Resume Reviews & Why You Should Get One!

Getting your resume reviewed is crucial in today's competitive job market. A second set of eyes never hurts and can also help with figuring out whether or not your resume is appropriate for the job you are applying for. However, many neglect this step in the resume editing process. Why? Because many of us don't have the time! Job hunting can take hours and writing personalized cover letters and tailoring your resume can be a job within itself! Luckily, most post secondary institutions (including Brock!!) offer review services to make sure your documents are looking good before you start applying to different positions. Here are THREE reasons you should utilize resume review services:

1. Subjectivity 
When we as individuals are working on and editing our resumes, we often times overlook obvious errors simply because we are being subjective. Perhaps we might even avoid being too hard on ourselves since the job market is hard enough sometimes! But this subjectivity can lead to missing things which could make or break the strength of an application! Spelling errors, typos and alignment are the three most common errors made when creating resumes. Getting a quick review can help prevent a small mistake from costing you the job of your dreams.

2. Content
Many of us have the standard categories in our resumes: Work Experience, Volunteer Experience & Education. However, there are many other categories which can be utilized! Getting your resume reviewed may open your eyes to new headings you can utilize to highlight your experiences! For example, having a "Special Skills" section is a great way to highlight language and technical skills. 

3. Opportunities
If you are working on your resume right now, chances are it is because you are looking for paid or volunteer opportunities. By getting your resume reviewed, you can not only ensure you are representing your skills and experiences in the best way possible, but you can also find out about opportunities through simply visiting a career centre! Our Career Assistant team at Brock is super knowledgeable about current and upcoming opportunities and we love helping students find that perfect position that suits their unique needs!

So what are you waiting for? Look up your nearest career resource centre and get your resume reviewed today! And for all Brock students, getting a resume review is MUCH easier than you think! Simply bring a hard copy of your resume (or cover letter or CV!) to the Career Resource Centre in the Learning Commons and we can review it in roughly 15-20 minutes! We are also FULL of information about job hunting, interviews, career events and much more! Check out our website by clicking HERE. Also, don't forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/brockcareerserv/
Twitter: twitter.com/BrockCareerServ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/brockcareerserv/?hl=en

Have a great day!

Scarlet Stark
Sr. Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Succeed at Career Events!

The On-Campus Jobs Fair recently wrapped up at Brock and it was a huge success! In light of this event, I thought a blog on how to prepare in order to succeed at career events might be a great way to help guide students for future career events on campus and elsewhere.

Prepping before the event to do well during the event is necessary to succeed! In order to prepare yourself, keep these 6 factors in mind:

1. Do your research!Find out which employers will be at the event and check out their website! This will help you tailor your documents as well as give you an opportunity to come up with questions you may have about the company that you can ask at the event!
2. Review the opportunities!Many employers post the positions they are looking to fill prior to the career event itself. Check these out! See which positions speak to your knowledge and skills! Again, this will help you tailor your documents and allow you to go into the event with focus!
3. Define your KSA's!Knowing your Knowledge, Skills & Abilities allows you sell yourself to employers! Figuring out what you have to offer employers prior to the event will help you sell yourself to employers during the event! It will also help you develop your elevator pitch!
4. Develop an elevator pitch!It's important to be able to describe yourself, your skills and where your headed career-wise briefly and concisely! Jot down what you want to tell employers about yourself and how you want to be remembered by them and practice this pitch! This will allow you to introduce yourself to employers in an efficient manner, while still highlighting who you are and what your goals are!
5. Bring your documents! And ask for documents!Go to the event equipped with resumes & business cards! And make sure to grab any information sheets or business cards from the employers/recruiters! They are handing this information out for a reason, typically to inform you of the company and how to get in touch with them! You may want to bring a briefcase or professional looking bag to store your documents in too!
6. Dress the part!
Dress professionally! If you are unsure how to go about this, it wouldn't hurt to use your friend Google to look up the company and see what employees typically wear to their career events or on the job! See the photo to the right for help with this!

Thanks for reading! Come visit us at the Career Resource Centre for any questions/concerns you may have regarding career events! We are always happy to help!

Have an excellent day!

Scarlet Stark
Sr. Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Seasonal Jobs & Potential Permanent Positions

It's December and seasonal employment positions seem to be everywhere! Many retail stores are on the hunt in order to find the perfect seasonal employees to help them survive the most wonderful - yet most busy - time of the year. For many, seasonal positions are ideal. It's a chance to get some extra hours over the holidays when money can get tight. But for others, seasonal jobs just don't fit the bill. Perhaps something more permanent is what they had in mind.

