Career Services and Co-operative Education 2023-2024 Annual Report

Career Advising

The Career Services office is Carleton University’s one-stop shop that provides year-round career advising services to current students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Affairs, Faculty of Public Affairs, and the Faculty of Science. Career Services also provides advising services to alumni, regardless of program of study or graduation date.

Career Service 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.

CAREER ADVISING SERVICES

For the 2023-2024 academic year, all career advising services were offered virtually and in person, by booked appointment and drop-in.

3,688

Career advising sessions throughout the 20232024 academic year

Career Advising Sessions

Career Services conducted a total of 3,688 career advising sessions throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, an increase of 16.5% compared to the previous year.

Students Served

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, 2,084 unique individuals attended a career advising session. Of those 2,084 individuals, 70% received services in person.

645

Unique individuals attended a virtual career advising session

1,757

Number of unique individuals that attended who were at the undergraduate level

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 2023-2024 Undeclared Advising Program: For the ninth 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, 54% of the students who participated in the Undeclared Advising Program declared their major, compared to 71% the previous year.

79

Total number of BA Undeclared students in 2023-2024

35

Students attended an Undeclared Advising session

44

19

Students who chose not to participate in the Undeclared Advising Program

11

Undeclared Advising Program participants declared a major by April 2024

Students out of the 44 who did not participate ended up declaring a major by April 2024

Career Events

Career Services and Co-operative Education hosted many virtual and in-person recruitment, outreach, and skill development events throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. These events were designed to help students explore their interests, increase their career-readiness, learn about jobs and organizations in their fields, and connect with employers and recruiters so they can begin building their professional networks.

CAREER FAIRS

Career Services held three Career Fairs throughout the 2023-2024 academic year in fall (October), winter (January), and spring (March). For the first time since 2019-2020, students and alumni were welcomed back to campus for inperson Career Fairs for fall and spring. The Winter Career Fair was held online using the Brazen event platform.

IN TOTAL

4,654 students and alumni attended a Carleton Career Fair in the 2023-2024 academic year

139

unique employers attended a Carleton Career Fair in the 2023-2024 academic year, generating a combined total revenue of $99,406.24

In-person fall and spring fairs welcomed a total of 116 employers and 3,222 students to campus. Both fairs offered four tiers of employer booth packages, which was so well received that each event sold out weeks in advance. Employers travelled from as far as Nunavut and New Brunswick to connect with Carleton talent.

IN-PERSON FALL CAREER FAIR (OCTOBER 18, 2023)

Number of employers registered

79

Number of employers in attendance 79

Number of employers registered 44

Number of employers registered

37

Number of students registered

2,881

VIRTUAL WINTER CAREER FAIR (JANUARY 24, 2024)

Number of employers in attendance 42

Total employer-student conversations

3,545

Number of students registered

2,557

Most visited booth: Canada Revenue Agency (chats completed)

212

IN-PERSON SPRING CAREER FAIR (MARCH 20, 2024)

Number of employers in attendance

37

Number of students registered

2,151

Number of students in attendance

1,876 (65%)

Number of students in attendance

1,432 (56%)

Number of students in attendance

1,346 (63%)

FACULTY REQUESTS

Over the course of the academic year, Career Services is often asked by instructors, professors, on-campus departments, and student groups to deliver in-class career readiness workshops and presentations. As students often look to faculty, student support services staff, and student leaders for career guidance and employment advice, these workshops (also referred to as Faculty Requests) are a key opportunity for Career Services to build relationships with individual faculty members, student support services departments, and student groups to collaborate and support the career development needs of students.

In line with the Employability Framework, these workshops and presentations equip students to recognize the skills gained in the classroom, to identify the opportunities available to them outside of the classroom, and to make connections to their skill development so they are better able to articulate their skills when seeking employment upon graduation.

Workshops are customized for each audience and offer a mixed modality learning design that includes instruction, engaging hands-on activities, and small and large group discussions, tailored to meet the unique and diverse learning styles of Carleton students. To support students’ learning, workshops provide opportunities for students to receive immediate feedback on their career development plans and their practice of career development concepts from both their peers and the career development workshop facilitators.

The Career Services team delivered a total of 220 Faculty Request workshops throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. This is a growth of 10% compared to 2022-2023.

Of these 220 Faculty Requests, 93 were related to career competencies developed through the Employability Framework; a growth of 15% from the previous academic term. Demand for career competencies and skill identification workshops from specific faculty and student groups includes:

Ÿ Faculty of Engineering and Design (27%)

Ÿ Faculty of Public Affairs (25%)

Ÿ Faculty of Science (16%)

Ÿ On-campus student support services departments (50%)

Through these 220 Faculty Requests, Career Services was able to present to 11,046 students throughout the academic term. This is an increase of 75% compared to 2022-2023. The increase is the result of new

“During the current school year, Career Services has provided workshops in three of the courses I’ve taught. I’ve appreciated the professionalism and friendliness of the staff with whom I’ve worked. [The Career Development Officers] consulted with me early in the term and tailored the content of their workshops to complement the course content. As a result, Career Services offered high-quality workshops that captured the interest of the students and met their needs. I look forward to working with this team in future courses I teach.”

- Elizabeth Sabbagh, Contact Instructor, School of Linguistics and Language Studies

collaborations with faculty teaching large first-, second-, and fourth-year core courses.

Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, Career Services noted the following Faculty Request trends:

Ÿ Strengthened efforts to provide career-readiness education to current students, prospective students, and community organizations from diverse and inclusive committees. This included:

 Presenting at The Centre for Indigenous Support and Community Engagement new student orientation session for the first time.

 Presenting four career-readiness workshops for the Umoja Black Community Engagement Program, including one workshop for prospective high school students from the Black community.

 Presenting to visiting Nishnawbe Aski Nation Youth Leadership Program.

 Presenting a workshop for high school students participating in the Department of Human Resources’ Grade 9 Take Our Kids To Work program.

Ÿ Collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and Design that resulted in four recorded videos in support of the Employability Framework in their first year Engineering Core (ECOR) course.

Ÿ 108% increase in Faculty Requests delivered in the spring/ summer semesters; 28 workshops facilitated compared to 10 workshops facilitated the previous spring/summer semesters.

Ÿ Nine workshops delivered to students enrolled in Carleton’s new Engineering Practice graduate program on topics including career competencies and skill identification, resume and cover letters, interviewing, and networking.

