Guess Who

He is tall, has blue eyes, wears a red sweater and blue pants, and is super educated on careers!

Who is he you ask?

Jack McIsaac of course!

Jack is Career Service’s wonderful avatar who is super involved.  He knows about all career events happening on campus and he can help you stay connected to the Brock Community. He posts a variety of career/international information on his facebook wall and Twitter account. Jack also uses his pinterest board as a way for students to connect themselves with what is new and interesting in the career world.

Jack is very friendly and would love for you to add/ follow him on all of his social media pages. You can follow him on facebook at Jack McIsaac on twitter @JackMcisaac and finally on pinterest at jackmcisaaccs.

So add away and learn all you can about what's current in careers! If you have any questions or comments about Jack feel free to ask me or Jack himself on one of his walls.

Have a fabulous Thursday,
Rosemary

Advantages of Part-Time Jobs

So it's a brand new school year and classes are well underway. What are you going to do to fill those spaces between lectures, before (or preferably after) you're done your assignments, and to make some extra cash?

...Well, you're going to apply for a part-time job, of course!

Working during your studies poses many valuable advantages to your university career. Just as a few examples, you will:

• Be able to learn valuable transferable skills such as organization, teamwork, professional etiquette, customer service...the list goes on! Not to mention you might have the opportunity to take part in other professional development opportunities depending on your employer
• Meet new people & network with professionals - not to mention you will also have the opportunity to snap up some wonderful references from your employer
• Expand your resume and gain experience for your future career path (your part-time job may even open up doors for you in the future and turn into full-time work!)
• Learn more about a specific field and/or industry
• Help finance your education and other expenses
• Diversify your schedule and take a break from schoolwork/other commitments

So as you can see, working during university has many benefits, even for the modern-day busy student. If you're interested in part-time work, check out CareerZone for current opportunities both on and off campus. For more general searches, take a look at the Find A Job section of our website, or as always, stop by the Resource Centre for more tips & tricks.

Happy job-hunting!
Lia

PS. It's wonderful to be back writing the blog for 2012-2013. Looking forward to an exciting year!

Welcome Back Brockers!

So by tomorrow school will have officially been back in session for one whole week, and doesn't it feel like its full speed ahead? In Career Services we definitely feel this way. With Shop for Jobs just behind us and so many of you looking for part-time jobs, we have been happily busy with helping you guys!

We just wanted to take the time to welcome you all back, and let you know that our school year hours are Monday-Friday, 9-4:30pm! We are located just inside the South Entrance of the Learning Commons. Remember to come by with questions about your degree, finding a job, graduate school applications, you name it! As well, drop by with your resume and cover letter and we can review it for you no problem! It only takes ten minutes.

Hope to see you all soon and here's to a successful and productive year to all!

Brittany

Introducing the New Career Assistants!

Career Services is excited to introduce you to our 6 new Career Assistants for the 2012/2013 school year! Joining our lead CA and three senior CAs, the new Career Assistant team will be happy to answer all of your job and career related questions throughout the rest of the school year.

We thought we would take the time to introduce our new staff by asking them each a career related question to find out a little bit more about them!

Ben (Recreation and Leisure Studies)
Q: If you could have any fictional job what would it be?
A: Leprechaun because I can eat all the Lucky Charms I want and charm all the ladies at the pub.

Nella (Psychology - 3rd Year)
Q: What was your first job and what did you like/dislike about it?
A: My first job was at Highland Country Markets. I worked at the meat counter of the butcher portion of store. I only liked some of the people I worked with other than that I disliked EVERYTHING from management, to never having a Saturday off, to having to serve bits of pigs and cows to customers. Hard to believe I stayed for a year!

Becky (Tourism and Environment - 2nd Year)
Q: When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Ok, so when I was younger I was invited to my friend's awesome pool party every year and her dad would video tape us and ask us questions. My answer to "What do you want to be when you grow up" was "a figure skater!". My friends dad was like "No really, what do you want to be when you grow?" and I replied "No really, a figure skater".

Kylie (Concurrent Education (J/I division) Minor in Geography and English - 4th year)
Q: If you were a professor what subject would you teach?
A: I would teach geography because of the variety of strands available. Specifically, social and cultural geography are interested to me because it examines people's interactions in different spaces and traits of cultural groups within society. For these reasons, I would teach geography.

Jami (Public Health - 3rd Year)
Q: What is a career that everyone always says you would be good at?
A: Animal rescue and/or care

Shawn (Kinesiology - 4th Year)
Q: Would you rather work under the ocean, work on land, or work in the sky? Why?
A: When you're under the ocean you cannot see the light, and if you're in the sky your heads in the clouds. I would work on land because of how much wonder it has. The world is a book, and if you don't explore then you read only one page. The day I stop understanding the land we call Earth, is the day I stop living.


