Transcript Career Planning Seminar for International Students

Michael Mandrusiak, Student Counsellor
Angela Bohonos, Career Employment Advisor
Career Planning Seminar for
International Students
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
2001-2002 Student Enrollment
International Students
974, 4%
Domestic Students
International Students
Domestic Students
22644 96%
•
Office of Institutional Statistics, University of Manitoba, 2007
U of M Enrollment Trends
2005-2006 Student Enrollment
International Students
2661 9%
Domestic Students
International Students
Domestic
Students 25388
91%
Office of Institutional Statistics, University of Manitoba, 2007
Country of Origin for Seminar
Country of Origin
Other, 3, 15%
Japan, 2, 10%
China, 9, 45%
South Asia, 6,
30%
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
•What jobs do I like
•Meeting new friends
•Interview preparation
•Cultural differences
•Small talk
•Lack of work experience
•Transportation
•Jokes/slang
•Housing
•Looking stupid
•Homesick
•International status/ work permits
•Winter
Session 1: Career Word Game
Cantonese 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 Game
Cantonese 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
•Recognition
•Financial Return
•Location
•Challenge
•Job Market
•Achievement
•Contribution
•Equity & Respect
•Family values
•Interest
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 Feedback
What 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 Feedback
What 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: [email protected]
• Angela Bohonos
• 204-474-6580
• [email protected]