Best Practices for International Student Career Services

Tate Conference March 12, 2015

Soo Kyoung Lee, Ph.D., International Education ResearcherAlisa Eland, Ph.D., Associate Director & Head of Advising and Counseling

Yuki Rowland, M.A., International Student Advisor

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6,236 International Students (UMN)

ISSS Annual Report 2014 -2015

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2,758 Undergraduate Int’l Students

ISSS Annual Report 2014 -2015

2,758 Undergraduate Int’l Students

ISSS Annual Report 2014 -2015

Top 7 Colleges

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Introduction of the Research

ISSS (International Student & Scholar Services)

International Student Barometer (ISB) International Student Career Services

Best Practices Project CDN Advisory Group

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International Student Barometer 2013

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The Needs of Int’l Students

When Students are going back home – Support for sense of loss about leaving host country – Re-entry adjustment – Resources and strategies for career success in the

context of home country Professional network back home Accurate vocational information back home

Arthur, N., & Nunes, S. (2014). Should I stay or should I go home? Career guidance with international students. In Handbook of Career Development (pp. 587-606). Springer New York.

The Needs of Int’l Students When students are staying in the US

– Work experiences & Cultural differences Work authorization Career planning and preparation

– Job opportunities and market in the US– US immigration rules

Job search skills – Job search process in the US – American-style resume and curriculum vitae – Cultural differences and language barriers– Job search strategy

Spencer‐Rodgers, J. (2000). The vocational situation and country of orientation of international students. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 28(1), 32-50.

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Overview of Research Project

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UMN General SurveyWhat is your country of origin?

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Survey Participants What college are you in?

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Survey Participants

What year are you in?

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Survey Key Findings Have diverse career experiences 92% plan to find an internship before graduation 75% hope to work in the US after graduation Inspired by and rely on themselves more than anyone Cultural differences in employers’ values

– U.S. vs. Home country 27% have visited Career Services Career Services staff’s knowledge about Int’l students’ needs

– 13% Very Knowledgeable & 39% Knowledgeable – 37% Somewhat Knowledgeable & 11% Not Knowledgeable

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

How I found an internship/ job – Job fairs and career events – Applying and internet resources

LinkedIn, GoldPASS, Glassdoor, Google

– Network of people Advisors, professors, and mentors

– “Being excellent” Classroom project and company competition

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

“I attended my department job fair to be connected with people who were working for companies of my interest.”

“Job fairs did not work for me. I searched for internships using Google and applied from LinkedIn and emailed the HR and got my

internship.”

“I signed up for the CSE mentor program and they matched me with a mentor and he kind of helped me through the whole applying

thing.”

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

Challenges that I experienced– Companies do not hire undergraduate

international students– Companies do not understand what CPT is– Discouraging remarks from a career course

instructor – Being lost in the process – University structure – American interview style

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

“Some companies just say directly that they don’t want to look at your resume just because you aren’t a citizen.”

“My teacher in the career class, … she flat out said, ‘Oh you’re international so you’re not going to get a job’ and I was like ‘Oh

that’s really rude’ like ‘Why are you teaching this class?’”

“I think the interview, like to get used to the format, answer those questions.”

“It [the system] is not done [structured] to accommodate the international student. They are just thrown into the system and told

to adjust to the American system.”

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

Suggestions to the University of Minnesota – Outreach to new international students– University staff training – Employer relations through int’l alumni– Develop online resources

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

“Yeah, a lot of advisors and people know a lot about the American side but in every college there are a lot of international students and

they aren’t very educated on this topic.”

“I think it’s important for school to keep in contact with those alumni and suggest them to work on making those companies come over to

the school.”

“Could you create a database of all those companies that have accepted international students before?”

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

Tips for international students looking for an internship/ job – Know what you want – Start early and be strategic – Network – Know American work culture – Know how to sell yourself

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Focus Group/ Alumni Interview

“First, starting with ‘What is CPT?’ and ‘Have I got an understanding of what is the whole process?’.”

“I would suggest international student to be highly appeared, to make more appearance on the campus, be socially networked, to

be more proactive to talk to recruiters…”

“It’s very important to find student groups and projects…”

“I think it’s really important for international students to know what aspect of their experiences will sell them better…”

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Institutional Best Practices

Communication with students Career workshops and programs Collaboration Networking and career events Employer relations Staff trainings

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Suggestions

Outreach to int’l students to better inform – Available resources and how to use them– Realistic expectations of the job search process

Build relations with Int’l student friendly employers Develop Int’l alumni connections Help students expand job search beyond MN & US Develop online resources for int’l students’ job search

and career development

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Small Group Discussion

What does the data suggest to you?

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Resources ISSS Annual Statistical Report ISSS Career Services

– Work authorization for int’l students – Visa workshops – Contact: Yuki Rowland (yukit@umn.edu) for questions of ISSS career services

ISSS Resources– Academic Adviser Resources – Innovative Community Building Grant & Culture Corps program – Customized trainings & Information sessions – Contact: Marina Uehara (uehar003@umn.edu) for questions/ training requests

International Alumni LinkedIn Group H-1B Petitioners

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Thank you!