6 Tips on Gaining Career Experience During the Summer:

6 Tips on Gaining Career Experience During the Summer:

Are you looking for ways to enhance your resume and gain career experience? Well summer is the perfect time to do this! Take a look at 6-ways you can make the most out of your summer break:

1.       Get a Summer Job/Internship

-          Whether it is in a related or unrelated field, gaining a summer job or internship will help you develop transferrable skills that are essential in any work environment! It is also a great way to figure out what you do and do not like in terms of careers.

2.       Volunteer

-          If you don’t meet the job requirements, or you don’t have the time to work in a related field this summer, volunteering is a great option for you. Volunteering requires less time commitment than a job, gives you valuable experience you can add to your resume, and is a great way to give back to your community!

3.       Attend a conference

-          Attending a conference, workshop or event in your area of study is a great way to learn more about the different professions within your field. You also will have the chance to network with professionals, and form great connections for securing job opportunities later on.

4.       Conduct an informational interview

-          Do you have a couple different professions in mind for post-graduation and aren’t sure which one would best suit you? The summer is a perfect time to meet with people in companies or in job positions that interest you, and ask them some questions that you would like to know. Just conduct an internet search and send a few emails to see if the individual would be willing to meet with you – and make sure to go prepared with a list of questions!

5.       Go Abroad

-          If you get the chance, working or volunteering internationally is a great way to enhance your skillset. Whether you are learning a new language, developing your communication and adaptability skills, or increasing your cross-cultural understanding, global experience is viewed as an asset in many workplaces. Also, is there a better time to travel than on your summer break?

6.       Professional Development

-          Completing various certifications during the summer is an easy way to gain prerequisites for a job or enhance your resume. Some common certifications that many jobs require include First Aid and CPR, Smart Serve, and your G-class driver’s license. For more program-specific professional development, check out our Degree Exploration Guides at:  https://brocku.ca/ccee/career-education/campus/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/  

Do you have any questions on how obtain the mentioned experiences? Drop in to CareerZone or visit our online resource center (careerzone.brocku.ca) for tips on all of your career related questions! Enjoy your summer Badger’s!

Akayla Olajos
Career Assistant

10 Jobs for History Majors

Canada Day has just passed, and one thing this special day does is encourage us to think about the history of our country. With that in mind, it reminds us that many find interest in discovering, learning about, and sharing this history.

Are you a History major unsure of what career path you want to go down? Well you would likely be surprised to know how many careers are in your field! Whether it is a position that requires further education, or one where your History degree will suffice on its own, here are 10 jobs that you might have not known about as a History major:

Administrator

This role tends to focus on bookkeeping, communication, and data entry in various offices. However, it can be tailored more to History majors depending on where the position is. Historical Site Administrators are responsible for managing and overseeing historical sites. How cool is that?

Historian

This one is surely a more obvious title for History majors, but many do not fully understand the depth of this role. Historians gather, analyze, and interpret historical information. As well as write reports, archive or preserve materials for museums, and more!

Researcher

Have excellent communication skills that you want to put to use? Then this could be the job for you. This position includes preparing reports, writing papers, and communicating with various historians and archivists. If research is something you enjoy, then look into making it a career.

Biographer

You will be able to assemble biographical materials and do research in various forms in order to summarize a person’s life in the most engaging way possible as a Biographer. If you enjoy combining personal history and bringing it into a current context, and want to focus on individual histories, then this would likely be a great match for you!

Government Researcher

Maybe you have an interest in politics. Possibly minored in Political Science? This role could be ideal for you! Government Researchers assist with analyzing, developing and reviewing government policies. This could include delivering presentations, ensuring research is done effectively and in a timely manner, and responding to inquiries.

Tour Guide

If you want to share important historical information about certain places, then being a Tour Guide might be something you’d enjoy! You will be answering tourist questions, conduct tours, and greet guests.

Lawyer

With further education, your History degree can be used to get you in the field of Law. You will need to have a good understanding of policies, an ability to analyze legal documents, and much more. There are also various kinds of Lawyers, so the options are endless!

Museum Curator

Museums tend to be a special place for History majors. Having knowledge of documenting artifacts, excellent research skills, ability to plan a budget, and creativity will be useful skills to help you thrive in this profession. Museum curators acquire, document, interpret, and manage certain art collections.

Ethnologist

This position includes planning and conducting research studies, and can include formulating general laws of cultural development and looking into social and cultural behavior. If you enjoy learning about social patterns and using research skills then look into this role!

