The final year in college seems to be more than just a farewell celebration for students. It is time for graduates to figure out their career path and prepare for it.
To many students, engaging in a practicum is an important stepping stone to their career development.
“It gives me a chance to get a glimpse into what the real world looks like,” said Julia Dao, 25, a last-year legal assistant student at SAIT.
However, Dao said she is worried that it may be tough for her to find a job after graduating because she doesn’t have enough professional experience.
“All of my previous (jobs) are in retail, and it surely does not relate to my career field,” she said.
Having studied accounting at Mount Royal University, 23-year-old Jessica Weber broadened her search to include positions in event planning and the communications field.
“I believe I am a fast-learner who can do many of these jobs, but I’m unsure whether my qualifications are acceptable,” she said.
“Applying for jobs in different areas also means that I will be competing with other communications majors.”
An Tran, a career development specialist at SAIT, suggested that students highlight strong “transferrable skills” from project experiences that can put them above and beyond the rest of the job-hunting pack.
“Any participation in capstone projects, volunteer events and school-related activities can show employers what kind of hands-on experiences student have.”
Since working in retail allows students to gain excellent working experience, Tran said students should not overlook any of these skills they have learned from their previous part-time jobs.
“From communication skills to team player, students can demonstrate to employers that they have a lot to offer.”
Tran said one of the common mistakes students make is waiting until the last minute to find a job, or to meet with a career counsellor.
“If you don’t have a job-search strategy at the early stage, it will be challenging to find a job later on,” she said.
“Start your job search as soon as possible and invest as much time as you can. You will then have plenty of knowledge about the job market you wish to be in and what qualifications employers are looking for.”
Moreover, Tran said students should tailor their resume and cover letter to every job for which they apply.
“Because it’s going to vary from company to company, even if it might be the same position,” she said.
“One company might be looking for someone with more effective teamwork and strong communications skills, while another might be expecting someone with good organizational skills.”
Before doing work experience, Tran recommends students set up a professional presence online.
“If there’s a profile picture of someone chucking a beer, that might be a bit of a red flag to employers,” she said.
“It is always better to be safe than to be sorry. Students must be aware of what they put online.”
Start your job search as soon as possible and invest as much time as you can. – An Tran
According to an online article from BBC, a social media profile can potentially damage a candidate’s job prospects. Since it’s a quick and easy way to learn more about the individual, most employers will look at their online presence before arranging an interview.
Tran said she recommends students utilize their school’s career centres to help boost their job search.
“SAIT students can check out various job postings, career workshops and consultations on ‘My Career Hub’. There are also career fairs happening twice a year that allows students to interact with various employers,” she said.
“When it comes time to find a job or internship, they can be job-ready and know what the industry has to offer.”
