Job Search Week helping students work towards their ultimate goal

When Sheridan classes paused last fall for Reading Week, Crystal (not her real name) briefly considered recharging her batteries with a beach vacation before thinking better of it.

"I can reward myself once I've reached my goals," explains the third-year Bachelor of Computer Science - Networking Engineering student. "To me, I hadn't done anything yet to earn a vacation."

Instead, Crystal spent some of her free time that week working towards her ultimate goal — landing a job in her field — by participating in Sheridan's first-ever Job Search Week. Hundreds of fellow students did the same, attending various employment-focused events and workshops organized by Sheridan's Career-Integrated Learning (C-IL) team.

After seeing how well the initiative was received by students, the C-IL team is hosting another Job Search Week next week (Feb. 24-27) during the winter semester’s Reading Week.

“Re-branding Reading Week as Job Search Week is a solution that aligns with our students' needs, taking resources our office already offers and condensing them into a full slate of offerings.”

– Cory Latimer, Associate Director of Cooperative Education and Internships

"Our students understand the value of things like advising and networking and employer information sessions, but it's often hard for them to find the time in addition to attending classes, taking public transit, working part-time or full-time jobs, managing family commitments and completing homework," says Cory Latimer, Sheridan's Associate Director of Cooperative Education and Internships. "In co-op and career services we’ve also noticed an increase in students reaching out to us for assistance landing a part-time job that helps them pay their bills.

"Re-branding Reading Week as Job Search Week is a solution that aligns with our students' needs, taking resources our office already offers and condensing them into a full slate of offerings. We still encourage students to use the week as a time to rest, read, address their wellness and advance their academic prowess, but it's also critical that we support their search for employment as a top priority."

Highlights of last fall's inaugural Job Search Week included resume reviews and mock interviews; a virtual discussion about job search strategies and networking tips; an in-person panel of past co-op students sharing personal experiences; an information session about how to use Sheridan Works' Co-Curricular Recognition (CCR) and Career Catalyst Portfolio (CCP) programs to launch a job search; early support for students seeking co-op opportunities for the following summer; and advice from several of Sheridan’s senior leaders.

"I've always known that services like this were offered by the C-IL department, but having everything organized in one place made me more inclined to use those services," Crystal says. "It was also great to hear from people who were recently students like us and have already found success. One big thing they taught me was how to utilize AI (artificial intelligence) to produce resumes that will make it through employers' AI resume screening."

Latimer believes Sheridan's second Job Search Week will be even better. In-person events will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at each of Sheridan's three campuses (Tuesday at Davis Campus; Wednesday at Hazel McCallion Campus; Thursday at Trafalgar Road Campus), featuring new events such as:

• Virtual reality experiences in the skilled trades, including immersive simulations in carpentry, heavy-equipment operation, plumbing and more;
• Presentations on managing mental health while balancing the pressures of academic responsibilities with uncertainties of job searching;
• Preparation for Sheridan's upcoming Part-time, Summer & Co-op Job Fair, including one-on-one consultations with employment consultants;
• Question-and-answer periods with Sheridan's Human Resources team, providing tips on how to make your resume stand out, navigate applicant tracking system (ATS) software and more;
• An interactive workshop to learn about personality types and how to build stronger relationships for career success