perfect.”

School and work take up a lot of her schedule, but Ayse knows that having time to herself is important, “I also make time for friends and hobbies. In my free time I like spending time with friends and travelling and trying new restaurants. It’s pretty hard sometimes, but I try.”

Because she has been with the same company for a while, she is able to see the benefit that the Customer Service Specialist (CSS) program is having on her CPT job. In school she is building a foundation in service operations and how to manage communications with customers. The program takes just one year and students come out ready for a variety of careers in the field.

Ayse says that the marketing program was a great way to start, but CSS compliments everything that she learned, “The customer service relationship program is helping me in my current job.” She explains some of the specific benefits she’s gotten, ”I communicate with drivers, customers, and coworkers every day. This program is teaching me how to handle customer relationships, solve problems, and communicate better.”   

The CSI Experience

Ayse can’t say enough good things about what CSI has done for her. She is getting important work experience and meeting great people, “The best part is learning practical skills that I can use in real jobs, the teachers are helpful, and I like meeting students from different countries.”

She doesn’t hesitate making a recommendation to anyone who is considering enrolling at CSI, “I will say go for it!,” says Ayse. The available CPT and OPT options go beyond just getting hands-on with a job, they can help students learn about how things might be different in America versus their home country, “The programs are helpful and you get real experience. It also helps international students understand the US work culture.”

If you’re interested in an education that can help you with a variety of skills that can benefit your career, CSI can help! Contact us today to see which programs can help you reach your professional goals!