An Ending is a New Beginning - Part 2

“Job searching” was one of the most daunting phases that I have ever been through during graduate school. Being an international student complicates things even more.

The daunting “job search” haunted me constantly for 6 months - SIX SOLID MONTHS - while I was also working at both my assistantship and practicum site, as well as taking full-time graduate coursework. To say that job search is another full-time job is an understatement.

Do not expect me tell you job searching is easy, because it really isn’t. None of my peers in my cohort would tell you that job searching is easy either, even though they do not have to seek sponsorship from potential employers when going through the process.

What I can tell you is that NOTHING CAN STOP YOU WHEN YOU HAVE A DREAM.

I started looking at job postings the October before I graduated. I knew by heart that I had to work extra hard in order to be on the same starting line as all of my peers who are domestic students. Some people were location-bound when they started looking for jobs, while others had a very specific functional area that they wanted to work in. As an international student who is passionate about serving the international student population studying abroad in the United States, I decided to not be location-bound but to stick with looking mainly into openings in the sub-field of international higher education—specifically in international students and scholars services. Having a focus in my search has made my job search process slightly more tolerable; while new positions were being posted online every day, the only way not to get overwhelmed by that is to have at least an idea of what you want to do in your first “big-boy/big-girl” job after you graduate.

• What are you most passionate about in student affairs and higher education?
• Which of the many sub-populations on a college campus do you enjoy working with the most?
• Do you have relevant professional experiences working in the functional area(s) that you are interested in entering?
• How can you talk about transferrable skills that you have attained that would make you the best candidate for the position?
• What do you see yourself doing in a few years after you graduate?
• What makes you smile at work, and what do you enjoy doing the most in a work capacity?

The more you go through job postings and reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, the more you will be informed about how to better construct a targeted resume and cover letter for your dream job; the more you prepare yourself, the more confident you will be. Reminders like this may sound cliché, but these words should be your all-time motto throughout your entire second year of graduate school—while you are also trying to finish strong by acing all of your coursework AND getting a job offer before you move your graduation tassels from right to left.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your mentors and peers about your job search process. A mentor can not only support you in your job search process by giving you encouragements and affirmations, but also connect you to other professionals. I was fortunate to have a couple of seasoned professionals as my mentors, and they have been extremely helpful and supportive throughout my job search process. Not only did they give me comments on my resume, guide me to write strong cover letters, and also prepare me for interviews, they also got me in touch with their friends in the field—in schools and office that I have applied to—to recommend me early in the job application process. Peers, on the other hand, should be those who keep you afloat when you are about to drown in the sea of school and work. I was fortunate to be in a cohort-based program, where we treat each other just like extended family members—we share job postings with each other, talk about struggles, and (most importantly) encourage each other to go out for a night out when stress was about to take over our lives.

And, don’t forget, your family always has your back too—even though they are miles away. I used to dislike it when my mom called from home because she would often start the conversation by asking how my job search was going—as if she had no clue how stressful that question was to me while I was juggled two jobs, graduate school coursework, a comprehensive exam and job search all at the same time. Yet, whenever I reflect on it now, I realize that my mom was just trying to show her love and care in a way that did not click with me at that moment when my life was extremely overwhelming. So just remember that your family will always be your rock and will keep you grounded.

Don’t stop until you are content with where you are at. We all know that it is not easy to be an international student studying abroad miles away from home—no less as an aspiring international student affairs professional in a foreign land. Be the dreamer that you will be proud of after the process is over. Be the role model that you want people to look up to. There are days when the devil’s voice in your head will tell you that everything you are trying to do is not worth the hassle. When you are feeling down, remind yourself how meaningful your work is. Pull out that heartwarming email that you received from one of your students. Think about how much your students have enjoyed the program that you coordinated. Recall the moment when your supervisor acknowledged your hard work and how they would like you to continue to shine like a star. The only way to get through the dreadful job search process is to learn how to celebrate little victories. This is how you accrue self-confidence even when the job search process is beating you up.

After applying for close to 100 positions around the world (in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States), I interviewed with about 15 companies/institutions, completed about 20 phone or Skype interviews, went to two on-site final interviews, and received a total of three job offers. All your hard work will eventually pay off, and you will end up where you need to be in the end.

It was both an honor and a pleasure to receive a full-time job offer from the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State University the week before my commencement—an office full of seasoned student affairs professionals that have inspired me to enter the field of international higher education. OISS at MSU has always been my home away from home since the time I was employed there as a student worker; being able to return to my alma mater to kick start my professional career is definitely a dream come true. As an international student affairs practitioner who has been through the process, I am well aware of how stressful it could be. Yet, do not give up! Trust the process and you will eventually see the light by the end of the tunnel. Whenever you are feeling down and need someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to us who have been in your shoes—I bet all of us would be more than happy to cheer you on when needed. We are all here for you!   

I am forever grateful for the love that I have received in my professional life. Staff from OISS took me under their wings when I was as a rising sophomore back when I was 18; they took me in again as a new international student affairs professional a few months ago. Not only did they invite me to join the team as their International Student Advisor and Student Engagement Coordinator, even though I was only guaranteed to be able to work under my OPT (Optional Practical Training) for one year, they also promised to sponsor me for a work visa and tried their very best to advocate for me the best way possible. Now that I am in a position where I am extremely content, and my H-1B is approved, this is truly everything that I dreamed of.

You may now ask, “what is next?”

I have been asking the same question a lot lately, actually.

Growing up in a single parent family since I was 10, my sister and I have always worked hard just to make my mom proud. Now that I have completed two degrees as a first-generation college students, found my dream job in a foreign land, and secured a work visa to stay in the United States, I think I have achieved what I have always wanted to accomplish. So what is next?

I guess it is time for me to find a new dream. To find a purpose to live for not only for my family but also for myself.

Therefore, the journey continues. The journey of a dreamer from Hong Kong continues…

A native born and raised in Hong Kong, Vicky Lee graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development & Family Studies and minor in Sociology. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, she moved from Michigan to Tennessee to pursue her Master of Education in Higher Education Administration at Vanderbilt University, with an emphasis on international higher education, multicultural education, and student affairs. Her higher education experience includes academic research, international student and scholar programming, international student advising, housing operations and residential education, and communications. Vicky has also worked abroad in Scotland, where she has attained experiences in event planning and development, logistics coordination and scheduling, recruitment, social media outreach and marketing, and relationship management. Vicky joined the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State University on her OPT as an International Student Advisor and Student Engagement Coordinator in June 2018, and has recently received her H-1B approval to continue creating a more welcoming learning environment for the international student population on campus.