Grad LINK: Stay Connected!

Calling all Brock Graduates! This week you will be walking across that stage with your peers to receive your reward for all these years of hard work at Brock! But with graduation can come some bittersweet feelings and, of course, some big questions, like what if I lose touch with important people I've met here at Brock? And how will I navigate my way from university into a successful career all on my own? The team at Career Services has already thought about these questions and, of course, have the answers for you!

Grad LINK is a group on Linkedin exclusive to Brock alumni which allows graduating students to stay connected not only with the team here at Career Services, but also with your fellow graduating peers, Brock staff, and employers. Career and employment related information involving recruitment, networking, and relevant articles is also shared through this group, making the transition from being a full time student to a full time employee much easier by giving you the tools to help you make your mark in the world professionally! 

Registration is simple and the benefits are huge! Follow these 4 easy steps to join:

1. Complete the on-line registration form! Click here to fill it out!

2. Next, review the "Getting Started" presentation to get the most out of the group and gain an understanding of the resources that can help you specifically. Click here to view it!

3. Create a Linkedin profile (if you don't already have one) and make the content reflect who you are as a professional!

4. Join the Grad LINK group on Linkedin!

Once you have registered or created your profile on Linkedin, you may be asking yourself: How can I make my profile stand out to employers and professionals? Well don't fret because we've got you covered in this department too! Check out the Online Resource Centre for some great tips on how to make your Linkedin profile stand out and feel free to come into the Career Resource Centre for a free profile review as well as access to extensive books on Linkedin and how to get the most out of your profile! Also, don't forget to check out past blog posts on Linkedin profile creation to help make this process painless! Click here to read more!

So what are you waiting for? Join Grad LINK today and take advantage of this great alumni resource! And if you have any questions or concerns about Grad LINK, send them to gradlink@brocku.ca. Thanks for reading!

Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major 

Con-GRAD-ulations!

First, I'd like to take a minute and say, on behalf of the Career Services department here at Brock, a big congratulations to all those students who are graduating! Through the good and bad, you stuck it out and get to leave Brock not just with a BA, MA, or whatever degree you were pursuing, but with the satisfaction of knowing that all the hard work and sleepless nights have finally paid off!

With that being said, the Spring Convocation ceremonies are right around the corner! The ceremonies and celebrations are taking place beginning on June 9th and ending June 13th, 2015. Be sure to head to http://brocku.ca/registrar/grad to find out when to attend.

This year will also mark the first year that Brock is holding a Convocation Twitter Chat on June 3rd at 2pm! Simply login to Twitter and follow #BrockUGrad to stay in the loop and get all your questions answered! Our handle for Twitter is @BrockCareerServ, so be sure to follow us to get all your questions answered and to find out how to kick start your career! For more information about the Convocation Twitter chat, head to http://brocku.ca/registrar/grad/twitterchat.

Finally, don't forget that here at Career Services, we are dedicated to providing you with the tools you need to succeed both as students, and as alumni. From career document review services to job search help, we encourage all new graduates to make use of our resources and our services to get the head start they need in establishing their careers following graduation!


Scarlet Stark
Career Assistant
Psychology Major

Alternatives after graduation

If you’re like me, the idea of settling into a career after graduation can be intimidating. Not that I don’t want to find the right career for me, I’m just not sure I will want to do it right away.

The fact of the matter is, as a new grad, you are at your prime right now to discover the world. Now more then ever is it accessible for you to do so. Here is a quick list of alternatives after graduation:

1)      Take a gap year. We all know of somebody who has taken the world by storm, hopped on a plane to a foreign country to travel, volunteer, or sometimes work. It may take some planning and saving but the cultural awareness and worldly views that you will obtain may be one of the greatest experiences of your life. There are many ways you can go abroad and many programs you can do this through. Here are a few favourites:

·         www.projects-abroad.ca

·         www.swap.ca

·         www.gooverseas.com

2)      Freelance. Freelancing is another way to gain experience outside of the typical 9-5 job. If you are a freelancer it means that you are your own agent, you create your own market, and you provide clients with the services you would like to give. Some popular industries for freelancers are graphic design, web development, branding, and information technology. Freelancing is a good way to network and figure out where you would like to find a career. You have the unique ability to work at your own pace and only do projects that interest you.

