Interview by Alexandra B., featuring Jana McDonald After graduating from the University of Guelph, the world is yours to explore and discover – but this can seem like a daunting task! To help “Master your Future”, the University has a variety of different services at the Experiential Learning Hub. From career advising and resume writing, to learning opportunities on and off campus, the Career Advisors at the EL Hub can help prepare you for the future, wherever this may lead! To better understand the role of Career Advisors and how they can be of aid to students on their path towards a prosperous career, today’s faculty spotlight is Jana McDonald. Jana is a current Career Advisor at the EL Hub, who is passionate about helping students find the career that best fits who they are and above all, makes them happy! Jana prepared answers to many frequently asked questions, ranging from specifics about her job to interview tips and much more! Read all about it below. Alexandra: What does your job entail as a Career Advisor @ the EL Hub?
Alexandra: What is your favourite part about being a Career Advisor? Jana: Knowing that I am genuinely helping people move forward with their careers in a way that has them excited about their futures! Alexandra: Say a student is having a hard time finding a meaningful job that satisfies both their needs and wants in life. Is this something you can help with? Jana: Finding a meaningful job does take time, usually there is going to be some trial and error involved as you “test drive” your ideas. We help with that journey, I’m all about people starting from a place of meaning, but I want you to make money along the way! Alexandra: Over the span of your career as a Career Advisor for students, I'm sure you have been frequently asked the same, repetitive questions. Given those FAQs, what do you think every student in Psychology (or at UofG in general) needs to keep in mind when planning out their career? Jana: There is an abundance of “helping” careers out there; pursuing a masters/PhD is one pathway, but there are many others. Start thinking about who you would like to help and how, for example, maybe you want to help new immigrants to Canada get settled, maybe you want to help youth who have been incarcerated, maybe you want to work for a company recruiting people to get jobs, there are endless possibilities! What are your top 3? Here are some good questions to reflect on as you’re figuring out your pathways: What target group are you most interested in helping? How do you want to help? How can you get paid or volunteer experience working with this group while at university? Alexandra: What is something you find that students often forget when going into an interview? Jana: That it’s a competition. We focus so much on our own performance we forget that we’re competing, many times with other students. When sharing an interview response, ask yourself, “Could any other student say exactly what I’m saying?” If so, provide more details and context to make your story unique to you! Alexandra: If you had to give students one overarching piece of advice about their resumes or cover letters, what would it be? Jana: Focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities the employer has asked for, not what your “duties/responsibilities” were. Use the job posting as a checklist - if the employer felt the need to ask for a skill, you need to clearly tell them you have it. Employers’ minds will not leave the document they’re reading, so for example, if all you’ve listed is BA Psychology, they don’t pause and think – “I wonder what research abilities, counselling techniques, or child development knowledge this student developed?” You must clearly tell them so they can read the information, and say to themselves, “We need that skill or ability.” Alexandra: What kind of volunteering or job opportunities should Psychology students be seeking if they want to effectively enhance their student experiences? Jana: Some on-campus ideas - Student Support Network, Wellness Education Centre, Peer Helper Program. Some off-campus ideas - Help lines e.g. Kids Help Phone, mental health organizations e.g. Homewood Health Centre, summer camps e.g. Gryphon Activity Camps and non-profit organizations e.g. Big Brothers Big Sisters! Alexandra: (Submitted from a follower on Instagram) Does UofG's Psychology co-op program offer any big benefits when it comes to finding a career in Psychology - particularly, therapy? Jana: Psychology co-op offers the opportunity to gain therapy related skills - for example, listening techniques, analytical research skills, and problem solving. Alexandra: For students that think therapy or counselling is their only option for the future: what more can someone do with a Psychology degree? Jana: There are lots of opportunities! Here are a few:
Alexandra: What online resources are available for students at UofG regarding job opportunities or career advising? Jana:
Alexandra: Finally, how can students connect with you directly if they have any other pressing questions? Jana: Send me an email to [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn via www.linkedin.com/in/janamcdonald! Firstly, I want to thank Jana for taking the time to share her experiences and expertise with the Psychology Society – it is greatly appreciated and will surely benefit many students. As someone who is graduating this semester, I can definitely say that I will be utilizing the advice on interviews and cover letters! One aspect of this virtual interview that really resonated with me was how Jana highlighted the various different paths that Psychology majors can take after graduation, other than just counselling and therapy. It is interesting to see the broad reach that Psychology has, and how it can be effectively applied to a diverse array of fields and careers.
- Alexandra Alexandra is a fourth-year student at the University of Guelph and is Chair on the Psychology Society. Do you want to share more on the topic of "Mastering Your Future" as a Psychology student? Make sure you fill out our submission form and send it back to us so we can showcase your ideas!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Want to contribute?If you'd like to share your own content on GetPsyched, download, complete and send this form to our email: Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
Blog CommitteeThis blog has been running thanks to a wonderful committee of students dedicated to uplifting student voices! Read about them here: |