Reentry Kit: a reinsertion and reintegration guide for our teams - Oxfam-Québec
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Reentry Kit:
a reinsertion and
reintegration guide
for our teams
1Acknowledgments
Research and Writing: Emmanuelle L. Bolduc, Marie-Ève Duquette Scallon,
Marie-Hélène Forest, Annie Murray, Stéphanie Ramdé
Reading Committee: Maxime Allard, Amy Côté
Evaluation Committee: Lhassan Abnaou, Manon Gendron, Émilie Gosselin,
Jean Clément Millimono, Julie Potvin-Lajoie, Geneviève Sylvestre, Jazmine
Tejada, Andrée-Anne Tremblay
Copy Editing (French version): Céline Blanchette
Translation: Christine Laliberté
Layout (first version): Mélissa Savary
Layout (second version): Seluna Fernandez
Context: This kit is the result of a pilot project which aimed to mobilize
returned international volunteers on one hand and, on the other, to improve
support services for our teams.
We formed a work group with five returned international volunteers and
gave them the mandate to put together a guide that would support our
volunteers in the reentry process. As a starting point, they used two
existing documents that needed to be updated and simplified. They
managed to complete their work in a very short timeframe: the team came
together in November 2014 and presented its final version of the kit to
Oxfam-Québec in February 2015. Given the tight deadline, it was part of the
initial plan to test and evaluate this tool with our returning teams before
printing the final version.
Once more, we wish to thank our research and writing team: Stéphanie,
Annie, Marie-Hélène, Marie-Ève and Emmanuelle.
Evaluation method: As planned, the first version of the kit was tested and
evaluated by a second group of returned volunteers. Each member of this
group filled out an evaluation questionnaire; the results were then analyzed
and recommendations were made.
Many thanks to our evaluation team: Geneviève, Lhassan, Émilie, Jazmine,
Jean-Clément, Julie, Manon and Andrée-Anne!
Special thanks also go out to Marie-Hélène Bérubé, a current volunteer
in Peru, who took the time to print and comment on the document before
returning it to the head office.
2 3Introduction
Contents
Acknowledgments............................................................................................3
PART 1: Psychological and Personal Preparation...............................................7
Dear international volunteer,
1.1 Introduction.................................................................................................7
1.2 Stress-inducing change factors................................................................8 This kit is intended for you while you are nearing the end of your field assignment
1.3 The reentry cycle.........................................................................................8 and preparing to return to your home country, city or community. Oxfam-Québec
1.4 The shock of reentry: what should you expect?.....................................11 understands that this last stage of your overseas experience can be filled with
1.5 Reactions to reentry..................................................................................12 questions and doubt, both on the personal and professional levels. This guide was
1.6 Variables that influence the reentry process.........................................12 created to provide you with some tools in facing the challenges up ahead. The
1.7 The reentry process: It starts now!..........................................................13 information presented in the following pages could prove useful to any person doing
1.8 Take stock of your personal growth........................................................15 fieldwork for Oxfam and about to return to their home country. However, in creating
1.9 Plan your reentry projects.........................................................................17 this guide, we chose to use Canada as a point of reference. This means that we will
1.10 Plan the logistics of your reentry...........................................................19 refer to Canada as the home country for Oxfam-Québec volunteers. We also refer to
1.11 Identify the challenges that you will likely have to face upon your Canadian culture when discussing our volunteers’ reintegration process, although
return...............................................................................................................23 we do acknowledge that Canada is made up of many cultures. Finally, we believe
1.12 Create a provisional action plan............................................................23 that our volunteers will experience different realities upon their return, depending
1.13 Tap into your network and other relevant resources...........................25 on which community they originate from, as well as their place of reentry.
1.14 Review and consolidate your action plan.............................................27
1.1.15 Assess your state of mind...................................................................28 This document does not aim to cover all aspects of the return process. It contains
Your personal adaptation curve.....................................................................29 theoretical elements on the subject, as well as reflection exercises. Space is
1.16 Establish sustainable and effective reintegration strategies provided to record your ideas, reflections and projects. The guide is divided into
for you..............................................................................................................31
two sections: psychological and personal preparation for your return, followed by
1.17 Face up to reality.....................................................................................31
professional preparation. Each section presents factors to consider either as part
PART 2: Professional Preparation.......................................................................32
of your pre-return process, the few months preceding your departure from the host
2.1 Introduction...............................................................................................32
country or as part of your post-return process, namely the few months that follow
2.2 Getting to know you: Your personality and attitudes.............................34
your reentry. This guide is intended as a basic document and does not pretend to
2.3 Identify your core values and those you have acquired abroad.................36
address every volunteer’s individual concerns, since needs may vary greatly from
2.4 Identify your main achievements and learnings........................................39
one person to another. At the end of the document, we present additional resources
2.5 Identify your areas of knowledge.............................................................44
that can be used to pursue your exploration of some issues or deepen your
2.6 Identify acquired skils...............................................................................47
knowledge in a particular area.
2.7 Put it all together!......................................................................................51
2.8 Establish a plan........................................................................................ 52
Every significant life or work experience deserves to be reflected upon once it
2.9 Presenting your international experience to potential employers.......54
comes to an end in order to maximize learning. Your current experience certainly
2.10 Building your network.............................................................................56
counts among those significant times. Since your field assignment included, from
2.11 Using the Internet to network................................................................58
the very beginning, a predictable end date and inevitable transition, you are in the
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................61
Annex 1: Action verbs......................................................................................62 perfect situation to start a reflection process.
