As students, balancing work and school is challenging. Often, Sheridan students work to support themselves or to pay for school expenses. Leading to challenges with being a working student. Many Sheridan Students even struggle to transition from a job to the career they want. From balancing work and school to competing with other promising candidates – the transition from a student worker to a person with a career takes effort.
Students often feel they have to be intentional with how they balance their lives. “I find it difficult to juggle both [school and work] at the same time, I have to make sure I am on top of everything, and I make myself checklists,” says Visual Arts student Sophia Ramos Gaona.
Simply having a job or doing well in school might not be enough to guarantee a future in a chosen field. Having relevant work experience through co-ops and apprenticeships is sometimes a requirement. “Without a co-op, you are out of luck,” says Bachelor of Film and Television alumnus Cullen McGuirk. “I am thinking about pivoting out of my field of study and going into something different… I want to get into the field of science specifically entomology. And to actually have a job that I am interested in.” With many industry fields being competitive, sometimes simply graduating is not enough to get into the industry you want.
According to Ontario Colleges, 75.5 per cent of graduates find full-time jobs in 2022. Those full-time jobs are not always related to what they studied. Many graduates like Cullen choose to change their careers entirely.
It is not always the industry’s fault though. Often students don’t use the resources available to them. “To get noticed by employers, you need to be visible. So many students fail to create a LinkedIn profile that is professional,” says Employment Consultant Stacy Nyamali.
Recruiters often have automated systems that detect keywords, educational qualifications and job titles. So, it is important to make sure to fix the profile. After creating a professional LinkedIn it is important to reach out to potential recruiters to showcase one’s skills. As often, it is all about confidence. “Quite often students worry that a lack of work experience can hinder their employment opportunities, but it boils down to a great attitude and the ability to confidently show the employer you can do the tasks they require in a valued employee,” says Nyamali.
Whether it is resources such as Linked In or possible connections one might make while at school. It is important to overcome any discouragement as adults who are continuously trying to grow.
To aid you in that growth, students can address their career concerns by reaching out to the resources that Sheridan provides like the Sheridan Works website. Sheridan Works is where you can get connected to internships, jobs and career counselling. Visit sheridanworks.sheridancollege.ca or email sheridanworkscareers@sheridancollege.ca to book an appointment.