Returning Student Staff!

Lia
Position: Lead Career Assistant
Program: Child and Youth Studies (4th Year) 
 
Ashley 
Position: Senior Career Assistant
Program: History of Art and Visual Culture (3rd Year)

Brittany
Position: Senior Career Assistant
Program: English Language and Literature and Dramatic Arts (5th Year)

Rosemary
Position: Senior Career Assistant
Program: Child and Youth Studies, Minor in French (4th Year)




As a reminder, we are now open from 9-4:30 from Monday to Friday for the school year! 

See you soon!

- Ashley and Brittany

Program Specific Resume Samples

Are you interested in what the resume of an ideal student candidate in your field would look like? Over the summer we have have been working on a project to create a series of binders that house resume samples for each individual program. So far we have created resume samples for the following faculties:

- Faculty of Education
- Faculty of Business
- Faculty of Humanities

Each resume lists a number of positions that students in your program may have worked during their time at Brock as well as volunteer positions, clubs on campus, languages, technical skills, and more! These resumes can also serve as inspiration for anyone interested in exploring unique opportunities to fill their own resume with.

If you are interested in viewing any of the resumes from our completed faculties, drop by Career Services and we will be more then happy to let you take a look!

See you soon!

- Ashley

Your Future After Graduate School

Brock University is home to a growing number of graduate programs at both the Masters and PhD level. Career planning is a crucial aspect of any graduate students' educational experience. Having a Masters or a PhD is not a free ticket to your dream career - there is still a lot of work to do in order to guarantee yourself a job after graduation. Luckily, Career Services is equipped with a fantastic new resource called Navigating Your Career Search, a graduate student career resource guide by Shane LeBlanc which can assist you in choosing an appropriate career path and helping you prepare for a career in academia or for a private and not-for-profit sector.

The earlier you start considering your career options, the better. LeBlanc suggests finding ways to prepare yourself for your career while you are still working through your graduate studies. Don't allow your education to be your only relevant experience! Having real world experience on your CV or resume will significantly increase your chances of finding relevant employment after completing your graduate studies. Find ways to make yourself stand out among the other post-graduate students - be creative!

The guide also mentions ways of identifying your own abilities and understanding the transferable skills that you obtain during your graduate studies. LeBlanc suggests writing down all the tasks that you completed during your graduate studies, describing what was involved in the completion of these tasks, and outlining the skills and strengths that you developed in order to be successful in this area. This type of in depth personal reflection will allow you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and the ways that your graduate studies have prepared your career and will provide you with information to include on your resume, cover letter, or during interviews. If you need help brainstorming a list of potential skills acquired by a graduate student can be found in the back of Navigating Your Career Search on page 53.

A final area of LeBlanc's graduate student career guide that should be highlighted is his detailed over view of what to include in a curriculum vitae (CV). He presents a list of different sections to include on a CV as well as a description of the potential experiences to list under each heading. He also provides tips on selecting appropriate references. One of the services available to students and alumni at our career centre is a drop-in CV review. So if you have any questions while preparing your document or you are interested in having someone read over it for you feel free to stop by!

I highly suggest all future, current, and past graduate students stop by Career Services and take a look through Shane LeBlanc's Navigating Your Career Search guide. Our Career Assistants are also more then happy to assist you with your graduate school preparation and career search.

Plan ahead and consider all of your options. But most importantly, enjoy being immersed in what you love!

- Ashley, Sr. Career Assistant



Further reading available in the career centre for graduate students:

•  The Academic Job Search Handbook (4th Edition)
   by Julia Miller Vick and Jeniffer S. Furlong
•  The Chicago Guide to Your Academic Career
   by John A. Goldsmith, John Komlos, and Penny Schine Gold
• Post-Grad Studies Binder
  Brock University, Career Services
• How to Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae
  by Acy L. Jackson and C. Kathleen Gecheis
  

Shop for Jobs 2012!

It's that time of year again - time to pay your tuition, time to start thinking about how you're going to make money this year and therefore time to start preparing your career documents to apply... if you haven't already started, that is!

There are a bunch of new listings popping up on our Career Zone, for both on and off campus positions, but you can ALSO check out our annual Shop for Jobs event, which is happening again in just one month! The event is occurring on September 11th from 12-6pm at the Pen Centre. You have exactly 33 days; plenty of time  to get your resume in gear and practice those interview skills!

You can check out our online workshops for resume writing, cover letter writing, and interview skills all on our Career Zone website, under "Workshops" from your dashboard. You can also check the Career Services website for more information on resume writing, interview skills and also for using resources like Interview Stream!