3)      Go for a paid internship. Many people use internships as a way of getting out of their towns and experiencing a new one. Internships last anywhere from 6-16 months and they give you a good chance to see if that kind of job is right for you. Internships can also be rewarding for building your network. The more people you know, the more jobs you will be aware of.

You've worked hard for the last four years, and taking some time to gain real world experience can really be beneficial in the long run. Experience culture; experience the new borderless world that lies ahead. If you aren't going to do it now, then when will you!

Alysha-Lynn Kooter, Career/Graphics and Promotions Assistant, 3rd Year Education and Visual Arts

How to Find a Job You Love!

The professionals from Glassdoor have created a wonderful infographic with tips on finding a job you love. With students recently graduating, we thought it would be great to share with you!

Alysha-Lynn Kooter, Career Assistant, 2nd Year Intermediate/Senior Con-Ed Visual Art and English 

Expand your horizons...Travel abroad!

Our friends at Cosmic Coaching Centre wrote a great article about travelling abroad...

Let’s face it; traveling abroad is not as easy as it may seem, especially for many college students. Although career experts continuously encourage students to explore the world by traveling, the costs involved are often too much for them to handle. But money isn’t the only reason why many young people hesitate to pack their bags and explore other places. Interestingly, many students don’t see any good reasons they should spend time going abroad. Plus, they are not sure where they should go or what they need to experience. What they don’t realize is that taking some time off to visit different places, especially after graduation, can benefit them in several ways.

If you are about to graduate and you are getting ready to enter the workforce, be sure to consider traveling abroad first. Here are some good reasons why:

1. To know yourself more

By attending school, you will learn only the things you need to know in order to get a college degree. You get information from your professors, from books, and other materials made available to you by your institution. You then have a tedious routine that can make you feel so bored at time – go home, study, and sleep. What travelling can give you are lessons that you can gain through experience. The adventures you will have will allow you to be more self-reliant and responsible. At the same time, you will get to discover the traits and skills you have that you never thought you possessed.

2. To meet and deal with new people

One of the best things you can get from traveling is the chance to meet and socialize with strangers. Through your interactions with them, you will learn their customs, traditions, and cultures. All these can help you get a different, and perhaps a better perspective in life. You will also come to appreciate the things you have been taking for granted. What’s more, meeting people abroad will help you build a bigger network, which you can definitely utilize in your job search later on.

3. To relieve stress and recharge

Being a student can be very stressful. Considering your course load, school activities, reports, part-time work, and so on, it can be too overwhelming. The last thing you want to happen is for you to break down and lose your desire to become successful. That’s why you deserve to have a break and be relieved of stress. Going to a different place is one way to do this. You need not go too far, actually. Even a weekend out-of-town trip with your friends will be enough. Doing this will remind you how beautiful life is!

4. To discover the right career path

Your career success will pretty much depend on how you plan your career pathways. Knowing what path you should take will give you confidence that your career and personal goals are just within reach. By taking time off after school, you will have a chance to reflect upon yourself and what you want to achieve in life. Your experiences and the people you will meet while on travel will all contribute to your decision as to what career you should pursue.

 

Happy travels!

Jami Coughler, Senior Career Assistant

4th Year Public Health [Honours]; BA: Sociology [Honours] 

Reflecting on Your Ideal Career Options

If you have been following along with the Career Services blog over the past few months you have probably spent a lot of time considering the different types of careers you are interested in pursuing. Whether or not your career aspirations have changed, it is time to regroup and make a list of careers you have found that fit the needs and wants of your future professional life.

Grab a piece of paper (or open a Word document) and write down your top 10 (or top 5 if you have a short list) careers that you have found interesting and realistic. If you are still brainstorming careers then feel free to take or retake our self assessments which will give you some specific job titles that may interest you. Write down any additional notes (ie. 'needs further education', 'would need to move to find work') beside each of these careers.