Gallery Assistant

As a Gallery Assistant you will be responsible for opening and closing the gallery, ensuring items are in the proper place, provide great display sections for the artwork, and giving overall assistance in a gallery. If you enjoy art history then this is perfect for you! 

So there you have it! 10 jobs that might interest you as a History major. For more information on different career paths, job search information, and learning about degree specific skills, drop into CareerZone! 

Lydia Collins

Senior Career Assistant 

Once a Badger, Always a Badger: Congratulations Graduates!

It’s that time of year again where a brand new group of Badgers move on to their next chapter. This could mean going to work, diving right into post-graduate studies, or taking time to travel and explore the world outside of academia. Whatever you have in mind, we want to help!

One of the greatest advantages that come along with being a Brock Badger is the fact that you will still receive so much support even after you finish your undergrad. So what’s next? Well, how about you start with seeing what CareerZone can offer you as a new graduate! Here are a few ways we can help you with your first step in a new direction:

CareerZone (the website)

Make use of CareerZone’s online resource Centre to have access to workshops, job postings, career events and more! To activate your alumni account, head to my.brocku.ca, look under “Activate your account” then select “Applicant, New, Returning Student or Alumni”.

Resume and Cover Letter Reviews

One of our most popular services, be sure to drop in for an on-the-spot resume or cover letter review, no appointment necessary! Bring in a printed version of your documents and we’ll provide you with feedback, templates, and writing strategies to help you keep your application up-to-date. If you’re unable to come in, email us at career@brocku.ca for an online review!

Interview Preparation

Now that you are likely searching for employment-especially within your field- we want to make sure that you are able to impress employers! From templates, online resources, to even scheduling mock interviews, we will make sure that you feel best prepared to walk into your next interview.

Job Search Strategies

Want help figuring out the best ways to search for jobs in your field? We’ve got plenty of resources and expertise in that area!

Experience Plus

This would be a great time to print off your Experience Plus transcript! You can include it in your application to graduate studies, or even jobs! You can track your experience on your my.brocku.ca. Contact the Experience Plus Assistant at expplus@brocku.ca for more details. 

Lydia Collins

Senior Career Assistant 

A Welcome Message from your Summer CA's!

School’s out…unless you took spring/summer courses.

Whether you’re still on campus over the next four months, back home, or around the region as a local, CareerZone is open for your convenience! From Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm, we will be here to help you with your career related needs. Before stopping in, it might be useful to know a few things! Here are a few reminders for what to know coming into CareerZone over the spring/summer months:

Who’s going to help you?

If you recall, last summer I was the face you seen in the office, but this time, there’s two of us! Myself, and fellow Career Assistant, Akayla, will be here over the next few months to assist you. Drop into CareerZone, or even just wave when you walk by!

We moved!

Some of our most exciting news for the summer is that we moved! CareerZone is now located in ST211 in the Learning Commons (just around the corner from our old space, next to the elevators by the librarian desk). Come check out our new home!

What we do

Here at CareerZone we focus on helping you with your career related needs. We provide resources for resume and cover letter reviews, further education information, interview preparation, job search strategies and much more! And even more exciting? We are a drop in service, so no appointment necessary!

So, there are a few things you should know about CareerZone. We hope to see you soon, and if you’re unable to drop in feel free to contact us via email at career@brocku.ca.  Enjoy your summer, Badgers! 

Lydia and Akayla 

Summer Career Assistants 

End of the year farewells!

That's a wrap! As the academic year comes to a close, we'd like to say thanks to all of our staff who contributed to such a successful year for the Career Education community (formerly Career Services). 

Additionally, we would like to pay tribute to some of our staff who will be heading onto new things after their time with us. These staff members have made valuable contributions to our department and we are going to miss them dearly!


Scarlet Stark

Scarlet will be ending her time here with us after working 3 years as a Lead Career Assistant!! Her friendly demeanor and amazing advice will make her greatly missed within the centre. She would have likely been the first person you see when you walked into the centre, for good reason too! She is always smiling and willing to go above and beyond to help students. Without her extensive knowledge about the vast resources Brock offers - we don't know what we will do without her!! Thanks Scarlet for some amazing memories that will truly be cherished. After graduating from the Psychology program, Scarlet will be working with the Student Engagement Office at the Goodman School of Business. We appreciate her for being such a great ambassador for Career Services and are proud of her accomplishments.