If you are hesitant about your seasonal employment opportunity because of a lack of permanency, have no fear! I have come up with a few tips to turn your seasonal employment opportunity into a possible permanent position.

To Infinity & Beyond
Try and view your seasonal position as a permanent one. And if you are interested in a more permanent position within the company, be sure to express this to superiors right from the get-go! It's easy to act indifferent if you think you'll be out of a job in a matter of weeks so try and think beyond the word "seasonal". View the position as one with infinite potential rather than limited potential!

Presence & Productivity
Being present and productive are key when it comes to seasonal opportunities. Being present includes being on time and being aware of what is going on around you. By being present and aware, you will see opportunities for productivity. Use these opportunities to your advantage to not only show that you are a hard-working, capable, and valuable employee, but also to highlight that you have initiative and you are not afraid to use it!

Following & Leading
At any new job, we must shadow more seasoned employees and ask questions in order to learn more about our position. But once comfortable, flex those leadership skills! Take on a project or ask your superiors for opportunities to take on new tasks or be the leader for a particular initiative. Never be afraid to ask for leadership opportunities within your position - it shows that you are not afraid of a challenge which is something all employers love to see in their employees!

If you find out your seasonal position will end soon even after you've done all that you can to make it permanent, keep the below tip in mind:

It's Not You - It's Me...
Remember that many employers might not have the means to keep you given their budget or number of allowable employees after the holiday season ends. But don't take it personally! In that case, it's not that you weren't a good employee, it's simply that they don't have the room for an additional employee. This is by no means a reason to burn bridges and is not necessarily a jab against your skill set or abilities! Always leave seasonal opportunities on a good note because you really never know when an opportunity within the company might come up again. And if you are interested in these opportunities, communicate this to your superiors so they can contact you as opportunities become available.

As always, be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with our resources!

Happy Holidays everyone! 

Scarlet Stark
Sr. Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

#ItAllAddsUp

Next week the #ItAllAddsUp campaign will start here at Brock. The It All Adds Up campaign encourages students to figure out how they are making their university experience all add up to the career of their dreams in order to inspire other students to pursue their goals with everything they've got! As students, we all know classes, assignments, and grades are very important as far as our overall career goals. But there are many other things that we are doing as students outside of the classroom as well that truly make a huge impact on achieving our career goals and personal aspirations. Essentially, everything we are doing is all adding up!!

From volunteering to going abroad for a semester, to attending campus events or workshops, there are SO many ways students at Brock and other universities can add to their skills gained from their degrees! If you happen to be a Brock student, utilizing Experience BU to stay on top of upcoming events, workshops, and on-campus happenings will allow you to not miss out on the experiences that matter the most to you! And on top of this, we even have a way to track how you are making your experiences all add up through the Experience Plus Co-Curricular Transcript!

So now it's your turn to tell us how YOU are making it all add up by visiting our booths around campus next week:

Booth Times/Locations
November 2 - Computer Commons - 9-11
November 3 - Computer Commons - 1-3
November 4 - MC A Hallway - 9-11
November 5 - Computer Commons - 9 - 2
November 6 - MC A Hallway - 9-11

Can't make it to any of these booth times? No problem! This campaign is also accessible for students to participate in virtually! Take a picture of yourself showing how you are making it all add up and use the hashtag #ItAllAddsUp and #BrockU on social media (Instagram/Twitter/Facebook) to inspire fellow Brock students and students from other universities across Canada to get involved and pursue their goals with passion and integrity! Click here to check out the It All Adds Up website for even more details on this campaign!

Oh - one last request:

Don't forget to like us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter and Instagram! By clicking these hyperlinks, your only a few steps away from connecting with us and there's nothing that excites us more!

Have a great day everyone!

