Launch a Career in Canada is UBC’s annual networking experience dedicated to supporting the career development of UBC international students. Each year, Launch a Career in Canada provides opportunity for UBC’s international students to connect with alumni, who were once international students, and learn from their experience establishing their career. This year, international student experiences are especially unique as many study virtually from their home country while trying to navigate current and future career opportunities.
In an effort to support students across various time zones and to expand beyond a one-time event, Launch a Career in Canada this year will include a series of offerings held between March 8 – 13.
International students will have the opportunity to hear from alumni in various panel events, connect and network with Industry Professionals in networking sessions, discover how to navigate work and research opportunities at UBC, develop job search skills, and learn how alumni made a successful transition from UBC to the Canadian workplace.
We are currently accepting student registration, and would greatly appreciate any support you can provide in promoting the event to the students in your campus community(ies). Please see below for event details and registration information.
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MONDAY, MARCH 8
LCIC PRESENTS: PATHWAYS TO THE POST GRADUATION WORK PERMIT AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM PST | RSVP
In this offering, students will learn about the process and benefits of applying for the Post Graduate Work Permit and insights into the PR process. There will be a presentation followed by a Q & A period.
LCIC PRESENTS: ALUMNI OFFICE HOUR: POST-COVID CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH VIET VU – ECONOMIST AT THE BROOKFIELD INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST | RSVP
During this office hour, Viet will explore how the possibility of remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic has opened new opportunities, as well as created new challenges for international students looking for work in Canada.
Viet Vu is an Economist at the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship, and a previous International Student at UBC. He holds a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics & Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with Honours from the University of British Columbia. Viet is studying how technology impacts the way we work, and how companies operate. He is also fascinated by how the world adapts to the emergence of new types of markets as legal frameworks often lag behind. He has led projects on understanding the impact of automation on the labour force in Canada, creating a framework to understand digital skills and digital occupations, as well as the process through which firms rapidly grow.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 9
LCIC PRESENTS: HOW TO FIND WORK & RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AT UBC | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | RSVP
This offering will give students an overview of the various work and research opportunities available to international students at UBC and provide insights to how to apply to programs, as well as making connections with faculty/staff at UBC. Programs covered will include Work Learn, Undergraduate Research awards, Student Directed Seminars and will feature a range of paid and volunteer positions available.
LCIC PRESENTS: VIRTUAL NETWORKING EVENT: MEET ALUMNI WHO SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED INTO THE CANADIAN LABOUR MARKET | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM | RSVP
This networking event will provide UBC’s International students an opportunity to connect with the international student alumni network in an effort to learn about the processes of getting hired and establishing career success in Canada. Students will have an opportunity to connect with alumni across Canada and in different industries. This structured networking event will help students learn how they can leverage their UBC degree and find career success in Canada.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10
LCIC PRESENTS: NETWORKING IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM | RSVP
In this offering, students will learn the best ways to go about looking for work both online and in-person, and learn different strategies to access the hidden job market, including LinkedIn.
LCIC PRESENTS: MY CAREER STORY: MY NON-LINEAR CAREER PATH AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | RSVP
Hear from our (4-5) speakers who have had non-linear career paths and have carved new professional opportunities. These panelists will speak about their experiences and how they leveraged their strengths as international students. Join our virtual event and bring your questions as the panelists will engage with the audience through a Q&A for the later part of the event. Whether you're in your first year at UBC, deciding what you want to major in, nearing the end of grad school, or just graduated and trying to navigate job search and career development in uncertain times; you'll learn a lot from what our panelists have to share!
Moderator
Kimberly Miranda, BA 23'
Panelists
Zining Wang, BA 18' - Public Policy Analyst, Huawei
Arnaud De Grave, MSc 14' - Forest Development Manager, EcoTree
Sheker Mammetgurban, BA 20' - Program Assistant, University of British Columbia
Aastha Pandey, BA 17' - Engagement Manager, WPIC Marketing + Technologies
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THURSDAY, MARCH 11
LCIC PRESENTS: VIRTUAL NETWORKING EVENT: INTERNATIONAL EDITION: MEET ALUMNI WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN THE AMERICAS, EUROPE, AFRICA | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM | RSVP
This networking session will provide international students with an opportunity to meet and mingle with international student alumni who have gone on to build their global careers. Students will have an opportunity to connect with alumni in various industries and global locations. This structured networking event will help students learn how they can leverage their UBC degree in international settings.
LCIC PRESENTS: SO, YOU WANT TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL: CONVERSATIONS WITH UBC ALUMNI PURSUING FURTHER EDUCATION | 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST | RSVP
This event will support current international undergraduate students who are contemplating developing their careers by pursuing further education, either at UBC or at other institutions. Many international students who come to UBC to complete their undergraduate studies end up considering the possibility of further education. This might mean staying in Canada for more studies, returning to a home country, or starting a new journey as an international student in a different location. This panel will highlight the experiences of UBC international alumni who chose to pursue additional degrees at UBC and elsewhere. They will discuss what motivated this decision, what the experience of applying to and beginning grad studies was like, and what advice they’d give to other international students who may wish to pursue multiple degrees.
Moderator: Katherine Cheng, Career Development Coordinator for Graduate Students, & PhD student in Philosophy
Panelists:
Matías de la Mota (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mat%C3%ADas-de-la-mota-86079a1a3/?originalSubdomain=ca)
M.A Student, University of British Columbia, Department of French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies
B.A, University of British Columbia
Vicky Medeia (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-victoria-medeia-25b80017a/)
M.Ed Student, University of Toronto, Masters of Education in Developmental Psychology
B.Sc, University of British Columbia, Psychology
Qingyang Liu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/qingyang-liu/)
Yale University, Master of Environmental Management, Energy & The Environment
B.A, University of British Columbia, Geography
LCIC PRESENTS: VIRTUAL NETWORKING EVENT: INTERNATIONAL EDITION: MEET ALUMNI WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN ASIA & AUSTRALIA | 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | RSVP
This networking session will provide international students with an opportunity to meet and mingle with international student alumni who have gone on to build their global careers. Students will have an opportunity to connect with alumni in various industries and global locations in Asia. This structured networking event will help students learn how they can leverage their UBC degree in international settings.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 12
LCIC PRESENTS: RESUMES AND COVER LETTERS: HOW TO LEVERAGE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO GET A JOB | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | RSVP
In this offering, students will get their resume ready for job search and learn how to effectively tailor applications to a particular job posting that highlights strengths and achievements.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 13
LCIC PRESENTS: DIVERSITY & INCLUSION IN CAREERS WITH CICELY BLAIN | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | RSVP
In this closing event, students will participate in a workshop that investigates diversity and inclusion in a way that explores inclusive language, unconscious bias and respectful team building. This session is a great introductory course for students who are beginning to explore diversity, equity and inclusion in their current and future workplaces. Students will learn through interactive, team-building style activities about the foundations of diversity and inclusion principles, vocabulary and frameworks. Students will also get a better idea about what diversity and inclusion looks like in some Canadian work places and how they can continue to advocate for themselves in the workplace.
This event is limited to current international UBC students.
