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Career Advising
The Career Services office, also referred to as the Career Centre, is Carleton University’s one-stop shop that provides year-round career advising services to students and alumni of all programs and years of study.
Career Services staff help students and alumni explore labour market trends, understand how their field of study translates into employment prospects, articulate to employers the career competencies they have honed during their academic studies, and more. Career Services also supports students and alumni with practical tips and tools for resumes, cover letters, CVs, personal statements, building LinkedIn profiles, and effectively navigating networking platforms.
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Career Advising Services
For the 2022-2023 academic year, all career advising services were offered virtually and in person, by booked appointment and drop-in.
Career Advising Sessions
Career Services conducted a total of 3,166 career advising sessions throughout the 2022-2023 academic year, an increase of 43% compared to the previous year.
Students Served
Throughout the 2022-2023 academic year, 1,937 unique individuals attended a career advising session. Of the 1,937 individuals, 62% received services in person.
3,166 Career advising sessions throughout the 20222023 academic year
733
Unique individuals attended a virtual career advising session
1,549
Number of unique individuals that attended who were at the undergraduate level
Accessible Career Transitions
Accessible Career Transitions (ACT) is a specialized career advising program that provides highly-individualized career support to Carleton University students and alumni who identify as having a disability. Through the ACT program, participants can book one-on-one career advising appointments with a dedicated ACT Advisor and receive regular email communications about ACT program updates, job postings from inclusive employers, and notices about employment-related workshops and learning opportunities. ACT Advising appointments are a chance for participants to:
Formulate key career documents, such as resumes and cover letters.
Gain effective job search and interview strategies.
Explore and discuss career ideas or concerns.
Identify and practice articulating their transferable skills and strengths.
Understand how to use a strengths-based approach to request workplace accommodations and disclose their disability to employers.
There were 397 ACT sessions conducted from May 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023. There continued to be an increase in booked appointments this year and a decrease in “no show” appointments. The ACT program’s growth increased during the 2022-2023 academic year, gaining 191 new registrants through referrals from:
Academic Advising
ACT to Employ
Career Services’ Instagram
Career Services office
Career Services’ website
Employers
Enriched Support Program
Paul Menton Centre for Disabilities (PMC)
Professors
State of the Raven
Student Affairs
Student Experience Office (SEO)
Student Services Fair
Submissions from the registration form on the ACT website
Word of mouth
This brings the total number of students and alumni registered with the ACT program to 1,484; a 15% increase in new registrants compared to the previous academic year.
397 ACT sessions conducted
191 New registrants
“I wanted to let you know that I have recently received two separate job offers! Thank you so much for all of your help! When we started our sessions, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my future, and now I will be gaining experience in a career field I am really interested in. I really appreciate all the time you spent helping me.”
– ACT Advising student
Highlights from 2022-2023
Facilitated workshops on self-advocacy and employability through the PMC Launch to Campus events.
Facilitated two workshops for the Carleton Disability Awareness Centre (CDAC) Employability Week.
Facilitated a class presentation on job searching as a person with a disability, which included information about workplace disclosure and accommodations.
Connected students and alumni with external employment agencies.
ACT Advising participants reported successful job searches and graduate program admissions following individualized advising meetings.
There was a noted increase in referral sources on campus, signifying greater recognition and reach across the university.
Undeclared Advising Program
The Undeclared Advising Program is a proactive career exploration initiative. This program invites students admitted into the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Undeclared Program to meet with a Career Counsellor for specialized career advising sessions. The goal of this program is to provide BA Undeclared students with an opportunity to explore their major and career options, and ultimately help them declare a major.
The Undeclared Advising Program’s success is measured by comparing how many BA Undeclared students who participated in the program declared a major by the end of winter semester to how many BA Undeclared students declared a major after not participating in the program.
Results of the 2022-2023 Undeclared Advising Program: For the fifth year in a row, the Undeclared Advising Program has proven to be a successful initiative in helping students explore their areas of academic interest and make the decision to declare a major. This academic year, 71% of the students who participated in the Undeclared Advising Program declared their major, compared to 42% the previous year.
59
Total number of BA Undeclared students in 2022-2023
35
Students attended an Undeclared Advising session
25 71%
24 Undeclared Advising Program participants declared a major by April 2023
Students who chose not to participate in the Undeclared Advising Program
6 25% Students out of the 24 who did not participate ended up declaring a major by April 2023
