“Co-op, Career andEmployment Services did a fantastic
jobof publicizing the event,” saysUWindsor computer science
alumnusKevinYavnoBSc ’13, a software development engineer
with theDetroit office of Amazon involved in recruiting.
“In addition topromoting the event on campus, the office
sent emails toout-of-town grads saying that, if they couldn’t
attend the event inperson, they could email their resumé to
Career Services and the officewouldprovide a printed copy
toAmazon.”
That’s part of a strategy tobe helpful to graduateswho’ve
moved away. The officewill be expanding its online offerings
anddevelopingmorematerial that UWindsor students and
alumni can access, nomatterwhere they currently reside.
Sometimes, older alumni findout howuseful their alma
mater’s career services office canbewhen theyunexpectedly
find themselves out of work. SaysBusch, “Their jobmayhave
beendownsized, for example.We’re not going to turn away
peoplewho are older andhave lost jobs, but sometimes they
maybe better servedbyother agencies towhichwe canhelp
connect them.”
Losing a job is one reasonwhy an alumnus/amight come
calling. Others simplywant augment their education. “Youmay
get an entry level job fairly easily,” saysBusch. “but youmay
need to compete to reach a higher level byupgrading your skills
and education. Theremaybe a need for retraining.”
In that case, theCo-op, Career andEmployment Services
office cando an assessment of an alum’s strengths, provide
access to jobboards and resumé critiques. “These are things
thatmay actuallybe of more value toolder grads thannew
ones,” saysBusch.
For example, writing a resumémay sound simple enough,
he says, “but it’s far different than just a few years ago.”Today,
online job listingsmayuse algorithms that scour a resumé for
thewords and terms that fit the descriptionof the job.
Buschnotes that, “The applicantswhounderstand this
incorporate those keywords andphrases. They are the ones
whose resumés float up in the pile.”
Sometimes, alumni justwant a career change. The office’s
advisors canhelp themdeterminewhat theydo—anddon’t—
like about their current job, andwhat theymight need todo to
find the one of their dreams. Or, at least, onemore to their liking
and suited to their capabilities.
“Maybe your tool boxdoesn’t have the right things in it,”
saysBusch. “We can suggest how you canupgrade them.
Perhaps goback to school. Take a class orworkshop. Knowledge
gaining iswhat a university is all about.”
A growingdemand fromboth alumni and employers has
meant theUniversityof Windsor is adding to its continuing
educationprogramofferings through theCentre for Executive
andProfessional Education (CEPE).
As anexample, theMaster of SocialWork forWorking
Professionals allows agraduate toearn theirMSWonweekends.
Itwas developedbasedon feedback fromemployers, saysBusch.
“Social work agencies toldus theywantedhigh-level staff
with critical thinking skills,” saysBusch. “The newprogram
completelyfitswith that need. It’s not research-basedbut builds
on the skills indemand.”
CEPEDirector JennieAtkins says that, “we’re looking to
promotewhat the university alreadyhas inplace and to fully
expand the continuing educationoptions for our graduates,
members of the community andbeyond. This is an exciting time
forUWindsor so stay tuned!”
Anotherway that alumni can equip themselves to compete
more effectively in the jobmarket is to consider one of the
university’sAdditional Qualifications (AQ) courses that CEPE
co-ordinates.
More than90AQ courses are offered for Facultyof
Education grads alone, sayAtkins, in addition toTESOL
(TeachingEnglish as a SecondLanguage) and the recent launch
of the International Educator Certificate for IBCertification
program.
Certification anddiploma programs that take two semesters
toone year to complete canbe found in such areas as:
• ArtsManagement
• BusinessAdministration
• Work andEmployment Issues
• Law andPolitics
• NorthAmericanStudies
• SecondLanguageEducation
• Women’s Studies
• Applied InformationTechnology.
Alumni can also signup for one of CEPE’sworkshops to
augment or add skills inSAP forManagement andEngineering,
ResearchMethods&Statistics for SocialWorkProfessionals,
andTechnicalWriting.
SaysAtkins: “We are positioningCEPE toworkwith subject
matter expertswithinour faculties to launch courses and
programs that are amixof structured certification courses
andprofessional developmentmodules relevant tomarket
demands for adult learners. This kindof micro-credentialing
andprogrammingneeds tobe easy to access andoffer flexible
scheduling.”
She adds that CEPE continues to see an increase in inquiries
about their offerings: “People aremoremarketable in the field
if they candiversifyor re-tool their knowledgewith short-term
courses on innovative topics that complement their prior studies
orwork experience. The universityhas an important role toplay
in advancing the learning and career goals of Canadians and
global citizens alike.”
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