Interview Stream is a really useful program where students can create a free account, and film themselves being "mock interviewed". All you do is login, choose some questions you'd like to be asked, and the program sets up a computerized interviewer who will ask you these questions while you're being filmed. Why is this helpful? Because it forces you to recognize your potentially bad habits that pop up in interviews and elsewhere. You can watch the video back to see if you touch your hair or face a lot, whether you're fidgeting, or maybe to see that you use words like "ummm" or "like" too much! It's always good to self-check and Interview Stream is a really useful way to do that. You can also send in your video to our full-time staff at Career Services where it can be looked over and sent back to you providing further feedback. You might also choose to book a real mock interview with our department before you head to the event by emailing khammond@brocku.ca, or even check out some of the Interview resources we have in the Career Resource Centre!

You can also bring your resume and cover letter into the centre and a Career Assistant would be happy to look it over for you! It's a drop in service so you don't have to make an appointment! Come in anytime between 9 and 4pm until August 24th, and then between 9 and 4:30pm starting in September!

Remember: choose the employers you'd like to meet with at the event and tailor your resume to each specific one. Don't just print off 10 copies of the same resume - it's better to apply to less positions and tailor each document to the specific companies than to hand out a bunch and be general. This is because employers want to know that a) you took the time to decide where you'd like to work and why and also b)  what you think qualifies you for their specific position. We can help you with all of this stuff right here in the centre :)


For some other tips and tricks, and a list of the participating employers, check out Jack's Facebook Page to view the event and also check out the Prezi!

Good luck and see you soon!

Brittany

Book Review: Work Your Way Around the World

Living in North America we are faced with a very competitive job market, especially for those seeking jobs in teaching. Because of this it seems that now more than ever before graduates are making the decision to finish school and move on to travel or work abroad. Working abroad is truly becoming an ideal option for many, since, for a lot of the jobs being offered (especially in teaching) the expectation is that you will have completed an undergraduate degree in any field, but that's it. Often students will complete their TESOL Certificate (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), that is if they're going into teaching since it puts them at a salary advantage and also provides them a better general knowledge for how to teach english, but even that is optional. It seems so easy to do, but some of you might be asking, "are there really opportunities other than teaching overseas?" and "so where do I start this process?"

There are tons of organizations that will help a graduate make their overseas transition into working abroad, and teaching isn't the only industry that they're recruiting for. You can find many of these organizations sites through a simple google search, but how can you know whats legitimate and who to trust?

In her book Work Your Way Around the World, Susan Griffith acts as your "tour guide" for understanding the ins and outs of going abroad for work, travel, school, or for any other reason! She breaks her book up by country, outlining the differences in working conditions, earnings, lifestyles, and the booming industries in each place. For each country she outlines specific companies and organizations to work or volunteer for. She even goes into aspects about how to prepare to leave, such as what to bring, what you might need at the border, and even outlines how to attain a VISA. She outlines what legal documents are required in each specific country, money conversion, how taxes work in each place and even what to do if you need to do a money transfer to or from home. She also provides tips on staying healthy in a new country and gives information on which insurance providers to go with.

With all of this preparation speak she also provides a disclaimer to warn the new traveler that once you start, it's often difficult to stop - for many reasons. She reminds her reader that travelling can become very addicting, and not to get yourself into a situation where you can't make it home. It can be difficult setting out, but once you're there it's often much easier to stay there than come home because the resettlement process can often be severe, leaving you feeling like you're "back to reality" and that "life was so much easier abroad". Being prepared and planning ahead carefully can help you steer clear of any negative feelings for home or the country that you've travelled to.

The section entitled "Extremis" is a particularly interesting read as it offers up examples of extreme scenarios a worker or traveler abroad might find themselves in and offers practical solutions to overcoming them. The Independent coined this book "the globetrotter's bible" and I believe that Griffith's coverage of all countries, scenarios, and possible questions that someone might never have considered before is what makes this statement true. Her appendices are also very helpful as she offers a currency conversion chart, useful phrases for all countries, possible travel itineraries and even international dialing codes.

This book truly has it all and it's a definite must-read for anybody who wants to live or travel abroad, for any duration of time. I plan on going to teach abroad
when I am done school and I found it to be an invaluable resource and researching tool.

Good luck and happy travels!

Brittany

PS. If you want some tips for how to create a resume, CV or cover letter for the country you intend on travelling to, or an online search of the popular industries abroad, check out Going Global!

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

Book Review: Networking for People Who Hate Networking

As an introvert I tend to feel an unnecessary isolation from the extroverted portion of our society. My occasional need for ‘me time’ and an extroverts constant need for social stimulation has, in the past, created boundaries during conversation. Things can get awkward and uncomfortable for both parties when the need of each individual isn’t being met – especially when you’re at a networking event.

