Translating the American Job Search

Picture yourself at a job interview, sitting across the table from a prospective employer. Now move the table several thousand miles away, to a country where you aren’t familiar with behavioral norms, cultural customs, or even who’s who among local sports teams.

The awkward scenario is familiar territory for international students, many of whom stay in the States to start a career after earning their degree. At Bentley, an innovative suite of workshops aims to help translate the often-unspoken expectations in an American job search.

Bumping Against Barriers

The workshops focus on sharpening professional effectiveness and leadership skills among the university’s international graduate students, who represent about 24 percent of MBA and MS degree candidates. Students from China are an especially fast-growing population at Bentley and elsewhere.

“These students needed more from a career perspective,” says Associate Director of Graduate Career Services Audra Boni, who notes that a majority of Bentley’s international graduate students seek employment in the U.S. after graduation.

“They were bumping up against cultural barriers,” adds Earl Avery, special assistant to the president and ombudsman. He points to job interviews as one example.

“In the States, we learn to sell ourselves. In an interview, we know what is expected from the conversation. We were finding that some of our Asian students would respond to questions – but that’s different from being engaging.”  

Boni and Avery were among those who collaborated with cross-cultural consultants Dreambridge Partners to bring the workshops to campus. The firm developed program content based on discussions with the Bentley team; Judy Shen-Filerman of Dreambridge was the primary presenter at the workshops.

Brand ‘Me’

Job interviews were a focus of the Power Branding workshop. Participants learned about employers’ criteria for evaluating whether someone is a good fit for their company, and were given ideas for highlighting unique strengths and attributes.

Three other programs were presented during the 2010-2011 academic year: A Successful Start to Living, Studying, and Job Searching in the United States; Leadership Communications; and Developing the Emerging Leader in Asian Women Students. Around 70 students attended the “Successful Start” program, the most popular of the sessions.

Around the country, other academic institutions are taking note. As Avery puts it: “When I talk about what Bentley is doing, it seems to get people’s attention in a hurry. We’re out in front on this issue, and that’s a good thing.” 

Insight to Practice

For students, the sessions have taught valuable lessons. In evaluating the Leadership Communications program, for example, participants noted that personal relationships in work settings are more valued in the United States than in Asia; several resolved to talk more with co-workers.

“There are so many cultural differences between American culture and Asian culture,” says Yue Li MSA ’11, a consultant with Deloitte. “The programs reminded me that I need to adjust the way I see things and handle myself in the American corporate world.”

Zhen Xu MSA ’11 is another workshop participant who has applied her new skills to good effect.

“I learned how to understand Western culture while not losing my own identity,” says Xu, who accepted an accountant position with Avfuel Corporation. “The programs helped me understand what I need to do in order to better fit in and succeed in the U.S., both in my career and in my life.”