Annex 2: Getting your CV ready.......................................................................63
Annex 3: The presentation (or motivation) letter..........................................65 The experiential learning cycle presented on the next page can act as a mental map
Annex 4: Getting ready for your interview......................................................66 to guide your reflection exercise, as you assess your reentry experience and learn to
Annex 5: Additional resources by theme.......................................................68 value the new skills you’ve acquired. It can be used to reflect on both the personal
Annex 6: Job search sites by activity sector.................................................71 and professional aspects of your experience.
Cited References.............................................................................................74
4 5PART 1:
The Experiential Psychological
Learning Cycle
or Personal
11
Preparation
Concrete Experience
1.1 Introduction
Psychological or personal preparation is an important and significant part of
the return process that starts even before you leave the host country. Yet,
Active Experimentation Reflective Observation people often fail to consider the challenges and changes that accompany
the return process and, as such, neglect to prepare adequately.
• What do I take away from • What happened?
this experience? • What did I observe? Whether this is your first experience abroad, or one of many, and whether
• How will I apply lessons • What did I hear? you are young or a bit older, it is important to recognize that good
learned to future actions? • What did I experience? psychological preparation can ease your reintegration and, as the case may
be, enable you to face the challenges up ahead. Do not wait for problems to
arise! Overcoming future difficulties will certainly require more of your time,
energy and money than going through this document and its exercises.
This section’s objectives are designed to help you:
1. Determine how your experience abroad and upcoming reentry can
affect you, positively or negatively
Abstract Conceptualization
• What does this experience mean? 2. Identify your concerns about returning home
• How should I interpret it?
3. Create an action plan to build on positive impacts and reduce negative
effects
1 Centre for Intercultural Learning, Canadian Foreign Service Institute (2011).
6 71.2 Stress-inducing change factors Adaptation / Readapatation Cycle21
As mentioned above, the return process can elicit a series of changes and
challenges which can in turn induce stress. Stress can arise when you become
Acclimatation
conscious of the following:
1. The scope of the change. Leaving a foreign country to return to Canada is
a major change. For some people, coming home means starting again from
Home country
Readaptation
scratch: new job, new living environment, new neighbourhood, new career plan,
new projects.
culture shock
2. The unexpected nature of change. You may not be aware that things have
changed at home while you were away or, conversely, you may realize that
Reverse
nothing has changed, despite your expectations to the contrary.
Lune de miel
3. The changes in your personality. This may come as a shock. Once home, you
become aware of changes that have occurred within you as a result of your
experience abroad.
1.3 The reentry cycle
Adjustment
Pre-return anxiety
The reentry process requires reconciling one’s idealized vision of coming home
with reality. It is a transition period that starts in the host country, while you are
Adaptation
preparing to reenter Canada, and that extends after your return until you feel at
Host country
ease and well-adapted again. Even though the challenges encountered will vary
from one person to the next, the return process broadly follows a predictable model,
or cycle, similar to the cultural adaptation cycle. This cycle, which you probably
covered in your pre-departure training, takes you through four essential stages,
each one with its own set of attitudes and behaviours. The duration and intensity
Honeymoon
of each stage vary across individuals, but everyone seems to follow a similar path.
Knowing that each stage represents a normal component of the return process and
Culture shock
understanding the distinctive behaviours or each stage may help to reassure you
as the process unfolds. The stages are described in the following table: departure,
honeymoon phase, reverse culture shock and readaptation.
Pre-departure
Home country
d e
e s ss
!! ea e
w pr
Wo At De
2 Ibid
8 9The reentry cycle 1.4 The shock of reentry: what should you expect?
Departure from Honeymoon phase Reverse culture Readaptation Here are a few examples of what you could experience upon your return home:
the host country shock
Focus on what lies Being home is The holidays lose a You are happy to • You miss the host country, you feel lonely
ahead rather than paradise bit of their lustre be home • You feel like a stranger in your own land
on the present • You feel nostalgic about your experience abroad
• You are critical of others
• You cast a negative outlook on your current environment
Excitement Visits with family You are no longer You focus on the • You are more emotional than usual
and friends the centre of present and not • You feel powerless
attention on what life used • You feel apprehensive about relocating and finding a job31
to be
Remember that these feelings are normal and temporary.
Celebration, You become a kind You start seeing You have a
errands and of local star everything that balanced outlook However, it is possible that you will experience more important symptoms that will
packing you dislike about on life at home vs. vary in duration and intensity, such as:
being home life abroad
• Sadness
• Anger/ frustration
Anticipation You perceive Being abroad was You feel at ease,
• Irritability
no changes, in paradise relaxed and stable
• Ambivalence
yourself or others
• Loss of energy
• Loss of interest
Formalized You enjoy all of You start to react Your self- • Depression
expectations—not your favourite and to criticize confidence returns • Tendency to isolate yourself
always realistic— foods your own home • Disrupted sleeping and eating patterns42
about home
If these symptoms increase or last too long, you should seek support to help you
cope with the situation. Finally, it is important to remember that, in most cases,
Mood swings, Little is asked You start to notice You realize that reentry is a process that evolves over time.53
alternating of you and no what has changed, readaptation is
between feeling expectation is in yourself and not an absolute Returning to Canada in the fall or the winter could increase some of the symptoms
joy at going home placed on you others either/or process associated with reentry. If allowed, you could choose your return date according
and sadness at to the season. Don’t hesitate to ask!
leaving
If you have children, do not neglect the potential impacts of reentry on them. As
Bittersweet period, Your home meets You begin to cast Readapting does well, think about their reintegration into the Canadian school system; maybe you
emotionally exactly all of your a critical eye on not mean closing should consider coming home a few weeks before school starts.
needs society, rather yourself off from
than taking part your experience
in it abroad
You feel doubt
You become 3 Ibid.
despondent 4 Comhlámh (2010).
