By Meagan Malloch
A new report says preparing students for the real world starts in classrooms and is also improved through many different university services including career centres.
Humber’s Career Centre is open for students who are looking to speak with career advisors who can help with interview techniques and employment and career opportunities. PHOTO BY MEAGAN MALLOCH
According to the report released by the Council of Ontario Universities, the centres are among the services that help prepare students for the workforce and the ever-changing labour market.
The report, #MyCareer: How Ontario university career services prepare students for the future, offers different examples on the basics of what career centres offer, and how students can develop personal skills.
Jennifer Grass, senior director and communications for the Council of Ontario Universities, told Humber News the report was designed to share the best practices in career services. The council looked at 20 different institutions across Ontario.
“It was to inspire continuous improvement in this area. It showcases a lot of exciting innovations,” said Grass.
One of the innovations is a campus connection program at Ryerson University’s career centre called WhoPlusYou.
“It is an online job platform where jobs chase the students, not the other way around,” said Grass.
LISTEN: Career advice for students
The labour market and the needs of the employers are changing not only in Canada, but also worldwide, Alastair Summerlee, chair of the council who is also president and vice-chancellor of the University of Guelph, said in a press release.
“Universities understand this trend, which is why career centres are continually finding new ways of helping students thrive in today’s environment,” said Summerlee.
Humber’s career centre helps students with career opportunities, job search and recruitment materials, as well as links to other valuable resources.
LISTEN: Ins and outs of Humber’s job portal
Christine Colosimo, employment advisor at Humber’s career centre, said these resources are available to students if they are looking to improve things such as resumes and portfolios.
Other ways Humber’s career centre helps students “get noticed” by employers is through a job-portal.
With the constant changes the Canadian and world labour markets go through, it is important that students who are coming out of university and college are up-to-date with those changes, Colosimo said.