By writing things down you will have an easier time reflecting on what you have learned. It will also help when revisiting your ideal career options in the future which is what we suggest you do every couple of weeks. You never know if you will be inspired by a specific class or professor in your final months at Brock so its wise to keep your options open and welcome any potential changes that may come in the future before graduation.

Record everything you find interesting and add or remove careers from your list at your leisure. Keep this list in a safe spot and continue to revisit it over the next few months.

If you would like to talk about your career options with us feel free to stop by the career centre!

Ashley Paolozzi, Lead Career Assistant
4th Year History of Art (Honours)

Post-Graduate Studies--The Journey Continues...

Further education is a great way to gain additional skills and education after graduation from university. Further education can also prepare you for higher level careers such as research, teaching at universities and much more.  

If you are interested in a post-graduate college program as opposed to graduate school, there are many programs available to you. Post-grad programs are one to two years in length and provide hands-on, practical skills and experience that compliments the theoretical aspects of a university degree. Many programs offer students the opportunity to gain related work experience via a practicum component, internship or co-op work term. Check out Ontario Colleges for a list of programs throughout the province.

If graduate school is your route of choice, make sure to prepare early if you are interested in applying to graduate schools. It is important to do a lot of background research on various programs to ensure you are applying to the right programs that are of interest to you, and that will lead to the career you want!

            Start searching for the program that is right for you!

-           Start researching graduate school programs as soon as you know that you want to go to graduate school. Starting early will allow you more time to compare various programs, and you may even come across other programs you never knew existed. Whether you want to study locally, nationally or abroad, Career Services has many links available online that can direct you to whatever it is you are looking for. Check out the Further Education section on the Career Services website to get started.

            Application expectations

-           Look into every school website individually to familiarize yourself with the application procedure, the documents expected in your application, and any graduate entrance exams required. Remember; every school is different and thus requires different documents. Also check out Career Service’s Graduate School Quick Tip for additional information!

            Letters of Reference
-           Many graduate programs will ask for letters of reference from professors. Make sure you get to know your profs early and make a good impression so that when you contact them for a reference, they remember who you are and will be able to write an exceptional reference based on your academic performance and work ethic.

            Letter of intent/CV

-           Once you have an idea of where you want to apply for graduate school, you may be required to write a letter of intent and/or curriculum vitae . At Career Services, we have many resources to assist you with writing these academic documents. You can also stop by at any time between the hours of 9am to 4pm to get your documents reviewed for free!

Applying to graduate school next year?  Start preparing early and layout plenty of time to study for entrance exams. Don’t forget to stop by Career Services to take a look at some graduate school study guides; we have one for every degree!

Nella Paris
Senior Career Assistant
Psychology Major (Honours)

Work or Travel--Which one will you choose?

 

The plan after graduation may be very different from person to person. Some may be ready to hit the work force, while others may want to explore internship opportunities or travel before settling into a full-time career. Whatever your choice, Career Services has some great resources to help you with your plan.

If you are ready to start looking for work after graduation, check out Career Services’ list of online job boards. You can find anything on there from general job search sites, to government jobs, and even work/intern abroad opportunities for the more adventurous folk.

Working, interning, or volunteering abroad would be a great way to couple travelling with gaining valuable skills and work experience. A great way to merge 2 experiences into one!

Additionally, as an Alumni, you have access to CareerZone—Brock’s internal job board. This site includes postings for jobs, internships, or volunteer experiences. You can also refine your search to Niagara specific jobs, national or international jobs. Make sure to keep an eye on CareerZone because postings can pop up at any time.

To find more detailed tips about what to do after graduation, check out my blog post from June 4, 2013, or Jami’s blog post from June 6, 2013.

Nella Paris
Senior Career Assistant
Psychology Major (Honours)

It's That Time Again! Congrats New Grads of 2013!

