Career Services Spotlight, JungMin Lee Cheong, HEA Candidate

Published 2025

What is your new job? How did you obtain it?
I was recently hired as an international student advisor at Berkeley College. I’ve worked in private ESL (English as a Second Language) institutions for several years. However, I’ve always dreamed of being an advisor in a higher education setting where I could support a broader international student community in achieving their academic goals. Motivated by this passion, I began my job search and came across this opportunity at Berkeley. The hiring process involved three rounds of interviews with school directors. Throughout each stage, I tried to show my genuine desire to educate international students and emphasized the skills and experiences I developed in my previous role.

How long were you actively job seeking?
Since I resigned from my previous job, I was actively seeking a job for about 2 months.

What was your job search strategy during this period?
After leaving my previous job, I initially planned to take a month’s break before thinking about next steps. However, I passively began to browse the job openings that aligned with my interests on platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, and others. I quickly realized that positions for International Student Advisors in higher education are quite limited, so I decided to stay alert for opportunities even during my downtime. I took advantage of Marxe Career Services, working with excellent advisors, to refine my resume and receive practical career advice on how to effectively present my previous experiences to potential employers. Their guidance played a significant role in helping me feel confident when applying and preparing for interviews. Lastly, I tried to navigate alumni events and networks from my previous coworkers to get referred to new job positions.

What do you think were the secrets to your success?
It was important for me to clarify goals. I spent time understanding job responsibilities that I wanted and an environment in which I would like to thrive. Then I reflected on my skills to see whether I could confidently demonstrate them in those roles. This process helped me target positions that were the right fit for both my experience and aspirations.

Second, I focused on tailoring applications, which were my resume and cover letter, to the jobs. I carefully checked job openings and responsibilities, made sure my applications directly spoke to the job descriptions, highlighting my most relevant experiences. Finally, I stayed resilient and adapted to the process. I faced a lot of ignored applications, and it was devastating not to know the reasons why I didn’t get any response; however, instead of being discouraged, I sought assistance from career coaching from Marxe Career Service to keep refining my approach and stay committed to my goal.

What advice do you have for job seekers out there?
My advice for job seekers is to take full advantage of the resources available through your school, such as career coaching services and alumni events. These supports can play a crucial role in bringing you one step closer to landing the job you’re aiming for. Don’t hesitate to reach out—many people in these networks are genuinely willing to help you succeed in your job search.