Thursday, March 28, 2013

Easter Weekend Hours

As Easter Weekend approaches we'd like to let you know of our changes in hours!

We will be closed Friday, March 29th for Good Friday...
 
And will re-open on Monday, April 1st for our regular hours (9:00am - 4:30pm)!

Have a wonderful weekend!


 - Lia

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

International Student? Get your Certificate for Success!

Are you an international student looking to ease the transition into university life in Canada? Or maybe just looking to gain valuable skills and experience?

Created in collaboration with the Office of International Services, the Student Development Centre, the Academic Integrity Officer, Career Services, the Brock University Library, Human Rights and Equity Services and Community Services, the Certificate for Success offers students a chance to gain a diverse set of skills and experiences that prepare them both academically and professionally.

To complete the certificate, candidates must complete 2 mandatory workshops, 4 elective seminars, and 8 hours of volunteer work. Click on each link to be guided to the website to read about the various workshops offered to you.

"But Brittany," you ask, "what is the benefit of attaining this certificate?". Well, besides the focused workshops in academic integrity, time management, essay writing, note taking and study skills, you can also use your certificate in job search, school applications, or for something extra to add to your portfolio!

Feel free to drop by the Career Resource Centre between 9 and 4:30pm, Monday-Friday for assistance with starting up in this worthwhile program, or even for assistance in figuring out how to attain the 8 necessary volunteer hours!

See you soon,

Brittany
Sr. Career Assistant

How to get Information on Job Markets

Finding information on job markets is important, especially for new grads, as it can help them to narrow their job search. If they know which industries are at their peak in terms of hiring and which have already passed their peak than they can spend their time applying to jobs that they actually have a chance of getting because they are actually hiring.

Job search is a difficult process and is extremely taxing especially if you are applying to job after job and then seeing rejection after rejection. However, this rejection is not meant to be personal. It is just a reflection of the fact that that industry is not in need of help. But there are others which are and these are the industries new grads, especially those who have no set position or industry in mind should be applying.

Thankfully there are some online job market information sites which can aid in this process of finding these open industries. These are:

Niagara Occupational Profiles list a variety of occupational categories that provide job profiles and statistics of careers found in the Niagara Region

National Occupational Classification (NOC Codes) is Canada’s occupational directory that helps job seekers understand the labour market in Canada

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) is America’s occupational directory that helps job seekers understand the labour market in the USA

The Alliance of Sector Councils (TASC) is a group representing 37 industry sectors that work collaboratively to address Canadian labour market issues
Canadian Salary Survey offers a wages and salary guide for different occupations and trades in Canada

MyEducationHasValue outlines information on job trends in Ontario and around the world

Niagara Workforce Planning Board issues monthly and annual reports on labour market trends and issues in the Niagara Region

Working in Canada provides you with an overview of Canada’s job market, labour market projections and wages which is searchable by city/region and by job title


These are the most common labour market information sites. So whether you are a new grad looking to narrow your job search or if you’re a lower year undergrad just wondering if the career you want to pursue has a good outlook, these tools can be helpful for you.

In addition to these online resources, we also have a trends binder in the resource centre which is frequently updated and has some really interesting information about top occupations, top employers, upcoming job markets etc.

As you can see there is a wealth of information on the topic so I would really encourage you to check out all of the information to be fully aware of all that is going on in the field. Who knows, you may even be able to impress a hiring manager in an interview with all of your knowledge of the industry.

That’s all for now folks,

Rosemary
Sr. Career Assistant

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Under Pressure @ Work? 6 Steps to De-Stress!

Whether you're working full-time, part-time, for the summer time, you name it - working can be very stressful! When it's your full-time job it can consume you, when it's your part-time job it's difficult because you're balancing school and work at times, and when it's the summer you're itching to get outside in the sun. But whatever the reason, I am going to provide you some tips for how to remain healthy and on track while you do whatever, wherever making a living.

1. Stay away from office gossip.
First and foremost, if you can keep away from the water cooler and whatever is said in that vicinity, you're doing a great justice to yourself and the person being gossiped about. By partaking, you are breeding negativity - you may begin thinking, "what happens when I am not around?" increasing paranoia and discomfort at work. It’s a time waster, and it restricts your ability to cultivate healthy work relationships which are a stress reducer too!