Ÿ Partnership with Carleton’s Social Work practicum program on the development of cover letter and resume workshops to prepare their practicum students for applying for internships.

Ÿ The most popular Faculty Request topics were:

 Identifying and ar ticulating your career competencies

 Cover letter and resume development

 Career planning workshops such as “What Can I Do with My Degree” and “Your Career Starts Now”

Ÿ 29% increase in career-readiness workshops for students participating in International Exchange and International Internship Programs at Carleton.

CAREER WORKSHOPS

Applying to Graduate and Professional Studies Workshops

Career Services launched a new in-person workshop series titled “Applying to Graduate and Professional Studies.” The workshop series was offered during the fall and winter semesters and was split into two parts: “What Do I Need to Know?” and “Application Documents.”

Part One of the series helped attendees learn how to get organized before applying to graduate school or professional programs. Topics included how to research admission requirements and key timelines for applying. Part Two taught students how to compile a competitive application package. Topics included how to write a strong personal statement, differentiating between academic CVs and resumes, and how to secure professional or academic references.

Both sessions were open to current students and alumni regardless of their career goals and where they were at in the exploration or application process. A total of 46 participants attended Part One and a total of 12 participants attended Part Two during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Navigating the Canadian Workplace: Career Workshop Series for International Students

Navigating the Canadian Workplace is a career workshop series that offers Carleton’s international students the opportunity to learn about Canadian hiring processes, skills identification, goal setting, networking, conducting a successful job search and interview, and more.

Career Services transitioned back to in-person sessions while also offering an asynchronous virtual workshop series for the 2023-2024 academic year. The workshops were held in both the fall and winter semesters. Students were invited to attend in person where they could engage with the material, ask questions, and participate in activities and discussions. In addition, students could view each workshop recording, complete related assignments, and review the slides and resources at their own pace over an eight-week period through the virtual platform. This allowed students to access the material in the way that worked best for their learning, availability, and accessibility needs. Students who attended or viewed all five workshops and completed all eight workshop assignments were eligible to earn the Navigating the Canadian Workplace Participant acknowledgement on their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

A total of 277 students registered for the series throughout the 2023-2024 academic year (181 in fall and 96 in winter).

Resume Clinic: Four-Part Series

New this year, Career Services created a four-part resume workshop series on the following topics: How to Craft a Compelling Resume, How to Write a Persuasive Cover Letter, Insider Insights into Applicant Tracking Software, and Leveraging AI (Artificial Intelligence) Tools for Job Applications. This in-person series ran in both the fall and winter semesters. These workshops were attended by a total of 98 students over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year.

Roving Career Services

New this year, Career Services hit the halls on campus to further connect with students. This was a great opportunity to

discuss the services available at Career Services, chat about upcoming Career Fairs, and answer any questions students might have. Career Services connected with 101 students through six tabling sessions delivered in fall and winter.

Prepare

for the Fair

Series

A three-part workshop series was developed to prepare and support students and alumni who planned to attend the Fall, Winter, or Spring Career Fairs. Delivered a week prior to each respective fair, Prepare for the Fair provided tangible support and guidance on resume writing, LinkedIn, and networking.

Prepare for the Fair: Resume Review Workshop

Six sessions (three virtual, three in person) were delivered throughout the 2023-2024 academic year to support students and alumni with resume review and quick tips. In total, there were 115 virtual resume reviews, 192 in-person resume reviews, and 174 interactions with students to promote the fairs and answer questions about networking with employers.

Prepare for the Fair: Building a Strong LinkedIn Profile and Cultivating Your Online Network

LinkedIn workshops helped attendees discover how to make a stand-out professional profile, leverage the LinkedIn algorithm, and cultivate their online network, which was especially useful when connecting with employer representatives at the Fall, Winter, and Spring Career Fairs. A total of 166 participants attended three LinkedIn workshops during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Prepare for the Fair: Networking

Networking workshops were conducted three times throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. Students and alumni were supported through effective networking strategies, hands-on “elevator pitch” practice sessions, and networking skills specific to attending a Career Fair. A total of 99 students and alumni attended these workshops.

Employability Programs

In order to help students gain experience and increase their job-readiness, Career Services encourages them to get involved in its employability skills development programs. These programs help students meet industry professionals, develop in-demand transferable skills, test their knowledge, and make connections between classroom learning and real-world workplace requirements. Enhancing students’ employability skills allows them to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, skills, and educational requirements they may need to achieve their career goals.

CAMPUS RECRUITMENT PACKAGES

The Campus Recruitment Packages were designed to provide employer partners with a range of options to best support their recruitment needs, while also ensuring effective engagement for students and new grads with recruiting employers. Here is a look at the current packages:

Featured Job

Featured Jobs allow employers to promote their organization along with a specific job opportunity. This package includes prominent placement of the employer logo and job opportunity on the main student page of mySuccess (a student and employer portal), as well as promo on Career Services’ social media channels leading up to the application deadline.

Event Promotion

This package is designed to promote an organization and their career event to Carleton students. It includes a post on the mySuccess events calendar, as well as promotion of the event across Career Services’ social media and digital channels leading up to the event.

Recruitment Information Sessions

This package offers employers a full range of supports to recruit Carleton talent to their organization. With this package, the Career Services team works closely with employers to plan the event and showcase the organization to Carleton students and new grads. The team promotes the employer through various avenues, including targeting students in specific faculties and programs through email marketing, and more broadly across Career Services’ social media and digital channels.

Grad School Information Session

This package allows educational institutions to promote their master’s, Ph.D., diploma, and professional training and certification programs to a targeted group of students. Grad School Information Sessions saw a 44% increase compared to the previous academic year.

RECRUITMENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

Career Services continues to provide the option for employers to choose between virtual and in-person events, as well as on-campus booths. This flexible approach has provided employers with the opportunity to choose the format that works best for their organization, and the Career Services team provides professional guidance to assist with their selection and event.

Highlights from 2023-2024

Bell: Hosted an in-person recruitment session to discuss their student internships and new grad opportunities. At this session, attendees had the opportunity to speak with multiple members from the Bell team and learn about their many divisions. The event had 75 students in attendance.

Boeing Canada – Winnipeg: Hosted an event on campus for Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer Systems and Software Engineering students regarding internship and career opportunities. The event had 180 students in attendance.

Ciena: Hosted an event on campus for students in IT, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Computer Science about their career opportunities in hardware engineering and their latest networking technology. The event had 220 students in attendance.

