Management Career Services (MCS) conducts an interview with 3rd year Management (and international) student, Hongwei Xie who chats about her experience participating in the MCS Career Success Workshop Series.
How did you learn about the MCS workshop series?
As an international student, I was unsure how to pursue a career in Canada. The advertisements for the MCS Career Success Workshops promised information and advice on how to find a job, how to get connected with professionals, and how to prepare for an interview…. all skills I personally needed to learn and develop.
What inspired you to attend an MCS workshop?
I admit that I was doubtful in the beginning. I thought the workshops would only be useful for local Canadian students. My doubts disappeared after I attended the first one. Not only did I gain career-related insight, but I also gained confidence and motivation.
Which workshops did you attend?
- Informational Interviews
- Interviewing Tips
- Resumes
- Cover letters
- Networking
- One-day Job Search
What was the most effective/ informative take-away you learned from the MCS workshop?
I found the Informational Interview workshop and the Interviewing workshop particularly helpful. The Informational Interview workshop taught me how to be proactive when connecting with professionals in Canadian organizations. The Interviewing workshop provided a new perspective towards the interview process. I learned of interviewing that I had never thought about before.
Did you apply any of the tips/ tricks learned throughout your job search and/or on the job?
Yes, there are many things that I’ve started to do differently:
- I dress and present myself professionally.
- I now research and prepare good questions to ask before the interview.
- When answering an interview question, I am sure to reference examples and positive results from previous experiences.
What would you tell your fellow students about MCS workshops?
Like me, you may think the workshops will take too much time. But once you attend one, you will discover that there is a lot of insight, advice and skills can be learned. Even if you believe you are a strong contender who can get a job easily, the MCS Career Success Workshops are still relevant and valuable.
And for international students who are looking to develop employment experience in Canada, the MCS Workshop Series will help you get started.
Good luck with your studies and your career!