Breaking News...

Good morning everyone...I realize you are not used to hearing from us on a Friday morning BUT we have some fantastic news to share...

Our very own Career Services blog has made the list for "10 Simply Awesome College & University Career Service Blogs"....WOW!! We are ranked among some pretty prestigious schools, such as Harvard and Dartmouth. The author, Jessica Miller-Merrell's blog is ranked as one of the top career site by Forbes Magazine, so to have her rank OUR blog so well really means a lot!


Special thanks needs to go out to our out-going Senior CA team for their amazing efforts on making the Career Services blog so spectacular...we have some pretty big shoes to fill now!

Read what Jessica had to say about us HERE and keep following our blog - it's the right thing to do... :D

Jami Coughler
Senior Career Assistant
4th Year Public Health (Honours)

Exam Hours and Good Luck

So the time is here, another semester has come and gone. Unfortunately, it is also the time to buckle down, make study notes, overdose on caffeine, and count down the hours until you are free for the summer (unless your taking spring and summer courses that is). Or, if your like me, your finishing up your thesis while anticipating graduation and starting out in the "real world". In any case, I'm reminding you that the end is near and that you will make it through! :)

In the event that you want a study break/want to come see the career services crew for a little while, we are open Mon - Fri from 9-4 until April 26. Although our hours are shorter, we will still be offering all of the same wonderful services. Students at this time of the year, especially if they are graduating, often come in to pick up their experience plus, mentorship plus, and international plus transcripts. So if you have not yet requested them, here is a friendly reminder to do so.

Once exams are over, we will be starting our spring/summer hours. We will be open Mon - Fri 9-4, so if you are still here feel free to stop by.

Thats all for now folks. Good luck on all of your exams and all the best!

Rosemary
Sr. Career Assistant

Med Plus Applications

            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

 

 



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

Fall Jobs Now??

The buzz is in the air at career services. And by buzz I mean the CA staff are getting ready for their interviews for the senior CA positions.

Yes, they are applying now for next september. Early you think, wrong I say. And our department is not alone in this. In fact, many on campus postions available for next September are being posted now or will be posted within the next couple of weeks.

So if your interested in working on campus, and I will tell you from experience that it is awesome, then I would start looking today for upcoming positions.

CareerZone will be your best bet to find the most variety of on campus positions available; however keep checking BUSU, Human Resources, and Recreation Services because they do not always post on our job posting board.

By keeping an eye out everyday, you will ensure that you will have enough time after a job has been posted to develop your application package (if you need one), fill out an experience works profile if they ask for this (do this via your my.brocku.ca), develop your tailored resume and cover letter, and finally come in so that we can have a look at it and help you to make it the best it can be.

The good thing is is that reading week is coming up. This means you will have some extra time to work on your resume so that it is prepared for that job you want to apply to when it comes available. It is difficult to sometimes prioritize finding a job over school, so use reading week to your advantage to job search and prepare. Or catch up on work ( unless your going away, to which case I say I envy you).

Moral of the story is keep an eye out now for opportunities for September because you might be too late if try and look for stuff then.

Have a good reading week!
-Rosemary
Senior Career Assistant

Creating a Standout Resume

After explaining to students that there will be huge competition for jobs, especially if the posting is online, we are often asked “Well then how do I make myself stand out?”

This is a completely valid question. The answer? Well, unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer. Primarily, I would suggest calling the organization that you are applying to just to ask a couple questions. Doing this will allow the company to know your name which may subconsciously (sneaky, I know!) have them review your document more closely. I would also encourage you to network, network, network (it's super important). It is so much easier for employers to hire if they know you first. In fact, if you network enough, and an employer likes you, they may offer to chat with you about the position, foregoing the whole application process in the first place. You are making it so easy for them, if you do that right!

But... if you have decided  to apply to online postings, which, don't get me wrong,  is something you should totally be doing as well just to cover your basis, then I can offer you a couple of suggestions about what to include in your resume to make it stand out. Additonally, I can tell you things employers look for specifically and things that they hate to see.