City of Ottawa: Hosted an in-person recruitment information session to discuss their co-op and summer employment

opportunities. The event had 62 students in attendance.

CRA – IT Branch: Hosted a virtual session to inform students about their co-op and internship opportunities in technology, their apprenticeship and developmental programs for students and new grads, and their application process. The event had 126 students in attendance.

Honeywell: Hosted an event on campus to present to students about their aeronautical satellite communications and career opportunities. The event had 145 students in attendance.

IBM Z Career Connection Event: Hosted an event on campus to teach students about IBM Z technology, introduce them to their Xplore platform, give them an opportunity to meet professionals in the Ottawa area currently using this technology, and tell them how to qualify for a virtual IBM Z career fair. The event had 60 students in attendance.

Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET): Hosted an in-person information booth where they taught students about the exchange program and teaching in Japan. The booth had 100 students visit.

Nokia: Hosted an event on campus to recruit students for technical and non-technical career opportunities for co-op, internship positions, and new grad opportunities. The event had 385 students in attendance.

Ontario Parks: Hosted a virtual recruitment session to discuss their summer student jobs at Ontario provincial parks. The event had 43 students in attendance.

Parliamentary Guide Information Booth: Hosted an inperson information booth about full-time summer student jobs leading guided tours, facilitating programming, and welcoming visitors to Parliament. The booth had 70 students visit.

Read Jones Christoffersen Engineers: Hosted an event on campus for Architecture, Architectural Conservation, and Sustainability and Civil Engineering students about a day in the life of an engineer at RJC, their notable projects, and career opportunities. The event had 80 students in attendance.

Ross Video: Hosted an on-campus event for students to highlight their live production technology and their co-op, internship, and new grad opportunities. The event had 80 students in attendance.

TD: Hosted an in-person recruitment information session to discuss their various student positions, internships, and co-op opportunities within branch banking. The event had 70 students in attendance.

This academic year also included two unique employer site visits and four industry-specific networking events:

Modern Niagara Industry Tour: Modern Niagara invited students within the Mechanical, Electrical, Environmental and Sustainable, and Renewable Energy Engineering programs to their Career Fair and Energy Solutions Showcase. This event highlighted the various technology measures implemented to convert the AMPED Sports Lab and Ice Complex into a first Zero Carbon Building.

Navigating Careers in Mental Health – Insights from Employers: Career Services hosted an evening of networking targeted to students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Neuroscience, and Graduate Studies. The event offered students a chance to learn about community partners, make connections in the mental health community, hear about opportunities available, and receive valuable advice and insights into this career field. The event was attended by 86 highly-engaged students. Presenting employers included The Royal Mental Health Centre, Ungava Tulattavik Health Center, Ottawa Police Service Mental Health Unit, and Main Street Community Services. Networking employers included Spark Lifecare, Pathways to Independence, Karis Disability Services, and the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

Ottawa Construction Association Trade Show & Symposium: Engineering students were invited to attend the trade show to learn about trends, technology, and innovation in the

construction industry, as well as to network with construction companies, local architects and engineers, general contractors, infrastructure builders, and suppliers.

PCL Construction Industry Tour: A total of 11 female Engineering students participated in this event to visit the Centre Block restoration site, where the goal was to network and learn about the careers of women in the construction industry.

REDBLACKS Game & IT/High Tech Networking Event: A total of 121 students within STEM participated in this event, with nine employers within the IT industry participating, including Ciena, Nokia, Solace, Cisco, Intega, Innovapost, CIRA, Warner Brothers Discovery, and General Dynamics.

67’s Hockey Game & Engineering Building Sciences/ Aviation Networking Event: A total of 96 students within the Mechanical, Civil, Aerospace, and Architecture programs participated in this event, along with 15 employers within the building sciences and aviation industry. Partner organizations included Minto Group, Modern Niagara, Demathieu Bard Construction, Thomas Cavanagh Construction, Pomerleau, Tulloch, DeHavilland Aircraft, LRL Engineering, WSP Canada, Architecture49, Perkins&Will, Taggart Group of Companies, Leonardo DRS Technologies, HH Angus and Associates, and EllisDon.

ACCESSIBLE CAREER TRANSITIONS AND ACT TO EMPLOY

Career Services offers programming for students and alumni who identify as having a disability and for employers who want to hire more inclusively through Accessible Career Transitions (ACT). In 2023 and early 2024, ACT added to its number of program registrants, community and campus-based employer partners, and successful student placements. ACT staff continue to provide holistic support to employer partners and to Carleton students and new graduates with disabilities.

The ACT program provides two services:

Ÿ ACT Advising includes individualized and ongoing career management support for Carleton students and alumni who identify as having a disability.

975

ACT sessions conducted

Ÿ ACT to Employ helps facilitate meaningful employment opportunities for Carleton students with disabilities. The main objective is to support students in the transition to employment by connecting them with quality hands-on work experience while supporting the program’s Employer Champions in creating accessible, inclusive, and diverse workplaces. This includes end-to-end support to employers through the recruitment process and during work terms.

ACT saw 276 new registrants, 228 new intakes, and 975 ACT appointments conducted from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. This year, new registrants came through campus partner referrals, program promotions, and word of mouth via students promoting their successes through the program to peers.

This brings the total number of students and alumni registered with the ACT program to 1,786; a 20% increase in new registrants compared to the previous academic year.

302

New registrants

290

Number of student work placements supported by ACT to Employ

Carleton's ACT and Paul Menton Centre team members volunteered at the DCOI Spring Accessible Career Fair, held at Ottawa's Shaw Centre in April 2024.

“The best part of my placement experience was being part of impactful work. My supervisors make me feel like a valued member of the team and they give me lots of opportunities to explore different tasks. For example, I got to write a pitch for our program to receive funding which was something I had never done before. I'm learning new things and being exposed to a different work environment.”

– ACT student

ACT to Employ continues to promote inclusive hiring practices through the program’s employer partners at Carleton and in the community, and emphasizes the importance of a caring, flexible approach to service that meets the needs of students with disabilities. Employer Champions and student registrants continue to express appreciation for ACT and ACT to Employ’s services with a high degree of satisfaction throughout the employment process. One hundred percent of students who provided feedback in 2023-2024 felt that their ACT to Employ placement contributed positively to their career development.