Scarlet Stark
Sr. Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

How to Impress at a Job Fair

Sometimes it can be hard to juggle going to school with having a part-time job; however, in the long run it can help you to gain valuable experience while also helping to pay off student expenses! The Pen Centre in St. Catharines is holding a Shop for Jobs event on September 29, 2015 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. This is a great opportunity for Brock University and Niagara College students to find a part-time job. Here are some suggestions to make the most of your job fair experience for this specific opportunity and also any other job fairs you attend in the future:
1. Research the participating stores - This would be beneficial because it will help you to see what stores you need to be tailoring your resume and cover letters to and to also find out information about the employers.
2. Create a resume and cover letter for each of the stores or positions you would like to apply to- Bringing resume's and cover letters will show the employer that you are prepared and have put thought into working for them. It is also an awesome way to showcase your talents!
3. Dress professionally- Make sure you dress to impress the employers you are applying to. Typically you should accommodate your style with the stores style, however, remember that just because a store may sell a specific item such as jeans does not mean you should wear them for an interview.
4. Bring pens, notebooks and planners- Be prepared for on the spot interviews and the opportunity to take notes to show the employer you are really interested in the position. It is also important to have a planner so that you can schedule a future interview and not have to reschedule if you see you are busy.
5. Ask Questions- Asking questions shows the employer that you are interested in the position. Some possible questions you can ask the representative include:What qualities are you looking for in your new hires? Would the work hours be flexible with my school schedule?
6. Finally, have fun! This is an opportunity for you to gain experience in networking and interviewing. It is important that you have a good experience so that you feel confident for future opportunities like this.

For the Shop for Jobs event specifically, you can look for some of these employers to be participating: Arie, Dynamite, Garage, EB Games, Old Navy, Sears, Winners, Hudson's Bay and many more.. Also, follow the event on Twitter #ShopForJobsFair14.

Come into the Career Resource Centre to pick up the resource labelled 11 Tips for Success at Shop for Jobs and also for a free resume and cover letter review!

Sarah Mitchinson, Senior Career Assistant

Balancing School and Fun

First of all, welcome back to all the Badgers returning to Brock and, welcome back to school for all students no matter where you may be.

A challenge that students face in their initial time back to school is balancing social times and their academic life. I personal tip that I received for achieving a good balance was from an Academic Advisor from Brock University where you use a schedule of 8hours-8hours-8hours to balance your sleep, social and academic times where each of these 3 sections get 8 hours.

Another helpful tip I received was from the Career Resource Centre at Brock. The tip involves creating goal action forms by breaking down each goal by using S. M. A. R. T. SMART breaks down into Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time and in my experience by using every step of the SMART Goal system, you can create good effective goals. For example here is a sample of a SMART goal pertaining to creating a resume. “I want to construct an effective resume by creating all the necessary components of a resume, by next Wednesday . . . This goal is specific, measurable by completing all the areas of a resume, everyone can do a resume so it is achievable, most application packages need to have a resume so this goal is realistic and this goal has a time frame by wanting to have it accomplished by next week. Go ahead; give a SMART goal a try.

These are some of the tips that we advise and we encourage you come into the centre for a smart goal form and for more tips and we also encourage going to see your academic advisor! Have a great one Badgers, don’t forget to smile! 

New CA Team Introductions 2015!

It's hard to believe that September is here already! But I must admit, I'm excited for the campus to get busy with new and returning students and staff!

Training week for the new Career Assistants and the Senior/Lead Career Assistants will be run from Monday, August 31st until Friday, September 4th. Because of this, the Career Resource Centre will be closed during this time. Please e-mail career@brocku.ca for questions or concerns during this week and we will respond as efficiently as possible!

Now it's time to introduce our new Career Assistants and re-introduce our Senior and Lead Career Assistants!

New Career Assistants
Lydia Collins
An English Language and Literature major and a cat lover, Lydia has a passion for literature and feminism and has a warm and friendly personality! But aside from this, her interest in helping other students succeed is what will make her a great addition to the team!
Sean Pereira
Sean is pursuing a BA in Accounting here at Brock and is also involved with the Brock University Accounting Students' Association! He also loves taking photos, running, and ice cream! He is a professional yet friendly individual who will excel in his position as a Career Assistant and we are happy to have him on board this year!

Andre St. George
Andre is the last new addition to the team this year! A business administration major, Andre is also a twin, loves the outdoors, and has a knack for flags (like knowing which flag belongs to which country)! He will make a great Career Assistant this year and we are excited to have him!

Senior Career Assistants
Tyler Harris
The musician of the team, Tyler has had a busy summer of bag-piping, travelling, and riding on segways! A psychology major (who will also be the president of the Psychology Society this year!), Tyler has an amazing sense of humor and a huge amount of wit. Tyler's approach to helping students is casual yet extremely informative with a dash of humor! We can't wait to have him back and missed him a ton this summer!

