After doing all the hard work required to obtain your college diploma, there is almost nothing as rewarding as getting a job in the same field as that of your studies. However, your degree is only one half of the equation when it comes to landing your dream job.
The process of figuring out the other half of the equation depends entirely on your situation, and working on it sooner rather than later can boost your employability significantly.
Scoring a job in one’s field of study may pose additional challenges for international students, as they have a whole set of checkboxes to satisfy on top of what it takes to get hired in the Canadian job market.
Most international students in Canada prefer to keep their pathways to qualifying for permanent residency open through skilled work experience after graduation.
We talked to Sangeetha Dikshit, a career advisor at GBC, to discuss some key suggestions for what students can do now to better position themselves for future employment.
The suggestions also focus on some additional steps for international students.
1) Start learning about employers and job requirements specific to your field
Begin by gathering as much information as you can about employers and businesses in your specific field. You could divide the companies into three categories: market leaders, mid-level companies, and startups or smaller companies.
Learn about their products, services and policies. The research you do early on will help with creating resumes and cover letters, and make finding the right connections much easier.
Start breaking down job requirements for the specific position you are interested in. Learn about what skills are in demand and required in your field.
Additionally, find the best method of showcasing and promoting work. Depending on your discipline, you may need to create a portfolio, website, etc.
Finding volunteering opportunities in your field can also go a long way in learning what it takes to work in the industry as well as building your network.
An additional layer of research for international students who wish to qualify for permanent residency in Canada later on through the Canadian Experience Class pathway would be to get acquainted with the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. Find the NOC code for your intended job and start matching job opportunities with the NOC job titles specific to your industry.
2) Understanding the value of soft skills
According to Dikshit, hard skills might get someone an interview, but what really elevates their chances of getting hired are the soft skills.
“In fact, I would call them essential skills. It really surprises me that many institutions and employers still don’t give as much importance to soft skill training,” she said.
Dikshit prioritizes the ability to work in teams, take responsibility for your actions, and demonstrate leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
Through her work, she discovered that many students have difficulties communicating effectively. “Even native students have this problem. Communication skills don’t only depend on your language skills, but your personality,” she adds.
However, it is important to understand that competency in all soft skills stems from how well you can navigate, acknowledge and understand your emotions.
Do an honest assessment of the current level of your soft skills. How easy or hard is it for you to make new friends, talk to strangers, or communicate your ideas effectively and concisely? Dikshit believes that developing emotional intelligence is a key component of success.
3) Networking, networking and more networking
This is an obvious one. However, all the difference is made in how you go about doing it. Once you have done your research on potential employers, then comes the step of actually finding people in your field.
Dikshit believes LinkedIn is the best platform for networking.
She also mentioned that many students do not know how to reach out to new contacts professionally, or simply lack confidence. Many students are also hesitant to send a follow up email after an interview, she added.
Dikshit recommends building confidence in networking by reaching out to GBC Alumni first.
The GBC page on LinkedIn has a tab called ‘People,’ where one can see about 176,000 individuals who have either graduated from GBC or work for the college.
You can apply specific filters to narrow down the search to your field of interest and start reaching out to them.
Speaking to GBC alumni is much easier because you already have a common factor, she added, pointing out that sending a personalized invite with a note is a must. “I get so many invites without any personalized notes. I don’t know who you are, or why you are trying to reach out to me,” She added.
Dikshit believes that an effective way of contacting professionals and experts from your field is by requesting informational interviews with them to ask questions specific to their experiences in their industry. Key skillsets, information on what it is like to actually work in the field, and required certifications are some good examples for inquiries and further discussion.
Experts and professionals often enjoy sharing their experiences and what they have learnt with others.
In this way, you may get the opportunity to build a rapport with them, Dikshit said. If you succeed in doing so, then they might let you know if there’s an opening in their company, she added.
However, Dikshit mentioned that one must not come across as desperate in their communications. “When you ask for an informational interview, please do not ask them for a job. That doesn’t seem professional, unless they bring it up,” she said.
Study someone’s profile first to know about their work, likes, and what they care about before reaching out to them. It’s best to find areas of common interest to aid in your communication.
4) Have a backup plan
Having a game plan in case you don’t land a job in your field immediately after graduation is key in eventually getting into your field.
If this happens, Dikshit’s recommendation is to get any job you can find.
“Even if it’s not in your industry, you are still getting work experience in the Canadian job market,” she said.
She also adds that even if someone works 40 hours a week in a job unrelated to their field, they must keep looking at what they could do to reach a breakthrough.
“Every week, reach out to at least two people from your field. Use your break time if you have to. Reach out to them for informational interviews and keep applying,” she said.
If you’re an international student on a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and you wish to apply for permanent residency down the line, then you should look for other qualifying jobs.
Being an immigrant herself, Dikshit understands the additional struggles that international students face. Her advice to international students is to connect with people from other cultural backgrounds to get a better understanding of how things work in Canada.
5) Keep an eye out for additional required skills
It is becoming more commonplace for employers to look for skills in potential employees that may not be directly related to their field.
“I have seen ads for web developer positions that require you to have administrative skill sets, which intuitively makes no sense,” Dikshit said.
You have to do your homework in figuring out what these additional skills might be, and start learning them. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money learning them either. There are resources such as YouTube, which has plenty of tutorials. Additionally, Coursera offers a plethora of free courses from top universities on a wide range of subjects.
6) Get help from GBC Career Services
GBC Career Services is equipped to help you with much more than just resumes and cover letters. According to Dikshit, getting in touch with a peer coach is a good place to start. Career Services offers counsel to current students as well as GBC alumni.
Peer coaches help with resumes, cover letters, thank you letters after an interview, LinkedIn profile creation, and basic mock interviews.
If you would like more in-depth support with career exploration and assessment, require information about a specific field or have any additional queries, consider booking an appointment with one of their advisors.
For more information on what GBC Career Services offers, click here.
