Page 33 - Carlson School GBCC Career Guide

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
DO
DON'T
Focus your networking conversations on learning how someone else successfully managed the US job search as an international student. Learn from their experiences and apply the lessons to your own search.
UP NEXT:
LinkedIn
Building Your Network
Remember that US students find networking challenging as well. Try not to be overwhelmed by it.
Learn to network appropriately and effectively. Utilize the GBCC networking resources including networking events, workshops, and resources. Power Ties by Dan Beaudry is an excellent book for international students to learn the ins-and-outs of networking.
NETWORKING
Reach out to:
• International students and alumni from your home country as well as other international students and alumni to learn from their experiences.
• Carlson School community members (clubs, study groups, social organizations, students, alumni, faculty, and administration).
• The Carlson School and University of Minnesota groups on LinkedIn.
• Co-workers (past and present).
• Others at formal and informal networking activities
When networking:
• Start the conversation with a strong, 10-second positioning statement that answers, “So what do you do?” highlighting what you are good at and enjoy doing, and inspires questions and further discussion.
• State your experiences that are relevant to domestic employers, develop stories to describe your competencies, and practice enough so that your basic communications flow comfortably.
• Communicate with culturally valued traits in the US: confident (but not aggressive), self-motivated, friendly and sociable, able to talk about oneself, active listener (listen, summarize, follow up).
• Practice embodying the characteristics of a good “networker” in the US: curious, genuine, organized, humorous, creative, good follow-up, smiles, generous, interested in and helpful to others.
Hesitate to engage in networking because:
• The techniques are unfamiliar.
• You lack confidence in your ability to use the native language.
• You believe networking is a “shady” or “unethical” activity.
Start the conversation by asking, “Do you hire internationals?”
This approach may seem efficient but in the long run it
is less effective. Remember that conducting a job search campaign is a marketing activity where you want to sell yourself first and foremost. Questions about visas should not come up until someone asks you.
Limit networking contacts to those in TalentLink.
Company contacts in TalentLink are mostly HR professionals. It is their job to follow policy, and if their policy says that they don’t hire international students, they will tell you “no.” Instead, reach out to groups described above.
ADDITIONAL TIP
31
Carlson School of Management