Daniel Moody

Although we only had a year together, Daniel has made a great impact on us. He was always eager to help students when they came in the centre and learn about new topics to better help students. He has an immense passion for the career community which we will miss! His friendly smile and enthusiasm towards his role has made him an exceptional addition to the Career Education family. Can't wait to see you around campus Daniel!

Julia Camilleri

One of our other Career Assistants, Julia, will also be graduating this term and working in the HR industry. Her extensive experience in the labour market was a great tool when answering student questions! We'll also miss seeing her friendly face on the phone when she would Skype into our meetings 😂😂😂. Thanks for always being so positive and optimistic! We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Tyler Harris

Tyler has also spent three years within the Career Education department as a Lead Career Assistant and has been a valuable asset to the team. Mr. Busy, you can find him at one of his jobs, clubs, or meetings. However, he always had time to spend with the the Career Education family! He went the extra mile when helping students and always had a way of making them feel comfortable within our environment. His approachability and eagerness to help around will be truly missed. We can't wait to see the great things he will surely accomplish in the future.  

Thank you all for the great memories and experiences we have shared together! We will miss you dearly and are excited to see what great successes you achieve. On behalf of your Career Education family we wish you the best of luck. 

#CSLove

Love, 

The Career Assistant Family

Questions You Should Ask In Your Next Interview!

I like to call the period of time between exams and summer "interview time"! So many students are looking for summer work or part-time work, which leads to a huge influx of students coming to the CareerZone looking for tips and tricks to nail that first impression and make a positive mark on the employer in an interview.

Often times, the primary focus in terms of preparation is going over potential questions you might be asked in an interview like "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" and "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?". Questions like these are great to practice ahead of time! 

However, one aspect of the interview that many students forget to think about is developing some questions to ask the employer in the interview. Not only does asking the employer questions in the interview show you know about the company, but it is also a sign of genuine interest in what the company is doing!

Here are some great questions you can ask at your next interview: 

1) What do you enjoy most about your job/the company?
2) What challenges could I expect to face if given the opportunity to work in this role?
3) Where do you see the company in terms of growth in the next 5 years?
4) What do you think are important skills to have to perform well in this role?
5) Are there opportunities for professional development or advancement? 

This is just a small sample of questions to consider asking in your next interview. Remember, the interview is not only a time where the employer learns more about you, it is also an opportunity to learn more about the company as well!

If you are looking for more assistance with interviews, check out our Interview Workshop on CareerZone! Be sure to check out InterviewStream as well (via CareerZone) for thousands of practice interview questions! Wondering what a specific company may ask you in an interview? No worries! GlassDoor is a great site for finding out the experiences of others who have interviewed with certain companies so you can better prepare your answers and potential questions to ask the employer.

Thanks for reading!

Scarlet Stark
Psychology Major
Lead Career Assistant 

5 Tips to Prepare for Interviews

There are plenty of ways you can prepare for an interview. Whether you have experience with interviews or are going into your first, you should always go through steps to prepare. Here are a few tips to follow while going into an interview:

1.   Rehearse Some Sample Questions!

There are some questions that are often asked in interviews. It’s good to rehearse your answers to these possible questions beforehand. For example, one of the most common questions asked is, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. Since this is such a common question and it’s about you directly, employers expect your best answer!

2.   Do Your Research!

A lot of companies look for employees who share their same values. Along with that, they like to make sure you fit in with the culture. By taking a few minutes to go over the company website you will generally be able to get an understanding of what they value. You’ll also get a sense of the culture as well; you can relate back to these values during the interview session.

3.   Prepare Questions to Ask.

Usually at the end of an interview the employer will ask if you have any questions for them. It’s good to prepare a couple quick questions. This gives the interviewer the sense that you are actually interested in the job. Along with that, it gives you the opportunity to learn a little more about the role/company.

4.   Dress Appropriately

While going into an interview, it’s always best to over dress rather than under dress. Professional business attire is always recommended when going to an interview. Also, bring some writing material with you. It’s always a good idea to bring a binder or a folder with paper and a pen.

5.   Read Over the Job Posting

Reading over the job posting gives you an idea of the kind of work you will be doing, the skills needed, and qualifications that are desired. This gives you the opportunity to think of situations from your past work experience when you have used these skills. Along with that, it may give you an idea of any situation questions the interviewer will ask. Lastly it prepares you to answer any questions based on your qualifications. If you don’t have a specific qualification, (i.e. Smart Serve,) you can simply mention you have plan on getting it.

