It's February so get serious about finding that summer job or internship

Now is the time to start looking for your summer job or internship. It may seem early, but employers have already begun hiring students. Take the time to check out the current listings on myFuture and consult the resources on our website.

As always, if you have questions or need help along the way, our staff is here to assist you. You can stop by for C.V. Drop-in or make an individual appointment with one of our Career Advisors.

Happy job hunting!

In this issue:

Scoring a Great Summer Position – Tips for Success!
Volunteering: The Experience You Need
New Resources Roundup
Events
Workshops
Contact Us

Scoring a Great Summer Position – Tips for Success!

by Jan Bottomer, CaPS Music and Arts Career Advisor

If you’re like the vast majority of McGill students, you’re currently in the process of looking for a job or an internship this summer…or at least thinking about doing so! Maybe this is your first time searching for a summer job and you’re looking to gain some general work experience. Maybe you’re close to graduation and hoping to increase your experience and contacts in your field of interest. Maybe you just need to make as much money as possible in four months to finance your schooling. Maybe you just want to do something different, work outdoors, experience something new, travel, live in a new city or region, have some fun…

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Volunteering: The Experience You Need

by Riccardo Cordi, CaPS Career Advisor Intern

With graduation just a couple of months away for some, you might be looking ahead to your lives post-McGill. While this is certainly a time to celebrate your academic achievements, for many it is also a time of uncertainty. The prospect of heading out into the workforce can be an anxiety-provoking endeavor; particularly for those who are looking for work for the first time.

Regardless of whether you are in U1 or U3, it is never too early (or too late for that matter) to start gaining valuable experience that can help you land that first job. Often times, students find themselves in a Catch-22; they cannot get the job they want because they lack the experience necessary, and they cannot get the experience necessary if they don’t land the job. However, there is a way of getting that much needed experience; volunteering.

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New Resources Roundup

by Vanessa Franco, CaPS Career Resource Consultant

The CaPS Career Resource Centre has many new resources for you!

The latest issues of digital and print serials, such as International Career Employment Weekly, Canada Employment Weekly, the Chronicle of Higher Education, University Affairs, Artsboard and Verge Magazine, are available for download or on-site consultation. These are accessible in PDF format via myFuture and/or in print on the periodicals rack next to the front desk. Take advantage of these comprehensive career resources that offer, among other things, job listings in Canada and abroad, in industry and academia.

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Events

The events below are only a sampling of the many taking place this month. For a full listing of all events offered this month and to register, log-in to myFuture. Click on the "Events" tab and then the "Workshops/Panels/Events" tab. Select the event you would like to attend and click on "RSVP."

• International Education Week 2009
  February 2-5
  

  For more information, please visit www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/.

• Panel: Careers in Law
  February 4, 16h30 -18h00: Brown, Room 5001

• Montreal Institute of Classical Homeopathy
  February 9, 11h30-13h00: Brown, Room 5001
  

  Learn more about a career in Integrative Medicine.

• Panel: Careers in Economics
  February 11, 16h30 -18h00: Brown, Room 5001
  

• Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) Info Session
  February 10, 18h00 -19h00: Voyages Campus
  

  Swap talk with a focus on USA. Please rsvp mcgill@voyagescampus.com.

• The Perfect Fit: Choosing an Agent and Manager
  February 11, 18h30 -20h45: YES Montreal
  

  Whether you are just starting out, or well on your way in your artistic career, good representation can be hard to find. A good agent or manager can manage your time and or/career while allowing you to hone in on your artistic skills. In this workshop, an industry professional will provide you with practical advice about how to choose an agent or manager who is right for you and when to make that move.
  
  Pre-registration is required.
  Please call 514-878-9788 or visit us online at www.yesmontreal.ca.

• Master of Management & Professional Accounting (MMPA) Program, University of Toronto at Mississauga
  February 17, 11h00 -13h00: Brown, Room 3001
  

  The Master of Management & Professional Accounting (MMPA) Program is a graduate business program primarily designed for non-business undergraduates interested in pursuing a career in professional accounting. The Program consists of five academic terms with two co-operative work terms in a professional accounting environment.
  
  This session will be led by Enola Stoyle, Associate Director.
  
