Hello Grad Students and Post-Docs:

Welcome back to another semester and Happy New Year. We wish you all the best and much success in 2009.

January is promising to be a busy month, full of career-related activities. We encourage you to take full advantage of what is being offered. At the end of the month, CaPS will be organizing the Federal Public Service Career Week, including a café event specifically targeted to grad students on Jan. 29. This is a great opportunity to find out more information about working for the Federal Public Service and its new “Public Service Renewal Agenda.” See below for more details.

In this issue:

New Year, New CaPS
Federal Public Service Career Week
Working for the Feds
Career Development Workshops for Grad Students
Contact me

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New Year, New CaPS

by Marshneill Abraham, Peer Educator Coordinator

CAPS has a new name for the new year. The McGill Career & Placement Service (CAPS) will be changing its name to the: 

• McGill Career Planning Service in English
• Service de planification de carrière de l’université McGill in French

This new name better reflects the terminology at peer institutions as well as the new mission of CAPS which is: 

“to inspire McGill graduate and undergraduate students in the exploration of their career options and to increase their employability through the development of lifelong career management skills.”

The acronym “CAPS” is being kept in order to build on the brand equity that has accrued since CAPS came into existence in 1992.  The one small change is from CAPS to CaPS to better reflect the new name. As well as changing its name, CaPS has launched a completely redesigned website with sections for students, faculty and employers.  It can be found at www.mcgill.ca/caps. You will be automatically re-directed from the current website. 

There is no better time than now to visit the website, learn more about the kinds of services offered at McGill and start planning your future. Do not wait until one month before graduation to start thinking about your options, seeking out work experience opportunities and acquiring the skills that can lead you to graduate school, a summer internship, a stint teaching abroad or your dream job.

Once you have visited the website, stop by the office and check out the library of career resources available, or book an appointment with an advisor who can personally help you conceive and develop your goals. 2009 is a brand new year, and the perfect opportunity to take control of your goals.

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Federal Public Service Career Week - Register Now

When Canadian university students were asked in a survey which employer they would prefer to work for after graduation, the Canadian Federal Government ranked first.  At the same time, the Federal Public Service is looking to “re-new” its workforce and is actively recruiting thousands of graduates from Canadian universities this year.

Therefore, for the first time, CaPS, in coordination with the Principal’s Office and the Public Service Commission, is organizing a series of events to inform McGill students about the career opportunities available within the Federal Public Service. 

We encourage you to attend the events listed below in order to help you understand whether working for the Federal Public Service would be right for you.  They include a career fair and panels of speakers ranging from senior public servants to recent McGill graduates from a variety of disciplines (both graduate and undergraduate) who are now working for the Federal government. 

Also, please read Susan Molnar’s article below for more details about opportunities available for you in the Federal Public Service.

• Finding a Summer Job or Internship in the Federal Public Service
  Tuesday, January 27, 12h30 -14h00: Brown, Room 5001
  

  This talk will describe the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) which provides full-time returning students with work experience (mainly in the summer) related to their field of study.  The possibility of doing an internship in the Federal Public Service will also be discussed.

• Public Service & Non Profit Career Fair
  Wednesday, January 28, 10h30 -15h00: Shatner Building, Ballroom
  

  This career fair will have booths from different departments within the federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as NGO’s and non-profit organizations.  It will allow students to talk to representatives about how to find a job in the public and non profit sectors.

• Opportunities for Graduate Students within the Federal Public Service “Café”
  Thursday, January 29, 12h00 -14h00: Thomson House, Ballroom
  

  This Federal Government Grad Cafe is set up to facilitate graduate students who are considering a career within the public service to meet representatives from various departments who are looking to hire graduate students.  Representatives will be asked to talk about how they got their job and what the work is like that they are doing.

• “High-level” Panel of Speakers from the Federal Public Service
  Monday, February 2, 11h30 -14h30: Leacock, Room 232
  

  Senior public service officials will discuss the “Public Service Renewal Agenda” and why students should consider a career with the Federal Public Service.

• Opportunities for all Students within the Federal Public Service Panel
  Monday, February 2, 16h00 -20h00: Brown, Room 5001
  

  This panel will allow students from across the university to meet McGill alumni who have recently been hired to work in the Federal Public Service as well as middle managers from various departments.

• Environment and Agriculture Career Fair 2009
  Wednesday, February 4, 10h00 -15h30: Macdonald Campus
  

  The Annual McGill Environment and Agriculture Career Fair will take place on McGill's beautiful Macdonald Campus. Students at this campus come from a variety of disciplines including plant, soil and animal science, natural resource science, environmental science and assessment, bioresource engineering, food chemistry, and human nutrition.  There will also be a series of targeted Panel Presentations.

In order to attend these events, you must register. Please click here.

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Working for the Feds - Great Career Opportunities

by Susan Molnar, Graduate Career Advisor

The Federal Public Service is Canada’s largest employer with 230,000 employees and over 1,600 points of service across Canada. It is also Canada’s most international employer with a presence in 115 countries around the world.

Almost 10% of public servants today are close to retirement, which means significant public service renewal opportunities for students interested in joining the public service as a career.

The structure of the government and its 23 departments are clearly summarized in the following chart as well as here. A list of departments and agencies can be found here
and organized by subject here.

The Structure of Canada’s Research System, which includes the various non-profits and NGOs that are considered the federal government’s arms or agencies, can be viewed here.

[continue reading about ways to work for the Federal Public Service]

Other resources:

You may also wish to consult this informative handout on "Tips to Help You Find a Job in the Public Service of Canada."

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Career Development Workshops for Grad Students

Registration for all of the following workshops is available through myFuture. Click on the "Workshops/Events" tab and select the "Workshops" tab.

• Job Applications: Marketing Tools Bootcamp
  January 19, 11h00-12h30: Brown, Room 3001

  This intensive workshop will help you to prepare your non-academic CV, cover letter, and business card. Following the workshop, there will be a clinic where students can sign up to obtain personalized guidance on the tool of their choice.

• Job Search Simplified: Networking or Not Working!
  January 21, 14h00-15h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  This is an overview of non-academic job search strategies, followed by an in-depth look at networking as the most effective job search strategy.

• Interviewing
  January 22, 10h00-11h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  This popular workshop covers what to do before, during, and after a non-academic interview.

• Who Are You? Why Does it Matter?
  January 23, 14h00-15h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Wondering 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, values, and skills.

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