5 Ibid.
10 111.5 Reactions to reentry
• Level of immersion in the foreign culture: The more you immerse yourself in
the foreign culture, the harder it is to leave it behind.
While each person’s experience is unique, some typical reactions have been
observed as a result of reentry. These reactions trigger various stress levels that • Return environment: The more familiar your return environment is, and the
could impact on your well-being during the return transition period. greater the support you are afforded, the easier it is to return.
• Contact with one’s own culture while abroad: The more you know about the
changes that have occurred in your own culture while you were abroad, the
Types of reactions to reentry64
easier it is to readapt when you return.
Alienation. Negative view of Canada and of Canadian culture. Rejection of the • Differences between the two cultures: It appears that the greater the
Canadian way of life; failure to adapt and impression of getting bogged down. May differences are between the two cultures, the harder it is to return to your
feel like escaping by undertaking new assignments abroad. Stress level: High own.
Going back to business as usual. Slipping back into the old way of life in Canada, • Financial situation: Reentry is easier when you have planned for the cost
without considering the changes one has undergone (especially in terms of your return and have savings to cover living costs during the transition
of attitudes and values) as a result of living abroad. Stress level: Low in the period.
beginning, but likely to increase over time
Additional remarks
Integration. Using the stress of reentry as a source of learning. Integrating the
changes undergone abroad to develop a new identity and adopt a lifestyle suited • The reentry cycle can last from three to eighteen months.
to one’s new personality. Stress level: Moderate
• The euphoria of the honeymoon phase can last only a few days, or even a
mere few hours […], before giving way to the shock of reentry.
1.6 Variables that influence the reentry process
• Despite the information outlined in the “reentry cycle” table, the various
We must remember that each person goes through the reentry process in their own stages of reentry may occur in a random, even chaotic order.
way, according to their reality. The following table outlines the variables that may • In reality, the return process never truly ends!
influence your experience upon returning home.
Variables that influence the reentry process75
1.7 The reentry process: It starts now!
• Voluntary vs. involuntary return: Reentry is more difficult when the return is
In summary, returning home is likely to trigger a variety of emotions, some of them
not voluntary.
contradictory. The following sections propose a series of exercises designed to
• Planned vs. unplanned return: Reentry is more difficult when the return was start your psychological preparation for reentry and then, to help you conduct a
not planned. personal assessment once you have returned.
• Age: People of a certain age often have an easier time with reentry, having Here is a brief outline of the steps to be presented in the following sections. Each
already lived through several transitions in their lifetime. of these steps requires you to take some time to pause and reflect on what is
• Previous experience with the process: The first reentry is always the hardest. happening
• Duration of the stay abroad: The longer the stay—which allows for better
adaptation—the harder it is to leave the host country and come back home.
6 Centre for Intercultural Learning, Canadian Foreign Service Institute (2011).
7 Storti, C. (1997).
12 13Pre-return Post-return Pre-return
• Take stock of your personal • Tap into your network and other
growth relevant resources
• Plan your reentry projects • Review and consolidate your 1.8 Take stock of your personal growth
action plan (Recommendation: Do this exercise in parallel with the pre-return exercises in
• Plan the logistics of our reentry the Professional Preparation section, pp.28- 51)
• Assess your state of mind
• Identify the challenges that you
• Identify the personal learnings derived from your experience
will likely have to face upon your • Establish sustainable and
• Determine how your experience has changed your identity and lifestyle and
return effective reintegration strategies
identify which changes you wish to maintain upon reentry
for you
• Create a provisional action plan • Determine which skills, knowledge and attitudes were useful in getting you
• Face up to reality out of difficult situations
Exercise:
What are the main positive effects derived from your experience abroad? Which
ones do you wish to maintain upon reentry and how will you go about it?
Positive Effects How will you maintain them?
Knowledge about a different
culture
Acquisition of a new language
New friendships
Independence, autonomy,
self-confidence
Creativity, originality
Flexibility, tolerance for
differences or ambiguity
Better knowledge and more
nuanced view of your own culture
14 15If you wish, you can use the last page of the guide to do this exercise in a different 1.9 Plan your reentry projects
way, for instance, by drawing.
• Determine which areas of your life you wish to focus on after you return home
Exercise: • Create a vision outlining the various opportunities available to you when
you return
Think back on the most positive moments of your experience abroad. What did
you learn from them? What do they reveal about you?
Exercise:
For each area listed below, rate your current satisfaction level using a scale
from 1 to 5, where 1 means This area of my life does not satisfy me at all right
now and 5 means This area of my life satisfies me completely at the moment.
Then, for each area, explain what elements are working and not working for you.
Lastly, underline the aspects—satisfactory or not—on which you would like to
focus upon your return.
Area of your Satisfaction What works for What does not work
life Level me in this area for me in this area
(1 to 5) right now right now
Family/ Partner
Exercise:
Think back on the most difficult moments of your experience abroad. Social network
What helped you get through them (attitudes, skills, strategies, etc.)?