Career Services would like to start off by saying congratulations to the 2013 Brock graduates! Don’t forget that if you plan on attending convocation, the application for fall 2013 is due by July 1^st. Spring 2013 convocation will take place from June 11^th to June 15^th. Be sure to check your specific faculty’s date on the Brock website.

Well, we know it has been a long journey but you have finally made it…now what? Never fear, Career Services has some great resources to help you with your post graduate decisions and planning.

1.       Career Services has a great section online called “what can I do with my degree?” In this section of the Career Services website, you will find a list of our Degree Exploration Guides. Career Services has a DEG for each program here at Brock which will provide you with a list of career options to explore, a list of the skills that you will have gained from your Brock degree, and a variety of resources which will help you access job postings and employers in your field.

2.       If you are more of a face-to-face kind of person, you can come visit us at Career Services in the learning commons of Brock University. Located here are trained Career Assistants which can provide you with additional resources to assist you in your career search.

3.       If you have decided after graduation that you aren’t ready for the work force yet, you can look into some college post-graduate programs or graduate school.

4.       If you are ready to jump into the workforce, get connected with Grad LINK. Once you sign up with Grad LINK you will have access to highlighted job postings on LinkedIn, employer recruitment and networking sessions, and career related articles and information.

5.       CareerZone is also a great job search resources with online postings that you can sift through. Or expand your horizons and search through the many online job posting websites.

6.       As a final note, don’t forget to check out our great self-assessments which can be accessed through CareerZone. For more information about self-assessments, check out my earlier blog post from May 7^th or go directly to the resource page on CareerZone.

We understand that deciding what you want to do after graduation can be daunting. Whether you are ready for the work force, or want to continue you academic career, Career Services has the resources to help you!

Nella Paris, Senior Career Assistant
Psychology Major (Honours)

New Year, New Goals!

So the new year has just begun and 'tis the season for making resolutions. Maybe you've resolved to hit the gym more often, eat healthy, read more, stay on top of your assignments, find a job for after graduation, etc. Whether your goals are personal or professional, it is always important to check in and re-evaluate in order to ensure you stay on top of them! So many resolutions are never completed or ever even thought of again after January ends, but YOU should make achieving your new year goals a resolution for this year! Today I am going to give you some tips on how to ensure you not only make efficient goals but that you can actually complete them as well!

First step: make sure your goals are SMART.

Often time the reason that goals are never achieved is because they simply cannot be. There are a series of elements that go along with goal making that need to work together or else a goal will be too difficult to achieve and ultimately be thrown away. This is usually because the goal-maker did not take the time to reconsider and modify the goal to make it work for them. By STARTING with the SMART Goals system you will be on the road to ensuring goal success, but don't forget the importance of checking in once and a while as well.

So what do I mean by SMART goals?

Specific  - broad goals are not easily attained because there is nothing specific to achieve. If you resolve to go to the gym in the new year, write down how many times per week, for how long, what the result of attending the gym should be, etc.
Measurable - instead of writing "lose weight" write how much weight, and by what date. That way, if you're on the right track you'll know it, and if not you can change the deadline or work harder to make the original one!
Attainable - If your goal is to find a job in the new year, you can't expect to complete that goal within a month. Often goals are thrown to the wayside because the goal-makers do not see results soon enough and become discouraged. Make sure you remain patient, make your goals challenging but not so much so that you can never achieve them, and stay on top of it!
Realistic - Similarly to attainable, ensure that the goals you make are realistic to what you really can do. Consider  your day to day schedule, noting how much time you might have to dedicate to achieving a goal, as well as external resources needed to achieve a goal. Does the goal cost money? Create a budget!
Timely - Always set a deadline for yourself. If you don't create one, goals can be easily pushed back. Even if you do not meet the deadline, this is helpful because you can re-evaluate, consider which elements failed in your SMART Goal planning and figure out how to be successful with goal setting and achieving in the future!

I hope these tips are helpful and that you can use them to succeed in the new goals you've made for the semester or year! Also, if we at Career Services can help you in achieving your goals, let us know! Come on into the centre and any of our Career Assistants will be happy to help you out! We have printed version of goal action forms as well.

