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November 2007

In this issue

Finding Work as a Visual Artist: An Interview with Veronica Gray
Getting the 'Inside Scoop' on Networking
Upcoming Events
Career Development Workshops
Career Fairs
OptimalResume Soon to Be Offered to McGill Students
Mock Interviews for BCom and MBA Students
Finding Your Way into the Pharmaceutical Sector
Career-Related Experience Off the Beaten Track
L'Oréal E-Strat Challenge
Contact Us

Finding Work as a Visual Artist: An Interview with Veronica Gray

by Lucy Armstrong

veronica-gray

Visual Art – one of the most powerful mediums which humans have used to express themselves for thousands of years. It has played the role of spiritual mediator, scientist, historian, and story-teller, tracing the paths we have made for ourselves, immortalizing the time in which we live, and establishing a legacy for the future. Many of us dream of being an artist, but are often hesitant to embark on such a challenging journey in this day and age where we place the greatest value on monetary attributes.

Veronica Gray is a Virginia artist who is well-aware of the demanding pressures of the art world, both creatively and commercially. She has successfully devoted the past 5 years of her life to establishing her own distinctive style – a vivid fusion of the abstract, profound, and emotional, who draws inspiration from space, spirituality, the 20th century, and faith-based artists such as Makoto Fujimura and Anselm Kiefer, to rock groups such as The Fixx. Also artistic mentor to me, I took the opportunity to interview her for this month's edition of Caps Scoop.

[continue reading Interview with Veronica Gray]

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Getting the ‘Inside Scoop’ on Networking

by Natalie Jewit

Every summer, I would send out resume after resume, and grow increasingly frustrated.  I searched websites for job postings, scoured the newspaper classifieds and personally visited every establishment I wanted to work for.  Yet, I always ended up finding jobs that just seemed to pay the bills.  None of them really advanced my career goals, nor did I find them particularly exciting or rewarding.  I couldn’t figure out why all of my friends seemed to land those ‘dream jobs’ that not only paid well but helped them gain valuable experience.  Finally it hit me.  All of these ‘dream jobs’ seemed to be the result of some sort of connection.  The classic phrase, “its not what you know but who you know” seemed regrettably, very applicable to my life. 

Therefore, it wasn’t a big surprise when I learned that 80% of jobs are found on the hidden job market.  They are not advertised online, in newspapers or on job-postings, but are found through word-of-mouth.  I realized if I was going to put an end to this stream of temporary jobs I needed to get the inside scoop.  And so, without even knowing it, I began NETWORKING.

[continue reading Getting the 'Inside Scoop']

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Upcoming Events

Below are selected events of interest. A complete listing can be found on the CAPS Events Calendar.

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Career Development Workshops

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Career Fairs

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Volume 9, Issue 3

Published by:

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CAPS Career Week (Nov. 5th to 9th)

career-week

It's not too late to sign up for CAPS Career Week - In Pursuit of Happiness! This year's conference promises to be highly informative and interesting.

For a complete listing of events and to register, click here.

OptimalResume Soon to Be Offered to McGill Students

CAPS is proud to be able to soon offer students at McGill access to OptimalResume, the gold standard in online resume technology. Used by hundreds of universities across North America, OptimalResume will guide you through the resume writing process from content creation to online publication.

You can draft your resume in just a few short minutes with OptimalResume’s comprehensive software, which includes content examples for each section and format assistance, all on a 24/7 basis. Once a resume has been created and filled with content, you can pick from thousands of different combinations of resume styles to find the right look for your resume. Your resume can then be generated in three formats: Rich Text, Plain Text, and HTML (an interactive resume website). 

It’s never been so easy to create an attractive and professional resume presentation! Best of all, it’s free for students. 

To be launched shortly - check back on the CAPS website for further details.

Are you a BCom or MBA student?  

If so, sign up now for B.Com and MBA Mock Interviews!

Login to the Management Career Services website to sign up for a mock interview, taking place Nov 2, 6, 7, 8 & 9. You will have the opportunity to meet with front-line recruiters and receive constructive feedback on your interview skills. Do not miss out on this incredible opportunity. Practice makes perfect!

Contact Erin Sirett at 398.4502 if you have any questions.

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Finding Your Way into the Pharmaceutical Sector

by Linda Cicuta

You may be considering a career in biotech, or in pharmaceuticals, or in clinical research, but did you know that they are all intertwined? Understanding how an industry operates is key when exploring your career options and could substantially increase your job search success. Read on to uncover the scope that biotech reaches and where you can potentially find your entry point.

Biotechnology (also known as the Bio-economy) has really taken shape around the world, with Canada emerging as an early leader.  Bio-economy essentially involves research & development, manufacturing, and commercialization of technologies and products for such areas as agriculture, aquaculture, bio-energy, bioinformatics, biosciences,
environment, food processing, human health, life sciences,
medical devices, natural resources, and pharmaceuticals.

Demographically speaking, and according to Stats Canada’s 2005 survey (published in 2007), Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have the highest number of biotechnology companies, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all firms in the sector in Canada. The survey also shows the sector’s growth is currently being driven more by small and medium-sized firms than in the past, where the leaders were larger corporations.

[continue reading Working in Biotech]

Career-Related Experience Off the Beaten Track

by Srishti Goyal

I was exchanging last minute hugs and good byes.  Another year had gone by.  As soon as I arrived home I immediately made plans to hang out with my best friend.  We had decided to go to an ice cream parlor and as we were talking she told me that a mutual friend was in Washington, D.C.

“Why,” I asked.

“Didn’t you know?  She has an internship there.”

“Oh.”

And just like that all the fun and excitement of the summer was sucked out in less than thirty seconds.  I was fifteen years old and a sophomore in high school.  It was my first feeling of competitiveness and my first glimpse into a world beyond the intimate realm of studying, friendships, and home.

[continue reading Part-time Job]

L'Oréal e-Strat Challenge

L'Oréal e-Strat Challenge is one of the world's biggest online business simulation. This international competition is open to all field of studies in their final two years of university. You and your team, consisting of three people, will manage a portfolio of beauty brands and compete for worldwide leadership against 4 other virtual companies during six rounds throughout a period of approximately two months. Registration is until November 27, 2007.

Contact Us

We are located in the Brown Student Services Building (3600 McTavish, Suite 2200).

Check out our website for details on all our programs and services!

For further inquiries, or to book an appointment with an advisor, please email us or call 514-398-3304.