Skip to main content
ENGAGE Blog Writer

a woman presenting to a group of people

Since Canada is a multicultural country, many corporations and companies are looking for people who have cross-cultural experiences and are able to contribute to a multicultural working environment. Thus, it would be a great idea for you to add some cross-cultural experiences to your resume!

First off, volunteering at international organizations like the Red Cross are great for cross-cultural experiences.  Since Red Cross is an international organization, volunteers come from different countries. When I volunteer there, I meet lots of new people from other countries such as Italy, Vietnam and China. I do not only gain the necessary job skills, but I continue to learn more about other cultures. That is very important for me to prepare myself in a multicultural working environment.

Second, you can engage yourself by volunteering in some cross-cultural activities such as being an interpreter or translator for some organizations. I think these kinds of volunteer positions are great to put on a resume for international students. International students know more than one language and have experience living in different countries. In this sense, international students definitely have the advantage of volunteering for these organizations. If it can be shown on your resume, it will reinforce your edge over others and impress the employers greatly.

Lastly, I think promoting your own traditional culture in Canada will be another way to gain cross-cultural experiences as well. The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Society wants to form a Media and Communications team in order to develop stories and update its media list for the Dragon Boat Festival. I think this would be a good chance for Chinese international students to gain cross-cultural experience in media. Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese traditional festival and China nowadays has a great desire to promote its culture around the world. If you can show how to promote your own traditional culture and sports in North America, that would definitely be a highlight on your resume when you apply for media jobs in China.

Also, check out the OLC's Resume section or visit Career Services in MBC 0300 at SFU Burnaby. 

ENGAGE Blog Writer
visibility  309
Mar 5, 2013

You Might Like These... Career Exploration, Resumes, Professional Development, Student Success

Rome
What Can You Do with a Degree in History

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘historian’? Do you instinctively imagine an elderly man? This outdated imagery was sent out the window during a panel of (young) history professionals as they shared what you could do with a degree in History.

Man looking at a resume
Unique Resumes – How Far Is Too Far?

Students are consistently hesitanant to make their resume “stand out” visually.  It’s seen as a risk – that if one too many steps away from ‘normal’ is taken, the seriousness of the document will be somehow irrevocably compromised.

Person holding a resume
Goodbye Hard-copy and Hello to Electronic Résumés

There are sufficient amount of tips regarding resume writing, but then came along electronic résumés.  Now we have to worry about both methods? Don't panic; here are some shortcuts to e-improve your resume.

You Might Like These... Community Engagement

Smiling student connecting with others
Career Peer Experiences During COVID-19: A Wonderful Opportunity

Who are SFU’s Career Peers? What was it like to be onboarded and trained remotely? What are they up to on the (virtual) campus this semester? Sharon Gill, a Career Peer at Career & Volunteer Services at SFU, tells us all.

a student working on her laptop and drinking coffee
How Can You Stand Out in the Job Market with a Digital Resume?

Want to learn more about portfolios and having a professional image online? Check out this blog on building a digital resume and increasing your competitiveness in the job market!

Resume Tips by SFU Career Services