For more information on interviews you can go to https://careerzone.brocku.ca workshops tabs in the Online Resource Centre!

Thanks for Reading!

Daniel Moody

Career Assistant

Business Communication Major

Reading Week Career Events!

Hey Badgers!

Reading Week is just around the corner, and I know many of you might be using this extra time to job hunt! As you know, we strive to provide students with events that will allow them to network, learn more about various companies, and gain meaningful employment - whether it be part-time, full-time, or just for the summer! Check out the list below of the career events happening in the area over Reading Week:

Reading Week Career Events (Posted on CareerZone too!)

• 124 on Queen Hotel & Spa Job Fair - February 19th - 12pm - 4pm - 124 Queen Street - Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON
• Morton's Grille Job Fair - February 21st & 22nd - 10am - 7pm - 5881 Dunn Street - Niagara Falls, ON
• Niagara Parks Career Fair - February 25th - 10am - 2pm - 5881 Dunn Street - Niagara Falls, ON

 Other Career Events During Reading Week (Not Posted on CareerZone)

• Lowe's Canada Regional Hiring Day - February 25th - 9am-4pm - All participating Lowe's stores

Keep in mind that our events do not stop beyond Reading Week! There are a TON of events happening as we move into March! The best way to not miss out is to login to CareerZone, click "Campus Career Events" and mark down anything you are interested in your own calendar!

Thanks for reading Badgers! Have an excellent Reading Week!

Scarlet Stark
Lead Career Assistant

Is My 'Dream Career' In Demand?

One important aspect of ANY job search is to consider demand. Demand is often times overlooked, leading to frustration when it comes time to job search! For example, you may be very passionate about History and, because of this, have decided to major in History. You may also have a very clear career goal of becoming a Museum Curator once your degree is completed. All of this is great - BUT, I would urge any student to consider the demand for your 'dream career' or 'dream job.

Investigating career demand is an important aspect of any career exploration process because it is beneficial to know the outlook for specific sectors. It can also assist with making choices about the next steps you might need to take to land your dream job, like graduate school or additional professional development. For example, if being a Museum Curator requires graduate school but the demand for Museum Curators has dropped in recent years, it might not be a worthwhile investment in the end if you can not find employment in your desired field. However, it might be worthwhile if the demand has increased for Museum Curators and many jobs are available within this sector. As you can see from this example, doing some research regarding the sector you wish to work in can help you make informed career decisions, all the while helping you determine your next steps!

If you are looking to determine whether or not the job or career you wish to get into is in demand, career exploration is a must! Check out the Government of Canada - Labour Market Information website.This site utilizes NOC codes (codes associated with specific job titles within specific sectors) to organize the projected career outlooks for a wide array of areas of interest! If you are looking for work within Canada specifically, this would be the site to consult in terms of finding out the demand! Click HERE to find out the projected outlook for your dream job!

In addition, Career Cruising, available FREE to Brock students via CareerZone, allows students to easily look up the NOC code associated with the occupation of interest!

Thanks for reading!

Scarlet Stark
Lead Career Assistant
Psychology Major

I'm Graduating Soon... What Now?

Fall Convocation at Brock is quickly approaching (only 5 more days!) and I wanted to firstly congratulate ALL new graduates on finishing your post-secondary journey! If your silently wondering "What the heck do I do now?" do not worry! It is quite normal to feel this way! Just know that Career Services can help in a variety of ways!

For starters, you are not denied our online or in person services once you graduate! If you find your student login no longer works after awhile, all you have to do is create an alumni account and you will again have access to all of our online resources. In addition, you can drop in and visit us in person, no appointment necessary!

This brings me to my second point: PLEASE check the events tab on CareerZone if you are actively job searching. Next week alone we have TD, the Ontario Internship Program, and the YMCA on campus, all of which are looking to recruit! Some events require registration which is why I would highly recommend new graduates to check out the events on CareerZone at least once a week to stay in the loop!

Lastly, do not be hard on yourself if you do not find a job right after graduation! This is the case for many graduates! The key is to try your best, remain active and diligent in your job search and always seek out feedback when in doubt! We offer resume and cover letter reviews to help you with the feedback part and can even assist with portfolio creation and LinkedIn profile creation as well! We also have some great interview resources so you can nail that first impression and answer any interview questions with ease and confidence!

Congratulations again new grads!

Scarlet Stark
Lead Career Assistant