Love:

1. Personalization- the more tailored you can make your resume (and cover letter for that matter) the better. It will show that you took the time to research the company which shows them that you are motivated and seriously interested in the position.

2. Achievement Statements- this format really makes it easy for them to see how you can impact their company by showing them obviously what you achieved in your past experiences. The achievement statement consists of three steps. They are:

1. Action verb: Presented in past tense
2. Steps or actions taken: These are the steps/actions you took to achieve something
3. End result: This is the impact/results of your action(s)

3. Relevant Experience and Skills - the most important thing you can show on your resume are the experiences and skills (technical/language) that you have which the employer is looking for. This will be different for each profession so do your homework and know what is necessary for the positions you apply to.

4. An easy to read layout - come on in to the resource centre located just inside the Library Learning Commons and we can show you what this looks like.
 

Hate:

1. Bad Grammar and Spelling Mistakes- this may seem like and obvious one, but it happens more times than you think. This goes for e-mail correspondences as well. Proofread!

2. To whom it may concern!  -This is a cover letter bugger, but this salutation is a huge no no. Try and find the name of the person doing the hiring or address the letter to the hiring comittee or human resources manager.

3. Too little or too much information- You want to try to avoid only stating your duties or overstating your accomplishments with paragraphs. Strike a good balance with the use of clear and succinct bulleted achievement statements.

 

These are some basic tips I can provide you with. Remember to do your homework on each of the employers and positions so that you can really be as specific as possible.

I hope that these tips can assist you in writing an awesome resume which employers will love to read. Whether you are applying online, in person, or giving in a resume at the interview (benefit of networking) employers will be able to see that your resume hits all the right things.

For a more extensive look into your resume come by the centre and we can help answer your questions.

Cheers,

Rosemary Tamburini,

Senior Career Assitant

Don't Let Yourself Get Trapped!

Hi folks,

It has been a while since my last blog post and I think that that the topic today is an interesting one in that this topic comes up alot.

I often get questions from students and alumni concerned that they will get bored doing a certain career for a while and that once they get bored that they will be stuck because of their education.

I am here to tell everyone today that this is not the case at all! It is certainly possible to search for jobs outside of your industry and I am  here to give you tips on how to do just that.

So, say for example you graduate and work in the industry in which your degree has led. This is great and is what most students end up doing.

You continue to work at this position for a few years and move to a different position within the same industry until 10 years has passed and you feel as though you want more variety but you feel trapped within the industry in which you have worked since graduating.

This feeling is normal and trust me there is a way out. Here is what you should do to start searching into other industries:

1. Update your resume. If you have been in the same position for a while I would         recommend using a combination style resume which highlights your transferable skills. If    the new job you find is directly related but in a different industry then I would recommend using a chronological resume. Both styles and more information about their use can be found at the resource centre.

2. Look for positions based on skills as opposed to based on industry or job title. For example teachers sometimes think they are stuck working in the school board their whole lives. However many independent companies look for teacher candidates to teach training manuals to new staff. This is a good example of looking for a job based on what you will need to do and the skills needed as opposed to looking based on the job title/industry.

3. While it might be difficult I will always recommend volunteering in areas where you have other interests. You never know if through these volunteer experiences you will come across a job opportunity maybe not in what your educatin is in, but one in which you are equally qualified and likely happy doing.

4. To get more ideas about related careers to what you are currently doing, it will be beneficial to go on  assessment websites such as career cruising and type focus (which can both be accessed via Career Zone under the resource tab). On these assessments you will be able to type in your current careeer and it will give you related careers/ careers based on your interests, values and skills which may be out of your current industry and something that you might have interest in.

5. Finally, explore! I think you will be surprised at just how many different types of positions you are qualified for just because you have an undergraduate degree. So search online databases and look for stuff that interests you and apply. It won't hurt. Remember you do not have to have all of the qulaifications listed. That is an ideal list. If you only ahve 2 years experience and they want 5, your experience might be worth more. Go for it!

