In March, the UBC Chinese Language Program (CLP) hosted another engaging Professional Development (PD) Workshop! This Workshop was a testament to the CLP’s commitment to nurturing the personal and academic growth of its students. This semester’s session featured a dynamic panel of speakers and CLP alumni: Kai-Li Tan, Songyan Ni, and Jingjing Yi, who shared valuable insights on standing out in competitive job markets, crafting compelling narratives for career success, and navigating graduate school and future career paths with confidence.
Attendees gained a wealth of practical knowledge through the panelists’ diverse perspectives. Beyond the presentations, the session facilitated meaningful dialogue between students and speakers, encouraging a vibrant exchange of ideas. Through these interactive workshops, CLP continues to empower students to pursue their academic and professional aspirations with confidence and clarity. Without further ado, let’s dive into the recap of the presentations!
Mastering the Art of Standing Out: Kai-Li Tan’s Career Playbook
In her inspiring presentation, Kai-Li Tan guided students through her “career playbook,” emphasizing the importance of learning how to be a stand-out candidate by reframing experiences to showcase relevance and value to potential employers. She highlighted three essential traits that distinguish top candidates: curiosity, preparedness, and initiative. Curiosity means asking insightful questions beyond the typical “day in the life” queries, demonstrating genuine interest in the company and its challenges. Preparedness involves thoroughly researching the company and interview panel, referencing recent news, reports, or industry trends to engage in meaningful dialogue. Lastly, initiative is about showing value before being hired – whether by proposing solutions, offering insights, or volunteering relevant skills. By incorporating these traits, students can transform themselves from applicants into indispensable assets for any organization.
Kai-Li also emphasized the power of storytelling as a critical tool in standing out from the crowd. She underscored that employers remember stories, not bullet points on a resume. Effective storytelling differentiates candidates by turning generic claims into concrete proof of action and demonstrating strong communication skills. To structure compelling narratives, she introduced the STAR method, a framework that highlights the situation, task, action, and result. Candidates can illustrate their problem-solving abilities by detailing how they addressed challenges, the steps they took to resolve them, and the positive outcomes achieved! Through this approach, students can craft memorable narratives that showcase their impact, making their experiences resonate more deeply with potential employers.
Finally, Kai-Li encouraged students to navigate career challenges with confidence by taking proactive steps in their professional journeys. She stressed that the best opportunities often don’t come to you; you have to create them. This means actively seeking feedback by asking, “How am I doing?” and “What can I improve?” to refine skills and adapt to industry demands. She also urged students to get involved by offering their support and seeking mentorship to expand their professional networks. Moreover, Kai Li’s insights on handling rejection provided an empowering perspective: viewing rejection as data rather than failure. Each rejection offers valuable feedback on areas for improvement and serves as a reminder that hiring is often about timing and fit, not just skill. By maintaining resilience and consistency, students can remain motivated and continue to pursue their goals with determination.
From Aspiration to Admission: Songyan Ni’s Winning Formula for Graduate School
In his insightful presentation, Songyan Ni laid out a strategic roadmap for navigating the graduate school application process with confidence and clarity. He introduced his “winning formula” using the acronym UBCCLP, which highlights six essential steps: Utilize a strategic approach, Build an appealing application package, Construct confidence and preparation, Clarify goals, Learn from feedback, and Present yourself confidently. Songyan emphasized that selecting the right graduate program is the foundation of success. He also added that the best program is not necessarily the most prestigious, but the one that aligns with a candidate’s academic aspirations, career goals, and personal values. Factors such as course design, funding opportunities, career services, and placement records should be carefully evaluated in order to ensure that the program you chose provides the necessary resources to support your long-term goals.
Songyan’s winning formula: Follow the CLP acronym!
Songyan also stressed the importance of designing a compelling and personalized application package that reflects both professional competence and genuine passion. He guided students on crafting a well-structured resume that highlights relevant experiences and quantifiable results, along with a persuasive Statement of Purpose (SOP) that conveys mutual fit between the applicant and the program. In addition to this, Songyan encouraged applicants to seek recommendation letters from individuals who truly understand their strengths and are willing to advocate for their success!
For interviews, his pro tip was that students should confidently expand on their application materials, by emphasizing sincerity, politeness, and authenticity. This approach not only differentiates applicants but also reinforces their readiness to contribute meaningfully to the program.
Songyan’s insights about designing a compelling and personalized application package
Finally, Songyan addressed the final decision-making process, urging students to choose a program that offers cutting-edge guidance, practical skill development, and location-based advantages to support their future careers. He reminded attendees that the ideal program is one that positions them to succeed at the next step in their academic and professional journeys. Through continuous feedback and refinement, aspiring graduate students can strengthen their applications and approach the admissions process with confidence.
By following Songyan’s winning formula, CLP students are equipped with the knowledge and tools to transition seamlessly from aspiration to successful admission.
Final decision: choose a platform that helps you succeed at the next step
From Campus to Campus: Jingjing Yi’s Guide to Navigating Your Career Path in Higher Education
In her engaging presentation, Jingjing Yi provided CLP students with a comprehensive guide on navigating career opportunities within higher education by exploring diverse roles, preparing strategically for career transitions, and leveraging university resources effectively. She emphasized opportunity exploration across multiple fields within higher education, including student services and international student support, academic advising and course coordination, career services, financial administration, marketing, and educational technology (EdTech) and instructional design. Jingjing highlighted that exploring these diverse pathways allows students to identify roles that align with their strengths, interests, and long-term goals.
To successfully prepare for a career transition into higher education, Jingjing encouraged students to “know themselves” by taking an interdisciplinary approach and applying the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to categorize and summarize their experiences. She emphasized the importance of aligning one’s professional values with institutional policies, particularly focusing on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Through this approach, students can effectively position themselves as strong candidates who not only meet the requirements of the role, but also resonate with the institution’s mission and values.
Jingjing also highlighted the critical aspect of leveraging university resources to gain relevant experience and build professional networks. She encouraged students to engage with mentors, alumni, and career centers to seek guidance and explore potential career paths. Additionally, she underscored the importance of gaining practical experience through WorkLearn positions, TA opportunities, and UTemp casual jobs, which provide hands-on exposure to various aspects of campus operations. In essence, by proactively utilizing these resources, students can refine their skills, expand their networks, and confidently transition from student roles to meaningful careers within higher education.
Conclusion: Applying Insights from the PD Workshop
The valuable insights and strategies shared by the panelists have left a lasting impact on attendees, equipping them with practical tools to navigate their academic and professional journeys. Students can feel empowered to apply these lessons in their future endeavors. The opportunity to engage directly with experts and peers fostered a collaborative atmosphere, reinforcing the importance of lifelong learning and adaptability in today’s evolving landscape.
As the CLP continues to host these impactful workshops each semester, it remains dedicated to providing students with the resources and support needed to excel both inside and outside the classroom. Through these enriching experiences, the CLP cultivates a thriving community where students can gain new perspectives, build connections, and confidently chart their paths toward success.
Find out about the latest news through the CLP website, and follow us on social media @UBCChinese to discover more inspiring stories and celebrate the remarkable achievements of students within the Chinese Language Program!
