Get Your D.E.G On!

Get excited everyone, because I know I am! Today we're going to take a trip to the great world of D.E.G. What exactly is a D.E.G, you ask? Well I'm here to tell you! A Degree Exploration Guide is one of our most popular resources here in the Centre, and tends to be incredibly useful for the students, alumni, and community members that we work with. There is a guide for each program that Brock has to offer, and they're even colour-coded according to faculty! These resources are used to allow individuals to further explore their career options based on their program. D.E.G's are generally broken down into seven sections: 

Career Options

here you can find various possible career paths based on the skills you've acquired from your program. If you're having trouble understanding which career would be best suited for you (like most of us,) then this section will surely be a step in the right direction!

Degree Specific Skills

This handy section allows you to understand which skills will be most desired by employers in your field of interest. Familiarize yourself with these to know what to highlight in your resume and cover letter in order to impress that potential employer! 

General Business Directories
Here you can see some of the most popular business directories. Depending on your program, they will vary, however there are quite a few that will be relevant regardless of your program.This includes www.yellowpages.ca and www.informationniaga.com to name a few! 

Internships and Volunteering
Interested in taking part in a volunteer or internship opportunity that is relevant to your program? Look no further! Here you are provided with links to various opportunities that will allow you to gain real-world experience doing what you love! 

Further Education and Entrance Exams

For many of us, formal education doesn't stop after the undergraduate stage. For those who are interested in pursuing post-graduate degrees, this section will be helpful for you. It will provide you with entrance exam practice test resources and schools that offer your program. 

Professional Associations and Career Resources

Interested in being part of a professional association? Many of these are free to join and can be found easily online! This D.E.G section provides you with various professional associations in your field! 

Job Search Resources 
Under this section of the D.E.G you'll find links to various job searching sites, many of which will be specific to your field. This includes general job searching sites as well. Take a look!

Although they differ depending on the program, these are the general sections included on our D.E.G's. Whether you are interested in learning more about further education, job search information or are in need of exploring your career options, this handy resource will be useful for you! 
Lydia Collins
Senior Career Assistant 

Assess Yourself

We've all done it. In elementary school. In high school. Some of us have even done it at work. Those dreadful questionnaires that ask you to truthfully answer questions in order to know your personality type, and help you figure out which career path you'll go down. I spent years of my childhood convinced I'd be a cook, only to continuously have my results come back as bartender. I get it, they can be painful. Disappointing. Annoying. Especially when you don't get the answers you want. But I've got news for you...it gets better. Self-assessments can actually be incredibly beneficial when it comes to helping you better understand the career path best suited for you. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so that your self-assessment process isn't all bad. 


Let's Be Real Here
Seriously, be honest with yourself. If the assessment asks if you like something and you don't like it, don't say that you do. The key to getting the most out of an assessment is by being truthful and taking the time to think realistically about what you would actually like or tolerate in a work setting. Do you like working outdoors? Like working under tight deadlines? Great! As long as you answer truthfully, your results will make more sense. 

It's Not the Assessment, It's You 
I hate to break it to you, but you've changed. Believe it or not, the twelve year old version of yourself who answered in hopes that the results would come back "Unicorn Trainer" no longer exists. Throughout our personal and professional experiences, we grow (obviously,) and our interests, wants and needs change. Don't go into self assessments thinking the results will be the same now, as an adult, as they were when you were a child or teenager. 

Indecisive Isn't a Good Look
Please, I beg you, when the assessment asks if you enjoy working outdoors in all weather conditions, do not answer with "maybe" or "don't care," then be filled with rage when your results come back as "Greenhouse worker." Refrain from not caring when it comes to answering the questions. This will make your answers much more accurate and fitting to your interests. 

You Don't Need to Find Your Perfect Match
Focus less on the "perfect" job, and more on the skills. Many skills are transferable and could be used in various work settings. Think about your personal goals and passions, and the skills that you have that will be useful in your field of interest, now align that with the skills that are highlighted in the description of the jobs listed in your results. See any similarities? Yeah, you probably do!

Head to the Online Resource Centre on Careerzone and participate in a self-assessment. We offer Career Cruising, TypeFocus and Talentoday; each assessment is unique in its own way and will be beneficial to your career path search. For more information on self-assessments or questions regarding the process, drop in to the Resource Centre! 

Ladies and gents, it's time to assess yourself! 

Brockcareerserv 

Lydia Collins
Senior Career Assistant 

Have No Fear, We're Not Going Anywhere!

Hey Badgers, summertime is finally here (although the weather seems to suggest otherwise,) and that means it's time to relax...sort of. Whether you are on vacation, taking courses, or simply refusing to leave your bed until September, one thing to keep in mind is that our services can still be used! The Resource Centre will be open throughout the duration of the summer months from Monday to Friday from 9:00- 4:00. Here is some information about our services for the summer:

Who Am I? 
Different from the fall and winter terms, there will only be one Career Assistant in the Centre throughout the summer, and that's me! I'm a cat-loving Senior Career Assistant, as well as an English Language and Literature major who has just finished my third year. I am involved in Brock's English Students' Association, Young, Black and Educated (Y.B.E), Brock's East African Student Association (BEASA), and also work with the Brock Press. I hope my passion for understanding career related information, as well as my involvement on campus will allow me to assist you as best as possible. Stop by the Resource Centre this summer and say hi!

What Do We Do, Again? 
For those of you who may be unclear, have not been in the Centre, or cannot remember what it is that we do here, I'll give you a bit of a refresher. As Career Assistants, we handle almost any career related inquiries. The focus of our services tends to be on resume and cover letter reviews, but we also review documents such as portfolio's, CV's, and letters of intent. We also offer mock interviews, job search help and self-assessments. We have plenty of resources in the Centre to help you find employment, and better understand the career path you want to take!

Why Drop In?
The real question is "why not?" Many of you are recent graduates or are students still looking to obtain summer employment, so why not get some assistance to make your search a little easier? Whether you need a professional document reviewed, help figuring out what you want to do with your degree, interview tips, or simply just someone to discuss career related questions with, then this is the place for you! Fortunately, our services do not require an appointment and are open to students, alumni and community members.

I look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones over the next few months! I'll be keeping you posted on the latest career events, job postings and more! Have a fun, productive, safe summer!

Brockcareerserv

Lydia Collins
Senior Career Assistant