What is an Associate Degree?
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, bachelor's degree-granting colleges, and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years. In the United States, and some areas of Canada, an
associate's degree is often equivalent to the first two years of a four-year college or university degree.
An alternative to an Undergraduate Degree
Associate degrees can be a great alternative to attending university for four years and can still lead to financially stable jobs! Check out the infographic below for more information.
Source: DegreeQuery.com
This is the official Brock CareerZone blog for students, by students. We give you the tips and tricks of job search and more!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Keep Your Academic Network Up-to-Date
The end of the term is just around the corner! And, for some of our Badgers, this also means the completion of your undergraduate degree. Congratulations on surviving to the end of March - only a couple weeks left until (pseudo)freedom is here!
As you may have already realized, one of the greatest resources you will gain during your degree is the relationship you build with your professors. These individuals are some of your best contacts for getting jobs after graduation. Not only do they work in the field that you are interested in, but they have friends that do too! Its important that you don't let these contacts fizzle away.
March is the perfect time to send some emails out to professors you have enjoyed working with, as well as old employers that you've had, and letting them know where you are headed after you graduate. If you have any outstanding professors or TAs to add to your LinkedIn, consider doing that today. Your professors will have hundreds of students after you so you want to ensure that they remember who you are!
If you are returning as a student next year and are planning on attending graduate school in 2015, start considering which professors you are interested in using as references for your applications. If you aren't taking any classes with your ideal references next year you should be asking them to be your reference now while you (and your work) are still fresh in their minds.
Good luck with your final assignments and exams! Summer break is just around the corner :). And continue keeping an eye on Career Zone (careerzone.brocku.ca) for summer employment opportunities.
Ashley Paolozzi, Lead Career Assistant
4th Year History of Art (Honours)
As you may have already realized, one of the greatest resources you will gain during your degree is the relationship you build with your professors. These individuals are some of your best contacts for getting jobs after graduation. Not only do they work in the field that you are interested in, but they have friends that do too! Its important that you don't let these contacts fizzle away.
March is the perfect time to send some emails out to professors you have enjoyed working with, as well as old employers that you've had, and letting them know where you are headed after you graduate. If you have any outstanding professors or TAs to add to your LinkedIn, consider doing that today. Your professors will have hundreds of students after you so you want to ensure that they remember who you are!
Good luck with your final assignments and exams! Summer break is just around the corner :). And continue keeping an eye on Career Zone (careerzone.brocku.ca) for summer employment opportunities.
Ashley Paolozzi, Lead Career Assistant
4th Year History of Art (Honours)
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Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Great Networking Opportunities with 'Ten Thousand Coffees'
As stated on the 'About Us' section of their website:
"We’re a team of young people who believe that the next generation has incredible potential just waiting to be unlocked. The problem? There’s a gap between the leaders of today and the social generation. We built Ten Thousand Coffees to be the solution: to bridge that gap and help people connect in a way that’s never been done before. Business leaders go for coffee all the time, but they’re restricted to their personal networks of friends and family. Ten Thousand Coffees is democratizing the coffee experience by opening it up to youth all over Canada.
Ten Thousand Coffees is the first youth movement of its kind in the world, created by young people for young people. It’s more than just a chat over coffee. It’s a new way for young people to unlock opportunities and share their ideas and for industry leaders to share their experience. We’re connecting students, recent grads, and young professionals with leaders and industry professionals to share insights and spark ideas that will plant the seeds of future opportunities over a cup of coffee."
Stay up to date and find out more information through Ten Thousand Coffees' various social media pages:
Good luck networking! I hope you find this website as interesting as I have!
Ashley Paolozzi, Lead Career Assistant
4th Year History of Art (Honours)
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Thursday, March 20, 2014
Etiquette at Networking Events
It cannot be stressed enough how important
networking is to job search and career progression nowadays. Networking is a
key factor in landing meaningful employment after you graduate and can be
crucial to upward mobility in the workforce or within a company. In addition,
networking is one of the main ways to tap into the hidden job market where
approximately 80% of the jobs actually are!
In order to build and maintain your network you
should keep in contact with those you meet and attend networking events
whenever possible, whether they are offered through your department at school,
through Career Services, by your current employer, or by professional
associations in your field.