Devora Zack’s charming guide 'Networking for People Who Hate Networking' provides a humorous and comprehensive analysis of both sides of the spectrum. Networking can be intimidating for everyone, even extroverts, which makes this book an excellent companion for all of the social (and not so social) butterflies out there.  

Zack creates an immersive read with her comedic writing style and light hearted attitude. My favourite chapter, Networking Survival Kit, covers the basics of a networking event from conversation management (feeling in control of the conversation from start to finish) to dealing with your networking name tag. Zack takes a genuine fear of many individuals and turns it into something that is almost bearable (almost!)

‘Networking for People Who Hate Networking’ has the potential to unite, what Zack cleverly calls Introville and Extroland, allowing us all to remove those awkward moments from professional interaction. In general, in order to succeed in each others company we require a solid understanding of how the mind of our opposites work. I can question all day why someone would choose to spend their evenings surrounded by other people in a crowded bar or I can take the time to learn about why extroverts require this type of environment to flourish. And, in return, extroverts can take the time to understand why I prefer to spend my time curled up on my couch with my dog, a cup of Earl Grey, and a good book. 

'Networking for People Who Hate Networking' is available for citizens of both Introville and Extroland in the Career Resource Centre!

- Ashley

Book Review: No Canadian Experience, Eh?

It's tough enough for Canadians to get hired with relevant experience in their field, let alone for those who do not. These people end up stretching out their achievement statements in order to prove how their skills qualify them; it can be a difficult process. Now imagine the difficulty for a person who might have little to no experience, or even some excellent and relateable experience, but not in the country which they're applying. This is a common occurrence for International Students and Immigrants, people who come to Canada seeking better education or work, but without Canadian experience they can end up feeling lost.

Brock University is full of International students who choose to stay in Canada following their studies to pursue something in their field here. What some of them are realizing is that their lack of Canadian experience is getting in the way of their career goals and job search. Or is it..?

In the second edition of "No Canadian Experience, Eh?" Daisy Wright covers literally everything a Canadian newcomer will need to know about how to immerse themselves in the culture of our career search, and even provides some helpful tips about Canadian culture as a whole (the term "eh?" is defined on page xiii, haha).  From attaining the accurate legal documents and creating a resume, to putting the references sheet together, sample thank-you letters and even success stories, this book has it all!


Wright identifies key areas where an immigrant to Canada might have difficulty transitioning, especially when it comes to job search. She provides specific suggestions for how to deal with resume writing, filling in gaps and structuring all experiences, as well as how to market yourself and prepare for the interview.  At the end of each section there is even a quiz to complete, helping the reader guage how well they are understanding the material in order to ensure confidence as they move forward in their Canadian career search!

Another great aspect about this book is something we're very big on at Career Services - goal setting and self assessments! She begins the book by having the reader get to know themselves, and understand how to set achieveable goals for their job search. She reminds the reader that it could be a lengthy process, but knowing yourself and making SMART Goals are imperative first steps to help make the process go smoother, if not faster!

My favourite part of the book is Chapter 9: Navigating the Job Search Maze. This chapter includes various sections on success tips, real life examples of job search mistakes, the hiring manager's perspective in the process, and even suggestions for preparing yourself for a job layoff. As an immigrant to Canada herself, Wright has a good understanding of what information is important to relay to Canadian newcomers in order to facilitate job search success and confidence, with no surprises!

Here are a few testimonials about how beneficial this book is, if I haven't yet convinced you:

"this book is an outstanding resource tool and thoroughly prepares our newcomers to take a pro-active and fresh look at addressing some fo the employment barriers that they will face"
Dauna Jones-Simmonds - Manager, Diversity Programs and Initiatives, TD Banks

"a must read for new immigrants. I wish I had this book before coming to Canada"
 T. Small, Legal Assistant

"This book is outstanding. It provides many valuable resources to people who plan to immigrate to Canada, and it allows newcomers to take a fresh look at the challenges they could face in immigrating, but also offers advice on how to overcome those challenges"
D.r Cheng, former University Professor in Taiwan

I'd also say that after reviewing this book, I find that the tips that Wright provides are beneficial for every job seeker in the Canadian market as her tips are universal to the fundaments of Canadian job search success.

 So those of you reading this blog who feel like you could benefit from some guidance on how to structure your resume and job search without any Canadian experience, never fear - drop by the Career Resource Centre in the Learning Commons and have a look through! You won't be disappointed :)

Brittany

Book Review: Designing a Digital Portfolio

We may live in an age where the job market is extremely competitive, but there is one thing that current job hunters have that previous generations didn't: a much bigger world of job opportunities! Thanks to the internet we are able to connect with potential employers world wide. One of the greatest ways for artists, architects, programmers, photographers, game developers, or any other visually creative individual to reach this global audience is by creating a digital online portfolio.  

