Your Career

Career management workshops and events equip students with the skills, such as networking, to find a successful and fulfilling postgraduate career. The workshops and experiential learning opportunities provide students with real workplace experiences and teach them how to communicate their transferable skills.

Workshops, events and resources offered on a regular basis are organized by topic. The semester(s) in which on-campus workshops are usually offered is indicated in brackets. To see what is coming up, use the links to the registration page or visit the events calendar. Events that are not offered on a regular basis are also posted so check the calendar regularly to find out what is available.

The University of Guelph Experiential Learning initiative has identified 26 common employability outcomes and organized them into three groups (knowledge, skills, and attitudes). Your Career skills domain is tailored toward graduate-specific experiences.

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Grad Pathways Calendar

* Double-click on any event to see details

Career Workshops and Resources

Experiential Learning Hub

Drop-in Sessions

Drop-in sessions with Career Advisors are 30 minutes in length and free for all registered students on the main U of G campus. Topics to discuss include:

Booked Appointments

All currently registered students can book an appointment directly with the Career Advisor that works within their College. Appointments are 30 minutes in length and can be booked up to two weeks in advance. To book an appointment, login to your Experience Guelph account and click on “Career” in the left-hand menu and then “Appointments”.

Career Resources for Grad Students

A description of additional resources on and off campus are described here.

Resources for Students with Disabilities

Career Services provides information on topics involving job searches and career management for students with disabilities.

Virtual Learning with Career Advisors

Career Advisors have developed webinars to assist students with job searching and career management. Visit the Virtual Learning webpage for a list of previously recorded webinars, live events and a Career Tool Kit. New topics are added regularly. Videos covering topics related to job searching and interviewing are available on the Career Services Youtube Channel. Check the Grad Pathways calendar for live webinar dates. Register for webinars and other events through your Experience Guelph account.

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Mitacs

Information on Mitacs Training

Career Professionalism

Participants will obtain a broad understanding of business etiquette and how it applies to the work environment, understand the importance of personal reputation, learn how to dress for success, gain the tools to avoid common email etiquette pitfalls and create a professional e-profile and reputation, expand your knowledge on how to apply effective communication techniques and professional behaviour while working closely with others, learn how to strategically plan and run (and participate in) effective meetings, and obtain the tools and knowledge to apply professionalism when traveling for business or attending business functions.

Networking Skills

This full day course is designed to provide insight and interaction along with the know-how to build and stabilize business relationships through effective networking. Details on the actual networking exercises will be determined by the location of each event. Activities will be customized to reflect the interests of the participants. You will broaden their understanding of the importance of networking, learn the importance of sharing contacts, receive insights on how to refresh, build and make the most of the networks you already have, both virtually and in-person' acquire the tools required to make an impact on contacts that may open doors, and learn tools and techniques to plan and better prepare for networking opportunities.

Practical Tips for Growing Your Network (online)

This short online course will give participants the information they need to make the most of the opportunities to make connections in and outside of their field. Participants will learn the importance of building a strong network, techniques for tapping into the existing network, practical tips on identifying and planning networking opportunities, how to strategically prepare for an upcoming event and a better understanding of social networking tools available and tips on how and when to use them.

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Aurora

Aurora is an e-learning platform providing career advice to graduate students and postdocs. Over 70 hours of on-demand videos, and 120 interviews with PhDs are available on this site. The content is updated monthly.

There are 3 programs of study:

Career Strategies: Students learn how to launch a successful non-faculty job search. Video seminars are taught by PhD experts working beyond the professoriate. Topics include career exploration, hiring and negotiating, and online job search strategies.

Career Exploration: Students gain insights from PhDs who have successful careers in industry, non-profits, government, and higher education administration. Through seminars, career panels, and interviews, graduate students and post-docs can explore career options and learn how PhDs leverage their education for success in academia and beyond the professoriate.

Faculty Careers: Students and postdocs are taught how to prepare for academic careers. These webinars are taught primarily by PhD experts working in graduate career and professional development on university campuses.

Career Events

On Campus

CBS Careers in Biology Day [W]

This annual event is an exciting opportunity for current graduate students and post-docs currently enrolled in CBS to meet with representatives from industry, government, academia and the non-profit sector to talk about the different career paths in an informal panel discussion setting. There will be multiple sessions to choose from over the course the event, organized by departmental themes.

Commerce Careers Open House [F,W]

The Commerce Careers Open House is an opportunity to meet employers who are actively recruiting students for exciting opportunities in business industries. Students of all years are encouraged to attend this fair to network with employers and find out about their current and upcoming opportunities.

Experience Guelph Career Fair [F]

The Experience Guelph Career Fair is an opportunity to meet employers who are actively recruiting students from all programs. Many employers in attendance have full-time, grad, and co-op opportunities posted on Experience Guelph. Students of all years and programs are encouraged to attend this fair to network with employers to find out more about current and upcoming job opportunities.

OAC Food and Agriculture Job Fair [F]

The OAC Food and Agriculture Job Fair is an opportunity to meet employers who are actively recruiting students for exciting opportunities in the agricultural, business and environmental industries. Students of all years and programs are encouraged to attend this fair to network with employers and find out about their current and upcoming opportunities.

Tech Meet and Greet [F]

This is a casual networking night to meet face-to-face with tech companies. This event is perfect for students in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering and Engineering Systems & Computing.

Tech Showcase [W]

A casual networking night to meet face-to-face with tech companies. This event is perfect for students in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering and Engineering Systems & Computing.

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Off Campus

Partnerships 4 Employment (P4E)[F,W]

P4E is the largest fair of its kind in the country. It is a collaborative effort among the University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. It was created in 1994 to better serve students, alumni and employers through sponsorship of annual Career Fairs and Job Fairs.