Kaitlyn Daw
Trying to briefly describe Kaitlyn is difficult; she truly is a woman of many talents! Not only is she working as a Sr. Career Assistant this year, she is also working with Mentorship Plus, is the president of the English Students Association, an avid photographer, a website creator, a mentor... and the list goes on (and on and on)! Her approach to helping students is inspiring and it's truly an honor to work with her again this year! Can't wait to see you in action again Kaitlyn!

Sarah Mitchinson
Another psychology major (there's a lot of us!!) & cat lover, Sarah is always smiling and she truly lights up the Career Resource Centre when she is here! I've had the pleasure of both working and taking classes with Sarah and can honestly say she is one of the most down to earth people I've ever met, something which stands out when she's helping students with resumes or job searching! Get back here already Sarah! We miss you!

Lead Career Assistants
Mike Pratas
A Political Sciences major with a love for country music and a habit of losing his student card (and finding it months later!!), Mike is great at advising students and did an excellent job of showing us Senior's the ropes last year. After spending the summer working at a camp in his hometown, we are all super excited for Mike to return back to Career Services in a lead role! Can't wait to see you Mike!

Alysha Kooter
A vegan and animal lover, Alysha is a warm and understanding individual with a flair for graphic design, the arts, as well as a natural when it comes to baking delicious desserts (that are also healthy!!). Alysha has been, and will continue to be, a great mentor and leader, and I know she will do extremely well in her role as a Lead Career Assistant this year. You rock Alysha!

Anthony Mancuso
A Sport Management major and the Sr. who made Bubble Soccer happen last year (which was AMAZING!!), Anthony is always making sure everyone is having a good time while also offering his support. He did a fantastic job last year with training myself and the other CA's and we are super excited that he is now in a Lead role this year; he will be a natural at it! We can't wait to have you back!

Thanks for reading about our amazing team! Come visit us in the Learning Commons between 9 - 4:30 starting Tuesday, September 8th! We can't wait to assist you with your career related needs and look forward to another successful school year! 

Scarlet Stark
Psychology Major
Sr. Career Assistant

Faculty Focus: Mathematics & Sciences

This weeks faculty focus is geared towards students in the math and sciences programs here at Brock. This faculty encompasses a wide variety of programs including: biology, chemistry, computer sciences, earth sciences, environmental geosciences, mathematics, neuroscience, oenology & viticulture and physics. The Career Resource Centre has many specific resources for students in these programs. Let's explore them further!

                                       Resources in the Centre/Online

Programs

• Cafe Connect (for more details, click here)
• Mentorship Plus (for more details, click here)
• Experience Plus (for more details, click here)
• Experience BU (for more details, click here)

Books (ALL books are located in the centre)

• Careers in High Technology
• Careers in the Sciences
• Scientific Research as a Career
• Great Jobs for Chemistry Majors
• Opportunities in Biotechnology
• Academic Job Search Handbook

Resources

• Degree Exploration Guides (to see yours, click here)
• Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences Resume Sample Binder
• Post-Grad Studies Binder
• Brock Plus Programs Binder
• Go Abroad Binder
• Considering Grad School Handout
• KOM Consultants Binders
• Biomedical Sciences Portfolio Sample

Don't forget to come visit us in the Career Resource Centre for any questions, concerns, or inquiries you may have about finding work, volunteer, or other opportunities in your field! And remember, if you can't make it in to the centre, head to Careerzone and access our Online Resource Centre from home!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Faculty Focus: Applied Health Sciences

Starting now until Mid August, each faculty here at Brock will be blogged about in order for students to gain insight into the different resources, services, and programs we offer here at Career Services for all the different faculties within Brock.

Our first faculty of focus will be Applied Health Sciences, a diverse faculty ranging from Child Health programs to Sports Management. Even though this faculty includes a wide range of programs, we offer resources to suit all students within this faculty! Here is a breakdown of resources geared towards Applied Health Sciences students:

Resources in the Centre/on Careerzone

Programs

• Med Plus Program (to find out details about this program, click here)

Books (ALL books are located in the centre)

• Opportunities in Health & Medical Careers
• Opportunities in Hospital Administration
• Opportunities in Medical Imaging
• Opportunities in Laser Technology
• Opportunities in Sport & Fitness
• Top 100 Healthcare Careers
• MCAT Prep Book

