Parents and Prospective Students
Welcome to the University of Toronto Career Centre
What we do
As career educators on campus, the Career Centre has a team of professional career
counsellors and support staff ready to assist, coach, guide, encourage, and counsel
U of T students and recent graduates so that they can:
- Learn how to make career choices that are right for them
- Learn about careers and how to develop work experience needed by employers
- Increase confidence in their job search and interview skills
What we offer
- Career counselling and coaching for students who are undecided or unsure about their
career future
- Career exploration and work experience assistance
- On-the-job shadowing of career professionals through the Extern Job Shadowing program
- Access to part-time, summer, and volunteer jobs and full-time work for graduating
students and recent graduates
- Resume critiques, practice interviews, and work search techniques assistance
- Employer supported industry panels, career fairs, and information sessions
A note to prospective students
It is great that you are considering coming to the University of Toronto. Once you
arrive, the Career Centre should be one of the places to include on your ‘must experience’
list. Registered students in any year and in all programs will have full access
to the wide range of programs, services, listings, guides, catalogues, and resources
available at the Career Centre. In the meantime, click on the side bar or current
student links to learn more about your options and what you can study at U of T.
Here are some of the typical questions we get from students:
- What can I do with my degree? (see link on side bar)
- What careers are best suited to my interest and personality? (professional career counsellors
are available to help you discover your career interests)
- What if I want to be my own boss? (there are extensive resources available in our
Career Resource Library about running your own business or franchise)
- How do I know I will enjoy the career I’m interested in? (The Extern Job Shadowing
program allows you to shadow a career professional in his or her place of employment)
- How do I get work experience? (we have information available on over 10,000 volunteer
jobs, as well as part-time and summer work, and internship opportunity)
- How can I stand out in interviews? (we invite info sessions and networking employers
on campus to help students with practice interviews)
- How do I write an effective resume and cover letter? (we critique over 4,500 resumes
annually at our Resume Clinic)
- Where do I look for work? (The Career Centre posted 45,000+ positions in 2006/7)
For parents
Tips for parents on supporting your child’s career development
- Encourage them to visit the Career Centre.
- Tell them of the services that are available.
- Encourage them to start their planning as early as 2nd year.
- Assure them that they are not making a decision for the rest of their lives: career
change is common nowadays.
- Tell them to plan for change.
- Challenge them to become ‘occupationally literate’.
- Tell them your story, but know that their approaches, needs and realities may be
significantly different from yours.
- Allow them the latitude to make their own decisions.
- Encourage them to explore options.
- Tell them to get involved in their university life.
- Act as a resource to current students!
Allow them to talk to you about what you do by completing an Alumni Profile or by becoming an Informational Interview contact.