After finding that WIC students generally weren’t engaging with some mainstream services on campus, WIC has aimed this semester to provide employability workshops through a partnership with Careers Central.
“We thought rather than us running a workshop and them running one on the same thing and our students not going to it, we should do it together,” WIC student employability and engagement coordinator Caitlin Stuart said.
Anu Stevens and Michael Cooper from Careers Central have run three workshops so far in 2021, providing only the information that’s relevant to our students, and leaving out less relevant content, such as that which is intended for international students.
Previous sessions have covered LinkedIn and whether it’s a worthwhile tool for students, finding casual work while studying, and a comprehensive overview of grad programs, what they are, and how to apply for them effectively.
WIC’s Employability and Engagement Coordinator, Caitlin Stuart also sits in on those sessions to contribute with information and tips that may only be relevant for Indigenous students that the Career Central staff wouldn’t typically provide.
The workshops have been taking place in-person at the centre, but an online option is provided via Zoom for students who either can’t make it or would simply just prefer to participate online.
Offering Zoom options as well just to provide an alternative for those who either can’t or just don’t want to come to an in-person workshop.
There are plans to run another four workshops in the upcoming Spring semester, and the topics covered will be –
- Writing a successful resume and cover letter
- What are selection criteria, and how to address them
- How to ace your job interview
- LinkedIn profile development
Dates and times for those sessions are yet to be confirmed