Our Warmest Wishes
to End the Year on a High Note

In just a few short weeks, we will be starting a new year under a flurry of flakes… and opportunities! To mark the end of the Fall 2022 term, all of us at the Telfer Career Centre would like to thank each of you.

Your unwavering commitment, boundless energy, and formidable drive to succeed are our daily fuel. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for making OUR career so meaningful!

And now, a personal note from YOUR career development mentors.

Marion Lajoie, Career Counsellor

My holiday wish: You have worked extremely hard this term and I hope you take the time to reflect on your successes. Be proud of your accomplishments and use that positive energy to build momentum for the new year.

My career development tip: Document the key takeaways from your courses this term (before your brain decides to file that information away like a distant memory). Employers are impressed when you can articulate how your academic training has prepared you for the professional world. Making this a habit at the end of each term will without a doubt help you prepare for future interviews.

My self-care suggestion: Make a short list of some of the things you enjoy doing (i.e., that make you happy). Be more deliberate about building these into your schedule come January. It is easy to forget about “ourselves” when we create our general “to-do” lists. In 2023, make yourself a priority, and the ripple effect will be evident in other parts of your life.

My gift idea: When we help others, we help ourselves. Funny how that works! Do something for someone else to make one day a little bit easier or brighter (e.g., drop off some baking or a homemade meal that you think they will enjoy, shovel someone’s laneway without being asked, reach out to someone that you haven’t spoken to in a very long time, tell someone that you appreciate them…). Make a point of being kind and you will no doubt feel the benefits as well.

Doug Spencer, Relationship Manager

My holiday wish: The past few years have been quite challenging; my wish is that the holiday break gives you a chance to relax and reconnect with family and friends. Enjoy the time off, you deserve it after all your hard work this semester! Wishing you all the best for an amazing 2023; we cannot wait to see you back on campus in January!

My career development tip: Be curious and get involved. There are many great events scheduled for the new year: so join in! Workshops, activities, and networking events are fantastic ways to pursue your professional development while also expanding your network. Challenge yourself with your approach to networking; research attending organizations and come up with questions that are genuinely of interest to you. Employers will take note of this, which helps you stand out in the hiring process.

My self-care recommendation: One of my all-time favourite quotes is from the cult movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” This is a great reminder to live in the moment. Planning for the future is terrific, but make sure you enjoy the present as well. Whether going through ups or downs, try to see the positive and learn from every experience.

My gift idea: Make your life easy and disconnect on a regular basis. While technology has many benefits, it can also be overwhelming at times. When I need to focus, I put my phone out of sight and mute my notifications. Focus on one task at a time; everything else will be waiting once I have completed the task at hand. This helps me to engage fully with my work, which lets me enjoy it more.

Jerani Sivayogan, Relationship Manager

My holiday wish: The holiday season is a time to rejoice with loved ones here with us and to cherish memories of time spent with loved ones who are no longer with us. To quote American author, disability rights advocate, and political activist Helen Keller, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or event touched. They must be felt with the heart.” May this holiday season and the present year end on a cheerful note and make way for a fresh and bright 2023!

My career development tip: A good first step to build valuable connections prior to entering the workforce would be to start attending the various Career Centre activities held this next term: career fairs, resumé critiques by industry professionals, industry panels, the Toronto trip, employers’ info sessions, etc. Prepare an elevator pitch before meeting employers (your value proposition) and have two specific questions them (do some research beforehand). This will make your interactions with the employers more authentic and memorable.

My self-care suggestion: “Health is wealth.” is a concept that I learned to appreciate in recent years. As a student, it is easy to put this one the backburner. Make sure to make time for yourself physically and mentally.

My gift idea: A healthy future for our planet is the greatest gift. Take a small step to address environmental issues such as pollution and climate change. Small steps lead to big changes.

Vickie Lemire, Relationship Manager

My holiday wish: The last few holidays have had to be spent in small circles. So, I hope you connect with loved ones, family, and friends you haven’t had a chance to see in a while and maybe even create some new traditions. Take the time to celebrate and rest to start 2023 off right!

My career development tip: There is this quote from Dorit Sher that I love: “Your career is your business. It’s time for you to manage it as a CEO”. So, make sure you build your personal board of directors. They will help you make sound decisions, give you advice and feedback, challenge your assumptions, broaden your professional network, brainstorm and gut-check your ideas, and generally expand your thinking.

My self-care suggestion: Being around other people, which we know happens a lot during the holidays, can sometimes create stress. Having time to yourself now and then is important for mental health. Solo time brings many benefits, including creativity and personal exploration, which we know are very important for career development!

My gift idea: Having trouble getting out of bed in the morning? Think about getting yourself a sunrise alarm clock. Not only does the light help you wake up, it also allows you to leave your devices outside of your bedroom, so you won’t be tempted to spend hours scrolling instead of sleeping or getting your day started.

Véronique Bélinge, Translator and Professional Development Coordinator

My wish: Above all else, I wish you rest. I’ve met many of you over the past few months, and one thing is for sure: you all work hard, whether it’s at your job, at school, or in your extracurricular and community activities. I hope you get plenty of sleep and comforting moments with your loved ones. You deserve it!

My career development advice: Do a little survey among your friends and family: ask them to describe you with three adjectives; take note of the qualities that come up most often, and find a way to incorporate them into your promotional tools (resumé, LinkedIn profile, etc.) I know many of you, and you are much more than a sum of specialized skills!

My self-care suggestion: In a northern country like ours, nothing beats a morning spent in the fresh air, followed by a good casual meal with friends! A good breath of fresh air clears the head and brings solutions, I guarantee it! Whenever plagued by career doubts, go play outside! Or come see us at the Career Centre.

My gift idea: In 2023, give yourself a true advantage as students and professionals. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my career as a translator, it’s that polished written communications get the right kind of attention. I bought my first version of the bilingual spellchecker Antidote almost 20 years ago, and when it comes to return on investment, this software is hard to beat. Available on all uOttawa workstations, it is a must-have for anyone studying or working in Canada. Let me put it this way: just as you would never show up at a job interview with dirty or wrinkled clothes, I would never submit a professional email, resumé, or academic paper without first reviewing them in Antidote. The benefits are far too great.

On that note, the entire team at your Career Centre wishes you a wonderful holiday season of cheerfulness, goodwill, and serenity.

P.S. Your appointment providers have already posted their time slots for January 2023, so don’t hesitate to make an appointment on Career Launch. Also check out our Calendar of Events, as a myriad of activities await you!

We look forward to seeing you in 2023!