From International Student to Associate Software Engineer at Xero

Join us in this episode as we chat with Kathy, an international student from Taiwan who embarked on a unique journey of pursuing a Master of IT degree in Australia 🚀.

Kathy shares her experiences of studying abroad, seeking internships, and eventually landing a job in a new country. She discusses the challenges she faced, including language barriers and the job search process during a global pandemic.

0:13 - Background and Education

1:51 - Internship Experience

2:26 - Day-to-Day Work at Xero

3:27 - Teamwork and Mentorship

4:31 - Career Goals and Development

5:02 - Company Culture at Xero

5:41 - Education and Internships

7:47 - Interview Preparation

8:33 - Culture Shock at Work

9:31 - Providing Feedback

10:11 - Saying "No"

11:04 - Expressing Opinions

11:37 - Education Path

12:15 - Internship Experience

15:11 - Xero's Interview Process

15:49 - Referrals and Networking

16:32 - Preparing for Interviews

17:39 - Being Yourself

18:06 - Learning to Interview

19:18 - Researching Company Values

19:26 - Getting a Referral

19:44 - Building Your Network

20:12 - Customizing Applications

21:32 - Improving English Skills

22:17 - Side Projects

22:57 - Job Search Strategy

23:09 - Visa Process

24:17 - Visa Details

24:24 - Visa Application Support

24:56 - Classmate Outcomes

25:50 - Job Search Plan

26:36 - Persistence Pays Off

27:40 - Getting Interviews

28:32 - Researching Company Culture

28:46 - Questions to Ask Employers

29:16 - Understanding Company Values

29:37 - Interview Questions

30:11 - Company Culture Fit

30:21 - Red Flag

31:08 - Aggressive Employers

31:29 - Visa Sponsorship

31:47 - Asking About Visas

32:03 - Job Platforms

32:28 - Best Job Sites

32:46 - Final Tips