The ACT Student Counsellor continues to add to student resources through the ACT to Employ Resource Hub. This has increased the capacity to reach students and further integrate ACT into the broader Carleton context by partnering with Carleton’s Department of Social Work. Each term this year, the ACT Student Counsellor supervised MSW and BSW students who provided support with ACT intakes and administrative processes. All ACT to Employ participants now also have access to Career Counselling with a disability lens.

Awareness of the ACT to Employ program continues to increase across campus and in the community. Through a combination of remote and campus-based subsidized placements and external positions, ACT to Employ successfully supported 290 student work placements from May 2023 to April 2024.

Spring/Summer 2023

Positions Supported: 99

Common Placements: Student Experience Office; Journalism and Communication; Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Fall 2023

Positions Supported: 100

Common Placements: Centre for Initiatives in Education, International Student Services Office, Paul Menton Centre

Winter 2024

Positions Supported: 91

Common Placements: Centre for Initiatives in Education, Paul Menton Centre, Journalism and Communication, Athletics

The ACT team also took part in several events this year:

Ÿ Facilitated employer presentations to various government departments and connected with other Canadian postsecondary institutions.

Ÿ For the first time ever, ACT provided all-day support during both in-person Career Fairs for Carleton students and alumni. This approach allowed ACT staff to better serve the needs of students and alumni with disabilities and increased the overall inclusivity and accessibility of these large-scale in-person events.

Ÿ Hosted a recruitment table at Carleton’s Social Work Agency Fair.

Ÿ Provided support at two in-person David C. Onley Initiative (DCOI) Career Fairs for students and new graduates with disabilities.

Ÿ Presented at a “Coffee Chat” for students with disabilities through Carleton’s Accessibility Institute.

Ÿ Presented an information session and hosted an information table at the Paul Menton Centre’s in-person Fall Orientation and Mini-Fair event for new students with disabilities and their parents.

Ÿ Hosted information tables at Expo Carleton and Carleton’s Student Services Fair.

Ÿ Facilitated a Career in the Classroom workshop to students on the aspects to consider when job searching as a person with a disability, disclosure in the workplace, and requesting workplace accommodations.

"The international internship program has brought me to Dublin, Ireland where I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside a psychology professor in the Classification & Attribution Lab at University College Dublin. I have been learning first-hand how research is conducted here in Ireland and am participating in new research initiatives using TikTok to collect data and analyze cross-cultural understandings of trauma and PTSD. This experience has been once in a lifetime, allowing me to also travel around and explore Ireland's beautiful countryside and unique towns, including Galway, Wicklow/ Glendalough, Belfast, Derry, and more."

- Giulia Brown, Forensic Psychology and Criminology

INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

International internships provide students with the opportunity to work internationally for academic credit. Internships are an excellent way for students to gain realworld experience, develop industry contacts, and build their professional resumes to market themselves for future career opportunities, all while experiencing life in a new country and culture.

The International Internship Program is open to all undergraduate students, but is also an instrumental piece in satisfying the International Experience Requirement for students in the Bachelor of Global and International Studies (BGInS) program. While students from all academic backgrounds are recruited to participate in international internships, there is also a separate course dedicated to students in the BGInS program.

This past year, the International Internship team worked with established global partners to provide both in-person and virtual internships. The in-person internship continued to be an attractive option, allowing students to gain valuable international work experience while travelling abroad and fully immersing themselves in the culture and lifestyle of

“On behalf of Global Experiences, I would like to relay what a wonderful and positive experience it has been working with Carleton University programs, staff, and students. All members of the staff are incredibly well-versed and helpful in keeping both students and GE staff informed and prepared at all times. The students are also great to work with. They bring a passion and readiness to our programs that we do not always see. With that said, we truly look forward to our continued relationship with Carleton University.”

- Chelsea Conran, Regional Enrollment Manager, Global Experiences

International Internship Program Student Ambassadors shared their firsthand accounts, insights, transformative moments, and enriching experiences at the SOAR Conference, inspiring fellow students to explore the world through education and leadership.

their host country. In May 2023, the International Internship Program successfully oversaw the safe travel of students to 11 countries. Through events such as the post-internship session, students identified the importance of networking and connecting with people in their career fields, while also connecting with the rich culture, social norms, and practices of their host. While the in-person internships grew, virtual internships continued to be an attractive option to students. Many students aligned with the core principles of the virtual internship – finding value in experiential learning rooted in degree-related international work experience, while working remotely. Students highlighted that the virtual program is flexible and accessible, while remaining a unique option for students to obtain experience and credit at a lower cost, reducing the financial barrier to participation.

Highlights from 2023-2024

Ÿ Partnered with the International Student Services Office (ISSO) to secure an additional $35,000 in Global Skills Opportunities bursary funding, as well as $50,000 in innovation funding for international mobility programs.

Ÿ Collaborated with the ISSO to host the first-ever Global Opportunities Fair with approximately 300 students and a range of international partners in attendance, with the goal

of connecting students directly with programs, partners, and past-participants to explore international mobility opportunities at Carleton.

Ÿ Re-introduced the Student Ambassador Program, engaging 11 Student Ambassadors to support with program promotions and support as the team prepared students for their experience abroad.

Ÿ Introduced new recruitment and outreach options, including Instagram Student Ambassador Takeovers, to provide engaging information to students about all aspects of the program.

Ÿ Facilitated a Student Committee Focus Group to obtain critical feedback from program participants and reflect on future improvements.

Ÿ Introduced a new student appointment booking system through Microsoft Bookings to allow students to more seamlessly connect with the team.

Ÿ Hosted a student-led presentation as part of SOAR, where the team worked with Student Ambassadors to present on their international experience in relation to their identity, focussing on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Secured $500K in Student Funding from Global Skills and Opportunities Program

The Global Skills Opportunity program is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, and jointly administered by Universities Canada and Colleges and Institutes Canada. This program is designed to encourage and enable low-income students, students with disabilities, and Indigenous students to participate in meaningful study and work abroad programming. For summer 2023, fall 2023, and winter 2024, a total of 44 in-person and virtual internship

participants were provided with additional funding through the Global Skills Opportunity program.

Carleton has now officially dispersed all of the GSO bursary funding to students, including the additional $35,000 received in 2023, one year prior to the GSO deadline. The team continues to work closely with their partners at Universities Canada to advocate for additional funding and to remain updated on any future funding opportunities.

JOB SHADOW PROGRAM

Job Shadow is a career exploration program that allows thirdand fourth-year Bachelor of Arts students in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences and Public Affairs, and third- and fourth-year Bachelor of Science students, to meet with an employer (a Job Shadow Mentor) one-on-one or in small groups. The Job Shadow Program runs in the fall and winter terms for BA students and in the winter term for Science students.

