Launch a Career in Canada
All international students are invited to Launch a Career in Canada, a networking event that offers an opportunity to connect with employers and UBC international alumni, learn more about the Canadian job market, and get tips on finding a great job.
This event features an interactive panel discussion that allows participants to ask questions of the speakers, followed by a networking session with the panelists, employers and international alumni.
The speaker panel
The evening begins with a speaker panel where employers and UBC alumni share their perspectives on topics such as:
- The job market for international students
- Conveying the benefits of being an international student to employers
- Overcoming the job search challenges that face international students
Panelist biographies
Andrew Thompson, V.P. of Engineering at RESAAS
Andrew is a 2008 UBC Applied Science in Electrical Engineering graduate. He specialized in software engineering, product design and entrepreneurship and made the Dean’s Honour List when he graduated from the UBC Engineering Co-op Program. Andrew has worked in many cities around the world and is currently V.P. of Engineering at RESAAS. RESAAS is an enterprise social network for real estate professionals, mortgage specialists, home buyers and sellers. Andrew also has a technical blog.
Tips for success:
“Make sure to research the company you are applying to and try to understand their business thoroughly.”
Chelsea Park, Branch Manager at Scotiabank
Chelsea is a firm believer in planning to create success and sharing her knowledge with her peers and mentees. During her undergraduate years, Chelsea was actively involved as an orientation leader, International Peer Advisor, and International Peer Program Leader. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from UBC in 2008, she remains an active alumna serving as a Director for Korean Society of BC, Vancouver Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation (VKCSF), and a co-founder of VKCSF Alumni. Currently, Chelsea is a Branch Manager with Scotiabank at UniverCity Branch in Burnaby, BC.
Tips for success:
“Be ready with your 3 minute Elevator Speech so you can promote yourself anytime, anywhere.”
Dzifa Foli, Residency Program Finance/Assistant at UBC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Dzifa graduated in 2010 from the Sauder School of Business in Accounting. She came to Canada after completing her secondary education in Ghana and works full-time for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Vancouver General Hospital. She is also enrolled in the Diploma in Accounting Program at the Sauder School of Business in the hopes of gaining a Chartered Accounting designation in the future.
Tips for success:
“You may or may not be certain of the kind of career you want to pursue after you graduate, however, chances are the first job you land may not be that dream job. It does help to have an amazing boss and mentor who understands the Canadian work environment. On that note, I would like to thank Carleton Ng for being an amazing boss and mentor. “
“Talk to different people in the industry/company you are interested in. Find out how they got to where they are.”
Alden E. Habacon, Manager of Diversity Initiatives, CBC Television; Founder and Publisher of Schema Magazine
Alden graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SFU in 2002. He is the founder of Schema Magazine and for the past five years has served as Manager of Diversity Initiatives for CBC Television. Alden's current areas of focus are cultural innovation, interculturalism and multi-generational diversity within the new Canadian mainstream. Alden's goal is to push diversity beyond the traditional mosaic model. As such he has developed the "Schema model" which defines cultural identity in terms that are more than ethnic. Alden is also the director of Intercultural Understanding Strategy Development at UBC.
Tips for success:
"Perfect telling your story. Be a confident public speaker. Focus on confidence, rather than accent. Be interesting to be around. Know how your background, language is an asset. Be a good listener. Be teachable. Know your brand. Volunteer in the field that want to work in. Study Canadian values."
Anoop Shankar, Business Systems Analyst at TELUS
Anoop Shankar believes that profitability and sustainability are equally important. Driven by his "insatiable curiosity", he has lived, studied and worked across the globe. Anoop graduated in 2006 from the UBC Computer Science Co-op program. He has worked in telecom for the last six years with TELUS, launching his career as a key contributor to the Business Transformation Leadership Development Program (BTLDP) and progressing to his current role as a business consultant to a 2000+ person Information Technology department.
Tips for Success:
"I can't give this away that easily - you'll have to come talk to me at the Launch a Career in Canada event to find out ... Hint: Think about your brand and value proposition"
The networking session
Once the speaker panel concludes, stay for a mix-and-mingle (with light refreshments) and gain insight on your job search directly from employers and UBC international alumni.
Employers/alumni biographies
Lin Chen, Newcomer Information and Support Worker at DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
Lin has been actively involved on campus and in community agencies, supporting multicultural populations in settling and integrating in the community, since her studies at UBC. Through peer mentorship, group facilitation, community outreach and program coordination, her engagements with people from all walks of life have inspired her to take the initiative to learn from and share knowledge with others. This has also led her to pursue further studies in social work, and seek opportunities relating to international and community development.
Tips for success:
“Have a clear idea of and communicate what you would like to do and/or areas of interest. Be proactive – opportunities arise in a variety of circumstances! Follow up and follow through with contacts after meetings.”
Charlene Wee, Certified Administrator at Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources
Charlene graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Sociology (Social Justice) and an M.Ed. in Feminist Approaches to Social Justice in Education. She also obtained a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Cross Cultural Counselling from UBC. Charlene has been involved with volunteer management and leadership programs for 18 years and has received several awards including the Action to End Racism Recognition Award (UBC, 2004). She is currently a committee member for Administrators of Volunteer Resources BC, and Board Chair of Certification for Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources.
Tips for success:
"Volunteer or work in various places and meet people - make a positive impression no matter what you do as that's where you build connections! Keep in contact with people who know and support you and your work/interests - they'll be key in building your career prospects. Revise your résumé and consider doing mock interviews to secure employment and build confidence when opportunities arise."
Jing Liu, Chinese Language Librarian at UBC Asian Library
Jing graduated from Wuhan University in China. She received her M.L.S. from University of Washington and Master of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies from UBC. She has experienced librarianship from different types of libraries in Beijing, New York, Chicago, Seattle and Canada. She has conducted many training programs for Chinese libraries, and enjoyed working with librarians collaboratively worldwide. She has received travel and research grants, and published books, book chapters, conference and journal papers. Jing is also involved in many mentor programs for international students.
Tips for success:
"Start to pave the way early. Learn Canadian work place rules. Stand out with your strengths."
Please check back for more employers/alumni.
Pre-event Networking Workshop
Career Services is running a free one-hour networking workshop to answer any questions students may have prior to the actual event. Students who attend Launch a Career in Canada 2012 are encouraged to sign up for this workshop.
Date: February 1, 2012
Time: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Location: Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Dodson Room (3rd floor in the Chapman Learning Commons)
RSVP: Register by January 31 on CareersOnline
