Right now I’m working on my post-grad job hunt which can be really stressful and overwhelming. I’ve gotten a lot of good advice from people I’ve worked with and met along the way. Something I’m often told is to think about where I want to be or who I want to be like and then see if where I could possibly work fits that. (more…)
Interviews can be incredibly nerve-wracking. While most situations where you’re under pressure are stressful, it is possible to not be overwhelmed by it. In my experience, it’s a good idea to prep as much as you can. That doesn’t mean you should memorize your answers or try to know everything they’re going to ask, but it’s a good idea to know what you want to communicate to them. What’s something important about you that a hiring manager should know? In what ways can you uniquely contribute to their team? (more…)
Informational interviews are a great way to talk to people in different careers. As a student, it’s good to take the time to explore different sectors just by reaching out and meeting people who work in them. You won’t get a yes from everyone, and that’s ok. Informational interviews are usually a relaxed chat where you can ask someone questions about what they do and what their work is like. It’s easy-going and you’re not being interviewed. You’re just asking about the job and industry, trying to figure out if it’s something you would like to do. (more…)
Job hunting can be a really long and difficult process, and then when you finally get an interview, the process can feel daunting. I’ve had many, many interviews during my undergrad. Some of them went great, and I got the job. Others not so much. That’s ok–it’s all part of the process. You can’t go from success to success, and there are great learning opportunities in job interview missteps. (more…)
As I’m approaching the end of my degree, the question of what lies next pops into my head more and more often. It was much easier to push out of my mind when I was younger since having a career was more of an abstract concept than a possible reality. My plans for life were sequential: finish high school then CEGEP then university. But the end is creeping closer, bringing many more anxieties to light, variables I did not have to think about in the past. My situation is a ubiquitous one, looming over many students. (more…)
At some point in your life, whether for your job or a volunteer activity, you might find yourself responsible of a group that is working under you. This can be intimidating if you do not have management experience as you are in charge of the group’s success and any failure that cannot be traced to a specific person will be put on you. In addition, if you have ever worked on a group project, which most of us have, then you know exactly how difficult and infuriating it can be to get everyone to cooperate and do their tasks on time. However, management can also be empowering if done correctly. I’ve learned quite a few things from my management positions which I hope you can learn from as well. (more…)
GIS is a system used to manipulate and visualize geographic data. There are many applications ranging from environmental protection to emergency response. It is an incredibly helpful tool that allows users to “picture” data and further analyze it.
This will be my last blog post for CaPS (at least for now :), so I thought I would leave with a short list of the best things I did while completing my master’s and doctoral degrees at McGill.
I recently spoke with Juanita Baldwin, SHRM-CP, PHR, from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the regulatory agency charged with protecting the environment for the beautiful State of Texas. TCEQ’s mission at the state level is similar to the work performed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level. She shared with me helpful tips and strategies for job candidates who are searching for internships or full-time employment, as well as advice on what the TCEQ looks for in potential candidates.
Higher education necessitates academic mentorship. At the graduate level, it is often compulsory. But what about mentorship for those on non-academic career paths? As academic mentorship is a cornerstone of academic success, I propose that non-academic mentors are equally as important for career success outside of the academy. Given that less than 20% of PhD holders in Canada will find tenure-track positions (Conference Board of Canada, 2015), I think it’s time to mentor up. (more…)