Take advantage of the countless networking opportunities this month

March promises to be a busy month with lots of activities and workshops in which you can participate. Be sure to check ou the many events associated with Backpack to Briefcase, a joint initative between CaPS and McGill Alumni Association. Many of these events are a great opportunity to meet McGill Alumni now working in diverse areas and industries.

In this issue:

Backpack to Briefcase 2009
Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA Defies Recession
The Nonprofit Sector – A world of opportunity for meaningful careers!
Going Global: Exploring International Career Options
Job Finding Club - Starts in May
Career Fairs
Events
Workshops
Contact Us

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Backpack to Briefcase 2009

Get ready for this year’s BACKPACK TO BRIEFCASE 2009! This incredible event is brought to you in collaboration with the Career Planning Service (CaPS) and McGill’s Alumni Association.

Backpack to Briefcase will be a series of career events held throughout the month of March that should help you make the transition out of McGill to the workplace or graduate school.  There will be career fairs, special events, panel discussions, workshops, and guest speakers to address a variety of topics related to career exploration, job search strategies and “real-world” life skills.

Keep your eyes peeled on the CaPS website and the Alumni Association website for up-to-date information.

All events are free of charge unless otherwise indicated. You must register for the events through myFuture. To bring up all events associated with Backpack to Briefcase, keyword search "B2B" in the Workshops tab.

• Effective Public Speaking
  March 5, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Guest Speaker: Suzannah Baum BCom'94

  In this workshop, you’ll gain specific skills to deliver presentations with confidence and clarity. You will also learn how to reduce the anxiety of public speaking, structure your presentations for maximum impact, develop insights to recognize and avoid the most common bad speaking habits, and much more!
  

• Generation Why? Millenials and the Workplace
  March 6, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Guest Speaker: Professor Karl Moore

  Renowned Management Professor Karl Moore will deliver a workshop discussing the Millenial generation (those born between 1980 - 2000) and the workplace. He will explore the tools, characteristics and strategies that define Millennials and how they can work in your favour.

• Dressing to Impress
  March 10, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Guest Speaker: Monica de Liz

  There's more to dressing for work than putting on a suit and tie. Join us for this fun, easy, no-nonsense seminar on masculine and feminine professional attire and style for young people. Image Expert Monica de Liz will offer practical tips and examples about dressing professionally, offer personal grooming tips, and provide guidance as to how your wardrobe needs to grow to suit your changing needs.

• Social Entrepreneurship
  March 12, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Guest Speaker: Brett Hickey, BCom'02

  McGill Grad and Wall Street Warrior Brett Hickey will host a discussion on social entrepreneurship. In this setting, social entrepreneurship applies to an individual taking the lessons learned from success in business and investing (in Mr. Hickey’s case) and applying them to a social cause. He will discuss his background as an investment banker with his firm Aegis Capital Group, and how it led to and has informed his position as president of the Acorn Charities Group.

• Dining Etiquette
  March 17, 18h00-20h00: 1430 Peel Street
  March 30, 18h00-20h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Presented by: Mayme Vineberg, BA '72 MLS '74, Director of Intimate Settings Etiquette School

  Cost: $20

  Not sure which fork to use? What about how to pick up the cheque? Or which bread plate is yours? Business and social meetings are often held over a meal, and people can find themselves confused and self-conscious while navigating a table setting. Our course on dining etiquette, presented over a four-course dinner, will teach you the basics and let you concentrate on the most important part of the meal - the conversation.

• Tech Tools to Help You Get Ahead
  March 18, 13h00-14h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Come discover the latest freely available tools and technologies to help with your transition from students to alumni. This session will fill you in on some integral websites and blogs to keep an eye on to help organize your life.

• Technology and Business Panel
  March 20, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Under the Passion to Action theme of Backpack to Briefcase, we are interested in highlighting alumni who are succeeding in business, science and technology spheres. This panel will highlight alumni who have married an entrepreneurial spirit with web 2.0 and are leveraging new media and technology to create successful business outcomes.

• Unconventional Careers
  March 27, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Join us to hear how McGill Alums made their passion their careers.

• McGill Mentor Program Reception
  March 31, 16h30-18h00: 1430 Peel Street
  

  Come hear from both mentors and mentees as to why you should join the mentor program.

