By Christine Park, Career Assistant (Work Study student)
Congratulations to our graduating class of 2018! Graduating can be a wonderful feeling. Whether you are planning on furthering your studies, or finding a job in your career (or doing both!), figuring out what you want to do after graduation can be an exciting, but sometimes challenging as well. Here are some useful guidelines to help you along:
What is your Ideal Career?
Whether you are majoring in History or Science, the question you should ask yourself is, “What do I want to be?” If you are not sure what career path you want to take, it's okay! The Online Self-Assessment, Myers Briggs Test Inventory and STRONG are a few tests that will assess your characteristics and match them to careers that will suit your personality and ideal lifestyle.
For more information on Career exploration, make an appointment at: Academic Advising and Career Centre at AC213 or call 416-287-7561
To complete the Online Assessment, please visit: http://uoft.me/self-assessment
Once you have decided which field to explore, you can begin deciding which academic programs you might be interested in to further your studies.
1. Research Your Grad School!
Prior to applying to graduate school, it is best to look up the college/university’s website for the required prerequisites. Looking into program prerequisites and CGPA requirements prior to applying can prevent any unpleasant surprises. If you are required to take either of the LSAT, GRE or MCAT test, it is advisable to book early to avoid deadline rush.[1]
Another way of getting up-to-date information about grad schools is to attend UTSC’s Grad School fair which is held every September - stay tuned!
For future information about the annual Grad School Fair, please visit: https://cln.utoronto.ca
Sign up: cln.utoronto.ca > Login with your UTORid > Click on Events & Workshops Calendar > Click on UTSC Academic Advising & Career Centre.
Sign up: cln.utoronto.ca > Login with your UTORid > Click on Events & Workshops Calendar > Click on UTSC Academic Advising & Career Centre.
For a general overview grad applications, please visit:
2. Transcripts!
Your transcript is most important document because it proves you have taken the prerequisite courses and have met the school’s CGPA requirements. You can order your transcripts by logging into your ACORN account and selecting the "Academics" tab, then clicking on “Order Transcripts” button. Your transcripts can be delivered up to two institutions of your choice.
For more information about ordering your transcripts, please visit: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/registrar/transcripts
3. Reference letters
Universities generally require 2 academic references. It is best to pick a course you are doing well
in, where the professor is also able to comment on the effort you made in class. Make an appointment through email with your professor to discuss your future plans. Out of courtesy, please give the professor lots of time to prepare these documents [1]
Universities generally require 2 academic references. It is best to pick a course you are doing well
in, where the professor is also able to comment on the effort you made in class. Make an appointment through email with your professor to discuss your future plans. Out of courtesy, please give the professor lots of time to prepare these documents [1]
For information how to approach your professor about a reference letter, please visit: https://www.macleans.ca/education/uniandcollege/how-do-i-get-a-reference-letter/
4. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV looks very much like a resume, but it is different in that it highlights your academic related achievements such as training, teaching, research and volunteer experience.[2]
For an outline on how to make a CV, please visit: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/curriculum-vitae-cv
5. Personal Statements / Letter of Intent
A personal statement expresses your level of commitment, while forming an answer to a question on how you became interested in the selected program. Be sure to highlight your uniqueness, by showcasing your volunteer and work related experience. The document length should be 250 to two pages.[3]
For more information on personal statements, please visit: https://utsc.utoronto.ca/news-events/events/getting-started-personal-statement
To get help in creating a CV or Personal Statement, book an appointment today with a Career Counselor or Career Strategist at: Academic Advising & Career Centre at AC213 or call 416-287-7561.
I hope the above tips help you prepare these documents if you intend on furthering your education! However, I am sure that many of you are also interested in entering the labour market upon graduation. Upon completion of the self-assessment, and once you have decided which field you want to explore, make sure you prepare yourself for the world of work:
Job Search
Resume and cover letter preparation: Time to create a stellar resume that highlights your skills! A resume should be made in reverse chronological order, free from grammatical errors. A cover letter will showcase your hard and soft skills. Tailoring your cover letter, will show the employer a clear interest in the position you are applying. Do your research! Useful sites such as Payscale can determine your future annual salary based on your qualifications. (level of education, last job position, etc.)
Some employers are also willing to compensate for your education - do your research! There's no better way of learning more about your field than getting the hands on experience.
For a stellar resume, attend our Rapid Resume sessions at: Academic Advising and Career Centre at AC213 , Mon-Friday 10-12pm.
Job Websites
Career Learning Network (CLN ) is a career website that provides job postings for full-time and part-time position of various fields from well-known organizations. It is exclusively accessible to University of Toronto students. As a student, you will have access to CLN for up to two years after graduation.
Additional resources to help with your job search:
Websites such as Indeed and Glassdoor not only show up-to-date job postings, but also provide interview questions, the position’s salary average among various companies, and employee satisfaction ratings; both sites are excellent one stop resources!
LinkedIn is an excellent place to create your personal brand while networking with people in your profession. Like Facebook, this networking site allows you to post and messenger chat with your connections.[4]
To book and attend our Jobs for Grads at AC321 by visiting: https://cln.utoronto.ca: August 1st 10:30am-12:00pm
Sign up: cln.utoronto.ca > Login with your UTORid > Click on Events & Workshops Calendar > Click on UTSC Academic Advising & Career Centre.
References:
[1]. Huynh N. & Stiegemeyer M. (2017). Putting together a Strong Application for Graduate School. University Affairs. Retrieved from https://www.universityaffairs.ca/career-advice/graduate- matters/putting-together-strong-application-graduate-school/
[2]. Curriculum Vitae (2014, September). Academic Advising & Career Centre Resources. Retrieved from: https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/curriculum-vitae-cv
[3] Personal Statement (2012, September). UTM Career Centre Tipsheets. Retrieved from: https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/careers/sites/files/careers/public/shared/pdf/tipsheets/personal- statement.pdf
[4]. Half. R. (2017) Canada’s 10 Best Job Search Websites. Robert Half. Retrieved from
https://www.roberthalf.ca/en/blog/job-market/canadas-10-best-job-search-websites
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