There are certain things to keep in mind while at
networking events so I will offer you my 2 cents on some important tips …
Communication Etiquette:
- Use good body language: Maintain good posture, eye contact, and use a strong handshake
- Let your voice convey energy, enthusiasm and interest as you speak
- Make sure to read the person’s business card before putting it away
- Engage in a few minutes of non-business related small-talk
- Stand when being approached
- Listen attentively
Dress Etiquette:
- Always dress appropriately and professionally. Here are a few tips:
Women
|
Men
|
Wear comfortable shoes and hosiery to complement
your outfit
|
Always wear an undershirt
|
Keep hair and nails clean and neat
|
Keep hair and nails clean and neat
|
Wear natural looking makeup and keep it to a
minimum
|
Don’t wear ankle socks or light coloured socks
with a dark coloured suit (or vice versa)
|
Don’t overpower your appearance with heavy
scents (also, keep in mind that many places are becoming ‘scent-free’ and do
not permit the use of perfumes)
|
Don’t overpower your appearance with heavy
scents (also, keep in mind that many places are becoming ‘scent-free’ and do
not permit the use of colognes)
|
Wear appropriate jewellery
|
Wear appropriate jewellery
|
Don’t wear tank tops with thin straps
|
Show a clean cuff: don’t wear a short sleeved
shirt with your suit
|
Dining Etiquette:
Certain behaviour is deemed appropriate in
different cultural, social and/or professional situations. Your ability to
behave appropriately in various situations will demonstrate a sense of competence,
and will likely create credibility. Here are some basic dining etiquette tips
to follow if your networking event involves a sit down meal:
- Eat to your left, drink to your right
- Start with utensils furthest away from you and work your way in
- Pass food from left to right
- Taste food before you season it
- Try a little of everything on your plate
- Your napkin rests on your lap until the end of the meal
- Wait until you are all served before beginning to eat
- Your idle hand should sit on your lap
- Chew with your mouth closed
- Thank your host(s)
Here is an example of formal dining table set-up that you might find at a networking event in which dinner is served (refer to above tips for how to approach this set-up):
Here are some additional tips for networking events in general...
The Elevator Pitch:
Prepare an ‘elevator pitch’ prior to the
networking event so that you always have something to start a conversation
with. This is a short (about 30 seconds) speech about who you are, what you do,
and what your future plans are. This is a great way to break the ice with other
professionals at the event and can usually turns into a more in-depth
conversation. You may find you have something in common with the person you are
speaking with and right there you have most likely added someone to your
network! Here is a great article by Forbes magazine that summarizes how to
prepare an effective elevator pitch.
After the event:
Maintain the network that you have worked hard to
build by keeping a database or file so you can keep track of everyone you meet.
Write a few notes on the back of the person’s business card so that you will
remember what you talked about. Keep in contact with your network so they don’t
forget about you. You might offer to take them out to coffee to catch up every
6 months or so. Even if you just send them a quick/short email once in a while
(or a link to an article you think they would be interested in – again, keep it
professional!)…you never know what opportunities might come across their desk
that they think you would be interested in.
Here is a great article by QuickandDirtyTips.com
about networking etiquette that you might find helpful as well!
Happy networking :)
Jami Coughler, Senior Career Assistant
4th Year Public Health [Honours] '14
BA: Sociology, Criminology Concentration [Honours] '11
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Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Personal Branding: Creating your personal brand
Personal branding is a new concept that involves identifying what you can bring to an employer that is specific and individual to you. A personal brand is a short statement of your individual mix of skills, qualities, interests and/or emotions that are constant no matter where you go. It is a broadcast message about your character and performance. A personal brand can be very useful if applied consistently through in person, and online communications (think e mail signature, linkedin, work related twitter, networking cards). The use of a personal brand helps you attract people that are like minded which will benefit you when you enter their work environment. It gives you top of mind status, credibility, and is associated with perceived value. More importantly, it can help set you apart from other job seekers! Let people know who you are and what you can do for them without a 30 second elevator speech. Having a living personal brand is all about you. Its not about how long you have been building your skills and experiences but how well you have been doing them.
Here are some questions to help you build your brand:
Keep your brand statement short and sweet to capture the essence of who you are and what you have to offer.
Search online for some different examples, but keep in mind that everyone does it a little differently.
If you have any questions you are more than welcome to come in to the Career Resource Centre to talk to any of our Career Assistants!
- Becky W.
3rd year Tourism and Environment
Here are some questions to help you build your brand:
- How do I make people feel?
- How do people benefit by working with me?
- What are the words I would use to describe my work?
- What do I do ( or have) that makes me stand out from other people?
Keep your brand statement short and sweet to capture the essence of who you are and what you have to offer.
Search online for some different examples, but keep in mind that everyone does it a little differently.
If you have any questions you are more than welcome to come in to the Career Resource Centre to talk to any of our Career Assistants!
- Becky W.
