UMSU, career services and the University of Manitoba Alumni Association will be hosting a series of over 30 events and workshops throughout November for Career Month.
The month will begin with the Career Month Kickoff on Nov. 1. Those attending will receive coffee and pastries as they learn about the variety of events offered throughout the month.
UMSU vice-president community engagement Divya Sharma said UMSU is “very happy that this partnership is happening.”
“There’s so many students who come and ask us about how they can get employed on campus and we’re really happy that this month is dedicated to providing them with the support that they’ve been asking for,” she said.
On Nov. 2, Volunteer Manitoba and UMSU will host a volunteer fair which will feature booths from “a range of community organizations,” according to Lisa MacPherson, the lead co-ordinator of career services.
“It’s going to be set up like an expo with booths on the main floor of the University Centre,” she said. “Students can come through the volunteer fair and essentially network, connect with different organizations and learn a little bit more about how they can get involved.”
The volunteer fair will feature booths by Canadian Blood Services, Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg Child and Family Services and more.
Students looking for paid work in research can explore options at a Nov. 14 Zoom info session detailing undergraduate research opportunities at Bannatyne Campus. This event will allow students to connect with professors in fields such as neuroscience, physiology, immunology and epidemiology.
“It’s an opportunity for the principal investigators that work at the Bannatyne campus in the health sciences faculty to be able to promote their work, their part-time research assistant opportunities to students at the Fort Garry campus,” MacPherson said.
She noted that many students at the Fort Garry campus aren’t aware of the research job opportunities that exist on Bannatyne campus.
Career services will host an open house at 474 University Centre for faculty, staff and students on Nov. 16.
MacPherson said the open house is “really geared to faculty and staff members” and noted that many students are referred to career services by professors and staff.
“This is just really an opportunity for folks to come by, learn a little bit more about what we do to aid in referrals, to pick up some resources that they might want to have in their respective offices to better refer students to us and to just discuss potential collaboration opportunities,” she said.
There will be a number of workshops on career-building skills offered throughout the month. These include workshops on LinkedIn, and cover letter and resume writing which are also offered by career services monthly, as well as workshops on occupational health and safety, marketing foreign credentials and a (Re)Writing your Career workshop.
MacPherson said this workshop will give students a chance to “reflect a bit about their career story and what they want their journey to look like.”
“It’s a bit more of a creative approach to career planning and reflecting on your journey and your story,” she said.
There will also be a prize draw of $1,000 toward the winning student’s tuition. Every time a student attends a workshop or event they will be entered into the draw.
For information about Career Month, including more details on the prize draw, please visit https://www.umanitoba.ca/career-services/career-planning/career-month.
