Career Resources

Feature Article

Making the Connection

If you are just starting your international career, the best thing for you to be right now is curious. Know that you are new and be realistic. Curious people are impelling and interact with their environment instead of aggressively focusing on outcomes. International professionals have unique insights into how cultures communicate, are attuned to world politics and economics and know how to interact with people from various backgrounds. They have a lot to teach you!

In a world of strangers, many seeking jobs, a potential employer is more likely to give you an extra moment of consideration if you are known by someone they know, or if in some other way you can create a sense of personal connection. Talk to professors, other international workers, attend guest lectures by internationalists. Be clear about your interest and passion and ask for "nominations", suggestions of offices or individuals they might recommend. Refer to that recommendation when you make contact.

• Contact throughout the year:

  By now, you probably know when is a good time to contact employers in your region to avoid the traffic jam and land a job. However, networking plans based on the calendar year don’t work internationally. Project and program cycles are different for all countries and even differ between offices.

• Look at your calendar:

  Make sure you know the local holidays. Contacting your employer-to-be on their religious holiday sends a clear message that you have not put in the time needed to understand the local culture and customs.

• Look at the clock:

  If you cold-call a contact when their sun has set, you can pretty much assume that it won’t rise in your favour.

• Keep it short:

  Your mother will politely nod her head as you hash out all of the details you feel are important. Internationals won’t; the world spins fast and they are busy. Try and look at yourself from their eyes and stick to the point. You can contribute the most to their programming needs by.....(fill in the blanks).

• Focus on Relationships:

  As much as you may think you can smooth-talk your way to any job, employers know when they are approached by someone whose personal gains are of ultimate concern. International development is for the kind-hearted. Show your passion and concentrate on what you can contribute.

• Speak simple English:

  Unreliable communication lines coupled with personal accents can make getting your point across challenging. The second point to note is that jargon does not translate well and may be misinterpreted. Know that the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan “finger-licken’ good” easily translates into “eat your fingers off” in Chinese.

• Know what your regional phrases are:

  You have limited time to speak so don’t say things that will divert their attention away from the main point, while they try to figure out what it is you’ve just said. Here are some examples: talent war, outside the box, double-double, tuque, 2-4, keener, and Canuck. Sounds simple, eh?

• Take a hint:

  If the person you tried to contact doesn't respond to your second attempt, it's not because the message wasn’t received. Keep walking.

• Pick your contacts carefully:

  The Executive Director, Chief of Operations, or Country Coordinator has already put their time in dealing with human resource issues. They will be more likely to file your email into their “Completed Tasks” folder without responding. Take time to find who it is that is most appropriate to contact. They are more likely to go out of their way to be helpful.

• Don't misrepresent your intentions:

  Everyone knows what networking is and why it’s important. It’s good that you are out there taking the initiative and putting in the effort. No need to try and trick them into meeting you; this is irritating and misleading. i.e. you have just put yourself on their mental blacklist.

• Be yourself:

  Using show-off phrases sends the message that you have studied and memorized what you are going to say. The contact you meet will leave not knowing who you truly are. What you have just told them is: “You won’t like me, so how about my alter-ego?” Being prepared is good. Overdoing it is not.

• Don't cancel:

  Unless you have a real and serious emergency, if you cancel your date, you cancel your chances of success. “Sick” doesn’t cut it. It takes a strong person to be reliable.