Student Spotlight: Shumei Wang

November 25, 2019 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Shumei Wang is a third-year commerce student majoring in finance from Chengdu, China. She chose Dalhousie’s Commerce program for the mandatory co-ops and the opportunity to gather real work environment experience while trying out multiple industries that co-op provides. Shumei’s first co-op experience was in the Undergraduate Advising Office (UAO) in the Rowe managing their communications. Currently, on her second work term, Shumei is working with Marsh working in Captive Solutions a more accounting-related position in the organization.

Before coming to Dalhousie, Shumei worked an administrative job with BDO China, a major accounting firm in China. Her work term with UAO was her first job in Canada, she spoke to us about this transition saying “the biggest difference between working in China and Canada is that I need to speak in my second language, English… became more brave of speaking in my second language, speaking to strangers”. She goes on to speak about how the lessons taught to her in the COMM 1710 and 1720 Business Communication classes combined with her work experience helped her develop her communication skills, professionalism, and friendly demeanour in the workplace.

For other international students looking for a co-op or coming into the co-op program, Shumei had some tips to share from her experience. She stresses never giving up on the job hunt, “students with super high GPA will have a lot of interviews and some of them might get ideal offers in late September, but don’t be panic, some good companies posted jobs late, even in late November”. Coinciding with this she stresses putting in effort for each job application tailoring your cover letter and resumes for each application.

Wrapping up our interview Shumei told us about her thoughts on the new International Student Work Experience Program (ISWEP) and her career goals. Shumei regarded the ISWEP as a good opportunity for students to learn and gain experience. In the short term, Shumei wants to find a finance position for her final co-op position and then pursue further education after graduation.

To follow Shumei’s story and adventures follow her @shumei_w27 on Instagram. To learn more about the International Student Work Experience Program visit the informational page here.

Getting To Know The Canadian Workplace

April 13, 2018 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Adjusting To The Canadian Workplace

As an international student with limited Canadian work experience, you might feel uncertain about what the workplace is like in Canada, and how to prepare yourself for it. Canadian work culture has certain similarities to other cultures, however, it does help to get involved with your new community to try and learn all that Canada has to offer. Thankfully, Dalhousie and Halifax have great opportunities and resources to help students adjust to the Canadian culture and workplace. Here are some suggestions and opportunities we encourage you to take advantage of.

Getting To Know The Culture

Getting to know a place and understanding the culture and people is important. Try to dedicate some time to explore and learn about Halifax, its culture, and its people. This will help you with your transition into the workplace. Remember these key tips:

-Ask questions when you don’t know something

-Ask questions in a polite way and explain why you are asking

Dalhousie International Centre: There is an International Centre located on the Studley, Sexton, and Truro campuses. These are great places to practice your communication skills with others. Try joining a club like the International Centre’s English as a Second Language Club to help improve your overall communication skills.

Contact the Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia. This agency helps new immigrants with their settlement and integration in Nova Scotia. Contact them to ask for any resources or services they may have for international students.

Building Confidence

Confidence is important in the workplace. Students with confidence are more attractive candidates for prospective employers and are more successful employees. Here are some key things you can do to build your confidence:

Dress for success: This does not mean that you must wear expensive clothes, it simply means that you should take pride in how you dress and establish a professional appearance, which will help you feel good about your self-image.

Practice talking to people: Challenge yourself to try talking to people who are from Canada. The more you practice, the more you will feel comfortable talking to new people. To practice your communication skills with others, join a conversation circle or participate in the International Centre’s English Corner every Tuesday night, or use resources like the Dalhousie Accent Clinic.

Improve your communication: An important part of success in Canada or anywhere else is strong communication skills. Try to find time to practice your reading, speaking, writing and listening skills in English. Take advantage of resources like the Dalhousie Writing Centre to get help with and improve your writing.

International Student Success Program: The International Student Success Program offers a variety of assistance to international and exchange students in the Faculty of Management. ISSP also hosts weekly sessions for international students to help with job searches and courses.

Gaining Experience

Gaining experience is one of the best ways to adjust to the Canadian work culture. If you’re an international student and you want to work in Canada, you need to follow certain regulations and depending on the type of work, you may need to apply for a work permit. Once you have received your work permit, you can use the following steps to become more familiar with the Canadian workplace.