What did you learn? Physical or
mental health
Place of
residence
Career
16 17Taking into account the elements you listed above, write down the opportunities 1.10 Plan the logistics of your reentry
available to you in each area of your life. Then, name your preferred option(s) for
each area. Finally, write down what you plan to do if your preferred option cannot be • Assess the magnitude of the tasks to be accomplished
realized. • Assess the potential support you can get from your network once you return
• Establish a preliminary financial plan
Area Opportunities/ Preferred Alternative
Projects option(s) solutions Exercise:
For each area, list the tasks you plan to undertake. Detail and plan what can
and can’t be done before your reentry. Determine who can assist you for
Family/ Partner each of these tasks. Think about how to garner support from your social or
community network.
Area What? When? Who?
Social network
Examples: BEFORE reentry:
—Daycare/School
—Purchases
Physical or Family/Partner
AFTER reentry:
mental health
Place of Examples: BEFORE reentry:
residence —Medical
appointments
—Insurance
Physical or
mental health AFTER reentry:
Career
Examples: BEFORE reentry:
—Moving and
settling in
—Storage
Place of
residence AFTER reentry:
18 19Area What? When? Who? Exercise:
Examples:
—Job search BEFORE reentry: Estimate your current financial assets and cash inflows once you return81
Available cash Amount
Career Bank account(s)
AFTER reentry: Return allowance / other savings
Sale of furniture and other goods
BEFORE reentry: TOTAL
Planned monthly income Amount
Employment / consulting income
Student financial assistance
Family allowances (federal/provincial)
AFTER reentry:
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL INCOME
BEFORE reentry:
AFTER reentry:
BEFORE reentry:
AFTER reentry:
8 For a more complete tool, visit: http://www.option-consommateurs.org/vos_outils/grille_budgetaire/ (in French).
20 21Your financial situation will have an impact on you, your state of mind and your 1.11 Identify the challenges that you will likely have to face
options in case you run into problems. In addition to planning your reentry and upon your return
setting aside a financial cushion to cover your expenses in the first few months,
you may need additional savings to avoid or minimize the shock of reentry. Plan • Assess your main concerns with regards to your reentry
sufficiently in your budget to allow yourself to go out, seek counselling, join a gym • Determine which actions can be undertaken right now to resolve or lessen
or register for a class. While these activities may put a small dent in your budget, these concerns
they can yield great benefits and play a key role in ensuring your well-being upon
your return.
Exercise:
Referring to the preceding exercises, describe your three most important
Exercise: concerns regarding your reentry. Concentrate on issues that you can control or
act upon. Think about the strategies that you can apply right now to face these
For each area, identify the main expenses you should plan for. challenges.
Area Planned expenses Amount 1
Family/Partner
2
TOTAL
Physical or
mental health 3
Place of
residence
1.12 Create a provisional action plan
TOTAL
• Set your priority actions for the short-, medium- and long-terms
• Identify which tasks need to be accomplished
Career
Exercise:
TOTAL
On the basis of the exercises you have completed so far on the reentry process,
choose three priorities for each term: short-, medium- and long-term.
Be sure to detail the steps that need to be undertaken for each of these
priorities. Think about the people who can support you, the financial resources
you will need and any other factor that may influence the achievement of your
GRAND TOTAL EXPENSES
action plan.
22 23Priorities for the next week Post-return
Actions:
1st priority:
1.13 Tap into your network and other relevant resources
(Do this in the first few days following your return)
Actions:
2nd priority: • Review your needs
• Determine how your social network can help you
• Find out which social and community resources are available and accessible
Actions: to you
3rd priority:
Exercise:
Priorities for the next month Review the table in section 1.10. For each area, review your needs and detail how
you could obtain support from your social or community network.
Actions + Deadline:
1st priority:
Area Needs How can my Which social or
network support community resources
Actions + Deadline: me? can be useful to me?
2nd priority:
Examples:
—Childcare during
preparations for
the move
Actions + Deadline:
3rd priority:
Family/Partner
Priorities for the next year
Actions + Deadline:
1st priority:
Examples:
—Find a family
Actions + Deadline: doctor - Book an
appointment
2 priority:
nd
Physical or
mental health
Actions + Deadline:
3 priority:
rd
24 251.14 Review and consolidate your action plan
Area Needs How can my Which social or
network support community resources (Do this once 1.13 is completed)
me? can be useful to me?
• Set your priority actions for the short-, medium- and long-terms
Examples:
—Help with the • Identify which tasks need to be accomplished
move and
settling in Exercise:
On the basis of the overall reflection you have conducted so far on the reentry
Place of process, as well as your provisional plan in section 1.12, choose three priorities
residence for each of the short-, medium- and long-terms. Be sure to detail the steps that
need to be undertaken for each of these priorities. Think about the people that
can support you, the financial resources you will need and any other factor that
may influence the achievement of your action plan.
Examples: Priorities for the next week
—Establish
contact with Actions:
potential
employers 1st priority:
—Help in updating
my resume
Career
2nd priority: Actions:
3rd priority: Actions:
Priorities for the next month
Actions + Deadline:
1st priority:
2nd priority: Actions + Deadline:
3rd priority: Actions + Deadline:
26 27Priorities for the next year
Actions + Deadline:
1 priority:
st
2nd priority: Actions + Deadline:
3rd priority: Actions + Deadline:
1.15 Assess your state of mind
(Do this once you have taken care of your reentry logistics and feel ready to
take a break and gain some perspective on the situation)
Your personal adaptation curve
Exercise:
Use the following graph to list important events from your experience (positive or
negative), positioning them along the corresponding state of mind. The bottom
axis represents time and covers the duration of your experience, including
(or not) the pre-departure and post-return phases. Join the dots to plot your
personal adaptation curve.
