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Student Quote Box: "Networking is not about just exchanging information. It's about sharing your experiences and asking for advice."
Navigating barriers to networking
Some international students may feel anxious to network in a new country because of the barriers they may anticipate. For example, there could be language differences that can make it feel more complex than it would at home. These are valid concerns, and there is support available for navigating these differences. If you’re concerned about a language barrier, it is true that discrimination based on language or accents, unfortunately, can happen (Martin, 2022; Munro, 2003). These are related to race and ethnic origin, which are protected grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Please see the Safety and your rights section of CareerHub for more information on discrimination, harassment and guidance on how you might respond to situations like these. While communicating in one or both of Canada’s official languages is important in the workplace, perfect fluency is not always sought. Employers are looking for the key skills needed for the jobs they’d like to fill. Being able to communicate effectively is important, but the level of importance of this can vary by job and industry. You may also bring language skills that their company needs and has difficulty finding. For example, perhaps they need someone fluent in a specific language to work with their client groups or stakeholders. There are resources available if you’re looking for support with language learning, such as the Writing and Communication Centre, the Renison Conversation Partner Program and the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre. Some international students may have concerns about cultural differences and how to navigate them in networking, job search and workplace scenarios. For example, norms around things like eye contact and handshakes can vary quite a bit across cultures. If you’re seeking support in learning more about workplace culture in Canada, the Exploring workplace culture section of CareerHub is a valuable resource. Additionally, University of Waterloo students have access to MyWorldAbroad, which contains country guides for Canada and many other countries that you may find yourself considering working in. For navigating any barriers as an international student, you may wish to think about who you can lean on for support. Perhaps this includes classmates who are experiencing similar challenges or family who have international experience. You can also connect with the International Experience Centre, which coordinates the International Peer Community, among other supports. Career advisors in the CCD are available to chat through questions or concerns you may have related to job search and workplaces. They also offer interview appointments, which can be a great way to practice your skills and build confidence. And, if you’re in co-op, you also have access to your co-op advisor throughout your degree program, who can support you with questions about finding co-op jobs and navigating the workplace when you’re on the job. How do I want to present myself? How you choose to “show up” and present yourself can be a very personal decision. Perhaps you have a preferred name or a nickname outside of your legal name, and you would prefer to use that when submitting job applications or having interviews – that’s okay. Perhaps you would prefer to use your legal name – that’s okay too. When connecting with others, you may choose to share pieces of your identity and culture, or you may choose to omit them. If you do choose to share pieces around your cultural identity, you may find opportunities to build stronger, more authentic connections and to find others who share in your identities and communities. Feel free to build in that information alongside other things you may choose to share, such as your skills and experiences. However, it can also feel vulnerable to share that level of information, and it is also completely okay to choose not to include this information and to keep the conversation strictly about your skills and experiences. You can meet with a career advisor to discuss strategies around identity disclosure in the workplace. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to representing yourself during the job search process. Choose ways to present yourself that make you feel comfortable.