This program provides students the opportunity to connect with a mentor and learn more about their career field of interest, ask questions, and gain valuable advice on how they can enter the field. Many students and mentors maintain their professional relationships long after they have completed the program.

During 2023-2024, the Job Shadow Program functioned in person and virtually. Having the two options gives greater flexibility to both the mentor and the student. Compared to the last academic year, the BA area had a 182% increase in mentor-student matches.

“Participating in the Job Shadow Program afforded me a valuable opportunity that I wouldn't have had otherwise – a direct connection to someone in my dream field. This connection enabled me to inquire about [my Mentor’s] educational background, personal experiences, daily responsibilities in her role, and delve deeper into the realm of international development. Acquiring insights into my ideal career path has significantly influenced my decisions regarding graduate studies, reigniting my passion and reaffirming my commitment to my chosen career trajectory.”

- Job Shadow Mentee

Two Job Shadow Mentees at their session with their Job Shadow Mentors from United Way East Ontario. The students had the opportunity to tour the United Way East Ontario Headquarters and met with several members of the Marketing and Communications team.

“Participating as a mentor in Carleton University's Job Shadow Program since 2020 has been both a privilege and a truly rewarding experience. With the dedicated support of the Career Services department, I've had the opportunity to guide over ten aspiring professionals and be a part of their learning journey at Carleton. This program not only bridges the gap between academic theory and practical application, but also allows for the formation of impactful mentor-mentee relationships. As a proud Carleton alumnus, I wholeheartedly recommend the Job Shadow Program to anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students and help foster the next generation of leaders in their fields.”

- Job Shadow Mentor

Job Shadow Statistics

Job Shadow Bachelor of Arts (Fall)

Ÿ 71 Matches

Job Shadow Bachelor of Arts (Winter)

Ÿ 111 Matches

Job Shadow Bachelor of Science (Winter)

Ÿ 42 Matches

In-class Job Shadow

Ÿ 60 Students participating from 3rd year Transitions to Careers course

Ÿ 35 Students participating from 3rd year English course

Ÿ 25 Students participating from 3rd year Professional Writing Course

New Job Shadow Mentors

The following organizations participated in the Job Shadow Program as mentors for the first time in 2023-2024.

Ÿ Bayer Inc.

Ÿ BioCanRx

Ÿ Bristol Myers Squibb

Ÿ Canadian Museum of Nature

Ÿ Ciena

Ÿ Health Canada

Ÿ Kinaxis

Ÿ National Research Council of Canada (NRC)

Ÿ Nuvista Mental Health

Ÿ Spark Lifecare

Ÿ Township of Puslinch

CEOx1Day

The CEOx1Day program provides leadership development, career insights, and executive networking opportunities to ambitious third- and fourth-year undergrad students across the country who are looking to jumpstart their careers. The final stage in the competition includes a full day of shadowing and mentorship with a CEO. Carleton University students have been participating in this program since 2016 with great success (a Carleton student has been a finalist every year, netting the opportunity to job shadow with a CEO in the Ottawa area). For 2023-2024, this included a student in Software Engineering who was a finalist and three semifinalists in Commerce and Computer Science.

WORK STUDY PROGRAM

The Work Study Program is a financial aid program funded by Carleton University that provides part-time, on-campus employment opportunities for undergraduate students in financial need.

A total of 403 Work Study jobs were posted and 196 students were hired in positions as part of the 2023-2024 program.

403 Work Study jobs posted

196

Students hired for 2023-2024 Work Study Program

Co-operative Education

Since its creation in 1988, Carleton University’s Co-operative Education program has facilitated workintegrated learning experiences with many local, national, and international employers. The program has grown to include the co-op option for over 200 degree programs, majors, streams, and concentrations. As work-integrated learning is becoming increasingly important for securing employment after graduation, more and more students are choosing the co-op option.

In 2023-2024, Carleton’s Co-op program was the third-largest co-op program in Ontario, and the fastest-growing co-op program in Canada.

CO-OP WORK TERMS

Co-op Students Hired

This year, a total of 2,459 co-op students completed work terms with 624 employer partners. This is on par with last year’s total number of co-op students hired.

Jobs Posted

This year, 5,990 co-op jobs were posted, a decrease of 12.3 % over the previous year. These postings represented 12,749 openings, which is a decrease of 2% compared to the year before.

Co-op Interviews

Employers conducted 1,357 individual interviews over the course of 2023-2024. This represents a decrease of 11% in individual interviews (168 less), compared to 2022-2023.

Most Work Terms

Carleton University offered the most work terms in 20232024 (148 work terms), followed closely by Nokia and Ericsson.

Total Work Terms

Co-op students completed 3,776 individual work terms throughout 2023-2024. This represents a 4.8% decrease compared to the year before.

CO-OP STUDENT SUPPORT

Co-op Student Advisors provide individualized one-on-one support to students participating in the job search and in co-op work terms. In 2023-2024, the Co-op Student Advising team held 1,153 appointments and 155 electronic resume reviews for a total of 1,308 appointments, an increase of 10% over 2022-2023.

COOP1000 AND RESOURCE HUBS FOR CO-OP STUDENTS

All students who enter Co-op must successfully complete the COOP1000 course, facilitated by the Co-op Student Advising team. This year, 1,725 students completed COOP1000 (an increase of 4.5% from last year). In 2023-2024, the following features were added to the course:

Ÿ Step-by-step instructions and resources to complete the Resume and Cover Letter Assignment were added in Brightspace to make this process clearer for students. Students were surveyed about these updates and 92% strongly agreed or agreed that the updated instructions were easy to understand and 91% of all students passed the assignment on their first attempt (an increase of 10% from 2022-2023).

Co-op Control Plane Software Developers at Ciena Vladimir Kovacina and Saad Nouman (centre) with supervisor and Senior Manager, Routing/IP Software Engineering, Gajan Ganesh (right).

“[My co-op supervisor at Ciena] Gajan… believes in the benefits of learning through experience. He has assigned me many practical tasks, allowing me to learn new skills as I complete these tasks. He has empowered me by encouraging me to hold a sense of ownership over my work. Because of this experience, I have the confidence and skill to complete tasks usually assigned to experienced employees.”