3rd year Tourism and Environment
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Portfolio Development
What is a career portfolio?
- A career portfolio is a collection of documents used to help individuals market their skills and experiences to potential employers. It is used to give proof to the strengths and abilities that the employer is looking for in potential candidates, and it is typically used during a job interview.
- A portfolio is both a product and a process because it helps employers assess your suitability for a particular job, and it can continue being developed to highlight your most recent achievements.
When is a Portfolio used? And what is it used for?
- During a job interview to highlight professional skills
- When applying to graduate schools or professional programs
- To track professional development and career growth
- During performance evaluations to provide evidence of your work
Why develop a career portfolio?
- Assists you in presenting your skills which gives you an advantage over other job seekers
- It increases your credibility – by providing documentation that backs up your resume
- Draws parallels from what you have done to what will be desired on the job
Who should have one?
Portfolio Myth: Only very experienced, senior
job-seekers should have a career portfolio.
Portfolio Fact: In the
interview, your job is to support the information that is on your resume (the
reason you got an interview in the first place!) Therefore every job seeker has the ability to develop and use their career
portfolio in an interview.
A well-prepared Portfolio should:
- Showcase your achievements
- Document the scope and quality of your experience
- Show your skills and abilities
What do I include in my Portfolio?
There
are many sections that you can choose to include in your portfolio. Remember
that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to develop your portfolio – a portfolio
is meant to showcase your achievements,
so highlight skills and experiences that you think are most applicable to the
job you are applying for.
Sections to Consider for your
Portfolio:
- Education
- Experience
- Community Involvement
- Professional Development
- Characteristics/Attributes/Skills
- Extra-Curricular Activities
What to Include: Education Section
Post-Secondary
education teaches you the theories, methods, and practical skills required for
a particular field or industry. By including academic documents, you can
demonstrate to potential employers that you have participated in developmental
exercises and have received recognition for it.[1] You
may choose to include the following in your education section:
- Academic certificates, diplomas, degrees, and awards
- Transcripts
- Lab reports or term papers
- Syllabi or course descriptions
- Licenses
- On the job training or company training courses
- Workshops or seminars
For Grad Students
The
education section is important for students who wish to either apply to
graduate school or who want to get into research positions. By targeting your
portfolio to specific schools or programs (by including applicable assignments,
transcripts, letters of recommendation from professors or TAs, etc.), you will
demonstrate to the hiring committee that you have the necessary experience - along
with documents to give evidence to your success. (Should we include anything
else here? I thought it would be an important section)
What to
Include: Experience
What
kind of experiential documents should you be including in your portfolio? According
to The Career Portfolio Workbook, employers rank personal characteristics as
one of the most important features when hiring new applicants. This means that
along with your transcripts and other academic documents, you should consider
including letters of recommendation or commendations you have received outside
of school. Your portfolio allows you to give evidence of your initiative so it
may be a good idea to include all or part of the following sections:
Personal Characteristics. An example of this document
would be something that indicates a desired trait, such as a perfect attendance
record or award.
Experiences. This section
can highlight some of the experiences that may be relevant to the position that
you are applying to. An example of this may be a marketing plan that
demonstrates your extensive experience for a marketing position.
Accomplishments. You can include documents that highlight your
ability to do outstanding work in this section. Examples include awards that
you may have received along with a brief summary of the award, or a picture of
you receiving the award.
Knowledge. It may be a
good idea to include a document that demonstrates useful knowledge that would
help you excel in the job that you’re being interviewed for. Include documents
that would help you stand out from the competition.
Skills. This section
includes documents that highlight what you can do rather than what you know.
Examples include language certificates, computer skills, etc.
Your Skills
Knowing
and understanding your skills is an important part of deciding the organization
and content of your career portfolio. Completing a skills assessment can be a useful
way to focus and select your main skills to include in your portfolio. You can
begin a self-assessment on the Career Services website and clicking on Students and Alumni, Careers for
Me, and Self Assessments.
In
today’s competitive job market employers are interested in seeing proof of your
skills. Documents that can be used include performance evaluations that
highlight your skills and accomplishments, self-assessments or interest
summaries, or your Experience Plus transcript.
Experience
Plus
Experience
Plus is a variety of skill development programs that provides students with an
opportunity to showcase all extra-curricular achievements on an official Brock
University transcript. You can use your own Experience Plus Transcript to
highlight on-campus jobs, volunteer positions, internships, workshops, awards,
certificates, professional development opportunities, and skills. Login to your
Brock portal to order your own Experience Plus Transcript. , or stop by Career
Services to ask any questions.
