Hello there! This is Nami, in my third year of living in Vancouver, Canada. This time, I would like to share my experience and insights about my career and journey to Canada, as well as my thoughts on studying abroad as a working professional, based on my experience as a language school advisor.
Honestly, whether studying abroad as a working professional is good or bad might vary depending on the individual. However, I have no regrets and have even found new dreams, so I think studying abroad was a good decision. I haven’t come across anyone around me who regrets their decision either.
About my background:
I worked in the IT industry for a solid four years after graduating, where I was involved in sales for a telecommunications company. As it was business-to-business sales, I was engaged in pitching to well-known large corporations. Dealing with significant amounts of money and the sense of contributing to society gave me a lot of satisfaction. However, I could only do a part of what I wanted to do within these big corporations due to organizational changes, and I started feeling distrust towards the higher management. So, I decided to quit, and if I were to quit, I thought I might as well go abroad, which led me to choose Vancouver, Canada.
Preparing for studying abroad (Plan decision):
It took about a year from deciding to study abroad to actually traveling. If you don’t start planning about a year in advance, you’ll likely find yourself quite pressed for time, considering the timing of leaving your job and other preparations. Even with a year in advance, I felt like I was still cutting it close.
I had some knowledge about agents as I had done a short-term study abroad during my university summer vacation. Even so, I requested a lot of information and met with various people to choose the right agent. Some agents provide their services for free, while others may offer subpar support. Studying abroad isn’t cheap, so it’s best to entrust the task to someone you can believe in. Well, I chose the cheapest option, lured by money.
Deciding where to go and whether to go on a working holiday can be determined after selecting an agent. I had always wanted to learn something and work as more professional occupation rather than just go on a working holiday, so I focused on Canada and chose that Co-op option. However, agents are professionals and can guide you through various options. If you’re aiming for permanent residency or something similar, it’s best to consult an immigration consultant from this time. Some agents may not have the necessary qualifications, and they might pass on vague knowledge, so keep that in mind.
Settling down before departure:
Once I decided to study abroad, I began by organizing my personal affairs. For example:
- Preparation for resigning from my job (how to resign and preparation of necessary documents)
- Paperwork procedures such as resident registration and driver’s license
- Medical examinations, etc.
- Reviewing cell phone contracts
- Reviewing credit cards and subscriptions
I will provide details on the finer points separately, but if you plan to stay abroad for more than three months, make sure to file a Overseas Residential Registration. I completely forgot, and when I was changing my driver’s license to a BC license, the embassy staff pointed it out to me, and I had to rush to submit it.
Also, it’s crucial to study English to some extent before departure. By the way, before traveling, I had a TOEIC score of about 650, but I could manage basic English conversation without any trouble.
After arrival:
The key is to try to enjoy the time while you are in the abroad without getting too overwhelmed! Every study abroad blog says that, but honestly, I found it quite challenging. I was busy with school assignments every day, couldn’t shake off the jet lag, and felt like I couldn’t keep up with the younger people around me for the first two weeks. I’ll write about this in more detail separately.
Before and during the Co-op internship:
After about three months of language school, Co-op started, and it was a breeze, to be honest. It was much easier than the pre-Co-op language school period, where I had to learn everything as a social person. (Laughs)
I attended a total of eight months of a customer service course (four months of classroom study and four months of internship). The schedule was as follows:
November 2021: Start of classroom study March 2022: Vacation April 2022: Start of internship
Once classroom study started, I became a full-time student in Canada, so I was allowed to work up to 20 hours per week, even if the internship had not started yet. Many students started working during this period. Most of the students in my course started working at the same place and continued their internships there. I didn’t want to work in a café or similar places, as I was still interested in exploring and having fun, so I spent my time aimlessly.
Around the end of January, I started looking for a job, and just as I was beginning, I learned about the current job through an acquaintance’s referral. Shortly after, in early February, I got the job, and by the end of February, I started working at my current workplace, language school. I will share more about the job hunting process separately.
About the internship:
Fortunately, the previous person in my position was also a Co-op student, so the manager was very understanding, making document exchanges and report writing very easy. My school had quite strict management, with reports every two weeks and employee evaluations. Having a supportive manager was a significant advantage for me.
Present and thoughts on Co-op as a working professional studying abroad:
I was fortunate to find a great and enjoyable workplace, and I wanted to continue my apprenticeship here. So, I obtained a working holiday visa and have been working here ever since.
For those who have prior work experience, the content of Co-op classroom study might seem quite basic, but learning how to express what you already vaguely knew in more concrete terms and in English can be very intriguing. Personally, learning about Canadian workplaces and how to write resumes as part of a class was a significant benefit.
However, the most significant advantage of Co-op study abroad is the opportunity to work legally and do internships. After all, even if you can’t go on a working holiday due to age, you can work! And with paid leave*!
- Please note that in BC, where Vancouver is located, it is required by state law to provide paid leave. However, in Ontario, which includes Toronto, unpaid internships are allowed, so it may not apply universally.
When I work with “adults” from various countries as a language school advisor, who are working or taking breaks while studying abroad, it’s very inspiring, and it motivates me to do my best. If you have dreams or things you want to try, not giving up due to your age might be the secret to becoming a cool adult, at least that’s what I think these days.