- Saad Nouman, Bachelor of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

"The Co-op Work Term Support Hub prepared me in many ways. To name a few, the support hub was a very helpful resource to refer to at any time I felt that I couldn’t balance work and life. The support hub had excellent tips to refer to, so I made use of them. Also, the support hub was an excellent place to refer to at any time I felt the need to contact the co-op office. The contacts and information are clearly laid out.”

- Iqra Ansari, Bachelor of Science, Bioinformatics

Science co-op student Noah Armstrong (left) takes an aerial shot during his work term at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada. This shot was taken as they completed their first drone mission of mapping out crop plots and extracting data.

Ÿ Additional interactive, tutorial-style Resume and Cover Letter Clinics were held, which allowed co-op students and staff to work together on their assignments. These events attracted a total of 167 students (an increase of 59% from last year).

In addition, Co-op continued to enhance two Co-op Resource Hubs, which are designed to complement the intense demand for one-on-one support from the team of Co-op Student Advisors. This year, 2,093 students accessed the Hubs. The enhancements included:

Ÿ Streamlined resources, announcements, and videos to help prepare students for their first job search and for their work term (82% of students agreed that the Work Term Support Hub was clearly organized and 60% agreed that that the hub helped them feel more confident about their upcoming work term).

Ÿ A student spotlight series was created where senior co-op students made short videos to provide tips and suggestions to new students.

Ÿ An offboarding module, along with a “Wellness Wednesday” video series, was added to the Work Term Support Hub.

The Job Search Resource Hub featured in-person supplementary events. These seven events attracted a total of 78 students in 2023-2024 and included Job Application Working Sessions, Co-op Job Seeker Meetup for International Students, and Empowering Your Co-op Job Search.

The Work Term Support Hub served as on-demand support for students and complemented the customized support and site visits from Co-op Student Advisors.

CO-OP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Co-op takes part in a variety of outreach activities and initiatives as part of its ongoing strategy to develop job opportunities, and elevate the program’s profile in the community.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, 1,586 new employer accounts were added to the CUHire database, of which 1,137 (71.7%) indicated an interest in hiring co-op students.

Student and employer nominees and nominators gathered at the 2023 Co-op Awards in Richcraft Hall to celebrate the nominations and award winners.

Highlights from 2023-2024

Ÿ 132 employers from 78 distinct organizations participated in networking events for co-op students. This represents a 315% year-over-year increase in employer participation.

Ÿ Co-op staff continued to participate in community events such as Tech Tuesdays, Mayor’s Breakfast, Technata, SaaS North, and Canadian Club luncheons. This year, 13 co-op students attended networking events alongside Co-op staff.

Ÿ Co-op successfully hosted the TECHworking event at Hub350 in Kanata, yielding rave reviews from both employers and students. The event saw a remarkable increase in attendance, with 18 participating organizations (180% increase) and over 300 registered students (150% increase) compared to the previous year.

Ÿ The 2023 Co-op Awards call-out yielded a total of 204 nominations (37 employers and 167 students). Carleton Co-op successfully hosted the in-person Co-op Awards event on February 29 in Richcraft Hall, where over 100 attendees celebrated the achievements of student and employer award winners.

Ÿ Co-op collaborated with University Recruitment and Hire Local to co-host a booth and participate in a panel discussion at the Best Places to Work exhibition,

“Very effective considering how little amount of time it takes. I genuinely had many ‘eye-opening’ moments while learning in COOP1000. I find that I have become more excited, curious, and optimistic in starting a professional life! My many thanks and endless gratitude for being my first step!”

- Deneo Shi, Bachelor of Computer Science

connecting with local employers and promoting Co-operative Education to over 2,000 attendees.

Ÿ On March 28, Co-op staff, employers, and students engaged in a roundtable discussion with the Hon. Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities, emphasizing the importance and impact of co-operative education and experiential learning.

Ÿ On April 25, Co-op hosted an employer panel session for prospective and new co-op employers. Featuring Ross Video, the panel focused on best practices for onboarding, recruiting, mentoring, and retaining co-op students.

Ÿ The Campus Co-op Employer Fund (CCE) offered $4,000 in support to Carleton employers who hired co-op students. In 2023-2024, the CCE program funded 104 campus-based co-op work terms. Since its inception three years ago, the CCE program has funded a total of 546 meaningful employment experiences for co-op students.

Top Co-op Employers

Based on the number of work terms offered to Carleton co-op students, Co-op’s top 20 employers (in order) are:

Ÿ Carleton University

Ÿ Nokia

Ÿ Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)

Ÿ Ericsson

Ÿ Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC)

Ÿ Health Canada

Ÿ Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Ÿ Global Affairs Canada (GAC)

Ÿ Ciena

Ÿ Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

Ÿ National Research Council Canada (NRC)

Ÿ Ross Video Ltd.

Ÿ National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces (DND)

Ÿ Ford Motor Company of Canada

Ÿ Public Safety Canada

Ÿ Transport Canada

Ÿ Shared Services Canada (SSC)

Ÿ MHI Canada, Inc. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries CA)

Ÿ Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

Ÿ Gastops Ltd.

“We absolutely want to give students like [our co-op student] ‘a seat at the table’ and Carleton should be proud of the caliber of students that [they] are bringing to the workforce.”

- Cara Salci, VP, Strategy and Government Relations at Thales Canada

Engineering co-op student Mackenzie Nock works at Health Canada with a team of mechanical engineers that are developing test methods for the government's Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations. While developing these test methods, she had the chance to help design a cyclical testing apparatus to simulate a person carrying a plastic checkout bag.

CO-OP AWARDS

The Co-op Awards are presented each year to recognize the outstanding achievements, contributions, and performances of Carleton University’s co-op students and their employers. In 2023-2024, there were 167 students and 37 employers nominated for Co-op Awards.

Undergraduate Co-op Student of the Year

Austin Herrington is a fourth-year student in Civil Engineering and Winner of Carleton’s 2023 Undergraduate Co-op Student of the Year Award. Herrington is completing his co-op work terms as a Project Coordinator with Thomas Cavanagh Construction, working on some of the company’s most challenging infrastructure projects, including multimillion-dollar contracts for the Ministry of Transportation and local municipalities.

In his nomination, Project Manager Brett Verdon highlighted how, in just a few months, Herrington learned how to manage difficult tasks (including contract documents, engineered drawings, project cash flow, and day-to-day operations) better than many seasoned professionals, asking thoughtful questions to help his understanding and consistently working to improve his performance.