Nothing feels greater to an artist then having their work fashioned together in a way that highlights their character and talent for curious employers. But what does the creation process of such a medium entail? Cynthia L. Baron's book 'Designing a Digital Portfolio' (2nd Edition) highlights the process of creating an online portfolio, what to include, and how to present it.

Baron covers topics such as digitizing your art, writing your biography (keep it short and sweet!), portfolio reels, and the risk associated with posting your work online. With plenty of eye-catching images and creative page layouts, this portfolio guide is easy to navigate and offers information for both tech savvy individuals and fearful technophobes. 

Complete with examples of real digital portfolio's at the end of each chapter, 'Designing a Digital Portfolio' is an excellent resource for both beginners and experts of the digital realm. I highly suggest that students in Brock programs such as Visual Arts, Interactive Arts and Science, Computer Science, and Film take the time to read through the information within this book and begin organizing their own creations into an inspiring online presence.

If you are interested in reading 'Designing a Digital Portfolio' by Cynthia L. Baron, feel free to visit Career Services at Brock University. If you are looking to creating a more traditional portfolio we have plenty of resources and sample portfolios that have been generously donated by Brock alumni from programs such as Classics, Recreation and Leisure, and Biomedical Sciences!

I wish you the best of luck with the creation of your portfolio! If you have any questions or would like your portfolio reviewed Career Services will be more then happy to assist you! :)

- Ashley, Summer 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 

Six Alternative Options After Graduation!

1) Travel Outside of Canada 
You know that fantasy vacation you daydreamed about going on during lecture? Now's your chance! The summer after graduation is the perfect time to get some traveling in before jumping into the commitment of full-time employment. Exploring a new country could even lead to a job opportunity abroad – so keep your eyes peeled for networking opportunities! Don’t allow yourself to feel trapped within Canada; we have a beautiful planet full of adventure and opportunity waiting to be discovered.

• Visit Going Global to view resume layouts for different countries and information on working abroad!

2) Apply for an Internship 
Even for entry-level positions, it is necessary now that applicants will have some relevant experience in their field before they can expect to be hired. Many employers will be looking for direct involvement within the field, whether it’s accounting or archaeology, in order for them to feel comfortable investing their time and money into hiring you. Never turn down a relevant internship (even though some may be unpaid) since this qualifies as excellent and relatable experience to put on your resume. Consider finding a part-time job to complement your unpaid internships. 

• Check Career Zone daily for new internship postings!

3) Work Part-time
The reality is, a lot of new grads won't be hired in their fields right away, or sometimes for any full-time positions after graduation. This could be a result of the competitive job market, unmet  qualifications, or just a lag in the need for hires in certain fields. The best you can do is keep applying, upgrading your experience, and finding a way to make money in the meantime! Working part-time gives you the chance to make money (which of course is important in order to pay off those students debts and take care of the bills), enhance and hone relevant transferrable skills, and it also gives you time to intern or volunteer in your career-related field in order to better qualify you for your desired job! And hey, you might find new interests for yourself in the process!

• Career Zone posts full and part-time positions from all over Niagara and some parts of the GTA, so take a look! Or take a look at some other job posting boards here.

4) Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to gain experience in your field, or to try something entirely different! There are always a multitude of positions to work with children, youth, special needs, in schools, in hospitals, in food banks, etc. You could volunteer in your community to get to know it better, or maybe a community less fortunate than yours. Or you could go to a different province or country and gain a new perspective on life, your career, and the world! Volunteering looks great on your resume, but its also a great way to ensure you remain well-rounded after having specialized in one field for four years. So if you can manage it, volunteer outside of your comfort zone - you never know what you mind find out about yourself!

• You can check career Zone for volunteer positions, or take a look at Information Niagara in order to find a position best suited for you!

5) Consider Further Education at Brock University
Was there something you particularly enjoyed about your post-secondary school experience? Are you looking to further qualify yourself for your field of study? Or maybe it's necessary to gain further experience in order to qualify for your career goal? Then consider looking into graduate studies! Brock University offers over two dozen MA programs and almost ten PhD programs that cover every faculty. While doing your graduate studies at Brock you will have the opportunity to apply to research and TA positions in order to assist in paying for your further education, and some programs even guarantee these spots for their grad students!

• For further information, consult Brock’s Faculty of Graduate Studies

6) Start a Business
What better way to enhance your skills and network in your field without working full-time than to start your own business? Working for yourself is a great way to be immersed in the industry, and to really explore all sides of the field. Or it could be a fun, quick way to make money with some friends once you're all done school, and to take a break from your program of study for a while. Or even further, it could a great start to a new and interesting career path!

•    Find out how to start your business here!

For some other suggestions for what you can do immediately after you graduate, here's a fun list.