That is all for now. I hope that some of these suggestions help you to realize that after graduation you will have options. Do not feel like you are trapped and succumb to familiarity. Be confident that will a little diligence and an open mind that you will be able to have various types of exciting careers.

Before I go I have to appologize for the length of this post.... My bad. I told you it's been a while.

Until next time,
Rosemary

Information Interviews

The majority of job seekers today use job search sites and social media to find jobs. It has become all the rage recently to network yourself and rightly so. Most available positions are not visible to the public eye through these sites, thus requiring you to know somebody. If you're like me, then you always find yourself asking "Who is this somebody?"

Well this somebody is a person who becomes known through networking, being involved in your field, or, well, because you're lucky and someone in your family can give you an in!

For those of  us who aren't that lucky, I have the perfect way to follow the networking bandwagon while gaining insight information into your potential place of work. That is a double whammy!

The answer: INFORMATION INTERVIEWS

It is called an information interview when you, an interested potential/future employee, call a business or individual in the field in which you would like to work, and set up a time where you can call and interview them about their workplace, the field, and the company itself.

To get started I would suggest:

1. Contacting someone who you think you would want to speak with and ask them if they would be willing to answer a few of your questions at a convenient time for them

2. Go on the companies website and develop questions which you can ask them

3. If you are going in person, bring along your business cards and resume

4. Be sure to ask if they know of anyone else you may be able to speak with and ask them for one of their business cards before you leave

5. Send a letter, e-mail or card following the interview to thank them for their time


As you can see an information interview is an awesome way to make yourself known and to get to know your future field of study/work to make sure it is right for you. The more contacts you make the better it will be for you when you are applying. Then hopefully you can be the person saying " I knew somebody!".

All the best,
Rosemary

P.S I hope studying has been going well for you all!

Avoiding Workplace Gossip

Everyone hears it and most of us have had some part in spreading it but if you're saying something about someone that you wouldn't say in their presence... then it's gossip!

Workplace gossip is not necessarily something you would want to engage in and it should be avoided at all costs especially in the workplace where it can compromise your professionalism and integrity.

You know that saying: "Its a small world"?... this pertains to the workplace too. 

Repercussions:

• resentment                                                           
• rivalries
• self conscienceness
• unnecessary tension
• lack of group cohesiveness
• negative effects on teamwork and productivity

 
As you can see, there are some serious reprecussions to engaging in workplace gossip and it is so prevalent and hard to avoid so I wanted to let you know about it and to provide you some helpful tips in preventing it!  I hope in knowing you will be able to easier recognize signs and learn some preventative measures.

Here are some strategies you may be interested in employing if you find your self faced with similar uncomfortable situations:

• Encourage open communication thus preventing workplace gossip to form in the first place 
• Change the subject to something more positive and preferablly work related
• Ignore it or fade it out trying of course not to be rude about it
• Politely say to the gossipers that you do not think this subject would be appropriate at work. Try maybe framing it in a way that depicts your interest so you are not attacking them (ex. I am sorry but this topic makes me feel uncomfortable).
• Approach supervisor and ask her to mention something in a meeting or on a bulletin that is overarching and does not target anyone specifically, but rather as something that has been noticed
• Finally, if the problem persists contact supervisor with a name and information on what you have been noticing specifically

We can all help in trying to stop gossip from spreading. It is hard to not engage in gossip.
While some information you could gain while gossiping is certainly interesting, it will not be life changing or necessary for your development. In fact, as we have shown it will likely be more detrimental than anything else.


ALSO....

I want to let you all know that career services is having another contest!! JACK'S HOLIDAY CONTEST for a chance to win $50 at the bookstore. All you have to do is dress up Jack in an outfit that is reminiscent of your families holiday festivities.

I know this is a lot of information for a Thursday, the last Thursday of class no less. Which if your like me, you are probably rejoicing!! Woot woot!

Remember Career Services will be open the entire exam period (9am-4pm)if you have questiosn about workplace gossip or need someone to talk to about any and all career related quandries.

