Gaining Experience: The most valuable tool for employment

By Candida Jeronimo
Special to SchoolFinder.com

The steps are crucial, but the rewards plentiful when you work beyond the curriculum of your field of study. Una Walsh, Acting Director of Career Services at the University of British Columbia suggests booking an appointment with your school's career education centre and working out a plan with a counselor.

"Think long-term and think relevant for the kind of work you are looking for. Think what courses you can take and what volunteering you can do while you're still in school to help build (partnerships)," says Walsh.

UBC uses a career planning modular called Future Mapping. It's a series of seminars that take you through learning to identify skill values right through to succeeding once you've found a job. Many universities and colleges offer their own version of the program at their career centres, plus have a number of other resources, like seminars about crafting a résumé.

Having a solid résumé helps you get a foot in the door. It should be tailored to the specific job you want, with all relevant accomplishments highlighted. If you have had the opportunity to volunteer or work aboard, it looks great on paper. Other skills and milestones, even those outside your chosen field, show you're well-rounded, so don't give up doing things that aren't related to your career.

Dylan Le Roy, a career advisor at Simon Fraser University, says remaining flexible is important.

"On average, people change their career up to eight times in a lifetime, " says Le Roy, who believes getting involved and starting early are essential. "Consider joining associations, clubs or volunteering. Universities can connect you with resources that can offer hundreds of opportunities to gain hands-on experience in various fields of work. Also consider networking with individuals in your area of interest or finding work related experience."

Career and job statistics can also be helpful. You can find out the success rate of your specific program by asking your dean or program coordinator.

Simon Fraser University conducted a University Baccalaureate 2001 Five-Year Follow-up Survey. It took 1996 Baccalaureate and Professional Development Program (PDP) students and found that 92 per cent of SFU graduates from 1996 were employed, and earning an average wage of $45,000. Of that group, 40 per cent felt that their area of work was very much related to their field of study, while only 14 per cent felt their work was not at all related.

Start your work search as early as possible and get involved. Talk to your professors, fellow students and anyone who will listen. Let people know what you are interested in and find out which services are available to you through your university or college or through the community.