  Following the panel discussion, join us for a reception and take advantage of this networking opportunity.

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Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA Defies Recession

As graduating students cope with an impending era of fiscal constraint, Dalhousie’s School of Business director reminds us that hard times call for wise investments. “Senior HR executives have to manage not just for the present but for the future of their organization,” says Peggy Cunningham, the new director of the School. “Having the right people being groomed now to face the leadership challenges of tomorrow is a wise strategy. Our Corporate Residency MBA delivers highly employable self-starters to organizations who can then partner with the student to tailor the academic, professional development and work experience components of our program to meet their leadership needs.”

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The Nonprofit Sector – A world of opportunity for meaningful careers!

by Jan Bottomer, CaPS Music and Arts Career Advisor

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Confucius said a lot of things right, and the above quote resonates profoundly with the many job seekers who strive to create careers and lives that are about more than just the paycheque, searching for ways to combine their interests, skills, passion and values into a meaningful career. The nonprofit sector can be an ideal fit for those looking for more than “just a job” but there are a lot of misconceptions and a general lack of understanding about the kinds of organizations the sector encompasses and the range of opportunities available. Read on for more information about this dynamic and varied sector, the rewards and challenges of a career in non-profit work and tips for entering the field.

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Going Global: Exploring International Career Options

by Vanessa Franco, CaPS Career Resource Consultant

Going Global is a subscription web service that provides international employment and career information. If you are interested in working and living abroad, then Going Global is an indispensable resource. CaPS offers you unlimited access to Going Global’s extensive database of international employer profiles and job and internship listings. In addition, Going Global provides country- and U.S. city-specific information for jobseekers. With over 35,000 resources, the country and city guides include information on local industry and employment trends, professional associations, staffing agencies, recruiters, work permit regulations, and salaries, in addition to advice on local cultures, CVs, cover letters and interviews. The 27 country guides span all continents (except Antarctica, of course!) and the 40 U.S. city guides cover cities coast-to-coast. Of special interest to those considering working in the U.S. is their list of H-1B visa companies. There is also a forum open to users to make connections, find housing, get job search advice, and more.

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Job Finding Club

Work with fourteen other students all looking to find a job. You will have each other for support, with the assistance of the CaPS facilitator, Janice Tester, and career advisors. It is a two-week intensive program designed to empower you to find work in your field and in a job you will love.

There is no administrative fee to participate. The only cost to the student is for the purchase of the Job Search Handbook ($8).

You need to apply and we consider people on a first-come-first-served basis.  You will register at the CaPS reception by filling out an application form and submitting your CV. After which, we will contact you for a selection interview with an advisor. 

The dates of the next Job Finding Clubs are:

• May 4th to 15th, 2009
• May 25th to June 5th, 2009
• August 17th to 28th, 2009

Are you ready for this wonderful opportunity?  Check out the program on our website at http://www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/services/jfc/ for full details and/or come to our office.

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Career Fairs

• Physical & Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology Career Fair
  March 5, 14h00-17h00: Shatner Ballroom
  

  This is the largest EVER career fair in the health sciences that McGill has ever had!  Over 75 employers from all parts of Quebec and Canada will be there.
  
  B.A. and B.Sc. students interested in these fields will be able to get a sense of what it is like to be in these fields and what employers are looking for.  You might even get a chance to do some shadowing and find out if one of these programs are for you.
  
  For a complete listing of organizations attending the fair, please click here.

• School of Information Studies Career Fair
  March 5, 13h00-17h00: School of Information Studies, Room MS42 & 24
  
  For a complete listing of organizations attending the fair, please click here.

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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."

• What Can I Do with my Degree in Art History and Communication Studies?
  March 11, 15h00-17h00: Ferrier 230
  

  Unsure about your options once you finish your degree? Wondering how to conduct an effective job search? Have questions about grants and applying to graduate school? Come to this interactive workshop to find out more and start planning for your future!
  

• Natural Resources Canada (NRC) Info Session
  March 12, 16h30-18h30: Brown, Room 5001
  

  At Natural Resources Canada, we don't just think outside the box-we work outside the box. As well as pens, paper and computers, the tools of the trade might include a pick, or a shovel, a GPS and camping gear. And on some days, the closest thing to a colleague might have feathers or fur.
  
