MCAF helps students find jobs after graduation

“Finding a job right out of school was really tough for me especially because I’m in a foreign country” says graduate Nikhita Kujur.

However, international students must meet certain requirements to qualify for a post-graduation work permit. Through its International Students and Spouses Employment Services program, the Multicultural Association of Fredericton provides free employment services to post-secondary international students and their spouses.

To qualify for a post-grad work permit, international students must have completed their program of study and apply within 90 day of completing the program.

“The wonderful thing about the post-grad work permit is that it’s the easiest one to receive,” employment co-ordinator Bonnie Doughty said. “Within 30 days you receive your permit.”

The post-grad permit has changed over the years. In the past, students had to find employment within the 90-day deadline and the job had to be in their field of study.

Though that stipulation has been removed, Doughty said many international students don’t work hard enough to find employment in their fields.

“When students become laid back they end up working in professional areas in which they don’t have a degree in and that causes a problem,” she said.

“Looking for a job is the same for everyone. It requires effort. Students should fine tune their skills from the beginning, by doing co-ops and working off campus. They shouldn’t wait until it is time for graduation to find jobs.”

By doing this, international students will have experience in the Canadian workforce, making it easier for them to find long-term employment,she added.

Doughty advises international students who plan to work in Canada to stay and work for a summer , or find summer employment at home in their field of study. Otherwise, she said it could take longer to find a career after graduation.

The Multicultural Association focuses on helping international students find their comfort level in a foreign work environment; and it informs them of their responsibilities in the workplace and how to deal with different personalities.

Employment facilitator Mana Sasaki, originally from Japan, remembers her experience. “I understand what it is like to be an international student looking for a job. You have to understand different cultures and how to act in the work environment. It’s difficult to grasp when you are coming from a passive culture like mine.”

“There is always a job if you look for it,” Doughty added. “You just have to do things strategically. There are a lot of success stories out there.”

For more infomation about MCAF go to www.mcaf.nb.ca