Building Professional Networks

Professional networking is very important for any student or professional, as it helps you learn new things and increases your chances of success in finding a job. Here are a few resources which may be helpful for you:

Halifax Connector Program: If you are graduating soon, contact Halifax Partnership and ask them about the Connector Program. They can connect you to professionals in your industry for networking. The Connector Program’s goal is to match new residents and international graduates in Halifax with local employers.

NetWorkIt: NetWorkIt has everything that young business professionals need for seeking information on professional development, career development and entrepreneurship. They look to help young professionals get ahead by providing information and tools to assist them in their career.

Eventbrite: Check Eventbrite regularly to see local networking events to go to. This will help you get comfortable meeting new people and talking to them.

Fusion Halifax: Fusion is a not for profit organization which helps young professionals as well as students. Fusion organizes regular networking events, presentations by business leaders and other opportunities for students to benefit from.

Directory of Online Resources: Research some of the organizations listed in the Online Directory. Contacting these organizations provides a chance to work on your networking skills, language skills, and learn more about your industry.

Management Career Services: Attend the networking events and workshops that MCS arranges during the year. You can see a list of these events and register for free through the myCareer events calendar.

Exploring Ways to Develop Your Skills and Knowledge

Developing your skills and knowledge will not only increase your comfort level in the workplace but will also boost your resume and help you secure future employment. Here are some resources that can help you achieve this:

E-Learning Webinar: Beginner’s Guide: The Job Search in Canada: Watch this short presentation for all the information you will need to start your job search in Canada.

DalConnects: DalConnects is a free student leadership program offered to all Dalhousie students. The program combines exciting and informative workshops, events, leadership retreats and conferences with valuable volunteer work experience.

Access job postings through myCareer > Career Services – Summer Job and Part-Time postings: myCareer posts the available summer jobs and part-time postings under the Career Services tab. A summer or part-time job is one of the best ways to become more comfortable with the Canadian work culture while also building your resume and making money.

Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship: The Norman Newman Centre offers assistance to students who are interested in pursuing business ideas and for students in the Faculties of Management and Commerce completing majors in entrepreneurship.

Enactus: Enactus a group for students that are passionate about using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and create a better tomorrow. Enactus members apply business concepts to develop outreach projects in the local and global community.

DSU: The DSU website lets you see all the student societies at Dalhousie. Student societies are a great way to get involved at Dalhousie and gain valuable work and communication experience with students who share your interests.

While entering a new workplace culture may be a challenge at first, if you use the resources that Dalhousie and Halifax have to offer, you can help make your adjustment to the Canadian workplace much easier and increase your value as a prospective employee.

Student Spotlight: Vera Chen

February 23, 2016 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Vera Chen is a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student at Dalhousie University, currently completing her first co-op work term at Dalhousie’s Undergraduate Academic Advising Office. Vera’s involvement in the Workplace Experience Program allowed her to develop skills, build interest in the marketing field, and learn about Canadian workplace culture while working at Halifax Port Authority. Below, Vera discusses her experience.

“I attended an ISSP session where I met Jennifer Coombs, and she recommended that I participate in the Workplace Experience Program. What appealed to me the most about the program was being part of a company, working closely with experienced staff, meeting new people, and getting the chance to understand a real Canadian workplace.

During my month at Halifax Port Authority, I got the chance to learn alongside a marketing coordinator who had over twenty years of experience with the company. My supervisor and I worked closely, which allowed me to build my expertise in web communications and social media. She is now a valuable reference for me.

My first impression of the Canadian workplace was that it is a little different from my country, China. Everyone in the office sees each other as a friend because every employee is valued. They work together and are willing to help others. I have learned to work with my co-workers as a team to meet a higher standard for our office.

I really enjoyed the experience and engagement in the workplace. I have developed communication and analytical skills and was able to build great relationships. Those skills are benefitting me in my current co-op job as I am required to work with social media marketing tools such as Facebook and Webchat.

I would definitely recommend that everyone consider participating in this program to gain work experience for their future co-op jobs and also build their ability to quickly absorb and apply new information.”

The Workplace Experience Program gives international Bachelor of Commerce students who have little to no Canadian work experience a chance to spend time in the Canadian workplace to learn about the culture and expectations. Students can also receive recognition for their participation by adding it to their Co-Curricular Record. Interested in gaining valuable experience like Vera? The deadline to submit an application is this Sunday, February 28^th. For more information, visit our website and complete the application form.

