Centre for Student Development and Counselling

Tip Sheet: Building bridges from school to the world of work

If you are like the vast majority of students, you expect that your studies will culminate in satisfying employment. Here are some suggestions on how to make the most of your time at Ryerson to expand your repertoire of career-related skills, contacts and resume-building experiences. At the same time, you will be learning more about yourself and discovering possible directions to take after graduation.

In the Classroom

• When involved in group projects, use the experience as an opportunity to enhance your skills in team building, conflict resolution and group problem-solving.
• Improve your public-speaking skills by giving presentations in your class, even if this means having to step out of your comfort zone.
• Be active and assertive in classroom discussions - ask questions, make comments, volunteer answers.
• Select assignment topics related to your potential career interests. If none are offered, see if your professor would be willing to negotiate a project more relevant to you.
• Choose elective courses that offer an opportunity to explore subject matter related to your career interests. Investigate the minors available in your program of study.
• If your program includes placements, co-ops, internships, and/or experiential learning or exchange opportunities, use them not only to broaden your skill base, but also to make potential career contacts.
• Remember that your teachers can be valuable resources in terms of providing future employment and educational references, occupational information, and job search tips. Get to know them.

On Campus

• Get involved in campus clubs, societies, cultural groups, committees and social organizations.
• Become a campus peer supporter, e.g., Student Ambassador, Campus Leadership Advisor (CLA), tutor, mentor in the Tri-mentoring program, peer educator. Participate in the Student Services Leadership (LEAD) program. Activities such as these will allow you to connect with other students with similar interests, while increasing your employability skills. Visit www.ryerson.ca/trimentoring and www.ryerson.ca/stuprog for more information about campus leadership programs.
• Develop your leadership skills by running for elected office, sitting on a University committee or becoming active in your course union.
• Take part in group programs offered by the Centre for Student Development and Counselling. Attend Career Services’ “Get Ready, Get Set, Go!” workshops and earn a Career Strategies Certificate.
• Seek out employment opportunities on campus such as Work Study, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and residence positions.
• Volunteer to help out during special events, e.g., Orientation, Campus Carnival, Convocation, Career Fairs.
• Take advantage of campus activities and events. Make a point of attending relevant extra-curricular seminars, workshops, lectures, etc. Become involved in an intramural or inter-university sports team through RAC.
• Be sure to attend school/departmental career fairs and nights as well as on-campus career fairs organized through the Career Centre, each of which has a different focus, e.g., International Opportunities; Focus on Business; Engineering, Science and High Tech; Focus on Public and Community Services; Art, Design and Communications; Planning, Design and Building; Part-time Jobs; Professional, Graduate and Specialized Studies; Summer Work Experience; Grab-a-Grad Job Fair. Check out www.ryerson.ca/career for this year’s offerings!
• If you’re confused about your occupational direction or your choice of program of study, visit the Centre for Student Development and Counselling or the Career Centre for assistance.
• Make use of the occupational and educational literature contained in the Mentoring and Career Resource Centre located in the Career Centre, POD-60A.

External Community

• Familiarize yourself with the professional associations relevant to you area of study. Where possible, become a student member. Volunteer to sit on association committees.
• Take part in pertinent community lectures, trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, etc.
• Use part-time and summer jobs as opportunities to gain experience and make career-related contacts.
• Take advantage of opportunities to participate in international student exchanges, work and volunteer programs.
• Actively seek out and network with people in the community who may provide you with occupational information and later assist you with your transition to the world of paid work.
• Gather as much information as possible about the types of work that interest you. Use print and electronic media to keep abreast of current developments in the field/industry. Read books and articles about those occupations. “Interview” or “job shadow” people who are actually doing that kind of work.
• Do volunteer work through which you can explore your interests while developing skills, knowledge and contacts relevant to your career goals.
• Take part in Ryerson’s Tri-Mentoring program and be linked with a mentor who is a professional in your field.

VERY IMPORTANT!

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAREER-RELATED WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE CENTRE FOR STUDENT DEVELOPMENT AND COUNSELLING (JOR-07C, www.ryerson.ca/counselling) AND THE CAREER CENTRE (POD-60, www.ryerson.ca/career) DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOUR GRADUATING YEAR.