International Student Career Conference

What is the International Student Career Conference?

The career conference is an opportunity for current UW-Madison international students to develop their knowledge and skills around finding a job in the United States or their home country. These skills include learning the basics about employment options on their F1 or J1 student visa, how to prepare their resume and cover letter, and practicing networking skills to feel prepared to interact with recruiters and others at career fairs.

Each day will have different sessions from 4-6pm and at 6pm a virtual panel will be available for all international students to participate in (whether it being watching it live with a group of other international students or watching from their own laptop).

Scroll down this page for a complete schedule of events.

If you need an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Kathleen Finnegan at 608-262-2044/kathleen.finnegan@wisc.edu. All accommodation requests should be made no less than two weeks before the event. We will attempt to fulfill requests made after this date, but cannot guarantee they will be met.

(Photo by Brian Huynh /UW-Madison)

The Career Conference was held from 30th November to 2nd December.

Thank you for attending our Career Conference on November 30 – December 2, 2021! We hope that you found the conference informative and worthwhile. Please check the schedule below to see the documents/slides used for presentations, and recordings for the virtual sessions. Stay tuned for upcoming events by ISS!

Schedule for the Conference

3:15pm- 6:00pm: Registration/Check-in Table

4:00-4:45pm: Be Prepared- Career Development and Readiness timeline

5:00-5:45pm: Understanding F1 Employment Options (CPT/OPT)

6:00-7:00pm: VIRTUAL panel with Current International Students. Please click the following link to join the webinar: https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/97426982943?pwd=STN0YW9hTnJJL2tvWFlNTG4rNldVdz09
Passcode: ISSCC

3:15pm- 6:00pm: Registration/Check-in Table

4:00-4:45pm: Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

5:00-5:45pm: Networking in the U.S. Workshop

4:00-6:00pm: Resource Fair (departments on campus who help international students get a job)

6:00-7:00pm: VIRTUAL panel with Employers. Please click the following link to join the webinar:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/95400928229?pwd=ZWgvcTVrdk9BYWR5Y1IwdFlsYmt0UT09
Passcode: ISSCC

4:00-6:00pm in Pyle Center room 325 /Registration is not required to attend the Resource Fair

Departments who will be attending:

Career Exploration Center

Center for Leadership & Involvement

International Internship Program

International Student Services/International Student Advisory Board

Student Employment

SuccessWorks- Hosting Drop-in Resume Reviews

Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA)/Badger Bridge

Writing Center- Hosing Drop-in Cover Letter Reviews

3:15pm- 6:00pm: Registration/Check-in Table

4:00-4:45pm: Interviewing Skills & Introduction into U.S. Interviewing Process

5:00-5:45pm: Job Search Strategies for Returning Home

6:00-7:00pm: VIRTUAL panel with UW-Madison International Alumni. Please click the following link to join the webinar:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/93314896949?pwd=d3JPNHNHeGNKTjJLQVBaUFlsMHhLQT09
Passcode: ISSCC

Additional Resources

(Photo by Jeff Miller/UW-Madison)

Thursday, December 2nd 9:00-10:00 pm

VIRTUAL- Employment Trends in China with Zhaopin.com

Representatives from Zhaopin.com will present the trends of employment in China. They will also talk about some key requirements for a Chinese resume. Students will be able to ask questions as well. This presentation will take place in Chinese. If you need an accommodation to attend this event, please contact Xin Cui-Dowling, VISP/MA Coordinator at 608-262-0099/xcui25@wisc.edu. All accommodation requests should be made no less than two weeks before the event. We will attempt to fulfill requests made after this date, but cannot guarantee they will be met.

Join Zoom Meeting:
https://uwmadison.zoom.us/j/98629788087

Meeting ID: 986 2978 8087

Recordings of Sessions and Panels

Employment Trends in China with Zhaopin.com

Career Development & Readiness

Understanding F-1 Employment

Interviewing Skills & Intro into U.S. Interviewing Process

Understanding Applicant Tracking Systems

Fall 2020 International Student Engagement Initiatives

Dear Students,

2020 has taken us down an interesting path. We have been forced to adapt and change our practices to find ways to support our international students best. Unfortunately, this means that we must adapt the great work of our core engagement programs for fall 2020.

ISS has decided the following for our three international student engagement initiatives for fall 2020.

  • The BRIDGE International Peer Mentor Program will be suspended for fall 2020. This program has been a valuable source of support and engagement since 2002 and we hope to bring back a refreshed BRIDGE program as we work through the global pandemic.
  • International Reach, our Cross-Cultural Speakers program will attempt to engage with the community by training a few dedicated leaders who are interested in sharing their culture and experience through a virtual format this fall. We have a dedicated team at ISS that will attempt to provide cross-cultural sharing through limited opportunities this fall.
  • The International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) continues to hold virtual monthly meetings. ISAB members are helping our ISS team learn more about the international student experience and encourage us to improve our services daily.

I truly apologize for any stress these developments may cause. Please know that ISS continues to support you and will find ways to continue to engage with you throughout the upcoming fall semester.

Please consider connecting to us through social media on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Thank you all for being part of the Global Badger community!

Sincerely,

Sharece M. Bunn

Assistant Director of International Student Engagement

Virtual Graduation Invitation

Dear International Student Graduates,

ISS is in the planning stages of building a virtual graduation celebration to recognize your many accomplishments at UW-Madison throughout your program.

We are gathering nominations of students, faculty, and staff that have positively impacted your college career, or your time in Madison. If you would like to nominate someone, please fill out the Google form for the individual to be given a shout-out during our celebration. If you are interested in giving a short speech as an international student speaker for one of our two virtual sessions, please fill out the Google form.

While we cannot hold an in-person ceremony, we hope to conduct a formal livestream celebration to congratulate all of our international student graduates on Saturday, May 9th starting at 9:00am CST (Madison time). More information on how to access the ceremony will follow in the next few weeks. Additionally, ISS plans to host an informal Instagram takeover on the last day of classes – Friday, May 1st at 9:00am CST- to both congratulate graduates and to give encouragement for finals week. Please follow @uw_iss on Instagram in preparation for our graduation celebration activities. Feel free to share your favorite Madison memories with us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter with the hashtag #GlobalBadgerGrad20 for a chance to be featured on our social media or in our graduation ceremony!

Sincerely,

International Student Services