“What are your plans after graduation?” is probably a question that every international student has been grilled with, and as graduation season draws near, anxiety about employment is becoming increasingly clear. In addition to one-on-one consultations at the university’s career center and with career coaches, students can also attend alumni forums to learn about the career paths of former students and expand their networks.
Last week, CheersYou（清柚教育） admissions consultant Shelly was invited by New York University, as an outstanding alumna and representative of the education consulting industry, to participate in an alumni lecture titled “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in International Employment,” answering questions for current students.
The Rocky Job Search Path for International Students
During the lecture, Shelly shared her own journey of seeking employment in the U.S. as an international student.
Having focused on communications during both her undergraduate and graduate studies, Shelly applied to many media-related positions early in her job search, but the results were disappointing. No matter how well she connected with HR during interviews, as soon as she mentioned needing visa sponsorship as a Chinese student, the responses became noticeably cooler.
This experience reminded Shelly of a discussion about employment barriers in a graduate course: the media constantly reinforces negative stereotypes based on race, gender, nationality, and other characteristics, causing employers to favor white American males perceived as having fewer “uncertainties” when screening candidates.
Turning a Cross-Cultural Background from Disadvantage to Advantage
Does this mean that the countless international students have no opportunities? Of course not!
Shelly believes that under the influence of globalization, many multinational companies are in urgent need of employees with diverse backgrounds to expand their international operations, so Chinese international students with a bicultural background in both China and the U.S. can also find their own career stage.
At an NYU career fair, Shelly learned about CheersYou（清柚教育）, which operates with a dual focus on China and the U.S. Unlike other study-abroad agencies, CheersYou（清柚教育） left the deepest impression on her with its genuine, heartfelt approach.
Through several rounds of interviews, Shelly felt that CheersYou（清柚教育） not only takes responsibility for each student seriously but also provides diverse support for employee growth and development, which aligned perfectly with her career goals. CheersYou（清柚教育） not only offers educational assistance to international students but also gives them opportunities to broaden their career paths.
Plan Early, Seize the Opportunity
When the moderator asked Shelly, as a former student, what advice she had for current students, she emphasized the importance of early planning.
Considering that a bachelor's degree lacks competitiveness in the current job market, Shelly had already set her goal on pursuing graduate studies early on during her undergraduate years at Boston University. Her own educational journey made her realize that post-graduation planning is especially crucial; whether entering the workforce or continuing further studies, one should plan ahead to seize opportunities.
Last year, due to the impact of the pandemic, many recent graduates faced unprecedented difficulties in their job search. By comparison, enrolling in a graduate program can enhance one's personal value more than hastily taking a job at an unsuitable company.
Pursuing graduate studies offers not just academic advancement but also an excellent platform for developing career-related skills. Shelly also urged students to broaden their horizons: after being honed through a graduate program, the employment stage will often be much wider!