2. Cultivate healthy work relationships.
Knowing you have people who will smile at you and talk to you at work is a great encourager for coming to work everyday! Making friends increases the chances of being happier more often in the workplace, and feeling a sense of belonging. Be careful, however, not to make friends who will then distract you or get you into trouble at work, as this will result in the reverse.


3. Recharge with physical activity.
Although this is time consuming and often difficult to fit into your day, finding time to exercise each day not only reduces stress but it also increases productivity everyday! Get your work friends to the gym with you on lunch or before/after work 3 times a week and you'll surely notice the difference!

*This is key to the Career Services team, btw!

4. Keep things interesting - change it up!
Sometimes this can be difficult when your job requires the same thing everyday, but find little ways of changing it up. Work at an office job? Grab yourself one of those day calendars with a different quote each day to inspire you! Working on a few tasks? Instead of doing one after the other, interchange activities to facilitate creativity and so as not to lose interest.


5. Do a time management check - make a to-do list!
With so many things going on at work it's important to remind yourself how to keep organized and prioritize tasks effectively. Creating a to do list (or multiple!) will help this cause because you can keep track of what you've done and what you still have to do without the stress of forgetting. And oh boy is it ever a nice little therapy session when you can cross completed tasks off...

6. Listen to relaxing music
If you can do this at work, great, but if not play it on your trip to and from, as well as on lunch. More importantly, play music without lyrics because that will often create chaos in your brain as you sing along, forgetting the important things you have to do when you get to work. Classical music relaxes the mind and opens it up to critical thinking and it's a nice way to "warm up" for your day, as well as "cool down".

I hope these tips were useful and that you make the most of your work experiences while staying happy and positive!

Good luck,

Brittany
Sr. Career Assistant

Monday, March 18, 2013

Can't Get Enough of Brock? Consider Spring and Summer Courses!

There are many reasons for taking summer courses during the spring and summer terms. I'm personally taking a language course this spring to take the stress off of learning a new language in the fall/winter terms while dealing with the heavy demands of my normal course load. Whatever your reason for taking spring and summer courses, Brock University offers a wide range of classes from all of our faculties to give students the option of continuing their studies into the summer months.
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Summer courses are a fantastic way to keep busy during the long summer break and to continue stimulating your mind to avoid the difficulty of getting back into 'school mode' in September! It's also a good opportunity to work on your context credits and electives or to take a language that would clash with your normal coursework in the fall and winter terms.



Here are a few important links to look through when considering classes this summer:

Registration for students with  9.0 or more credits register Monday, March 25 and students with less then 9.0 credits register Wednesday, March 27. So plan your classes ahead of time and be sure to meet with your academic adviser to keep your academic plan up to date!

Career Services will be open during the summer months weekdays from 9:00 - 4:00 so be sure to stop by and take a look at our resources and get your resume/cover letter reviewed!

Best of luck!
- Ashley, Sr. Career Assistant

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Time to Update Your Transcript!

It's that time of year again!

As the end of the Winter term approaches you may want to consider updating your Experience Plus transcript with the many things you've done and accomplished this school year. 

To access your account, go to your portal at my.brocku.ca and select "Applicant & Student Self Serve" -> "Student Self Serve - Menu" ->  "Career Services" -> "ExperiencePlus" -> "StudentData". Here you will find the different sections of your transcript and have the option of adding in any experiences you haven't yet included. These will then be verified by our Experience Plus staff and your transcript will be up-to-date!

If you're graduating, then now's the time to finalize everything on your transcript before you request for it to be printed! Don't miss out on including this official Brock document in your career portfolio or for future job applications.

Email the Experience Plus staff at expplus@brocku.ca if you have any questions or concerns regarding your transcript.

Happy tracking!
- Lia
Lead Career Assistant

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Med Plus Applications

students in athlectic health therapy            Planning on a career in health care? Want some extra guidance as to what aspect of health care you would like to involve yourself in? or....want experience in the field you have your heart set on?
        
            If so, then Med Plus is definitely the program for you. Whether you are an incoming student or a first year who missed the opportunity when you first came, we welcome you to apply! If you are in the sciences or health sciences and plan on pursuing a career in health care or medicine, this is a great opportunity.

QUICK FACT: 18% of regular students who applied to Med School were accepted while 44% of Med Plus students who applied were accepted!

         It seems that the program greatly increases your chances of getting into med school and likely helps just as much in applications to other professional programs. How come?