ExAmple : maY 2014
My arrival in Benin
ed
! se es
s
o w! te
a
pr
W A De
28 29Exercise: 1.16 Establish sustainable and effective reintegration
strategies for you
Refer back to the information on the reentry cycle in section 1.3 and determine
where you stand in the return process. Answer the following questions. If you Exercise:
wish, you can use the last page of the guide to complete this exercise in a
different way, by drawing, for instance. What are your personal *strategies to overcome a reentry shock that persists
over time?
At which stage of the reentry cycle are you at the moment? How would you describe
A few examples:
your mood and state of mind? What attitudes and behaviours would characterize
you at the moment?
• Talking about your experience with other returned volunteers
• Seeking professional counselling (psychologist, social worker, personal
mentor) or consult other relevant resources
• Involving yourself in a compelling project
*The strategies that you developed to cope with culture shock abroad can also be useful to help you get
through the shock of reentry.
What attitudes and behaviours characterized you in previous stages of the cycle?
How do you envision your attitudes and behaviours in the coming stages?
1.17 Face up to reality
• Review the reflection exercises you did in the pre-return phase. Adjust your
answers in light of what really happened.
• Take the time to do some of the exercises again, as needed. Sometimes,
taking a step back is a great way to move forward!
Pay close attention to your state of mind throughout the
Think about the readaptation stage and remember reentry process. Know to sound an alarm if things are not
that you will end up there at some point. going well.
30 31PART 2:
Professional
Preparation
2.1 Introduction Here is an overview of the topics that will be
addressed in this section:
If you plan to apply for a position in a non-profit international cooperation
organization, or in the international division of a large company, overseas Pre-return
experience is usually a must. In fact, an increasing number of employers
consider it a great asset and even believe that it makes their business more • Getting to know yourself: Your personality and attitudes
competitive. Skills acquired abroad are also valued by organizations that • Identify your core values and those acquired abroad
work in multicultural environments. However, Canadian employers in other
sectors could hold some misconceptions about job seekers returning from • Identify your main achievements and learnings
an overseas assignment. As such, you may face some obstacles in your job
• Identify your areas of knowledge
search and should be prepared to devote time and energy to finding “the”
professional situation that matches your values and expectations. This • Identify your acquired skills
holds even truer considering that you’ll also need to deal with all of the
other aspects of reentry. • Put it all together
• Establish a plan
This section’s objectives are designed to help you:
1. Identify what your experience abroad has taught you about yourself
2. Identify which transferable professional skills you have acquired Post-return
abroad
• Presenting your overseas experience to potential employers
3. Find ways to promote your experiences and the skills developed
overseas to potential employers at home • Building your network
This part of the kit is built as a workbook to track your job search progress, • Using the Internet to network
starting with clarifying your employment objectives all the way to following
up with a potential employer after a successful interview. Consider it as a
tool to help you make your way towards a position that meets your needs
and expectations.
32 33Communicative Logical Self-assured
Pre-return Confident Loyal Self-controlled
Conscientious Lucid Sensible
Conservative Mature Sensitive
Considerate Methodical Sincere
2.2 Getting to know yourself: Your personality and attitudes
Creative Meticulous Sociable
Two of the most important factors in job satisfaction and success are your Curious Motivated Stable
personality and your attitudes. It is possible that your experience abroad has Daring Nice Supportive
brought out aspects of your personality and attitudes that you did not suspect Discreet Obliging Tactful
existed. By assessing your feelings and reactions towards various situations,
Easy to get along with Open-minded Tenacious
you will get to know yourself better. Be honest in how you assess your thoughts,
feelings, attitudes and behaviours. Effective Optimistic Thorough
Emotional Organized Thoughtful
Empathic Patient Trustworthy
Exercise:
Energetic Persevering Understanding
Put an “X” next to the personality traits that describe you particularly well. Enthusiastic Persuasive Versatile
Add other traits as needed. Extroverted Practical Witty
Confirm your results with three other people, they can provide an interesting
perspective on your personal strengths. Think about the friends you made overseas:
do they perceive you in the same way as your Canadian friends? If not, why? Do you
think that others see you as you see yourself?
It is important to test how you perceive yourself against “evidence” derived from
your experience. In your list of strengths above, choose the four personal traits
Personal strengths and attitudes
and attitudes that you deem the most important. Think of a time when you have
Able to focus Flexible Precise displayed these traits or attitudes successfully while you were abroad or at some
Able to learn Funny Professional other time.
Able to resist stress Helpful Progressive
Accommodating Honest Prudent
1
Ambitious Humble Punctual
Analytical Imaginative Quick
Assertive Independent Quiet 2
Attentive to detail Intelligent Rational
Audacious Inventive Realistic
3
Calm Joyful Reliable
Careful Judicious Reserved
Coherent Knowledgeable Resistant (to fatigue) 4
Competent Level-headed Responsible
Competitive Likeable Resourceful
34 352.3 Identify your core values and those acquired abroad Supervision Hold a position where I directly supervise the work of
others
Exercise Variety and change Perform tasks that vary often
Diversity Work with people of various cultures and
Below you will find a list of personal values that people often find important backgrounds
in their professional lives. To start exploring your personal values relative
Precision work Work in a context where precision and attention to
to work, rate the importance that you attach to each value in the list, using
detail are important
the scale provided. As needed, add other values that you find essential.