“His work has set the standard for coordination with our various departments, saved the company thousands of dollars by mitigating inefficiencies, and consistently improved team morale. Often the first to arrive at the office and one of the last to leave, he has quickly solidified himself as one of our most valuable team members."

Verdon highlighted a range of projects that Herrington worked on, including how Herrington set the standard for coordination with their asphalt department. His accuracy and clear communication helped to reduce errors in the field, improving efficiency and saving the company thousands of dollars in the process. Furthermore, Herrington’s careful review of

contract documents and pertinent questions led him to identify instances where a change in construction staging could save time and money on highway infrastructure projects. Herrington presented these ideas to the Ministry of Transportation, which were ultimately accepted, resulting in nearly a hundred thousand dollars of additional profit for the company while simultaneously saving money for Ontario’s taxpayers – an incredible accomplishment for a co-op student.

In addition to all of this, Verdon highlighted how Herrington was an active participant in workplace fundraisers, events, and team building activities. “He integrated himself into our team and made many friends throughout the company. His performance has been well beyond our expectations for coop students. We are very happy to say he will be staying with our company over the coming months before returning to Carleton University in September, and there will be a position waiting for him upon his graduation.”

Graduate Co-op Student of the Year

Aidan Oliver-Burgess is a Master of International Affairs student and Winner of Carleton’s 2023 Graduate Co-op Student of the Year Award. Oliver-Burgess completed two co-op work terms as a Student Analyst with the International Security and Political Affairs Branch at Global Affairs Canada (GAC). She was nominated by Andrea Westcott-Lacoursiere, her Deputy Director.

The Threat Assessment division is responsible for identifying and assessing threats to Canada’s diplomatic missions abroad. Oliver-Burgess supported the team by researching and analyzing issues to produce strategic and operational threat assessment products in collaboration with domestic and international partners. She worked closely with diplomatic staff posted overseas and was uniquely exposed to both the work of the Canadian security community and the work of Canadian missions throughout the region. Throughout OliverBurgess’s work terms, she displayed exceptional dedication and commitment to the safety and security of Canadian staff, citizens, and permanent residents abroad.

Says Westcott-Lacoursiere, “Whatever our team threw at her, Aidan rose to the occasion, while at the same time, always ensuring to seek guidance and clarification whenever necessary. This included serving as the lead and/ or supporting analyst for over 20 missions in the region. As new colleagues joined the team, she also supported the onboarding and training of new team members.”

Oliver-Burgess’s ability to analyze complex geo-political issues and trends was complemented by excellent interpersonal skills that enabled her to establish and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues in the Canadian security community, as well as with regional security managers and mission security officers abroad.

In addition to working and juggling academic requirements for her master’s program, Oliver-Burgess also voluntarily took on additional work, including 24/7 emergency response shifts to respond to urgent inquiries from Canadian citizens and permanent residents in distress. Westcott-Lacoursiere noted that this work is extremely difficult and emotionally draining, however, Oliver-Burgess continued to aptly manage her priorities within tight deadlines. She also joined extracurricular activities at GAC, including taking on a role within the executive committee of the Young Professionals Network, which works to ensure that the perspectives of young professionals and new employees are included in decision-making at the most senior levels.

“I am happy to report that as a result of her incredible work and performance, we have offered Aidan another contract and are looking to having her bridged into the division upon graduation.”

Co-op Employer of the Year

Omar Masaud is the Team Lead, Electronics at Gastops and Winner of the Co-op Employer of the Year Award. Masaud was nominated by Matt Drury, a fourth-year student in Aerospace Engineering.

Drury completed multiple work terms with Masaud in the Research and Innovation Department, working towards the

development of exciting inductive sensing technologies. Drury highlighted how Masaud steered their team through multiple testing and development programs, interacting with key manufacturers in the industries of aerospace and energy generation, all while maintaining an organized set of goals and plans for Drury’s personal and professional development.

Says Drury, “As a student studying Aerospace Electronics and Systems, I am gaining a unique educational skillset of both Mechanical Engineering foundations as well as Electrical Engineering principles. Omar, himself a graduate of this same program 10 years prior, provided me with multiple opportunities to practice and develop a variety of these skills. Importantly, he spent considerable amounts of time working with me in the laboratory, teaching many of the technical skills that I was robbed of learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am incredibly grateful for the time he spent with me, never once showing any form of frustration or lacking interest in it, sometimes long past the end of the workday.”

Masaud kept a watchful eye over the progress of Drury’s work and gave him access to exciting tasks that would improve a different part of his ever-growing toolbox.

“He challenged me to work at the high level that he knew I was capable of. I was given full responsibility over many aspects of my work as he felt I had earned it, a unique opportunity for a co-op student like me to really feel like and know that I was a valuable part of Gastops.”

Drury says he would recommend Masaud as a supervisor and an employer to any STEM student and says that Masaud’s incredibly kind ways of teaching and bringing the best out of his students, while always maintaining his exceptional workload, would make any employee (let alone a student) fortunate to work under him. Says Masaud, “Our collaboration has been enriching for me, as I’ve had the opportunity to learn a great deal from our time together. I have every confidence that Matt has a bright future ahead of him!” 2023 CO-OP AWARDS NOMINATIONS

167 Students 37 Employers

Communications

The goal of Career Services’ and Co-operative Education’s communications is to increase awareness amongst students, employers, and the Carleton community about the services, programming, and events these departments have to offer. Over the past year, the team has continued to evolve its social media initiatives to best connect with target audiences, has offered additional posts and series to leverage social media engagement, and has sought out ways to cross-promote events through departmental partnerships.

Project management best practices and strategic use of analytics continues to inform communications decisions, and the team routinely adds additional content based on information and news that will add value to students and alumni on their employment journeys.

In terms of the online presence of Career Services and Co-operative Education, this is comprised of two student-facing websites, one employer-facing website, an employment portal, and active involvement on three social media platforms – all designed to connect students, alumni, and employers with support and opportunities.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

From May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, 156 projects were submitted by the Career Services and Co-op teams. These projects allow Career Services and Co-op to promote events, programs, services, and more with deliverables that include (but are not limited to), social media posts/campaigns, email marketing, event calendar and newsletter posts, student and employer dashboard posts, videos, one-pagers, and ads.