Good luck and see you all soon!

Brittany
Sr. Career Assistant

7 Things All New Grads Should Know

1)    Your Level of Education is Unique in Canada
As a university graduate you have gained a level of education that most Canadian citizens haven’t achieved. As of June 2011, only 24.6% of Canadians between the ages of 25 and 64 had obtained a university degree. So be proud of your education and remember to highlight it on the top of your resume!

2)      You Can Apply for Jobs Outside of Your Field
Just because you graduated in Psychology doesn’t mean you are limited to applying for counseling positions. Allow yourself to be creative and consider the extremely valuable transferable skills that you developed throughout your degree. Consider consulting our Degree Exploration guides online to view these skills as well as occupations suggested by your faculty.

3)      Do Not Lose the Connections That You Gained During your University Studies  

      Now that you’ve graduated it’s tempting to leave your university life behind. However, the networking that you conducted during your time at Brock can continue to be valuable to you throughout your career. If you had a professor, instructor, or another staff member at Brock that you feel you gained a valuable relationship with make sure you stay in touch! Add them on LinkedIn or drop by for the occasional visit. They can prove to be an excellent reference to provide for an employer or even a friendly contact if you are ever in need of a mentor within your field.

4)      Continue Learning and Develop More Marketable Skills

       If the job you are applying for requires a university degree then you will be qualified over an applicant that hasn’t received this level of education. However, after you’ve passed this checkpoint there will be a number of other skills and experiences that each employer will require of potential employees. So my best advice to you would be to continue learning! You don’t need to go back to school, but teaching yourself new skills relevant to your industry will continue to benefit you and make it easier when job hunting. 

5)     All Your Experience is GOOD Experience! 

      So you worked at a camp for three summers but you’re not going into childcare or teaching – you just graduated from a Business Degree..?! NEVER fear! It’s easy to get caught up in the “Related Experience” section that you want to have on your resume and forget that all experience can be related, as long as you’re constructing solid achievement statements! Think about the skills you enhanced at your jobs rather than focusing too much on the job title. As a Camp Counsellor you were organized, you time-managed and you demonstrated excellent leadership – all things that an employer in the Business sector is looking for. If you’ve worked in the industry before OF COURSE that’s a plus, but if not you’ve still got what it takes, you just have to prove it!

6)     Give Employers a Taste of Your Personality

           It’s important to stay professional during an interview but it’s also extremely important to show the employer a bit of your own unique personality. Once you are hired these people are going to have to work with you so give them a reason to want to! The workplace isn’t only about getting work don’t – co-workers form friendships with each other and can work on many projects together, so it’s important that they all get along! So remember to smile and show them that you are not only a hard worker but a fun person to be around!

7)      Get Comfortable with Social Media – it’s Getting you Hired (and fired..)!
Social media is the fastest growing employer recruitment and job search strategy today –everybody is using it, it cannot be avoided. Sites like LinkedIn are designated for job search and networking, but even Twitter and Facebook can be helpful job search tools for the average job seeker so it’s important to keep all of your Social Media professional. Employers can see everything you do on there (trust us – many employers hire people to do their check-ups!) so ensure that the image you’re projecting online is a positive one. Then you can feel comfortable exercising all of the benefits to Social Media in job search today! 

*Keep an eye out for Ashley’s upcoming blog post where she will review a book called “How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and Other Social Networks” for more helpful information about online and social job search!

Thanks for reading!

- Ashley and Brittany 

Grad LINK: Easing the Transition

Attention all Graduates!

We at Career Services know how difficult it can be to make that transition from student to professional. Grad LINK is a service designed to prepare YOU, the graduating or graduated student, for that transition. By registering for Grad LINK, you will be connected to various job postings, workshops, job search information, employer recruitment sessions, and much more! By registering you can also join the network through your LinkedIn account!



With GradLINK you will Learn:

• Inside tips about employers and job opportunities
• How to make those important connections with employers and other students and alumni
• How to set and achieve your career goals
• How to use and enhance your Experience Plus Transcript

GradLINK keeps you connected and informed, so why not be a part of it?