Happy Choosing!

Ashley and Brittany

PS. Feel free to do more than one or all of the options! You're a new Grad, you've got tons of time :)

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

Putting that Career Plan in ACTION.

We're really glad you've decided to spend some time and work through the first 3 steps of the Career Planning Process! By now you have probably made some valuable discoveries about yourself and possible career options after having self-assessed and done your research, and you are now realizing which of Further Education or Direct Employment is the best options for you. We know making that decision was probably difficult, but we hope that our tips have made that process easier for you!

AND!... it's not over.  It's finally time to put your money where your mouth is and TAKE ACTION. A good plan is awesome, and it's a wonderful start, especially once you've made some concrete decisions about what you want to do and which pathway you've decided to follow. But unless you're going to make the appropriate steps to begin your journey down that chosen path, it's all been hard work for nothing (and you and I both know this thing called Career Planning isn't exactly easy to do!) Today I'm making some suggestions to help you figure out exactly what you need to do in order to successfully Take Action when it comes to your Career!

First and foremost, and if you haven't already, you should make sure you really have fullfilled the first 3 steps of the process. Maybe you've self-assessed and have identified the types of jobs you think you're best suited for, and thats great! But if, say, you haven't figured out what skills you have and which ones need enhancing, you could potentially run into difficulties down the road when it comes to finally creating that resume and you can't seem to solidify those accomplishment statements with a skill that was acquired or an end result that was achieved. Fill out your very own Personal Career Checklist to be sure that you've completed the previous 3 steps, and if you've missed something, make sure to go back and complete it! This is all part of making SMART Goals; if you've missed something in the Career Planning Process it's likely that you'll run into further issues in ultimately achieving your career goals in the future.

So, TIPS:

FURTHER EDUCATION

1, Entrance Exams - Find out which programs and which schools expect the completion of an entrance exams before admittance, and also be sure to give yourself enough time to both prepare mentally and financially for the examination so you don't have to worry about missing the application deadlines for Graduate School!

2. Reference Letters - Most Grad schools require the submission of 2-3 letters of reference from your professors (and sometimes one employer). Be sure to ask well in advance, and don't be thrown off if somebody you asks has to say no. Sometimes its a matter of being sure that they can provide you with the best possible reference, and if they don't think they have had enough experience with you to know, they would rather give you the opportunity to ask somebody else!

3. Letters of Intent/Personal Statements - Prepare this document well in advance, and be sure to check out each individual's institution for what is expected and what to include. You can also drop by the centre for some helpful writing too, or bring a draft and we'd be happy to look it over for you.

4. Funding - Most Graduate programs will offer you funding, depending on your marks and how much they are interested in your research. DO NOT accept Graduate Schools that do not offer this to you, especially if you're already relying on students loans. If they're not willing to pay you for your research, they are not worth your effort. If you're pursuing a Post-Graduate Degree or Certificate which is course based, funding opportunities are often still available, but for either option it is important to consider external funding opportunities if you need them. You want to get the most out of your studies, and worrying about the financial is the last thing you're going to want to do.

*If you need to work part-time during your further studies, you most likely can! Most programs allow up to 10 hours per week for employment outside of your Teaching Assistantships so be sure to check that out too!

DIRECT EMPLOYMENT

1. Network - Find out who you need to meet and what you need to do to land that awesome position that you've spent so much time researching about! You know who you want to work for, and now it's time to build up that network and make the appropriate connections to get your foot in the door! If all else fails, as for an Information Interview!

2. Keep Researching - So you've got a list of jobs and employers already in mind, but there's no guarantee that any of those positions will still be available when it comes down to applying for them. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities that appeal to you, even if they're not the career you had in mind. Every opportunity counts and gets you one step closer to that Dream Job.

3. Interview Prep - Every interview is different, but it's important to keep yourself on your toes and prepared for whatever it is they might throw at you! Be ready to talk about your strengths, weaknesses, and the research you've done on the company. They want to know that you know yourself well, and what you think makes you a good fit for the position you're offering.


For some more tips to consider when completing the final step of your Career Planning Process, check out  our website!

Good luck and congratulations on finishing up this process!

Brittany

*Don't forget to leave a comment, send us an email at career@brocku.ca, or come by the Resource Centre on the 1st floor of the Learning Commons if you'd like us to further discuss your Career Planning Process with you!

Decisions, decisions!

If you've been following our blog over the last couple of weeks, chances are you have completed your Self-Assessment and Career Research. It's now time to start making some decisions! If you are comfortable in your degree (or you’re switching into a preferred area of study) it’s important that you start deciding on what path you are likely to take after graduation.

The two major options you should start considering are:

• Further Education: Am I interested in completing post-graduate studies?
  or
• Direct Employment: Am I interested in going straight into the work force?