Along with the continued use of Trello (a Kanban-style project management tool that helps organize tasks, manage projects, and increase collaboration), the Communications team uses the calendar function in Notion. This productivity application allows the team to manage its daily and monthly social media schedule, along with schedules for employer and student dashboards, emails, newsletters, and LCD videos to ensure content is distributed in a way that is balanced, strategic, and timely. Notion is also used for date-specific communication plans that span multiple months, such as Career Fairs, International Internship Program, Job Board, and Job Scams Awareness.

CAREER SERVICES JOB BOARD

Career Services invites employers in all industries and locations to post employment opportunities on its online job

board, hosted within the mySuccess/CUHire portal. The team implemented several strategies to increase job postings, including outreach to current employer partners with promoting CUHire, engaging with new employer partners, and a year-long communications plan designed to promote the service to employer partners and students.

Career Services posted a total of 21,757 active positions throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. This represents a 20% increase in number of positions posted with Career Services compared to the previous academic year.

Views of online job postings by term:

Summer 2023

50,759

Fall 2023

39,882

Winter 2024

62,863

WEBSITE ANALYTICS

Career Website (carleton.ca/career)

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, 120,672 users visited the Career Services website. This is an 41.6% increase from the previous year. The most visited webpage on the site, apart from the homepage, was the mySuccess webpage (/career/mysuccess/) with 27,304 pageviews, a 46.2% increase from the previous year. The homepage had 27,304 pageviews in the academic year. This is a 1.5% decrease from the previous year.

Co-op Website (carleton.ca/co-op)

A total of 56,185 users visited the Co-op website from May 1, 2023, to April 24, 2024. This is a decrease of 18.8% from the previous year. The most visited webpage on the site was the Coop Participation Agreement page (/co-op/rules-regulations/coop-participation-agreement/) with 11,805 pageviews, a 35.5% increase from the previous year. The homepage had 31,864 pageviews in the academic year. This represents a 30.8% increase from the previous academic year. .

Employers Website (carleton.ca/employers)

A total of 20,448 users visited the Employers website from May 1, 2023, to April 24, 2024. This is a 7.5% decrease from the previous academic year. The most visited webpage on the site

was the Salary Survey page (/employers/hire-co-op/i-hired-aco-op-student/co-op-salary-survey) with 8,111 pageviews. The homepage had 11,565 pageviews in the academic year. This is a 9.6% decrease from the previous year.

LIVE CHAT

Co-op and Career Services allows users who visit their websites to have quick, career-related questions answered through the Chatbot system. The Chatbot is monitored by a member of the team during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The automated Chatbot system, launched in March 2023, now provides information to students and alumni 24/7. The Live Chat feature was used over 2,487 times throughout the 2023-2024 academic year with the student rating chat service at 4.3 out of 5.

MYSUCCESS/CUHIRE PORTAL

A total of 21,347 students logged in to the mySuccess portal from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024. A total of 2,424 employers logged in to the CUHire portal from May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.

CUPORTFOLIO

cuPortfolio is Carleton University’s electronic portfolio system, a student-centred learning tool that provides a venue for students to collect and showcase academic and co-curricular artifacts, such as assignments, projects, videos, blogs, etc. It allows students to engage in reflective learning as they make connections between artifacts, experiences, and accomplishments.

cuPortfolio can be shared with peers, professors, and potential employers both to demonstrate students’ learning processes and to provide concrete evidence that they have met specific course learning outcomes or have the required work experience for certain career or academic opportunities.

A total of 3,819 students used cuPortfolio throughout May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. This is a 12% increase in the number of student users compared to the previous academic year.

The number of classes using cuPortfolio for coursework was 70 in 2023-2024. This is on par with the previous academic year.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram

Career Services and Co-op’s Instagram account gained 317 new followers, bringing the account’s total following up to 3,382. This represents a 10% growth.

LinkedIn

Career Services and Co-op’s LinkedIn page gained 1,269 new followers, bringing the page’s total following up to 5,593. This represents a 29% growth.

Twitter

Career Services and Co-op’s Twitter account lost 78 followers, bringing the account’s total following to 2,968. This represents a 2.5% decrease. For Career Services and Co-op, Twitter is the least popular of the three platforms with students. However, the Communications team still sees it as a useful tool for sharing posts from other Carleton faculties and departments that relate to career content, and for highlighting Career Services and Co-op’s content to those faculties and departments.

NEW COMMUNICATIONS INITIATIVES

In the past 12 months, the Communications team has collaborated with Career Services and Co-op staff on several initiatives to expand students’ and employers’ awareness and knowledge of the events and programs offered.

Highlights from 2023-2024

Ÿ Added more peer-to-peer content in the form of You Asked/ We Answered, a monthly Instagram series featuring a

student’s career question, answered by staff members. The impressions on these posts ranged from 830-1,490 since the series launched in November.

Ÿ Introduced Career Services and Co-op staff to students by highlighting a staff member’s career tip in this monthly Instagram series. This helps to put a face to the services, as well as demonstrates the expertise of the team. The impressions on these posts ranged from 700-815 since the series launched in October.

Ÿ Continued the popular Sunday Funday Instagram Reels. In addition to the videos featuring Career Services co-op students, new Reels were created to tap into trending videos. The plays on these Reels ranged from 1,700-2,300.

Ÿ Developed enhanced promotion strategy for Executive Booth Partners as part of the new Career Fair Employer Packages.

Ÿ Developed a series of videos for Fall Career Fair, including a “Tips to Prepare” Instagram Reel for students, as well as a video for the Employers’ website to help prepare employers.

Ÿ Created updated branding for the Career Competencies, which included revised materials (LCD videos, student dashboard posts, postcards, posters) and a communications plan to promote the competencies throughout the year on various platforms.

Ÿ Co-op launched a series of LinkedIn posts that roll out monthly. Posts include student and employer features, stats, Co-op program information, success stories, and testimonials.

Ÿ The International Internship Program launched a series of “A Day in the Life” Reels on Instagram that featured IIP Student Ambassadors during their internships abroad. These videos were used to promote the in-person internships. The plays on these Reels ranged from 1,4173,185.

Ÿ After an increase in job scams targeting students, the Communications team, in partnership with the Manager, Information Technology Operations, created the Job Scams Awareness communications plan to ensure students would be consistently reminded about job scam warning signs. The material included newsletter posts, LCD videos, and social media posts that were showcased across the summer, fall, and winter terms.

Ÿ Introduced a new initiative as part of the Spring Career Fair, allowing student and employer attendees to access and download photos of themselves at the Career Fair. This enabled students and employers to promote their experience at the Career Fair on social media, further promoting the event.