The University of Northern British Columbia has opened its new Student Career Centre to better prepare students for the workforce after graduation. The Centre is providing career planning and job search workshops that will enhance the career opportunities for students and alumni.

The development of a revised student career centre was initiated during budget planning for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Compared to UNBC’s previous array of employment services, the new Student Career Centre is aiming to provide more effective and coordinated services:
•    The new location on Telus Student Services Street gives it a stronger connection with other student service departments and a high profile.
•    The Centre will administer UNBC’s revised Co-operative Education program, which has been designed to be more self-directed and to better integrate with faculty and academic programs.
•    The student job board is now maintained from a single office (the Career Centre) and is accessible online for easy access. Employers can post jobs on the site free-of-charge.
•    There is a new partnership with the UNBC Alumni Association to engage alumni who are already established in careers to serve as mentors for students or new alumni.

“This new Career Centre represents a great step forward, both for students and new alumni,” says Bob Ellis, Chair of the School of Business and Chair of a task force exploring options for improving student career services on campus. “The provision of workshops and services is vital but this new centre will also play a proactive role, actively creating career opportunities for students. The alumni component is also critical: they have practical and current insights into employment in many fields and their participation could become a real hallmark for the centre and solidify its value for students.”

Since the Student Career Centre opened in early September, employers have posted nearly 100 jobs on the website. In addition, 14 employers have hosted information sessions on campus for prospective employees and there have been 13 workshops on resume-writing and job interviews. The Centre’s website address is www.unbc.ca/careercentre.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622 

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Above: Student Career Centre employees (from left) Maria Trujillo, Cathy MacLeod, and Ryan Bennett