Dear first years, don't limit yourself to the one career outlook!

As I am sitting in the Career Resource Centre in the middle of summer break, I am starting to see the faces of new students walking around the school. Most of them seem excited, but they also seem to be feeling nervous and don't know exactly where to start. I would like to tell them that there is nothing to be afraid of and that you don't have to make huge decisions yet, so enjoy the time that you have now. 

When picking your courses for first-year, don't have just one career outlook on your radar. Do what you love! Take classes that interest you and take full advantage of those elective credits. A lot of students will pick a degree and then not even want to continue after they have found something else they truly enjoy doing. In highschool we are forced to make these decisions that alter the rest of our life, and it's not your fault if you thnk you chose the wrong path. It's a whole other ballgame when you finally get to sit in the seminar and lecture rooms. You will know if you want to be there or if you'd rather still be in bed.  

Don't let anyone pressure you into doing something you don't really want to do. You don't want to waste this time learning about something you've decided isn't for you. Also, don't have just one thing in mind. You may not even be aware of the possibilities your degree offers. Most importantly, visit your Career Services department at your school, they are there to help you make these decisions and guide you into a career.  

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

University, College, or Both?

If you're in post-secondary, you've heard it. If you're in high school you hate it. If you're in elementary school you barely know yourself well enough to decide but we all know the age old question that begins back in your elementary school days: will you be going to university or college?

Remember back when you had to pick your high school courses in grade 8 and you had to choose academic or applied? Or later in high school when you had to decide whether to take university or college level courses? For so long before you ever get to applying for post-secondary school you are forced to make decisions about where you're going to go, possibly before you even know what you want to do!

There are lots of differences between the institutions of university or college, and today I am going to tell you about some of them.

First let's begin with recalling what they told us way back when:

College:
 - more hands on approach to learning
 - directs you into a field rather than providing a lot of theory

University:
 - theory-based learning style
 - learning the how, emphasis on writing and research

So I mean, this isn't innaccurate; the programs colleges offer usually provide for a very direct employment type learning style, however, this DOES NOT MEAN there is no writing, researching, or theory to accompany the program. AS WELL, university is NOT ALL THEORY. Most universities cater to varying learning styles in the classroom; a lot of university programs offer lab components and group work with hands on learning. There are also fieldwork courses and practicum courses as well.

The MAIN difference between the programs is this: the skills you learn.

 In college, you are gaining many skills, but a lot of special and specific skills to prepare and train you for a specific job. While you will be qualified for certain jobs outside of your field after going to college, you are really learning to master something specific while being there.

 In contast, in university there are some programs that facilitate direct employment with special training toward one job, for the most part the skills you are learning are diverse and transferrable. This means a few things: you may experience more difficulty finding a job once you complete your degree but the good news is that you have a plethera of skills under your belt so that you can apply to a wide variety of jobs.

 And guess what?! Many university graduates end up attending college once completing their degree to complement what they learned and to specialize in something specific! Some college students end up going to university, transferring some credits if possible in order to complete their program in a shorter time, gaining a wider variety of skills that they can apply to their field.

So what does this mean? It means that there is equal value in doing university or college, and that lots of people do both! There are over 60 collaborative programs offered at Brock University, where students earn both a diploma and a degree at the same time!

So whether you're a current or projected student, or maybe even a university or college graduate, just remember the value of your diploma or degree. Know that there are options for both college and university programs, and that through studying both you can help vary the opportunities available to you.

To those of you applying to post-grad right now: good luck! And remember to come by the Career Resource Centre at any time to recieve help with preparing your application documents! We review cover letters, resumes, personal statements and letters of intent!

See you soon,

Brittany
Sr. Career Assistant

Still No Summer Job?!

So it's the end of July, summer's practically over and you still can't find a job. Never fear - there's still some things you can do to fill your time, and ways to prepare yourself for next year's job search!

1. Volunteer
 - Agencies are always looking for people who are interested in helping out - no deadlines or worrying about the competition! An easy way to get that experience you might be looking for, just without the pay check (if you can manage that).

2. Job Search for September
 - At this point, a lot of places are listing their jobs for the upcoming school year when their student staff might be heading back to their university towns, or just moving on after their summer position. Now's a great time to start that search, and hey, you might get hired on early! Land yourself a school year job and make some cash for the last month of summer too!

3. Independent Skills Exploration
 - If it's a skill you want to work on, why not take the time to develop it on your own? You know that language that you've been meaning to learn, take it up now! You can learn about pretty much anything for free on websites like Open Culture, which provides free lectures to students! Languages are included. Or you could take the time to develop professionally; sign up for a workshop - see what's available in your city or school community!


Check out this website for some helpful tips for what to do in your summer job search, where to find jobs, and what to look for. Super helpful, and hey, it might even help you land something for August!

Brittany

Moving from unemployment to employment

As the end of the year winds down you may find yourself packing up your residence room, off-campus housing or for the graduating students, packing 4 years of life to move home or to a new city for a job. Either way packing is difficult and can cause some headache. After my past weekend experience I offer you 5 key words to keep in mind to help make this transition as smooth as possible.

1. Toss, Keep, Sell.  When packing to move think to yourself, what is garbage? what can be sold? what should I keep? For some reason you end up accumulating much more then what you came with. If you are able to sort through your items and separate what you can get rid of, compared to what you will keep, it makes it far less work in the long run- plus you're able to earn a few dollars by selling some of your unwanted stuff. Don't forget you can sell back old text books.

2. Be Prepared. Rent a truck. Buy a truck. Borrow a truck. Whatever it is, just make sure you have a large vehicle that will 100% fit all your stuff. Unlike from my experience, the last thing you want to have to do is create many trips to bring your stuff home. The more prepared you are the better the transition. 

3. Relax. Moving can be crazy, draining and emotional, but if you remember to relax and have the mindset that it will all come together the day doesn't become as hectic as it seems.

Not only are theses 5 key words great for moving out of student housing, but they are key words to help you move from unemployed to employment. Toss out your old resume and make a new one but be sure to Keep your skills and accomplishments so you can Sell yourself to employees. Go Prepared and dress for success and don't forget to Relax. 

I wish you all the best in your transitions!

Hillary

How To Interview With Your Current Boss

Some time in your life you might be invited to interview with someone you already know - like your boss. This seems like a strange concept but often supervisors like to conduct interviews with their current employees before offering them a promotion or a different position. This helps your boss determine your readiness and fit for the promotion and also gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, learning experiences, and willingness to move up in the company/organization.

If you ever have an interview with your boss, follow these tips:

• Treat it as if it is a normal interview. Practice your interview skills and take time to reflect on your experiences in your current job so that you feel ready to speak confidently about your position and the skills you have gained from it.
• Dress smart. The same dress etiquette applies even though you may interact with this person everyday at work - make sure you look the part!
• Be professional. Even though it might be tempting to act casual and joke around with your boss as per your normal relationship (if that applies to you), resist! Being well-spoken and confident will make you shine and show your boss that you are able to adapt professionally to this unique situation.
• Be prepared! Your boss may even ask you to provide references. This goes without saying that you should prepare a copy of your resume, cover letter (if applicable) and references for them should they ask. Also remember little things like offering a firm handshake at the end of your interview - make a lasting impression!

All in all interviewing with your current boss can be a tricky situation as you already have a working relationship with them. However it is an opportunity to practice interviewing and communicating your skills and experiences effectively - so take advantage!


...And you never know - it might land you a promotion!
Best of luck,
Lia