Resources

• Degree Exploration Guides for each major within the Applied Health Sciences faculty (ie. Child Health, Community Health, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Physical Education & Kinesiology, Public Health, Recreation & Leisure Studies, and Sports Management which can be accessed online by clicking here or come into the centre)
• Faculty Specific Resume Samples (in the centre or Online Resource Centre; to access online, click here)
• Portfolio Samples for Sports Management and Kinesiology (in the centre ONLY)
• Considering Medical School Resource (in the centre or Online Resource Centre; to access online, click here)
• Entrance Exam & GPA Conversion Resources (in the centre or Online Resource Centre; to access online, click here)
• Careers in Healthcare Resource (in the centre or Online Resource Centre; to access online, click here)

So there you have it! Be sure to check out all of these helpful resources and come visit us in the centre soon for all career related questions, concerns, and assistance! Have a great weekend!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major

Smart Start 2015!

Looking back and reflecting on my first year here at Brock University, the first word that comes to my mind is "chaotic". I had a hard time navigating my way around campus, had little knowledge of the resources available to me, and did not get involved in any on-campus activities. Now I am in my third year at Brock and I am not only an extremely active member on campus, but I am also well versed on all that Brock has to offer me as a student! But instead of being like myself in first year, why not start university on the right foot? Luckily, there is a way for new Brock students to start university with an arsenal of knowledge on how to become an active member of the Brock community!

Smart Start is a program implemented by Brock University to help make the transition to university seamless for first year and mature students. Aside from getting the grand tour of Brock facilities and faculties, new students will also get the opportunity to visit the Career Resource Centre and our expo table to begin thinking about career options and exploring different degrees and skills, and to find out about all the great involvement opportunities that Brock has to offer, like the Mentorship Plus Program!

Whether it be tips or advice on getting an on-campus job or exploring the different career options based on faculty and program, we at Career Services are all about providing the resources students need so they can reach their career goals and their fullest potential during their time here at Brock.

In order to keep up with all that we have going on at Career Services, my best advice for incoming students is to follow us on social media. Upcoming events, new resources, professional development, employment opportunities, as well as tips and tricks on everything from interviews to social media for job searching are posted regularly on our Facebook and Twitter pages! Click HERE for our Twitter page and HERE for our Facebook page and get in the loop today! See you at Smart Start!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major

Spring & Summer Updates

Spring has officially sprung here at Brock University and Summer is just around the corner! With the change in weather comes a few changes here at the Career Resource Centre.

Firstly, for the Spring and Summer,the Career Resource Centre will be open for all your career related needs from 9am-4pm Monday to Friday from May 4th to August 28th excluding holidays. The Centre will be closed for training week August 31st to September 4th and will re-open for Fall term the following week. 

Secondly, the team of Career Assistants will return (along with three new hires!) in September 2015. In the mean time, I will be taking over the operations of the Career Resource Centre for the duration of the Spring and Summer and will be happy to assist you with review services and career related guidance!

Thirdly, I have a ton of exciting blog posts coming up for you all! The month of May will focus on Career Planning and how to effectively go about this so be sure to stay tuned!

That is all for updates! Have a fabulous day everybody!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

On-Campus Jobs for Next Fall - Start Looking Now!

The time to look for next falls on-campus jobs is now! A common mistake we see at the Career Resource Centre is that students will come into our centre in September looking for on-campus jobs for the school year. However, these jobs actually hire for those positions in the Winter semester prior! Therefore it is important to start looking now - some jobs have already been posted, and some jobs have already been hired for. If you want to work on-campus during the 2015-2016 school year, now is the time to apply!

Job postings will begin to flood the job-search websites below for on-campus jobs:
- careerzone.brocku.ca
- busu.net
- brocku.ca/dining-services/employment
- experiencebu.brocku.ca
- brocku.ca/student-life-community-experience

Here are some places to apply that will be posting on these websites!
- Campus Book Store
- Footnotes
- Career Services
- Health Services
- International Services
- Student Development Centre
- Brock Press
- Campus Security
- Computer Commons
- James A. Gibson Library
- IT Services
- BUSU Office
- Youth Univeristy
- Isaac's
- Guernsey Market
- Starbucks
- Union Station
- Walker Cafeteria

... and so much more.

Remember, Career Services can help you every step of the way. We can review your resume and cover letter, help you apply to jobs on CareerZone, and even help you with your interview skills! By taking advantage of our services and taking our advice you increase your chances of getting a job.

Good luck applying to on-campus jobs!

Anthony Mancuso
3rd Year Honours Bachelor of Sport Management
Senior Career Assistant