When considering the second option it’s important to keep in mind that some occupations require post-secondary education.  It’s imperative that you triple check your research to determine whether or not post-secondary is necessary in order to obtain your career goal. Post-graduate studies are a wonderful way to expand your knowledge of a subject you feel passionate about but it’s important to keep in mind that it takes additional time and money to complete. 

If you are interested in going straight into the work force after graduation it’s important to network with individuals in your field and to consider finding an internship to gain relevant experience which can be included on your resume. It also never hurts to get involved in the community by volunteering which can give you even more hands on experience in something you are passionate about. The career world is as competitive as ever right now so remember to do anything you can to make yourself stand out over everyone else!

Once you’ve decided between extending your time in university or jumping into the work force it’s time to start making SMART goals:

   Specific: What are you doing and how are you going to do it?

   Measurable: Are you choosing a goal that you can watch yourself progress through?

   Attainable: Do you feel that you will be able to stay committed to your goal?

   Realistic: Are the expectations you are setting for yourself too high?

   Timely: When do you want this specific goal to be obtained by?

On the Career Services website we have a couple worksheets available to help you with your SMART goal planning:

• Goal setting worksheet: for exploring your SMART goals
• Goal Action Form: for developing an action plan to help you achieve your goals 

Brittany and I have completed both of these worksheets for our own career goals and would be more then happy to assist anyone else having difficulty sorting things out. I personally find that having a physical copy of my goals to look over is extremely valuable when sorting through my many unorganized thoughts.

Decision making can be stressful and discouraging at times, but its all about keeping things simple! Don't stress yourself out by making unrealistic goals. I mean, if you aren't going to go to med school you aren't going to be a doctor!


And don't be afraid to conduct any additional research in order to fine tune your SMART goals. Double and triple check any information that is vital to your goals to ensure any confusion and unnecessary stress down the road.


Good luck and feel free to email us or stop by if you have any questions!

~ Ashley

Always Do Your Research!

So you've self-assessed! You now know ALL about yourself, exactly what you want to do and exactly how you're going to do it! ...right? Well, for some of you it might have been that easy to figure it out, and that's great! We're happy for you! But for those of you who are still unsure, you're on the same side as most of us. Sure, we might have an idea and various options for career and/or educational pathways now  (I put mine on a flow chart :D), but it doesn't end there. Before you DECIDE on a career pathway, it's always important to first do your RESEARCH.

Ask yourself...

Is this Pathway the right FIT?

• Am I willing to proceed with Further Education or is Direct Employment right for me?
• What are the job responsibilities?
• Am I cut out for this type of work?
• What else is out there?

Do I have the right EXPERIENCE?

• Will I need experience before entry-level positions?
• How can I gain that experience now (volunteering, internships, part-time jobs)?
• What are the skills and knowledge requirements of the position?
• Is there room for professional development and on-the-job training?
• Am I looking for advancement opportunities? Is that available to me within this field?

What is the Typical WORK ENVIRONMENT?

• Will I be working inside/outside? With children, with people older than me? Alone?
• Am I adaptable?
• How much will I be making? How do raises happen?
• Is there a demand for this type of work?

Who HIRES for this type of work?

• What should I know about the field? The company/organization?
• How should I prepare to apply?
• How do I ask/prepare for an interview?

And always the BIG ONE:

• Will I be granted a pension? Benefits?

While these questions might be simple and provide you with the  little details, the affects of the answers can have some pretty great affects in the long run.

Here are some things to remember...

1. Do what is right for you. Job earnings are important, but don't let the dollar sign cloud your vision when it comes to deciding on something you know will make you happy.

*That also goes for career choices and graduate school. Some people will refrain from doing a Master's program or Post-Graduate Degree because they feel like they should be done spending money, and instead earning it. My motto is "short term pain for long term gain" - anything extra we do now will only make it easier to pay off those student loans later on.

2. While it's important to  be qualified for a position, don't let that stop you from applying to jobs of interest. Hey, you might not meet all of the job requirements, but maybe nobody did! You could still be the best applicant. If you tailor your resume and cover letter right, you could come out a shining star in their list of candidates. So come on into the Career Resource Centre for a review, and then get on out there!

3. Your work environment should never be compromised. You will be talking to these people, seeing these walls, and smelling these smells more often than you'll ever be seeing your family, your walls or the smells in your household. Make sure it's going to work for you. And if it doesn't, next!

Check out our website for some more tips and handy links for researching here. And remember, drop by the centre anytime between 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday and Ashley or I will be happy to discuss your research with you, or even help you get it all started!

See ya then,

Brittany :)

Don't Stress, Self Assess!

