December 2007
The staff and students of the CAPS office wish you, your friends and your families the happiest of holidays!
In this issue:
French Language Courses, Improvement Programs and Licensure Information
Workshops for Graduate Students at the Downtown Campus
Workshops for Graduate Students at the Macdonald Campus
Improve Your Communication Skills! Courses for Graduate Students
Contact me
French Language Courses, Improvement Programs and Licensure Information
Are you ready to work in French? If you want to work or apply for licensure in Quebec after graduation but are not sure if your level of French is good enough, read on for information and assistance on how to tackle the French challenge.
Why learn French?
The following publication, Living in French in Quebec, gives some information on the whys and wherefores of the Quebec’s French language policy.
Where to go?
There are numerous institutions, universities and community centres in Montreal and Quebec that offer French language courses geared towards preparing you to work in the province or to pass the test to obtain your licensure. There are many options to fit your type.
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Workshops for Graduate Students at the Downtown Campus
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Discovering Your Identity Beyond Graduate School
Friday, December 7, 11h30-13h00: Thomson House
Register nowWondering what career path is right for you, but don't know what you have to offer? In this highly interactive workshop you will explore your interests, skills, and values. Participants are REQUIRED to bring their CV to this event.
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C.V.'s for Graduate Students: Humanities and Social Sciences
Monday, December 10, 11h30-13h00: Thomson House
Register nowThis workshop will show you how to market your graduate experience to employers beyond the university and to craft a C.V. that will get their attention. This session emphasizes C.V.'s as an active element of your job search, the importance of targeting, and the effective presentation of transferable skills.
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Successful Interview Techniques for Graduate Students
Tuesday, December 11, 11h30-13h00: Thomson House
Register now
A highly interactive workshop that covers what to do before, during and after a non-academic interview.
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Developing a Job Search Strategy (for Grad Students)
Thursday, December 13, 11h30-13h00: Thomson House
Register now Feel like you know a lot about your research topic and nothing about how to find a job outside academia. In this workshop you will learn an overview of how to conduct an effective job search outside academia.
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Networking Skills for Graduate Students and Post-Docs
Thursday, December 13, 14h00-15h30: Thomson House
Register nowNever schmoozed? An effective job search involves meeting the people you want to work with. This workshop will highlight the unique opportunities and constraints that face graduate students seeking to build relationships in their target professional area.
Workshops for Graduate Students at Macdonald Campus
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The Hidden Job Market and How to Tap into It for Grad Students
Tuesday, December 4, 10h00-11h30: Macdonald Campus, Room MS2-084
Register nowIf you attend only one CAPS workshop this year, be sure to come to this one: All Job Search Strategies, as well as key Interview Tips will be covered in this intensive 90 minute session.
Improve Your Communications Skills! Courses for Graduate Students
Need to upgrade your English or French Language Skills? See what some of the language courses are offered free to grad students:
ESLN 590 WRITING FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS.
3 credits; 3 hours. Restriction: open only to graduate students for whom English is a second language. Audience, purpose, organization and style of graduate-level academic writing. Mechanics. Editing. Textual analysis. Critical thinking. Genres: problem-solution, general-specific, process description, data commentary, article summary/critique. Student work-in-progress. ESL diagnosis-correction. Multiple drafts. Extensive feedback including audio-taped commentary and individual course.
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ESLN 650 PRONUNCIATION AND COMMUNICATION.
3 credits; 3 hours. Restriction: open only to graduate students for whom English is a second language. Not open to students who have taken ESLN 550. This course cannot be counted towards course requirements of any Graduate program. Focus is on developing pronunciation and communication skills, including aspects of pronunciation that most affect intelligibility, and with verbal and non-verbal techniques for effective presentations.
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Graduate Career Advisors
Susan Molnar and Lorna MacEachern are available to meet with you to discuss your career options and job search strategies.
To book an appointment, call 514-398-3304, x0321.
CV Drop-In
CV Drop-In will be held Mondays and Tuesdays from 15h00-16h30 and does not require an appointment.
OptimalResume
CAPS is happy to announce the launch of OptimalResume, a service offered to all McGill students that helps them create and design a CV online.
Check out this cool service today!
PhD Support Group
The group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 3-4:30. For the month of December we are meeting at the following locations:
Dec. 5 (Brown, Room 4200)
Dec. 12 (Brown, Room 4200). This meeting will be a potluck. Please RSVP to Susan with what you are bringing.
If you need more information, please contact Susan Molnar.
McGill Tutorial Service
McGill Tutorial Services is looking for grad students as tutors, editors and proof readers. You can tutor any course that you received an A in at the undergraduate level. They are also looking for calculus I & 2, statistics and physics tutors. Salary ranges from $15-$30 an hour.
For more information go to their website or contact Lorraine Bush.
Need internship funding?
The Faculty of Arts Internship Office offers awards to help students gain practical experience.
To see which awards are available to graduate students, click here (PDF).
Traveling During the Holiday Break?
After several months of studies and the long winter months fast approaching, many of you are planning to escape the cold and visit friends and family abroad. However, preparing your immigration documents is very important to a worry-free vacation and a successful re-entry into Canada. Please verify that your Passport, CAQ, Study Permit and Entry Visa (if applicable) are all valid and do not expire during your travels.
For complete details on the renewal process, contact the ISS Office at 514-398-4349 or consult their website.
We recommend that, in addition to your valid immigration documents, you obtain a letter from the Registrar’s Office in the James Administration Building, Room 205, which confirms that you are registered at McGill for this academic year.
Happy Travels!
International Health Insurance (IHI)
If you have not signed your IHI contract and have a hold on your account, make sure you drop by the ISS Office (Brown Building, Suite 3215).Our office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Need a laptop?
Did you know some faculties will lend laptops to graduate students free of cost - be sure to inquire in your department!
Need to network but don't have business cards?
Visit McGill’s Printing Services and order yourself some for a minimal fee, for more information contact: http://printing.mcgill.ca/.
Contact me
If you have any suggestions about how we can better serve you, don't hesitate to contact me.
Susan Molnar, M.Ed.
Graduate Career Advisor
(514) 398-3304 x0759
susan.molnar@mcgill.ca
