Resource Review: Degree Exploration Guides

Have you ever been confused about what you're going to do with your degree or why you are studying  so hard right now? Some students feel overwhelmed in their second or third year about what they will end up doing at the end of their degree. People worry about finding employment  and sometimes feel like they need to switch programs or degrees in order to meet the demands of the job market. Something I always ask students when they approach the Resource Centre with these issues is to think about why they chose this route, why they enjoy what they study, and lastly why they would want to change what they enjoy just because it may be a bit harder to find a job?

In order to calm them down and reassure them that there are many opportunities for every area of study, we have the Degree Exploration Guides (DEGs). These lovely cards are a run down of what "Career Options" you have (not all are listed but their is just enough variety for the student to see that there are many options). They also include "Degree Specific Skills" that can be talked about in the students resume and cover letter. These skills help explain why a person from a certain degree could fit into different roles and professions other then the obvious ones.

The DEGs also include web links to Professional Associations, Job Search Resources, Internships and Volunteering. After these have been explored by the student they become even more reassured about the opportunities that are really out there. Sometimes it is just a matter of opening your eyes and thinking more about what skills you have learned from studying your degree (such as time management, organization, communication, etc.)  and not necessarily every bit of content you were taught. Below is an example of of Degree Exploration Guide with the Child and Youth Studies degree.

If you are wondering what you are going to do with your degree or would like resources to help you find opportunities visit our website to look at all the different DEGs we have or come into the Resource Centre to talk to a Career Assistant about the DEGs! :)

Niagara Artists Centre: STRUTT Call for Submissions!

In Niagara we are lucky to have a great community that loves art and culture! The Niagara Artists Centre is a part of that community and they are looking to help artists show their wearable art this year! If you are studying Visual Arts or you are a graduate from Visual Arts you can appreciate this opportunity that NAC is offering.

Currently, I am going into my third year of Visual Arts, concentrating in Intermedia and Design. I know I want to take my career in a direction that uses the applications of other media to impact lives. Opportunities like this one help me discover how I can do that. It also builds up great experience on your resume and in your portfolio! Another great thing about not only showing your work but also just attending the event! Attending the event is a great way to network with other artists and professionals and gain connections within this community. You can learn a lot from talking with someone who has had years of experience within this field.

If you are living in Niagara and has a passionate interest in wearable art and transforming the human body then check out this website for more information about submissions: http://www.nac.org/calls-for-submissions/strutt-wearable-art-runway-show/

Below are some photos from STRUTT 2013

Online Resource Review: Ten Thousand Coffees!

In a time when networking is one of the most important aspects of job seeking, meeting up with a professional for coffee would be a fantastic learning experience. Ten Thousand Coffees is an online mentoring website for students and recent grads to use to connect with professionals in a wide range of fields. Ten Thousand Coffees lets you create a profile and then look up different professionals by industry. For example: Finance, Arts, Marketing & Ad, Science, etc. After finding someone with a desired career of yours you can look at their profile to read a little bit about them and then decide if you want to meet with them for coffee, email them, or call them.

     Having a conversation with someone who has years of experience can help you pursue your own passions and dreams. Along with that you will instantly be networking with people who are developed in their careers.    
     The professionals on Ten Thousand Coffees are able to help give you advice on your career, job searching, what qualifications people are looking for and how you can go about finding opportunity. They are giving their time to act as a mentor to the next generation.
     If you're interested in getting more information on the job market, a specific industry, or just some over all career advise then I recommend you try out this resource! It can be a lot of fun browsing through the profiles and thinking about what you would ask them if you had the chance. Now you do have the chance so don't be shy :). We would love to know what you think of it, comment below with your thoughts!

Resource Review: The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success!

Here at Brock University we try to help students with as much as we possibly can. Something that has become a very popular question from our students is how to use LinkedIn effectively for job search and networking. Lately we have received some new resources to add to our library that can help answer that question.

The resource I am going to be focusing on is "The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success" written by Wayne Breitbarth. This is a great how-to book on one of the fastest growing social media platforms out there today. The reason why it is so popular? It helps lead people to networks, personal branding and of course careers.The world has become increasingly globalized in the last decade that we depend on sites such as LinkedIn and networks to connect us with professionals all around the world.

Breitbarth explains how LinkedIn can be used as a tool, just like a hammer or drill. It has a reason and can be used to do a job correctly. To obtain success from LinkedIn he lays out a formula to follow:

Your Unique Experience + Your Unique Relationships + the Tool (LinkedIn) = The Power

Breitbarth also says that along with these 3 components is how you display yourself online. Everything from your photograph to your headline are important things to keep in mind. Professionalism is key to having a successful LinkedIn account. 

Later, he explained how joining groups and making connections with professionals is important for those especially looking for jobs and connections. Joining groups will increase the likelihood of you becoming discovered over LinkedIn. LinkedIn may be a new and developing tool to use but if you combine what you know with who you know you will see how it can be rewarding. 

The best part of this resource in my opinion is the Profile Perfection Checklist it gives us at the end. It reminds you about all the tips and tricks throughout the book and how to use them. This is a great resource for university and college students looking into their future. Come in to visit us in the library to check it out for yourself!  

Alysha-Lynn Kooter, Graphics and Promotions/Career Assistant, Intermediate/Senior Concurrent Education, Visual Arts

How to use your Resource Centre

Throughout the summer, university and college students have time to involve themselves with experiences and research about their specific degrees and career goals. Many universities and colleges have a department to assist students with gaining this information. I strongly suggest any student to visit their Career Services department often to learn more about opportunities, events, and experiences you can be a part of. They hold lots of value for your future. At Career Services and the Career Resource Centre at Brock University we offer many services for students to use such as resume/cover letter reviews, portfolio reviews, mock interviews, and many print resources and online resources they can access. Here are a few reasons why you should visit your Career Services department:

• They are made up of people who know what you are going through and can help you start your career path and reach your goals
• Most services are free of charge (like resume reviews, cover letter reviews, and portfolio reviews)
• They have many resources, books, and magazines to read and take home so you can gain knowledge in your desired field
• They know where to find the best online resources for job searching and networking
• They can give you tips for personal branding and social networking, so you can use them as a job-seeker
• Lastly, they are friendly and want to see their students succeed after graduation!

For the next few weeks I will be discussing different career resources that we offer to students such as magazines, books, articles, and a variety of guides. Stay tuned for this information!