Simran Mahita
From Impostor Syndrome to Landing a Co-op Work Term: How Co-op Supported Me as an International Student During My Job Search
Embarking on my first job search was an emotional rollercoaster that left me feeling anxious, uncertain, and overwhelmed. Being an international student in Canada, I felt even more worried about starting my job search. I wondered if I would ever adapt to an entirely new work culture. What if I found it challenging and never adjusted? Before even beginning my job search, my thoughts spiralled down a rabbit hole of negativity.
I recall freezing up while attempting to write my resume. I was well aware that having a resume really meant creating multiple versions and editing it until it was perfect, but I would scrutinize every word I wrote. I would compare every bullet point on my resume to the job description and always convince myself that I was not qualified enough for the job. As a result, I missed out on countless job opportunities. But, deep down, I knew that I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and take the plunge by submitting my very first application soon.
For weeks, I had been stuck in this cycle. But halfway through my search term, I finally mustered up the courage to submit my first two job applications. And I never would have guessed what happened next. To my surprise, I received two job interviews from both employers!
I felt a mix of relief, excitement, and anxiety all at once. Despite feeling proud of myself, I couldn’t shake off the nagging worry about my upcoming interview, and my mind started racing with worries: ‘What if I stumble over my words?’ and ‘What if I can’t answer their questions?’ As an international student, I have always been proud of my bilingualism, but the thought of code-switching and not communicating effectively in an interview left me feeling uneasy. I had been practicing, but the fear of cracking under pressure and failing to communicate effectively weighed heavily on me. It was then that I realized I needed help, so I booked a mock interview with my Co-op Career Educator.
Before this, I had never booked an advising appointment, so I thought it would be a brief and formal meeting where we’d go through quick interview questions, and that would be it. However, to my surprise, rather than diving straight into questions as I thought, my Co-op Career Educator asked me about any concerns I had. She listened intently, asked thoughtful questions about the worries I had and offered personalized advice specifically regarding my concerns. From the appointment, not only did I get valuable mock interview practice, but with her advice I left feeling more confident, supported, and prepared for my interview.
Reaching out to my Career Educator was a complete game-changer for me. During the first half of my job search, I felt completely anxious and lost. However, just one advising appointment with my Career Educator completely transformed the entire process. Suddenly, what seemed like an intimidating job search process became more manageable, and I felt incredibly supported. After the advising appointment, I made a conscious effort to follow up with my Career Educator and regularly update her on my interview progress. Before I knew it, I had successfully secured a job offer!
As I reflect on my first job search process, I cannot help but think how much easier it could have been if I had reached out to my Career Educator in the first half of my job search when I felt stuck and worried. The job search process felt intimidating until I met my Career Educator. I wished that I reached out to her sooner and I advise others who are in the same boat to do the same!
As an international student, searching for a job for the first time in a new country can be intimidating, especially with feelings of imposter syndrome. It is common to feel like you are not good enough compared to others. But it is important to remember that as an international student you have unique skills, experiences, and language abilities that can add value to any workplace. In my own job search, I struggled and felt this too, but I found that seeking support from my Career Educator was instrumental in gaining confidence. Career Educators do not only provide guidance on job search strategies and application advice but also personalized support to address any of your concerns or worries. Remember, as an international student, you have a lot to offer, and with the right support, you will successfully land a work term!
Simran Mahita
From Impostor Syndrome to Landing a Co-op Work Term: How Co-op Supported Me as an International Student During My Job Search
Embarking on my first job search was an emotional rollercoaster that left me feeling anxious, uncertain, and overwhelmed. Being an international student in Canada, I felt even more worried about starting my job search. I wondered if I would ever adapt to an entirely new work culture. What if I found it challenging and never adjusted? Before even beginning my job search, my thoughts spiralled down a rabbit hole of negativity.
I recall freezing up while attempting to write my resume. I was well aware that having a resume really meant creating multiple versions and editing it until it was perfect, but I would scrutinize every word I wrote. I would compare every bullet point on my resume to the job description and always convince myself that I was not qualified enough for the job. As a result, I missed out on countless job opportunities. But, deep down, I knew that I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and take the plunge by submitting my very first application soon.
For weeks, I had been stuck in this cycle. But halfway through my search term, I finally mustered up the courage to submit my first two job applications. And I never would have guessed what happened next. To my surprise, I received two job interviews from both employers!
I felt a mix of relief, excitement, and anxiety all at once. Despite feeling proud of myself, I couldn’t shake off the nagging worry about my upcoming interview, and my mind started racing with worries: ‘What if I stumble over my words?’ and ‘What if I can’t answer their questions?’ As an international student, I have always been proud of my bilingualism, but the thought of code-switching and not communicating effectively in an interview left me feeling uneasy. I had been practicing, but the fear of cracking under pressure and failing to communicate effectively weighed heavily on me. It was then that I realized I needed help, so I booked a mock interview with my Co-op Career Educator.
Before this, I had never booked an advising appointment, so I thought it would be a brief and formal meeting where we’d go through quick interview questions, and that would be it. However, to my surprise, rather than diving straight into questions as I thought, my Co-op Career Educator asked me about any concerns I had. She listened intently, asked thoughtful questions about the worries I had and offered personalized advice specifically regarding my concerns. From the appointment, not only did I get valuable mock interview practice, but with her advice I left feeling more confident, supported, and prepared for my interview.
Reaching out to my Career Educator was a complete game-changer for me. During the first half of my job search, I felt completely anxious and lost. However, just one advising appointment with my Career Educator completely transformed the entire process. Suddenly, what seemed like an intimidating job search process became more manageable, and I felt incredibly supported. After the advising appointment, I made a conscious effort to follow up with my Career Educator and regularly update her on my interview progress. Before I knew it, I had successfully secured a job offer!
As I reflect on my first job search process, I cannot help but think how much easier it could have been if I had reached out to my Career Educator in the first half of my job search when I felt stuck and worried. The job search process felt intimidating until I met my Career Educator. I wished that I reached out to her sooner and I advise others who are in the same boat to do the same!
As an international student, searching for a job for the first time in a new country can be intimidating, especially with feelings of imposter syndrome. It is common to feel like you are not good enough compared to others. But it is important to remember that as an international student you have unique skills, experiences, and language abilities that can add value to any workplace. In my own job search, I struggled and felt this too, but I found that seeking support from my Career Educator was instrumental in gaining confidence. Career Educators do not only provide guidance on job search strategies and application advice but also personalized support to address any of your concerns or worries. Remember, as an international student, you have a lot to offer, and with the right support, you will successfully land a work term!