Creating the career of your dreams

By Emily Milic
You might know what career you want to pursue. You might also know the type of post-secondary education you need to get there. Now, it’s time to consider which program offers the most well-rounded curriculum and gives you real-world experience before graduation.

Traditionally, hands-on experience in college meant a co-op placement or internship. Now, it can mean a number of different things, including industry experience while on your college campus. This can make it easier for students to manage their course load, extra-curricular activities and part-time jobs while still building their resumes for the future.

At Seneca, a number of programs provide this opportunity, including:

•    Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Child Development: Students learn on the job in lab schools at the Newnham and King campuses. The lab schools are model child care centres that provide observation and programming opportunities for students.

•    Esthetics: Seneca's Esthetic Clinic and Cosmetics Store gives students the chance to provide services such as manicures, pedicures, facials, hair removal and body treatments to the public in a professional clinic.

•    Fashion Business: The Boutique@Seneca allows students to practice skills for the retail industry including buying, inventory, balancing books, serving customers and preparing advertising. The Boutique@Seneca is a fully functioning, student-run store which offers the latest fashions to students, staff and the community.

•    Opticianry: The Seneca Vision Clinic is a retail learning lab that provides the convenience of a campus clinic for Seneca’s students, employees and the general public as well as the opportunity for students to fulfil field placement requirements of the Opticianry Program.
Students practice their skills on state-of-the-art equipment and benefit from the expertise of the supervising optician/manager.

•    Tourism and Travel: A new partnership between Merit Travel Group Inc. and Seneca has brought a full-service travel agency/tourism lab at the Seneca Markham Campus. From this on-campus location, the Merit Travel Agency will act as a valuable learning resource for students who will participate in the daily operations of a full-service travel company, research and book air, hotel, and tour packages.

•    Veterinary Technician: Students perform the functions of Veterinary Technicians during medical and surgical procedures in on-campus medical facilities, including birthing, assisting with spaying/neutering and dentistry. 

“With on-campus professional businesses and clinics, students have the opportunity to immediately apply what they have learned or ask questions about their work experience when it’s fresh in their minds,” said Tracy Rogers, Seneca Career Services Coordinator. “Faculty are also on hand to help provide feedback and help students to stay on track.”

The life of a student can be very hectic, but it can also provide opportunities to gain the knowledge, skills and experience to hit the ground running after graduation. Contact your local college to find out which program options are right for you. For more information on Seneca’s programs, visit www.senecac.on.ca.