Career Services Compass

You have great skills

While students complete their degree at Brock University, they acquire many transferable skills from their coursework and co-curricular activities. Transferable skills are skills that are learned in one setting that can be applied to a variety of other settings. For example, students may develop communication skills by participating in seminar presentations and group projects in class. These skills may be directly applied to workplace tasks such as, presenting information during staff meetings, delivering training sessions, or collaborating on projects with colleagues. Transferable skills are what employers look for in potential employees.

Understanding your skills is important when developing your resumé, interviewing for a job, or researching career possibilities. If you are uncertain of the skills you are obtaining from your degree, stop by the Career Resource Centre and check out our series of Degree Exploration Guides (DEG). You can also access these resources on the Career Services website under the heading “what can I do with my degree?” You have great skills — let Career Services help you explore them further.

Tyler Harris, Senior Career Assistant, fourth-year Psychology major

Career Services Compass

The summer break is a great opportunity to explore graduate school programs and requirements. Most schools ask applicants to submit a statement of intent, CV or resumé, and prepare a list of academic references. Depending on the program, an entrance exam may also be required for admission.

There are many types of admissions tests that are mandatory for entry into graduate programs. The most common tests tend to be for professional stream programs such as the MCAT for medical school and the LSAT for law school, yet there are many others — depending on the discipline. Students often underestimate the amount of time that goes into preparing for admissions exams. Luckily, there are prep courses and resources available to assist you, and the summer is a perfect opportunity to get started. Students have found it benefi cial to take these exams in the summer between their third and fourth year of study because they are not bogged down with homework. Be sure to sign up early to avoid adding extra stress to your fi nal year. Drop by the Career Resource Centre to access practice tests for entrance exams and other resources that can help with your application.

Sarah Mitchinson, Senior Career Assistant, fourth-year Psychology major

Applying to graduate school: Entrance exams

Newsletter | Spring | 2016

Career Services Compass

School is out, career is in

After eight long months of late nights, assignments and fi nal exams, summer time is fi nally here. We might think it means no more planning for the future or focusing on school work; this is our time to sleep in and soak up the sun without a worry in the world, right? Well, not entirely. Although the summer is a time for us to de-stress, enjoy the company of loved ones and embrace the warm weather, it doesn’t mean that planning for the future is something we should neglect. Whether you are a new graduate or are near the beginning of your university experience, it is never too early to start planning for your career.

Take the summer as an opportunity to focus on ways to develop skills that can transfer into a career that is perfect for you. Take time to do self-assessments, engage in volunteer opportunities or look for jobs or internships that are relevant to your fi eld of interest. Career Services has plenty of resources to help you take the next step in your career search. Drop by with your questions. We’ll be here all summer!

Lydia Collins, Career Assistant, third-year English Language and Literature major

After the interview: What now?

Here are a few ways to keep in touch with Career Services:

facebook.com/brockcareerserv

@BrockCareerServ

instagram.com/brockcareerserv/

Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f ” Logo CMYK / .eps

instagram.com/brockcareerserv/

Newsletter | Spring | 2016

So, your interview is done and you’re probably breathing a big sigh of relief. The time that goes into preparing for a job interview can be daunting and stressful. Although the hard part is over, you may experience the added stress of waiting for a call back. What happens when you don’t hear anything? What do you do?

Knowing how and when to appropriately follow up is critical. We often advise students to ask questions at the end of their interview to get a sense of timelines. For instance, asking “What is the next step in the interview process?” and “When will you be making a fi nal decision?” can help clarify if a second interview is expected and how long they may need to select a candidate. If you do not hear anything during the specifi ed time provided, a quick follow up phone call or email to the employer is a good idea. Quickly introduce yourself, let them know you are following up on your interview, and ask if the position has been fi lled. If you fi nd out that you were not the successful candidate, use the opportunity to ask the employer for feedback on your interview and ask them about suggestions for improvement.

Scarlet Stark, Senior Career Assistant, fourth-year Psychology major

B: brockcareerservices.com/

E: career@brocku.ca

W: brocku.ca/career-services