Stability Have a work routine and perform tasks that are most
often predictable
In the first column, rate each value on a scale of 1 to 3 as follows: Security Be confident of keeping my job and obtaining a
satisfactory income
1= VERY IMPORTANT 2= SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT 3= NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL Stimulation Hold an exciting job or one that offers frequent
stimulation
Adventure Perform tasks that often require me to take risks
Be useful to society Do work that contributes to improving the world that
Financial gain Hold a job that offers me great opportunities to make
we live in
financial gains
Be useful to others Work directly in helping people, individuals or small
Physical effort Perform tasks that allow me to use my physical
groups
abilities
Contact with the Each day, be in frequent contact with the public
Independence Be able to decide on my work without receiving too
public
many directives from others
Work with other Work as part of a team to achieve common goals
Moral satisfaction Feeling that my work supports moral values that are
people
important to me
Work alone Complete projects by myself, from beginning to end
Sense of community Work in an environment where I can take part in
Competition Do work that allows me to measure my abilities community life
against those of others
Flexible work Be able to set my own work schedule
Make decisions Have the power to decide on orientations and policies schedule
Work under pressure Perform work where deadlines often create pressure Work outdoors Work outdoors / in nature (not in an office)
Influence people Be in a good position to influence opinions and Learning about Develop skills in many different fields
decisions various topics
Knowledge Devote myself to seeking knowledge and Travel Have the opportunity to travel within my region or
understanding abroad as part of my job
Mastery of a particular Become an expert in my field
field
Artistic creativity Express myself artistically
General creativity Be able to create new programs, tools, organizational
structures
Respect for the Work for an organization whose actions do not harm
environment the environment
Esthetics Take part in the study or appreciation of beautiful
things, ideas, etc.
36 37Review the values in the preceding table and write down your five most important 2.4 Identify your main achievements and learnings
values in the table below. To help you determine the relative importance of each
value, ask yourself if you would be happy working in an environment that is contrary • Produce an inventory of your life experiences related to your job search
to that value. If your answer is “no”, this is an essential value for you. • Name five of your most important personal achievements
It is important to narrow down your life experiences, based on the exercises you
MY ESSENTIAL VALUES DEVELOPED OR CONFIRMED
RELATIVE TO WORK WHILE ABROAD have just completed regarding your personal strengths and values towards work.
You should become fully aware of these values, the positive ones especially, as they
1
can play a key role in determining your future orientation. Your time spent abroad is
a perfect example of the type of experience you can draw on in your job search.
2
When people are asked to think about life experiences related to their job search,
they immediately focus on their previous work experience or studies. Yet, a good
part of our skills and knowledge are acquired through other types of experiences,
3
such as volunteering, practicing hobbies or fulfilling various roles in one capacity or
another.
4
Exercise:
Fill out the table below to produce an overall picture of your life experiences
5 as they relate to your job search. Focus on the life experiences that appear
to be the most relevant and important.
Which of these values did you develop or confirm while you were abroad? It is Inventory of my life experiences
important to know where your values come from, not only to understand your Experience with Oxfam-Québec: work project
own personal development, but also to feel confident presenting these values to
What was my assignment?
potential employers.
Are your values compatible with one another? You must be wondering whether it
Did I reach the goals that had been set by Oxfam-Québec?
is realistic to hope to find a job that will integrate all of these values. If so, all the
better! If not, you might want to reflect back and ask yourself one more time which
of these values are truly the most important to you. If you had to choose, which
values would you be able to let go? What did I learn?
What were my achievements?
What challenges did I encounter?
What would I do differently?
38 39Experience with Oxfam-Québec: on a personal level Experience with : on a personal level
What were my achievements? What were my achievements?
What challenges did I encounter?
What challenges did I encounter?
What were my main learnings?
What were my main learnings?
What would I do differently?
What would I do differently?
Experience with : work project
What was my assignment?
You can continue this exercise by using the same questions to document other
experiences related to your family, other employment, specific activities, volunteer
projects, etc. Did I reach the goals that had been set?
Experience with : work project
What was my assignment? What did I learn?
What were my achievements?
Did I reach the goals that had been set?
What challenges did I encounter?
What did I learn?
What would I do differently?
What were my achievements?
Experience with : on a personal level
What were my achievements?
What challenges did I encounter?
What challenges did I encounter?
What would I do differently?
What were my main learnings?
What would I do differently?
40 41Experience with : work project Experience with : work project
What was my assignment? What was my assignment?
Did I reach the goals that had been set? Did I reach the goals that had been set?
What did I learn? What did I learn?
What were my achievements? What were my achievements?
What challenges did I encounter? What challenges did I encounter?
What would I do differently? What would I do differently?
Experience with : on a personal level Experience with : on a personal level
What were my achievements? What were my achievements?
What challenges did I encounter? What challenges did I encounter?
What were my main learnings? What were my main learnings?
What would I do differently? What would I do differently?
42 43Exercise: Exercise:
The experiences that we have liked and succeeded at are usually the In the following table, list the various types of knowledge acquired as part
most important in our life experience inventory. Review your inventory of your formal and informal training. Include the dates of these training
in the previous pages and summarize your five most important personal sessions, the companies or organizations that provided them, as well as the
achievements in the table below. These achievements are indicative of the topics covered. Include training offered by your employers both in and out
personal strengths that you will want to build on in setting your employment of the work place. Include any training received as part of volunteering or
goal. This list will also act as a useful reminder of the achievements you other activities as well.
want to highlight in job interviews.