All through high school our parents and teachers bombarded us with questions about what type of degree we wanted to pursue once we started university. Now that we are actually in university and have chosen and experienced our current programs we are being asked a slightly more intimidating question - 'what are you planning on doing with your degree?'

This may be a more frightening question for some students than for others. Perhaps you are currently in a program that you are academically successful in but feel no passion for. It's also possible that you're studying something that you dislike altogether. Or maybe you are in a position many other students are experiencing: you love what you are currently studying but you have no idea what you want to do with your degree once you graduate.

It's time to stop stressing out! It's never too late to stop or alter what you're doing and begin moving in a more personally fulfilling direction. Here at Career Services, we have a number of Self-Assessment tools that you can complete at any time on our website. Self-Assessment allows you to explore questions such as who you are, what you are interested in, and what values you hold when it comes to the workplace. By learning about yourself through self-assessment it will be much easier to zone in on career and program choices that reflect who you are. I'll highlight a couple of my favourites below:

• Career Cruising: Career cruising has an in depth self-assessment tool that gives the user a list of potential career choices based on their personal interests. Each of these careers can be explored in great depth on the website, including information on which university or college programs need to be taken in order to enter this career path.
• Keirsey Temperament Sorter: This self-assessment is designed to help you learn more about your values, skills, and interests, which will help you develop and plan goals for the future.

Remember to check out our website to access our 11 different self-assessment tools that cover personality, skills, interests, and workplace values! Feel free to bring your self-assessment results in to Career Services and we will be happy to assist you in planning out your new career path!

It took changing my area of study 4 times before I discovered a program that I feel personally fulfilled in. Do not be afraid to explore. Taking these self-assessments has encouraged me to try new things and combine my personal interests with my area of study. Do not regret decisions you have made in the past. All of our personal experiences make us who we are and help us in determining what we dislike and what we enjoy!

Don't give up, your perfect career is just around the corner!

- Ashley

Introducing . . .

Greetings! This is Ashley and Brittany, your new career blogging friends! We just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves, and to also introduce the variety of things we've got planned for the Career Services Blog this summer!

Ashley Paolozzi
Program: Interactive Arts and Sciences, minor in Art History
Career Goal: Level Artist and/or Italian Renaissance Researcher
Career Aspiration: Disney Imagineer
How the Career Resource Centre Helped: By making her aware of the opportunities that are available in her field and by helping her organize her varying career aspirations and ideas into realities.

Brittany Stewart
Program: English Language and Literature and Dramatic Arts
Career Goal: English and Dramatic Arts Educator and/or Theatre Director
Career Aspiration: Broadway Performer
How the Career Resource Centre Helped: The variety of resources available in the centre quieted her anxieties about teaching prospects, and opened her eyes to the possibility of alternatives to in-school teaching, and to the prospect of teaching abroad! She also learned a lot about the various programs Brock has to offer, and has spiked a newfound interest in Linguistics!


So that's who we are!  Now for a preview of what we have in store for the blog over the next four months. It's definitely something to include on your reading list this summer! ;)


May: Career Planning
We'll be touching on the four steps of the Career Planning Process, from self-assessment to researching career prospects, to the decision-making process and finally on to what it means to take action! Here in the Career Resource Centre we can guide you no matter what stage of the process you are in, and we encourage you to check out the Career Planning section of our website for some valuable tips as well!

June: New Grads
First, a BIG congratulations to everyone who completed their final exams/essays/assignments/presentations/etc! You did it! You're finally done! But what comes now? In June you'll be getting that diploma and you should also be checking out our blogs for some next steps for what to do after school ends, and before the next stage of your life begins! We'll be providing tips for using social media and networking in the job search process, alternatives to joining the workforce right away, as well as 10 things all new grads should know. June is a hot month for you to be following us, no matter what year you're in!

July: Book Reviews
In the centre, we have a WIDE variety of print resources for any student inquiry. We will be reviewing four of our most popular books in order to give you the scoop, and hey, maybe we'll convince you to come by and check them out yourself! They are:

• Get Wired, You're Hired by Mark Swartz
• Job Search Magic by Susan Britton Whitcomb
• How to Find a Job on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and Other Social Networks by Brad and Debra Schepp
• 101 Career Alternatives for Teachers by Margaret M. Gisler

August: What's New?
In August, there's a lot of new things going on. New resources, the newsletter comes out, new training program to plan for the new Career Assistants, and onto another new school year! We'll be blogging to remind you about all of these things, and any other news that pops up!


That's it for now! Hope your summer has been good to you so far, that you're all happily employed, or enjoying some awesome adventure somewhere! Don't forget to stop by the Career Resource Centre for any job search inquiries, or for a resume or cover letter review to land that summer or fall position. We're always happy to help you out :) Our summer hours are Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

See you soon!

Ashley & Brittany