4 Things You Should Do While On Your Work Term

September 18, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Congratulations to all students who have either started or are about to start their work term experience with their co-op employer. This is an exciting time to increase your exposure to the professional world. Here is a list of four things that you should do during the early stages of your work term.

1.Understand and research the organization
While on your work term you should have a clear understanding of what the organization that you are employed with does. You should research the organization before you start or even while you are working with them. Do not hesitate to ask questions to your employer about the finer details of the organization. It helps show your interest towards the organization as well as create a good impression with your employer.

2.Know the office dress code policy
A professional appearance including appropriate dress and grooming practices, can help you gain acceptance and respect from your co-workers. Below is an example of what a formal appearance, a casual Friday appearance and casual appearance should look like:

Business Professional Casual Friday Business Casual

3. Get organized and prioritize what’s important
There is nothing worse than being disorganized in the working environment. Bring a notebook and create a binder of all the necessary projects that you will be assigned. Prioritize your workload and be organized so you can work more effectively. This will help you prepare for future work experiences as well.

4. Stay connected with Management Career Services (MCS)
During your work term and once you have settled in, MCS will be interested in how you are making out. Contact you Career and Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and let them know how it is going so far. We are here to help, so do not ever hesitate to call your CRS with any questions or you can look forward to briefing them during your midterm review. Remember to continue checking your Dal inbox, reading the MCS e-bulletin, and register to attend our upcoming events on myCareer that take place outside of work hours. Investing in your ongoing professional development will always be a wise step to take in enhancing your career development.

Student Spotlight: Miranda Ding

March 12, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Miranda Ding is a third year Commerce student from China. She has completed two co-op work terms and secured her third work term for summer 2015. Last summer, she participated in the Workplace Experience Program (WEP) where she had the opportunity to gain exposure to the Canadian work environment with Clearwater Seafoods.

“I signed up for the Workplace Experience Program because I want to find a job in Canada after graduation. As an international student, I was looking forward to networking with Canadian companies but found it to be intimidating. The Workplace Experience Program gave me an excellent opportunity to approach Canadian companies in a confident manner.

At Clearwater Seafoods I was able to job shadow members of the sales, logistics and marketing departments. The logistics department impressed me the most and influenced my decision to major in Marketing Logistics. At Clearwater Seafoods I witnessed the strong relationships between employees and how much they really enjoyed the jobs that they were doing.

The WEP is a unique opportunity where you get to observe the Canadian workplace environment. The program taught me to be motivated and to take advantage of every opportunity available.”

Miranda was lucky enough to secure a third work term with her WEP host organization, Clearwater Seafoods for summer 2015. Do not miss the opportunity to apply. Applications are due on Sunday, March 29^th.

Student Spotlights: Workplace Experience Program

March 3, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

The WEP is a unique opportunity where you get to observe the Canadian workplace environment. The program taught me to be motivated and to take advantage of every opportunity available.”

Miranda kept in communication with her contact at Clearwater Seafoods and was fortunate to secure a co-op work term with them, for summer 2015. Do not miss the opportunity to apply. Applications are due on Sunday, March 29^th.

Marina Silva is a second year Commerce student from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is currently on her first co-op work term with Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI). This past summer, she was a part of the Management Career Services’ Workplace Experience Program (WEP) where she worked for Cox and Palmer law firm, in Halifax.

“I signed up for the Workplace Experience Program because I considered it a great opportunity for me, as an international student, to network, gain knowledge on business positions within companies, and experience a Canadian business environment.

Through the Work Place Experience Program, I learned some of the characteristics Canadian employers’ value that are different from Brazil. Firstly, I did not observe “workaholic” behavior in the workplace; all of the teams and directors presented a positive attitude and happiness in executing their jobs. Secondly, people were always willing to help in a proactive way and were open to answering all my questions.

Through my WEP experience at Cox + Palmer, I was able to meet and have a conversations with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and with the supervisors of each department: the Director of Finance, the Marketing Manager, the Human Resources Manager, and the Library Services Manager. My conversation with the Library Services Manager increased my interest in research and databases, which was one of the reasons why I became interested in the position I am currently working in as a Research Assistant at NSBI.

I believe the WEP helped me to achieve success in my job search. The COO even offered to be one of my references. International students should take advantage of this program because it opens doors, and helps us to be more confident in the Canadian workplace. The Workplace Experience Program is a unique program and international students are lucky to have the chance to participate in it.

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