Xiafei XIInterviewed in 2018
Originally from China, Xiafei moved to Australia from France after getting her master's degree in management studies for two years at EMLYON Business School. Having been exposed to so many countries and cultures, Xiafei is very easy going and always passionate about working with people from different backgrounds. In her free time, she enjoys playing the piano, cooking, travelling, and catching up with friends.
How did you end up working in international education?
I started as an intern at CareerDC as part of my study requirement for my masters degree, and found myself really enjoying working with students to help them build their career paths.
How do you use your own international experiences in your current role?
I lived in France for two years, during this time I travelled through Europe and made many friends from different countries. It helped me greatly in building my international awareness and acceptance of differences. Now I work closely with students and companies from different cultures, and my time in Europe has assisted me greatly in my work. Also, most of my friends in real life are of different backgrounds. Having international experiences make me adapt to the culture of the company easily.
How do you overturn the common fears and challenges interns face?
I always encourage them to try not to think about the fear, but rather focus on the internship itself. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to approach your supervisor and discuss the issue directly. People around you will notice that you’re motivated and eager to learn and they are always happy to provide you with advice and suggestions. Communication is always the best solution to overcome fears and challenges.
Why is interning with CareerDC different from interning abroad with other organizations?
At CareerDC we care about the students. We always put the interests of the students at the top of our minds. We will do our best to efficiently place students to the right internship positions, ensure they are under proper supervision during the internship and mediate between the intern and the host company to ensure everything runs smoothly.
In your opinion, what are the best fields for internships in Australia?
All the professional fields are very welcomed as Australia is a fast-growing country and very multicultural. The best field for internships are probably those associated with new technologies. These areas tend to have many small to medium sized start-up businesses which are more likely to welcome new and innovative ideas from interns to improve their business.
Why do you think international internships are important in the world today?
Being able to do business in different cultural contexts are crucial to many organisations, and these businesses need culturally-flexible people. International internships are beneficial for both the interns and host companies.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Helping so many fresh young students and graduates kick-start their careers.
How important do you think flexibility is, and how can it help when finding an international internship?
Flexibility is not the most important but certainly it is helpful to find the right internship faster if they are open to more locations and types of companies/industries, then they have more opportunities. However, we always ensure that the internship is relevant to their study field and they can gain valuable work experience from the internship.
What is the most popular internship in your region of the world? Why do you think that is?
Business, especially marketing as almost every company is interested in taking on marketing interns. Not only does marketing build brand awareness but it can also increase sales, grow businesses and engage customers. There are so many core business functions that stem from a good marketing plan.
In what ways does CareerDC support interns before, during, and after their internship?
Before the internship, CareerDC will help the students enhance their resume/cv to the Australian standard, and train them in their interview skills to maximize their chances of getting an opportunity as soon as possible. We coordinate the interview as well as all the documentation required by both university and the host company.
During the internship, students can always come to us if they face any difficulties in their internships and we always try our best to mediate between the intern and the host company to resolve the issues.
After the internship, CareerDC will still follow up with the student for their feedback to continually improve our services and provide a completion certificate/letter proving the student has done the internship, either to fulfill their course requirements or to add credits to their CVs.
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