  Intrigued? Let's get to know each other a little better during this information session. We’ll start with a short presentation about our projects, followed by a meet and greet of McGill alumni working with us, leaving plenty of time to network.

• SWAP Info Session (Student Work Abroad Program)
  March 12, 18h00-19h00: Voyages Campus, Shatner Building
  

  Swap focus on Ireland.
  
  Please rsvp mcgill@voyagescampus.com.

• Dalhousie MBA Info Session
  March 25, 12h00 - 13h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Dalhousie University is building Canada's only corporate residency MBA. It's a 22-month program integrating North America's top employers into the academic process, providing students with exceptional paid work experience, innovative curriculum, and leadership development skills to launch their careers. With numerous residency positions available from top private and public sector organizations and a maximum enrollment of 50 of the country's best and brightest students, successful applicants will have fantastic career options.
  
  Please RSVP by emailing mbacr@dal.ca or call 902.494.2707.

• Employment Conference - Working in the 21st Century
  March 28, 9h00 -17h00: Dawson College
  

  YES Montreal presents a new youth employment conference entitled Working in the 21st Century. A full-day of workshops and video-conference presentations about finding work in the 21st century uniting English-speaking communities across Quebec. Price: $15 (includes lunch).
  
  Call 514.878.9788 for more information or to register.
  
  YES Montreal has a variety of events and workshops that may be of interest to you. To check them out, visit the YES Montreal website.

• Free MCAT, DAT, LSTAT, GRE and GMAT Practice Tests
  March 7, 10h00 -15h30: Kaplan
  

  Spaces are VERY limited, so register today.
  
  To register: Call 1-800-KAP-TEST or visit www.kaptest.ca or email vanessa.stubbs@kaplan.com.
  

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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."

• International Students: Adapting to the Canadian Job Market (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 2, 10h30 -12h00: Brown, Room 3001
  

  As an international student, learn how to make the cultural transition to the Canadian job market.

• Finding a Summer Job (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 3, 10h30 - 12h00: Brown, Room 3001
  March 27, 10h00 - 11h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Take advantage of this opportunity to discuss finding a Summer Job that’s right for you – one that is tailored to your needs and interests. Review the necessary job hunting techniques, how to deal with obstacles, discover what employers are seeking from applicants, and what can be negotiated.

• Researching the Employer (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 4, 12h00 - 13h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Learn how to and why you need to research the employer of your choice.

• Business Etiquette: More than Just Eating with the Right Fork (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 6, 12h30 -14h00: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Etiquette is about properly handling social and business situations. Develop skills to feel more confident and know what to do.

• Macdonald Campus Monthly Job Search Intensive
  March 6, 10h00 -12h00: Macdonald Campus, CC-150
  

  This intensive 2 hour workshop, offered on the first Friday of every month, covers the essentials of preparing for a non-academic career. Topics include: Job search strategies, Self assessment, Networking, CV writing, and Interviewing.

• Finding & Obtaining the Ideal Internship (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 12, 13h00 -14h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Doing an internship is a good way to test the waters in a variety of career fields, to gain "real-life" experience and a way to decide on - or opt out - of a certain vocation. This workshop will provide you with the steps necessary to find an internship.

• Tap (and Dial) into the Hidden Job Market (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 9, 11h30 -13h00: Brown, Room 3001
  

  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.

• “One-Stop-Shopping”: CVs, cover letters, interviews and action plan (part of Backpack to Briefcase)
  March 10, 10h00 -11h30: Brown, Room 3001
  

  Looking to acquire lots of valuable job search 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.

• Medical School Interviews: Time to Practice
  March 13: CaPS Office
  

  After a very successful session in February, CaPS is offering another MMI Practice Day for interested students on Friday March 13th. During this 1/2 hour session, students will go through 3 scenarios similar to those used during the MMI (multiple mini interview) format adopted by many medical schools. In addition to experiencing what an MMI is really like, students will also receive feedback for each scenario and additional documents to help them better prepare for future medical school interviews.

  Registration is available via myFuture. Keyword search "MMI." Please note that each 1/2 session is the same, therefore you only need to sign-up once. Please note: These sessions are reserved for students who did not have the opportunity to participate during the first Practice MMI Day in February.

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