John Lugtu | Contributor
Featured illustration: With graduation around the corner, students completing their degrees are scrambling for post-graduate job positions. | Christopher Lai
University life—it’s that time in our lives where we juggle academics and play. For those who don’t plan to stay in academia after their bachelor’s degree, looking for career prospects is something students are concerned with, but often do not put any effort toward. Despite this, countless successful industry professionals in different fields continue to encourage students to act proactively.
This career and academic mapping has earned its own buzzword: blueprinting. Just like any blueprint, this master plan contains focused steps and objectives. Sure, you want to work in the technology sector, but which part of the sector do you want to work in? Which companies do you see yourself working for? What experience do you need to land that dream job? These questions may be daunting, but just like any other problem, the answers are attainable.
How does a university student prepare for the “real world” out there? Another buzzword that is key here is engagement. University is a world away from high school, with many events and opportunities offered, from networking events, conferences, career planning seminars to résumé and cover letter workshops.
“I always feel extremely engaged when I attend events outside of regularly required class. Unlike when you are sitting in a lecture […] you hand-pick and sign up for events that peak your interest,” says Tyler Barton, first-year accounting student, who also adds that he has met many new friends and gained a significant amount of knowledge at these events.
Networking is touted as the golden key for success in the workplace; it gives individuals the opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals and potential jobs.
If you are looking for a place to begin building experiences, networks and potentially find a job, York’s Career Centre is a tool available for students.
The Career Centre offers job search support and helps prepare students to enter the workforce by offering seminars, workshops and drop-in sessions catering to specific needs.
“When most people think of career centres, they tend to think of job search support help with resumes, cover letters and interview skills, which we do, but they don’t tend to think of the Career Centre as a place you go if you aren’t job-ready or if you don’t know what you want to do after you graduate,” says Dianne Twombly, manager of career development at the Career Centre.
“The reality is that a huge number of York students aren’t yet sure what their career goals are—and we can help with that […] We’re here to support students with every aspect of the job search, from creating a professional LinkedIn profile to learning appropriate dining etiquette for networking functions.”
The Career Centre isn’t the only place you can work on building your resume. York’s colleges also have a number of events that cater to the programs in each affiliate. Likewise, clubs also offer a variety of networking events with both members and professionals with similar interests in the themes the club works under.
Students are also encouraged to keep their eyes out for potential happenstances, a theory developed by John Krumboltz, an established career theorist. The theory explains the benefits and opportunities that can be gained from unplanned events. These happenstances can help create organic networks, which can boost your professional development.
“That can be hard to hear for some students who like to plan everything out in advance because it involves uncertainty, but time and time again I’ve watched students take advantage of an unexpected opportunity and it has been life changing for them,” says Twombly.
The best thing about these services is that they are free. In a system where so many resources and opportunities are paid for, including a degree, it seems nonsensical to avoid these free opportunities for betterment. Try planning in advance to make a “happenstance” happen, schedule one networking event per semester to get your feet wet and check out the Career Centre for tips on dining etiquette before hand.