Three
Categories of Skills
1. Self-Management Skills
- These can be called “personal qualities”
- These can be subjective (based on your personal feelings or opinions)
- Examples: Hardworking, loyal, caring, patient, tactful
2. Transferable Skills
- The majority of our skills are transferable skills
- These are skills that are developed in one setting (or job) that are transferable to another setting (or job)
- Are best described by using action verbs
- Examples: Planning, researching, coordinating, communicating
3. Content Skills
- Content skills refer to a specific subject matter that may require specific technical or procedural knowledge
Tips for Developing Your Portfolio
- Have a clear focus
- Ensure that it is attractive and that the visual presentation reflects your professional standards
- Design each section so it is easy to scan (using sufficient white space, consistent font, style and spacing)
- Sequence the contents (in order of importance to your audience)
- Ensure it is grammatically correct and error free
- Use clear sheet protectors to protect the quality of your documents
- Remove materials as they lose their relevance and replace with more current materials
- Remember to keep a backup copy (in case anything is misplaced)
Choosing a
Format
- It is important to choose a format that best reflects your skills and experiences. The three main formats to choose from are:
1. Chronological
2. Functional
3. Thematic
A
portfolio that utilizes the chronological
format will display information in reverse chronological order. This type of
portfolio demonstrates ongoing growth and development of skills and
accomplishments over time. Sections in this kind of format usually include Work
Experience, Education, Awards and Certificates, Special Skills, and Accomplishments.
A
functional portfolio organizes
information into categories or skill sets. This allows you to highlight
accomplishments in specific areas. This format is a good choice for those who
have extensive experience in a particular area. Sections in a functional
portfolio typically include Research, Organization and Planning, Communication,
Problem Solving, Leadership and Teamwork.
If
your intent is to display information based on abstract themes or showing how a
project has developed from start to finish, then a thematic format may be best. When creating a thematic portfolio, it
may be a good idea to subdivide larger topics into subsections in order to
reflect the progression of the project. Sections in a thematic portfolio
include Workshop Design, Program Planning, Mentorship, Entrepreneurship, and
Event Planning.
Bring your Portfolio into the Career Services Resource Centre for a review any time Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm! You can also complete our Portfolio Development workshop online to help further enhance your skills!
Career portfolios have long been popular in
the education and advertising fields, but they are also now becoming more and
more significant to job searchers who aim to be marketable in the job market.
In comparison to a resume where your relevant work experience is briefly
summarized, your career portfolio contains all the necessary documentation in
relation to your qualifications, experience, and achievements. In short, a
career portfolio can be compared to a unique business card that lets potential
employers how your work experience, skills, and education can benefit their
companies or organization.
If you don’t have a career portfolio yet,
here are some tips to help you create an effective one:
Letter
of Introduction
The letter of introduction is a very
important element of your portfolio
because this is where potential employers can get an idea or first
impression of you as well as what you can do for them. What you should do on
this part is to give a brief outline of your relevant skills, reasons you are
applying for the job, your career plans or goals, and good reasons they should
hire you. Keep the tone personal yet informative. Be sure also to emphasize
your best achievements.
Biographical
Information
Your resume should be in the first section
of your portfolio. By including your resume, employers will have an easier
access to the basic information about you, like your employment dates and
contact information. Don’t forget to include at least six references as well,
which may include your former employers, teachers, and even coaches.
Work
Samples
The main section of your portfolio will be
the second part where you should have a one-page letter that summarizes all the
huge projects you’ve handled and whatever accomplishments you’ve had in your
career. It is essential that you show how your abilities and skills will be
relevant to the job you are applying for.
Latest
Accomplishments
In the final section of your career
portfolio, make sure that it reflects how you and your work are valued by other
people. You should include in the last section of your portfolio all the
letters of praise you received from the various organizations you have
volunteered or worked for. Do not hesitate to include also your awards or
honors you have received. If possible, you would also want a former professor
of yours to write a letter about you. Take note, however, that whoever this
person is, he or she should not belong to your references who may be contacted
by employers.
Presentation
After you have prepared your supporting
documents, you can now think about how you should present them. There should be
a table of contents, captions, and tabs that will make it easier for
interviewers to find specific information or materials in your portfolio.
Finally, you would want to include an essay that will outline the main purpose
or objective of your portfolio. Also mention how the materials to be found
inside actually relate to your career goals and career pathways.
Jami Coughler, Senior Career Assistant
4th Year Public Health [Honours] '14
BA: Sociology, Criminology Concentration [Honours] '11
[1] The Career Portfolio Workbook, Frank
Satterthwaite and Gary D’Orsi (2003)
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