Register for Grad LINK here today!



See you there,

Brittany

Congrats to Brock's new grads!

On behalf of everyone at Career Services we would like to send a huge congratulations to

Brock University's graduating class of 2012!!

It's been a long, difficult, and memorable road and we couldn't be more proud of you! 

Whether you're continuing your education with post-grad studies, going straight into the work field, or continuing your job search, Career Services is still here for you! We will always consider our alumni a member of the Brock University community and continue to provide you with any career and post-grad related assistance that you need. 

We are more then happy to assist you with:

• Cover letter, resume, and CV reviews
• Letter of intent/personal statement reviews
• Post-graduate information
• Study/work/teach abroad information 
• Entrance exams information
• General career search strategies 
• Mock interviews and interview information
• Portfolio development (even for our non-visual arts grads!)

If you are moving away from Brock University and the Niagara Region, feel free to email us at career@brocku.ca if you need any assistance in your career search or post-graduate information.

And don't forget to follow Jack McIsaac on Facebook and Twitter (@JackMcIsaac) for any career related information.

Congratulations class of 2012 and best of luck with your future endeavors!

~ Ashley

Net worth or Network

This week we're linking up to an article that was writen by Chris Illich from The Brock Press titled:

Net Worth or Network

http://www.brockpress.com/focus/net-worth-or-network-1.2828471

We understand the anxieties of graduating, finding a job, and all that encompasses post-graduation. It can be stressful, there are many unknown factors and for some, financial stress. Become aware and knowledgable in your field, be confident in yourself and your skills, and ensure you are doing everything possible to get your dream job, because eventurally it will happen!

Good Luck!

Realistic Goals for 4th Year

As this term comes to its middle point and will draw nearer to its end, those of us entering 4th year are starting to think of the big picture:

Next year is my FINAL year.

... I'll be graduating...

What am I going to do?!

Don't fret! It's true, along with 4th year usually comes many decisions and big steps that some of us might not feel ready for. But since you're such smart students, you'll be thinking ahead, right??

Of course!

Here are some realistic goals to keep in mind for your final year of University:

• To post-grad or not to post-grad. Yes, this would be the right time to start looking into post-grad college programs or graduate schools that you might be interested in applying to. Deadlines will be coming up soon come fall, so be prepared with your choices!
• New grad job search - where to begin? If you plan on entering the work force after graduation, plan to start your job search during the second term of school. Starting early will allow you more time to research companies/organizations and meet deadlines for job openings.
• Target your career path. If you're still confused about what you want to do in the future in general - complete some self assessments and explore some possible occupations that you might be interested in. Having an idea of the kind of position you want will make the rest of your planning process a lot easier.
• Work hard, play hard. This is your last year of undergraduate degree! Make sure you keep your grades up (especially those who are applying to post-grad) and enjoy your time as a university student. By planning ahead and having realistic career goals for yourself, there won't be need for a pre-graduation panic attack.

And as always, keep these things as well as Career Services in mind as you enter your final year!
- Lia

 

Smart Finish Conference- It's Coming Soon!

Not Smart Start, nor Smart Serve...this is SMART FINISH!

A conference specifically designed for 3rd and 4th year students. A conference where you will walk away feeling refreshed, relaxed, and confident for the next chapter of your life.

Smart Finish is a one-day conference that will help take the stress and worry out of life after graduation. Featured speakers will provide you with the inside scoop on career exploration, resume and interview strategies, further education, and OSAP repayment.

 

So mark your calanders for:

Saturday February 4, 2012

8:30am-4:15pm.

Located at Brock University, Academic South.

The cost is $20 which includes lunch

Registeration is online and limited spots are available. Please go here: http://smartfinish.eventbrite.com/ to register by January 31, 2012

For detailed information, check out this link

Still have questions?
Stop by the Career Resource Center in the Learning Commons or email gradlink@brocku.ca

See you there!
Hillary