Training or educational facility:
Period/Date/Year:
My five most important personal achievements Field of study:
1
Training or educational facility:
Period/Date/Year:
2 Field of study:
Training or educational facility:
3
Period/Date/Year:
Field of study:
4
Training provided by Oxfam-Québec:
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training:
5
Training provided by employers:
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training:
2.5 Identify your areas of knowledge
Training provided by employers:
• Establish a list of knowledge areas acquired as part or your training(s)
Period/Date/Year:
• Name the three main knowledge areas that you wish to build on in your Type of training:
professional life
• Name an area of knowledge that you would like to develop or deepen for your
Training provided by employers:
professional future
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training:
The years you have spent learning in school, working on projects, living abroad, etc.
have yielded a wealth of personal and professional knowledge. As part of your job
search, you must be able to identify and name your technical knowledge, just as you Training provided by employers:
must know your values and highlight your personal achievements. Period/Date/Year:
Type of training:
44 45Training provided by employers: Exercise:
Period/Date/Year: Review the results of the previous exercises and choose the three main
Type of training:
knowledge areas that you wish to build on in your professional life.
Training provided by employers:
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training: My three most important areas of knowledge
1
Other training or professional development:
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training: 2
Other training or professional development:
3
Period/Date/Year:
Type of training:
Other training or professional development:
Period/Date/Year: Name one field of knowledge that you would like to develop or deepen for your
Type of training: future professional life.
Exercise:
In the following table, list the various types of knowledge that you have
acquired as part of other activities and that you may use in a professional
setting. Contrary to point 1.8, which focused on personal learnings, this
table should only include specific, employment-related knowledge.
What I learned through travel, hobbies, volunteering, 2.6 Identify acquired skills
readings, personal research, etc.
• Identify the skills you have acquired during your assignment abroad
• Identify the skills that you most wish to use as part of your future job
• Provide representative examples of situations where you have used these
skills
A skill is the ability to do something well, an ability which is mostly gained through
experience. Most skills are transferable from one work context to another and can
be grouped in various ways. Employers want to know about the skills you will bring
to their organization. To identify your skills, review your work experiences (paid or
unpaid), as well as your academic and personal activities. Think of the skills you
relied on or developed while you were abroad: you can easily transfer most of these
skills to a Canadian context.
46 47Skills derived from international experience Exercise:
The ability to deal with change, to tolerate stress and to respect others are some Review the inventory of your life experiences, achievements and areas
of the essential skills required for today’s job market. In fact, many of the skills of knowledge in section 2.5, as well as the strengths you acquired while
you acquired as part of your overseas assignment are exactly the types of skills overseas. Then, list your acquired skills according to the three categories
sought by employers. It is in your best interest to highlight these skills, by insisting outlined in the table below. The first column deals with specialized skills
on the added value that a person with “international experience” can bring to the required for a given task—creating a website, interpreting the results of
workplace. Here is a list of skills often associated with an international profile: a medical test, applying community facilitation techniques, refereeing a
sport, repairing equipment. The second column groups communication
• Ability to deal with change and the unexpected and interpersonal skills—coping with stress, acting as a mediator, training
• Ability to take initiative. Autonomy, self-discipline others, writing a text, defending rights. The third outlines general skills
• Open-mindedness, sensitivity, tactfulness required for most jobs—showing initiative, organization and problem-
• Good listening and observation skills solving skills, management. The action verbs listed in Annex 1 should help
• Ability to meet professional challenges, to take risks you to complete this exercise.
• Ability to deal with stress effectively
• Stamina, tenacity, persistence
• Self-confidence, ability to deal with rejection
• Awareness of power politics in the workplace Specialized Communication/ General
• Sense of humour skills interpersonal skills skills
• Resourcefulness, flexibility, ability to network
• Ability to deal with uncertainty and resolve problems
• Creative approach (new ideas, creative problem solving)
Exercise:
Looking back on your experience abroad, name two or three skills that
strike you as strengths acquired while you were overseas. For each of these
strengths, provide an example of a situation where you put this skill into
practice while overseas. Be as precise as possible.
1. Strength:
Example:
2. Strength:
Example:
3. Strength:
Example:
48 49Exercise: 2.7 Put it all together!
Using the list above, chose the five skills that you most wish to use as part If you have completed all of the exercises in this unit, you have just undergone a
of your future job. For each of these skills, provide a representative example very rigorous process. You will be rewarded for this hard work! It is highly likely that
of a situation where you have put this skill into practice and describe the after identifying your strong personality traits and attitudes, your values relative
positive outcomes of your actions. to work, your life experiences, your knowledge and your skills, you are starting to
get a clearer idea of how to shape your employment goal. Let us see if some trends
emerge when you put it all together.
1. Skill:
Example: Creating an overall picture
Based on the previous exercises, we recommend that you group all of your results
Positive outcome:
into one document. This document can be used as a starting point to create your
resume, which you can then adapt for each job application. As well, this overall
picture can be used as a reminder or as a tool to help you assess whether a position
2. Skill: or employer is a good match for who you are and what you wish to accomplish.
Example:
Exercise:
Positive outcome:
In the table below, summarize the results of all the preceding exercises in
order to obtain a complete personal profile.
