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I was merely 18 when I started my journey to pursue higher education as an international student. As a minority back home in Pakistan. I faced many challenges and always wanted to go somewhere where there was peace, appreciation, better quality of life, less discrimination and overall safety for women. So, right after completing high school, I started navigating through study abroad opportunities and scored well in the standardized tests. After rigorously applying, I was accepted into more than 10 universities and colleges.
As soon as I landed in university in the U.S., I was overjoyed. I felt peaceful, calm and excited. However, I did not know what was awaiting me – which would break me, mold me and then give me strength, hope and courage to push through.
As an international student, I went through homesickness, loneliness, lack of support from family and friends, financial restraints, accommodation issues, academic challenges and weather changes. Adapting to a new culture and environment affected my emotional and physical well-being. However, I was able to overcome most of these challenges and thrived during my undergraduate program. I graduated with an honours degree and received awards for being an outstanding student, tutor and ambassador.
But just when I had regained my lost confidence and developed my ability to navigate through the culture and systems, I once again found myself broken and shattered after graduation. As I struggled to find work, I started to believe that I was not good enough to thrive and land into a successful career.
After going through many challenges, I am in a much better position today. Now, I work to support students in higher education as a part-time faculty member and as a student affairs professional. I interact with many international students every day and I witness their struggles. Based on my experience as an international student, and drawing on what I have learned working in higher education, I will share some of the key challenges international students experience and several tips to overcome these.
Career challenges
There are many reasons international students might struggle to find a job: they do not have Canadian experience; visa and immigration issues; class schedules; and lack of awareness of the Canadian labour market as well as expectations for resumes, cover letters and interview techniques.
The major roadblocks that were in my path were the lack of networking opportunities and mentoring. My university did not expose me to relevant industries, and I lacked knowledge of employers’ expectations for job search documents, interviews, salary negotiation and dress codes. I did not know the difference between a resume and CV; in North America, the format is different compared to Asian and Middle East countries.
I also did not know the concept of a cover letter. I thought that a resume was enough, and did not understand I wasn’t getting calls for interviews because my application was seen as incomplete.
As an 18-year-old, I had never worked before. I had to look for my first job on-campus and, for about a year, I struggled to land a job. However, once I found work, I thrived in my role, was promoted multiple times, and eventually collaborated with other departments and established a couple of programs for students. I supported hundreds of students while being a student myself.
“I thought that a resume was enough, and did not understand I wasn’t getting calls for interviews because my application was seen as incomplete.”
I recognized gaps in student supports and wanted to address those challenges so that new international students would not suffer the way I did. I saw that professional support, presence and guidance of mentors and institutional resources are key factors affecting students’ success before and after graduation.
Tips to overcome challenges
It is common for international students to go through various challenges while dealing with a new academic environment and cultural changes. Most international students expect to face challenges, but it is important for them to learn how to overcome these obstacles.
Employer expectations around language proficiency, work ethic, career preparedness, soft and hard skills, and interview structures vary from region to region. To better understand the local labour market, it is important for international students to connect with the institutional career centre within their first year. This will support students’ integration into a new culture and help them build up their resume, cover letter, interviewing techniques and confidence. Eventually, it will help them establish the career they desire.
Additionally, external resources such as social media presence, especially LinkedIn and a personal website (if the student can afford it) are very important. I have reached out to a lot of people on LinkedIn, where I have established great relationships and mentors. I have collaborated on various projects because I was connected to people and saw posts and events that helped me in my career. Finding the right mentors from one’s industry or interest area is another bonus because they can provide career insights, guidance and support.
Never give up
My advice to all students – and especially international students – is to never give up on your dreams and career desires. Keep knocking on doors, learn and improve your skills, continuously work toward your goals and, if it’s not working out, reach out for help. Connect with institutional support staff, the career centre, the international department, professors and friends. Also, take advantage of any and all resources that your institution is providing, along with external resources such as social media, organizations and industry partners.
Patience, resiliency and your hard work will pay off in the end. Your struggles and challenges will mould you and make you a stronger and better person on the journey to achieving your goals.