  For more information, please visit www.utoronto.ca/mmpa.
  

• Career Exploration Workshops: Jobs in the Public Sector
  February 19, 18h30 -20h30: YES Montreal
  

  In this workshop, a professional from the Public Service Commission of Canada will discuss:
  -Where to find the job openings
  -How to read a job posting
  -How to apply
  -How to prepare for the interview
  -Second language requirements of the Federal Public Service
  
  Pre-registration is required.
  Please call 514-878-9788 or visit us online at www.yesmontreal.ca.

• Invitation au Cocktail réseautage de la Boule de cristal
  February 20, 9h00 -10h00
  

  Pleins feux sur la relève ! Cocktail de réseautage – Découverte du jeune talent
  
  Vous êtes un finissant en technologies de l’information (TI) d’une université ou d’un collège du Québec ?
  
  La Boule de cristal du CRIM 2009 vous offre une occasion unique de vous mettre en valeur et de
  rencontrer plus de 1 000 dirigeants TI. Le rendez-vous aura lieu le mardi 31 mars, à compter de 17h, au Palais des congrès de Montréal dans le cadre du Cocktail de réseautage – Découverte du jeune
  talent !
  
  Lors du Cocktail, le CRIM vous remettra des cartes d’affaires que vous pourrez distribuer aux dirigeants TI qui seront sur place. Une bonne occasion de faire des rencontres intéressantes. De plus, nous remettrons aux dirigeants une copie électronique de votre curriculum vitae.
  Pour participer, vous devez nous envoyer le formulaire d’inscription en plus de votre curriculum vitae, et ce, avant le 20 février 2009.
  
  Pour participer, adresser votre formulaire d’inscription à Geneviève Bergeron
  Par courriel : gbergeron@technocompetences.qc.ca
  Par fax : 514-840-1244
  Pour information : 514-840-7495
  Date limite : le vendredi 20 février 2009

Workshops

The workshops below are only a sampling of the many taking place this month. For a full listing of all workshops offered this month and to register, log-in to myFuture. Click on the "Events" tab and then the "Workshops/Panels/Events" tab. Select the event you would like to attend and click on "RSVP."

• Tap (and Dial) into the Hidden Job Market
  February 6, 13h00 -14h30: Brown, Room 5001
  

  By attending this workshop you will learn that networking is a win-win situation. You will learn how to identify areas in which you can expand your list of contacts and how to do that, how to formulate questions for an information interview and to create a script for a cold call to a potential contact in your field of interest.

• Work & Study Abroad: Guidelines for Success
  February 10, 10h00 -11h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  This workshop will discuss the advantages of working and studying abroad and examine the steps needed to enhance your chances of succeeding.

• Workshop for French Literature Students
  February 10, 15h00 -16h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  « Que puis-je faire avec mon diplôme en littérature française? » Nous allons discuter à propos des emplois possibles après votre graduation en lien avec votre diplôme en littérature française ainsi que d’autres carrières possibles et les employeurs potentiels. Également, quelles sont les habiletés développées au cours d’études en littérature française et les stratégies de recherche d’emploi gagnantes.

• “One-Stop-Shopping”: CVs, cover letters, interviews and action plan
  February 11, 13h00 -14h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Looking to acquire lots of valuable information in a short span of time? If so - our “One-Stop-Shopping” workshop is for you! In this workshop you will learn how to create a professional CV using action verbs and understand what employers are looking for. You will also learn to write a tailored cover letter that is customized to a position, department and/or a particular industry. In the interview component of the workshop you will understand what is involved in interview preparation. You will learn to identify relevant skills and experiences that you have to offer an employer and to articulate them with confidence and professionalism. The workshop will end with understanding of the importance of an action plan. Participants will learn about the steps that guide the career planning process. You will also identify your goals for each of these steps as well as the resources/tools available and any potential barriers you may encounter.

• Med School Interview Preparation
  February 12, 13h00 -15h00: Brown, Room 5001
  

  Gain detailed insight on how to prepare for your medical school interview. Topics covered in this workshop include what to expect during the interview, typical and atypical questions most often asked as well as the general practices of some major Canadian Faculties of Medicine.

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