“Do I stay or do I go back?” The Critical Question After Completing an International Education

Lina Li
Client Relations Manager, Canada

Seven years ago, a girl with 3 big suitcases went to a strange new world called Canada. The only thing she understood was that Canada was a cold place far away and that she was going to a small city called Prince George. Regardless, she told herself that this was going to be the adventure of a lifetime. 

Seven year later, this young girl is now a confident young woman who returned to China to work as the Canadian Client Relations Manager at an international education consultancy. She still remembers the day after her graduation ceremony in Canada when she and her Mom had a heart to heart about her future, starting with the question:
“Mom, should I stay here or go back to China?”

Every international student will face this question after they graduate. Now that I have had time to look back on my experience, I would recommend to other international students that they gain some work experience overseas before returning to their home country. Student life and business life are two very different worlds, and it is important to gain international experience in both.  Gaining international work experience also helps develop a critical network base that graduates can use when they return to China, to conduct international business.

Working in the international education industry I have come to realise that more and more international institutions are also acknowledging graduate career opportunities is a key point in recruitment.  Overseas study is not just about gaining an academic education; it’s about gaining a life education and life experience abroad.