Career Services at Carleton
Career Services is Carleton University’s centralized office supporting all students and alumni across the different disciplines and levels of study on their career paths. Here's how they can help you feel more career-ready:
Career Coaches are available on a drop-in basis Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They can assist you with resume and cover letter reviews, introductions to job search strategies, information for accessing the hidden job market, and networking advice. They can also provide resources for interview preparation and are a great starting point to discuss career exploration, major exploration, or further education exploration.
Career Consultants are available on a drop-in basis, or in certain cases, by appointment. They can assist you with interview preparation including a mock interview. They can also help you further explore job search strategies, particularly if you are having difficulty in your job search. They are a great follow-up after having a meeting with a Career Coach.
Career Counsellors are available by appointment only to explore your interests, values, and preferences and how these may relate to or influence your career options. They can also help you explore in depth degree options in relation to potential career paths. They are available for grad school preparation including exploring program options, and assisting with personal statements and CV reviews.
Contact information
Location: 401 Tory Building
Hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (Monday to Friday)
Telephone: 613-520-6611
Applying to Summer Jobs during COVID
Stuck at home trying to find job opportunities but don’t know where to start? Check out the PAPMSS Tips and Tricks for Job Searching During COVID pdf below!
Applying to Political Internships and Other Volunteer Opportunities
Interested in political internships and volunteer opportunities but don’t know where to start? Check out the PAPMSS Guide to Applying to Political Internships and Other Volunteer Opportunities for some helpful tips and starting points!
Federal & Provincial Government Experience
Parliament Hill
The non-partisan Parliamentary Internship Programme (PIP) creates unique training opportunities for young professionals and recent university graduates, increases knowledge of Parliament, and provides MPs with skilled assistants.
During their ten-month tenure, interns shadow MPs to learn firsthand about the work that goes on in the House. They write speeches, briefing notes, research reports, and questions for question period. They visit their MPs’ ridings, author innovative research papers on Parliament and the work of MPs, and take part in legislative study tours within Canada and abroad. These internships are full-time, paid positions.
The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP)
The Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP) offers full-time students real work experience in the federal public service. There are 14 areas of study and over 250 specializations in various cities across Canada. Students may work full-time or part-time during the summer, part-time during the school year, and as applicable during university approved work terms, like Co-operative Education.
How it Works:
Create your FSWEP profile: be sure to have a resume ready to upload into the database, as well as information about your education, location, language, and skills. Creating a profile may take up to an hour.
Your profile is then a part of the database for the entire year, and it can be updated at any time. Make sure to update any changes to your academic program, skills, or resume.
Federal organizations then request a student referral from FSWEP. The system searches for a minimum of 5 students who match the requirements of the available position. These qualified students are emailed to see if they are interested in, and available for the position.
Students who confirm their interest in the job via email are referred to the hiring manager, who further assesses the selection of students.
Students may be invited for tests and interviews, and job offers are made to the selected students directly from the hiring manager.
All results for student referrals are posted on their FSWEP profiles, under “Job application status”.
Ontario Public Service (OPS)
Every year, the Ontario Public Service, related agencies and community groups, provide up to 5,000 students with jobs across the province. These jobs help Ontario students with limited work experience develop transferable skills, support their career goals and learn more about the Ontario Public Service. Summer Employment Opportunities are full-time, temporary positions ranging from 7 – 18 weeks between May and September.
To apply for Summer Employment Opportunities, you must submit an individual application online for each student job during the posting period by following the steps below:
Go to www.ontario.ca/careers
Select “Student” from the drop-down menu under the “Career Level” field and click ”SEARCH”
You may also narrow your search by selecting additional search fields, such as location
Select the student job ad you are interested in applying for
Complete an application form for each job you are interested in.
Successful applicants are typically contacted via telephone or email 4 weeks following their application. For more information, click here:
Cooperative Education
What is ‘co-op’?
Co-operative Education combines traditional, in-class education with hands-on experience. Co-op students alternate study terms at Carleton with four, eight, twelve or sixteen month work terms.
Co-operative Education will:
Provide practical on-the-job experience;
Allow for networking with a variety of industry professionals;
Help earn money to help reduce student debt;
Add significant value to a degree program;
Develop professional skills.
Steps of the Co-op Process:
1. Apply to Co-op, either directly from high school/CEGEP or during your first year of study at Carleton.
2. Attend Co-op information sessions during your first year of study at Carleton.
3. Be accepted to Co-op, based on the following criteria:
Be registered in a program with a Co-op designation
Completion of 5.0 or more credits at Carleton
CGPA and course requirements for degree program
Full-time status (Minimum of 2.0 credits)
4. Pay Co-op fees
5. Register for COOP1000 in your second or third year of study.
6. Pass all modules and resume assignment
7. Attend Co-op kickoff event during their second or third year of study.
8. Apply to jobs via Carleton's MySuccess portal or conduct their own job search.
9. Schedule and attend interviews.
10. Receive and accept job offer. If self-developed, get approval from Co-op.
11. Begin work term and receive payment.
12. Complete site visit or respond to check-in email.
13. Submit work term report by deadline.
14. Pass Co-op! You may add additional work terms depending on your work-study sequence.
For more information about Co-op, please see the Co-op website:
Applying to a job?
Here at PAPMSS, we're committed to getting students career-ready. Here are some tips on how to write an effective resume and cover letter for your next job application, and links to on-campus resources where you can get assistance for finding a job!
RESUME
Choose the right format for your situation. A functional resumé focuses attention on your skills and accomplishments. A chronological resumé highlights a relevant work history.
Make your resumé reader friendly. Use an easy-to-read font, such as Calibri or Arial, at 11 or 12- point size. Keep the margins at the standard one inch for ease of readability.
Print out the job postings that you’re interested in pursuing before you apply. Identify the key words and industry language used to describe the requirements and responsibilities of each position. Adapt the language that appears in your current resumé to the phrases on the posting.
Include a ‘profile’ section targeting the position you are interested in. Include the three W’s: who you are, what significant skill(s) you possess that is relevant to the posted position, and where within the organization you are applying.
Your education should be on the first page of your resumé. Include the full title of your degree program. High school can be removed once enrolled in a post-secondary program.
List your work and volunteer experience in reverse chronological order. The most recent comes first. Include accomplishment statements that demonstrate the positive impact you have had in the workplace.
Proofread your resumé to ensure it is free of spelling errors. Read it out loud to check for grammar.
Avoid submitting a generic, one-size-fits-all resumé or cover letter. If you are serious about the job, you will cater your resume and cover letter to suit it.
COVER LETTERS
Use the same font type and size as your resumé, as they are a matching set;
Address your letter to an individual rather than a department. If required, call the company directly to identify the hiring manager by name;
Write the cover letter in the ‘first person’;
Explain the link between your experiences and skills and the needs of
the employer, using concrete examples;
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company and the industry; describe reasons why you are seeking employment with this company;
Proofread! Check your cover letter for spelling and grammar, read it out loud;
In closing, thank the hiring manager for considering you for the job and state that you are available for an interview;