Campus Life & Future Careers

Imposter’s syndrome – that feeling that sooner or later, everyone around us will realize we are a fraud…that we’re not as good at this as everyone thinks…that we are not qualified and don’t belong here…

Many of us have experienced these thoughts and feelings at some point, with research identifying imposter’s syndrome in students, faculty, corporate employees, and management alike. Whether we are just embarking on our career path or stepping-up along the way, experiencing imposter’s syndrome can influence our decision-making process if we’re not careful. (more…)

Resource: Vanderbilt University website

First of all, Happy Halloween! I hope you are enjoying a wonderful (although rainy) day of pumpkin spices, costumes and fun with friends. Today, I would also like to talk about how to make the most out of academic seminars.

I believe that each department has their own schedule of academic seminars and talks. Here I just use Department of Chemistry as an example. Each Tuesday afternoon, one invited speaker (usually professors) gives an 1-hour talk on their research. As everyone can imagine, the research themes cover the whole spectrum of chemistry – inorganic, synthetic, biological, medicinal, etc.

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https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-questions-thatll-help-you-find-your-dream-career

When you’re talking to family and friends about your job prospects and what you hope to achieve someday, you often hear, “go after your dream” or “do whatever makes you happy.” If you’ve already figured out what you want to do, then that’s great! However, if you’re not sure what your dream job entails or what you want to do with your degree, hearing the same sentence over and over again can create the opposite effect and make you feel more self-conscious. Figuring out your dream job can be tricky but here are some useful tips to help you get there:

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Going into university triggers a whole list of questions that students ask themselves – what am I going to do with my life? What are my desires, my goals, my wishes, my dislikes, my neutrals? Many of these long-term, big-picture questions suddenly become very real and tangible, so much so to the extent that the shorter-term questions get put aside. One of the experiences that I completely did not address until I really needed to was my post-first year summer. Although I ended up scoring an amazing internship at the Vancouver Pride Society, I am all too aware that I could have spent it unhappy working in a hot, Italian grocery store. To gauge how other individuals reflected on and approached their summer, I interviewed two friends to showcase their experiences. 

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https://www.udemy.com/

Interviewing can be quite daunting even if you have gone through a number of them. With every interview, you are meeting new people, selling yourself and different skillsets each time. It could all sound intimidating; however, there are ways to make this process feel much less stressful. As long as you spend some time researching the company and understanding what they are looking for in a new hire, you should be able to nail the interview and showcase the necessary skills to get the job. Here are some tips:

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It is without question very intimidating to have to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life, even for those who may have just earned a degree. Last week, I had the chance to sit down with a civil engineer to discuss what this career is like in more depth. If you are still on the fence regarding what you want to study or have just begun your new journey as a university student, and especially if you are leaning towards a career in engineering, you may find his responses to be useful. This is the second part of the interview; the first part can be found here.

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Post-undergrad life can be confusing for everyone, especially until you at least know what you want to do next. As a recent graduate who completed her program in December and got the diploma to prove it just last week, I’ve had time do some research and self-reflection since December. I’ve come to the realization that post-undergrad life consists of different stages until you find your way, especially if you are stepping into the real world a little uncertain as to what you want to do with the rest of your life. If you already have a plan or a job lined up, then that’s amazing! The truth is, though, about two-thirds of college grads struggle to launch their careers, making life after graduation very disorienting, confusing, and even disappointing. I can assure you, looking at not just me but also what my friends are going through, everyone is more or less experiencing the same thing. (more…)

As a new graduate, you can expect to experience a flurry of emotions. These may include, but are not limited to, a sense of relief stemming from the fact that you have finally completed your degree. Depending on the particulars of your McGill experience, this accomplishment may have been more or less of an uphill battle. A sense of confusion may be in the mix… a disoriented feeling given that what you’ve worked so hard for over the past few years is now coming to a close. Ideally, your emotional cocktail is topped off with a sprinkle of excitement for what lies ahead. Perhaps the excitement is overshadowed by a sense of impending doom and panic. That’s okay, too! Whatever it may be for you, ultimately, along with this change, you are one step closer to being fully immersed in *real* life. You will be reminded of this fast approaching responsibility time and time again by peers, parents and other family members. “Congrats, you graduated!” They’ll say. Followed promptly by a, “What’s next?”
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Many career options are often presented broadly, but offer much more specific branches to choose from. For aspiring engineers, the options are plenty: chemical, mechanical, electrical, computer, civil, software; the list goes on. When you first decide to pursue a degree in one of these, it can be a challenge to feel confident that you’ve made the right decision until you are well into your studies. I recently had the chance to sit down with a civil engineer of over 30 years to discuss what this career is like in more depth. You may find this helpful if you are just embarking on your new journey as a university student or contemplating whether this is the right path for you.

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Bilinguals today make up approximately half of the world’s population. I, myself, grew up in a bilingual household and learned a third language when I began going to school. It is not surprising that in our highly globalized world, being fluent in more than one language is extremely beneficial. Asides from supposedly being better for your neurological health and making communication much easier, being proficient in several languages will often be a serious asset as you progress through your education and enter the workforce.

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