        The reason for this is because you gain so much experience through the program that by the end of it, you are able to articulate exactly what you are looking for and want. You will be able to back what you tell the employer about what you know with experiences you have had which prove you know what your talking about and have the ability to perform certain skills. Not to mention the list of experiences through speaker series, volunteer placements and job shadowing opportunities that  the program offers which will make you stand out as an applicant! s a part of this program you will participate in a series of workshops and listen to a variety of speakers. In addition, you will have 50 volunteer hours a year in a health care setting that suits your wants and needs. In these experiences you will have many opportunities to network yourself, building relationships which will work to help you to build contacts who can help you through your career search path.

INTERESTED YET? YOU SHOULD BE!!
 
          The minimum average to apply (based on last 2 years of study) whether you are coming from highschool or post- secondary is 80% and because of the increase in popularity of this program, the higher your average, the better your chances. In order to apply there are a few things you need to prepare ahead of time as well.
 
1. Autobiographical Sketch
 
2. Statement of Interest
 
3. Reference Letter
 
 
          Apart from these additional documents there is an online application form which needs to be filled out. More detailed information about these documents, the program and the application can be found on our website. Once there just click on the left options which will direct you to more specific information.
 
         It really is a great opportunity to get involved in. If you are already a Brock student feel free to come in to have someone on our team review your statement of intent and we would be happy to help you out. If you wanted to come in to the resource centre we could also answer any other questions you might have and there is so much information on our website as well.
 
 
AND OH YA! MOST IMPORTANTLY! DEADLINE IS APRIL 26, 2013 SO GET CRACKING!
 
And yes, you will find out if you have been accepted into the program before you have to confirm your acceptance to Brock. In case you were wondering.
 
That is all for now. Good luck folks,
 
Rosemary Tamburini
Sr. Career Assistant
 
 


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Services for First Year Students

Thank you to everyone that came out to the Brock University open house on Sunday!

For all of you future first year Badgers here is a list of the services available through Career Services that may be of interest to you during your first year at Brock!
  • Resume and cover letter reviews and templates
  • Information regarding on-campus and off-campus job postings and volunteer opportunities
  • Degree Exploration Guides for each program with information on potential career options available after you have completed your degree
  • Assistance with interview preparation
  • Information on joining the Mentorship Plus and Med Plus programs
  • Online career Assessment tools 
  • And much much more!
Career Services is a drop in service located in the Learning Commons in the library. We are open from 9:00-4:30 from Monday to Friday during the Fall/Winter school term. If you would like to come and visit us this summer before you begin your first year we are open Monday to Friday from 9:00-4:00.

We hope to see you soon!

- Ashley, Sr. Career Assistant

Monday, March 4, 2013

Dining Etiquette

I thought when Wiarton Willy saw his shadow, it meant spring would start early; but, it seems as though the snow has only been coming down more and the temperature continues to be cold.

Ok, I did not just bring up Wiarton because he’s cute; there is a reason for it. With more cold comes more work meetings, networking, events, etc. which will be indoors. Many of these events often happen over a meal because, well, everyone likes to eat.

In this post I’m going to veer a little but away from advice we normally give about what to say in a professional setting but rather move toward how to dine.

So following are a few tips on proper Dining Etiquette:
  1. Arrive at least 10 minutes early… this applies for almost everything you're expected to be at
  2. If there is a toast join in and stand, especially if that is what the host or organizer does
  3. To start, unfold the napkin and put it on your lap
  4. Wait until all individuals at the table have been given their food before you start eating
  5. Chew with your mouth closed and completely finish what you’re eating before you start talking
  6. Avoid slurping or making loud noises with your chewing or drinking
  7. Avoid keeping your hand, arm or elbow on the table
  8. Don’t text and turn your phone on silent
  9. Make polite conversation with everyone and avoid yelling across the table or leaving anyone out of the conversation
  10. Allow the person you are talking to, to finish their sentence before you interject

So those are the basics. As long as you keep at least these ten tips in mind you will be sure to please your guests, well at least in terms of the way you eat. (I can’t speak for what you choose to say, that will take another blog post in itself!).
 Btw, you're welcome for saving you from stuffing that last piece of lasagna in your already full mouth while future employer watches in disgust :) Until spring folks!

Bon appetite,
Rosemary