Career Planning Seminar for International Students

Michael Mandrusiak, Student CounsellorAngela Bohonos, Career Employment Advisor

Planning Ahead for the

School to Work Transition

Overview

• Trends and service needs in Canada

• Highlighting our career preparation seminar

• What can we learn from it?

Enrollment Trends

• International student enrollment is on the rise

• Active Recruitment strategies• Oklahoma City University – 31%• Boston University: 4,571 in 1999

• Dalton, 1999

•72% do not plan to return to country of origin •(Spencer-Rodgers, 2000; Parr, Bradley & Bingi, 1992)

U of M Enrollment Trends

• Office of Institutional Statistics, University of Manitoba, 2007

2001-2002 Student Enrollment

974, 4%

Domestic Students 22644 96%

Domestic StudentsInternational Students

International Students

U of M Enrollment Trends

2005-2006 Student Enrollment

2661 9%

Domestic Students 25388

91%

Domestic Students

International Students

International Students

Office of Institutional Statistics, University of Manitoba, 2007

Country of Origin for Seminar

Country of Origin

China, 9, 45%

South Asia, 6, 30%

Japan, 2, 10%

Other, 3, 15%

Rationale

• New responsibilities, knowledge and skill requirements for student development professionals

• Eg. Wood and Kia (2000)

• Our own experiences• What can I do with an Economics Degree?• 90-Day Panic

• Do international students need career planning?

What Students want to know• Work permit questions…

• How do I become “legally employable” in Canada?• How do I deal with employers who are reluctant to hire a

foregin worker?

• Job search questions…• How do I find job postings?• How do I write a cover letter or prepare a resume?• Interview… help!

• Career Preparation questions…• I want to know for sure what to do after university• To learn about having a career and life in Canada

What We Did…

• 6 session seminar in the Winter term of 2007

• Closed group, attendance ranging from 14 to 22

• Interactive and fun!! • Small groups• Food

Session 1• Worries and Challenges

•Language skills

•Meeting new friends

•Cultural differences

•Lack of work experience

•Jokes/slang

•Looking stupid

•International status/ work permits

•What jobs do I like

•Interview preparation

•Small talk

•Transportation

•Housing

•Homesick

•Winter

Session 1: Career Word GameCantonese Phrase

Literal English Meaning

Tao Gai Maw Gao Steal the chicken and feel the dog

???

Ma Doe Gong Sing Horse riding breaks the door of success

???

Gai Tong Ap Gong Chicken talking to a duck

???

Ban Juu Sick Lo Foo Pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger

???

Session 1: Career Word GameCantonese Phrase

Literal English Meaning

Tao Gai Maw Gao Steal the chicken and feel the dog

Like a petty thief: Not being honest and open.

Ma Doe Gong Sing Horse riding breaks the door of success

Wishing you a successful and lucky project!

Gai Tong Ap Gong Chicken talking to a duck

Not talking the same language, can’t relate/communicate with each other.

Ban Juu Sick Lo Foo Pretend to be a pig to eat a tiger

Pretending to be something you are not; using intelligence to manipulate others.

Session 2• What is important to you in a career?

•Learning

•Financial Return

•Challenge

•Achievement

•Equity & Respect

•Interest

•Recognition

•Location

•Job Market

•Contribution

•Family values

Sessions 3-6• Session 3: Matching interests to career

possibilities. Identifying potential employers (NOC code, labour market info).

• Session 4: Work permit info and interview etiquette.

• Session 5: Job skills and Resume building

• Session 6: Culmination and reflection.

What We Learned…

The data…• Increase in reported levels of confidence

(p<.05) and knowledge (p <.05)

Student Ratings of the Career Program

Met my needs Good use of time

Enjoyable

Mean 4.00 4.15 4.31

Std. Dev. 1.08 1.28 1.32

Min 2.00 1.00 1.00

Max 5.00 5.00 5.00

•Rating of the program (1 = Strongly Disagree; 5 = Strongly Agree)

Student FeedbackWhat parts of the seminar did you find helpful?

•Interviews and resumes

•Job search skills

•Learning about the “soft skills”

•Group discussion

•Identifying potential employers

•Practice interviews

Student FeedbackWhat might make it more helpful?

•More time!!!

•More group discussion

•Former international students as guest speakers

•More coverage of resume and cover letter writing

Our Observations

• Sharing of Canadian/western culture (eg. Small talk)

• Flexibility!

• Students respond well to small group interaction

• Need for screening regarding level of acculturation to western culture

Our Observations• Recognizing external pressures and responding to

urgency

• More active collaboration with other departments needed.

• Marketing: • Rooms/space• word of mouth• student groups• Other campus departments

Concluding Points

• An increase in student diversity comes with a need for programming targeted at meeting the unique needs of these diverse groups.

• International students represent a growing population on Canadian campuses

• Preparation for transitioning to a career in Canada is an important need for many international students.

• Student development professionals can learn from each other as we make creative efforts to respond to the changing and diverse range of student needs.

Contact Information• Michael Mandrusiak

• Phone: 204-474-8622• Email: M_Mandrusiak@umanitoba.ca

• Angela Bohonos• 204-474-6580• Angela_Bohonos@umanitoba.ca