Best of luck,
Rosemary

Grad School Applications

Last year at this time I watched as all of the students, who had plans of pursuing post-grad programs, started to get stressed with all of the application procedures and deadlines; which, in some cases, are different for each school.

Fast-forward to this year and I am in their position while some of the other career assistants in the centre are watching me stress as I did to others last year.

I however, as a career assistant, feel that I am pretty knowledgeable about the steps involved in applying to grad school, so I started my process early! And now I am going to share some of that knowledge with you in hopes that it might relieve some stress if you are in the process of applying and that it might prepare you if you will be applying this or next year.

Also, if you are feeling overwhelmed, I want to let you know that you are not alone in that, and that this process is a very difficult one for everyone who has to go through it!

NOTE... IF YOU HAVEN'T STARTED PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS LET THIS BE YOUR WARNING TO START!

 

Seriously though, most of the processes are very intricate. While all programs require different things, here is a list of some important things common to almost all grad applications which you should start considering and preparing:

 

1. Transcripts

•  These can be ordered through your my.brocku.ca portal and they cost $12 each

2. Letter of Intent/Personal Statement

• If you do not know the difference or want resources on how to write one or both of these ducoments come into the resource centre and we can give you some tips and suggestions

3. Test Scores

• GMAT, GRE, MCAT, LSAT, PCAT, DAT, SAT
• most of these tests can be taken year long and multiple times
• Once you take the test or before you book it make sure to see when the applications for the program are due because you will need to include your test mark in your application

 

4. CV

• we have CV guidelines in the centre if you would like help writing one!

5. Online Application Component

 

6. Online Payment

 

7. References

• Each program will say what it is they would like from the references
• It is important that you talk with some professors or professionals-which one you use will depend on the program- and have them agree to be a reference for you
• Once they have agreed they will either need to fill out a form online which you have to send them, or the program you are applying to will send them a form which they will need to fill out and send to  the program
•  It will be your job to stay on top of your references to make sure that they submit your information by the deadline

8. Lastly find out if you are eligible for scholarships/ Grad funding

• This isn't a necessary step; but, it does help to off-set the cost of grad school and allows you to focus on your research by giving you enough money so that you don't have to work
• Some of these applications also require things such as reference letters, research proposals, etc and take quite a while to complete so make sure you find out when they are due (the due dates are on the Grad Studies website) so that you can leave yourself ample time to complete them

DEADLINES

 

It would be impossible for me to be able to tell you guys the due dates for every program because there are so many programs you can apply to which all have very different application due dates. But I will list some of the due dates to the more common programs which I hope will help!

 

If the program you are hoping to get into is not listed, I would recommend going on the Grad Studies site of the institution and looking up your specific program to find out when your program's application is due.

 

Most of this information was taken from the OUAC website, where, if your interested, you can find even more information about some of these processes!

 

Medical School--> October 1, 2012 (already passed!!)

Dental School--> Western and U of T = December 1, 2012

Law School--> November 1, 2012 for first year students, May 1, 2013 for upper year students

Master of Business--> @ Brock = rolling admission.. for April 2013 start, apply by March 30, 2013

Teacher's College--> Decomber 3, 2012 (for applications), December 10, 2012 (for money order or electronic payment and all supplementary application forms and the experience profile)

ORPAS (for OT, PT, AUD, SLP) --> January 11, 2013 at 11:59 pm

 

I know that I have just presented a lot of information but be sure to consult the Grad School Office of the school you wish to apply to in order to find out the specifics of the application process.

 

Hopefully, now that you have all of this wonderful information at your finger tips, you can go through the process with less stress.

 

One can only hope :)

 

All the best with your endeavours! And remember everyone at Career Services will be happy to assist you in preparing your documents if you want some extra help. If you would like further or more specific assistance than feel free to contact the program coodinator for the program you wish to apply to who will be pleased to answer any of your questions. If you are applying to a Brock program than most answers can be found on the Grad Studies website.

 

So if you aren't applying to the same program as me, then I wish you the best of luck and hope that you get in where you want to!

 

Good luck,

Rosemary

Senior Career Assistant