view . spring2017
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opportunity topinpoint areas for
improvement prior to interviewing.”
The centre alsoprovided
an “excellent debrief after the
interview”, saysKadri, where
shewas given tips to improve
her interview skills and resources
andhandouts to refer to for
further practice.
Overall, the grad says that
workingwith theCo-op, Career and
Employment Services area, “allowed
me to get out a lot of nerves that
I hadbeenbuildingup inside. It
helped to slowlybreak down the
anxiety associatedwithbeing
interviewed in an environment that
simulated the real thing.”
Now in fourth year of medical
school, Kadri says she andher
classmates plan touse the service
toprepare for their residency
interviews.
Theyare theexception.When
it comes to career services,many
peopledon’t realize the impact that
sucha resource canhaveon their
professional lives after they’ve
left school.
“Just because a person
graduates, that doesn’tmeanour
assistance to them ends in terms
of their career development,”
saysChrisBusch, executive
director (acting) of Co-op, Career
andEmployment Services. “They
mayhave a need thatwe canhelp
them address.”
He says that thewide range of
services offered to current students
is also there for alumni. “In fact, we
basicallydeliver the same level of support to an alum a year out
ormore aswe do for a student.”
Just how recent should a recent alumnus/a be to access this
support? “The line is fuzzy,” saysBusch. “We don’t reallyput a
capon it.”
When it comes to securing a job, a 2016Gallup-Purdue
Universitypoll indicated that graduateswhohad visited a
campus career centre at least once as a studentweremore
likely tobe employed full time (67%) than thosewhodidnot
visit (59%).
But, even after snagging that first job, the average person
will work in an average of five toninemore, saysBusch. That
means keeping career search anddevelopment skills sharp.
He notes that the trendnow is for students and recent
alumni tobemore selective aboutwhat theywant todo.
“They aremorewilling to accept a position at a lower pay,
providing the level of satisfactionmakes up for thewage gap.”
A key to that satisfaction is finding a career that dovetails
withwhat drives a person, not onlywhat he or she is good at.
This is just the sort of thing that an alum candiscusswith
aUWindsor career advisor.
KerriZold,managerof theCo-op,CareerandEmploymentServicesofficeandChrisBusch, executivedirector (acting).