3. Skill:
Example:
Personality and Values relative Achievements
attitudes to work
Positive outcome:
4. Skill:
Example:
Positive outcome: Areas Acquired International
of knowledge skills skills
5. Skill:
Example:
Positive outcome:
50 51How does it look? Does this profile match your employment objective? If you are not Exercise:
too sure of what you are looking for, the trends that emerge in the six areas above
should help you see things more clearly. If your employment objective lies in a new Determine the actions you must undertake in order to expand your
field of interest, your profile should help you determine which life experiences can professional profile.
help support this new orientation. If, after this, you are still confused about your job
goal and are unable to come to a clear idea of the type of work you should seek, you
1
could need additional help. The references and resources listed at the end of this
guide could be useful. You may also consider consulting a career counsellor.
2
2.8 Establish a plan
Your plans for the future do not necessarily match your current abilities. This only 3
means that you need to establish a plan in order to better align your professional
profile with your employment objectives.
4
The first step in your plan was to set an employment objective. This is what this
module aimed to do: help you identify your employment objective, as well as the
personal resources, skills and experiences that you can rely on to turn this goal
into reality. Your next challenge is to identify what needs to be done to achieve
Exercise:
your goal. Depending on where you are in your job search, this could require little to
considerable effort. Those who have already established a clear goal will need to Realistically identify what you can start doing within the next three months,
devise a plan to find the right employer. If your professional profile is somewhat at six months and coming year in order to build up the skills, knowledge and
odds with your objective, you will need to come up with a realistic plan, taking into experience necessary to achieve your employment objective.
account your background and the resources at your disposal (time and money).
According to your professional profile, do you have the necessary skills, 3 months
knowledge, experience and work-related values to support your employment
objective?
• If yes, proceed to the post-return section (p.53)
• If not, you will need to strengthen your professional profile
6 months
This may involve registering in an academic program in order to complete your
training or give a new orientation to your career path. You may also build up your
profile by gaining experience in a related field, volunteering, taking up a temporary
job in Canada or undertaking a new assignment abroad.
1 year
52 53Post-return Given this, we offer some tips below on ways to present your international
experience, so that reluctant employers see its added value, and so that all
potential employers recognize the benefits of your international skills. This advice
should help to position you as the best candidate for the job ahead.
2.9 Presenting your international experience to potential Tips to highlight the benefits of your international experience
employers to Canadian employers 101
• Emphasize your positive work habits, your desire to be part of a team, and
As many volunteers before you, you may find that your family and friends have
your commitment to the potential employer and its mission.
trouble understanding your overseas experience. You may have trouble explaining or
describing your experience, or effectively conveying what you have gained from it. It • Highlight the positive aspects of returning to Canada. Do not dwell on
is also easy to underestimate the value of your work experience as an international your reintegration challenges, and insist on the fact that you are happy
cooperation volunteer. Some people may think that you went on an adventure, that to be back. Be clear about your attachment to Canadian society, and your
you took an exotic trip or that you completed an educational or cultural journey. intention to settle here and hold steady employment.
While these people may acknowledge that you underwent a positive personal
learning experience, they may not always see its importance for your professional • Describe your work responsibilities abroad in a professional manner.
future. Unfortunately, these types of misconceptions continue to exist, not only Speak clearly and adopt a businesslike tone. Talk about your successes
among those close to you, but also among potential employers. The secret to a and achievements. Do not focus on past failures that potential Canadian
successful job search lies in being able to find the right words to describe the employers may find hard to understand, given their lack of international
value and relevance of your overseas work experience, so that potential employers experience and poor knowledge of the context.
understand it and are intrigued by it. In his book The Big Guide to Living and Working • Avoid telling horror stories or hair-raising tales. The more difficult your
Overseas, Jean-Marc Hachey suggests keeping in mind some of the most common past experiences were, the more careful you need to be in discussing the
misconceptions employers have about returning expats (see box). hardships you faced. Do highlight work-related situations where, despite
terrible difficulties, you managed to overcome problems or resolve conflicts.
Most common misconceptions that some employers may have about • Provide concrete and measurable examples of your work. Talk about your
returning expats successes and achievements. How many employees did you supervise?
What was the size of the budget or the complexity of the project you
• Reintegration causes emotional problems that may interfere with your managed?
work
• Downplay your independent spirit (which is already evidenced by your
• You are no longer familiar with how things work in the Canadian workplace choice to work in a foreign culture). Avoid wearing exotic clothing or
or business world (especially if you are returning from a long-term jewellery; dress in a serious, professional manner.
assignment)
• Use words that the average Canadian understands. Avoid using hard to
• You are too independent and different, and will have trouble fitting in with pronounce foreign words. For instance, simplify the name of the ministry
the work team where you used to work. Use the language of your future job and avoid using
“expat jargon” that could confuse potential employers. Choose terms that
• You do not really seek long-term employment and are professionally
are better suited to the local work environment: regional office/staff, rather
unstable (you will no doubt go back abroad soon or just drift from one job
than field office/staff; personnel or employees, rather than counterparts;
to the next)
adaptation rather than culture shock; interpersonal skills, rather than
• You may have health problems that will require you to take sick leave intercultural sensitivity; political skills, rather than diplomacy.
• Downplay your love of adventure, your need for change. Do not say that you
plan to go back abroad. If required, mention your clean bill of health upon
reentry in Canada.
10 Intercultural systems / Systèmes interculturels (ISSI) inc. (no date).
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