OCD - An International Student's Best Friend

OCD...Let's be honest, not exactly the greatest acronym, but definitely one of the best and key resources to finding an internship, particularly if you are an International student. (OCD = Office of Career Development) Not only do they offer up customized services for International students to allow them to, for example, get comfortable with networking scenarios typical of the US, or partner with embassies that provide guidance on employment authorization (and the general immigration strategies / futures of that particular country), but, they also involve the students. I have the pleasure of sitting in as the Canadian representative on the OCD International Student Committee. On this committee, we have the opportunity to provide feedback to OCD on the challenges and needs of our peers from our home country, work with OCD to address these issues, but also serve as a conduit for information back out the students. As a Canadian, I am particularly excited about working with fellow International students as many of them are looking to potentially locate, full-time, in Canada (particularly because of the differing immigration policies to that of the US).

That's not all! Do you want to learn how to make your LinkedIn profile sizzle? How about participating in a couple group mock interviews before the big interview? Ever thought of how you would pitch an internship to your dream employer? Just need an extra set of eyes on your resume? Well, you've come to the right place. OCD offers all of that. And, let's be honest, some people do not take as much advantage of these resources as they should. They are really your best advocate, support and partner in your internship search!

AND, she'll probably blush for me mentioning her name, but Leslie Mulder is a god-send. Not only is she fully dedicated to a large group of international students like myself, but is also all about helping non-traditional students like myself develop a vision for our internship search and clearly articulate what we bring to the table (whether we're an on-campus or off-campus "explorer").

I *heart* OCD......the Office of Career Development that is.