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Alumni Community Connects at Inaugural Career Services Open House
The first-ever Employment and Career Services Open House was a resounding success with 60 alumni learning about no-cost career services that Bow Valley College has to offer.
“This kind of initiative offers a friendly environment for alumni to network and find out about our services.” says Nicole Dodd, coordinator, Career Connection and LINC Career Services.
Alumni took the opportunity to network and were able to consult with career coaches about how to create a career action plan, work on their interview skills, build their resumes, and more.
Alumni find value in Open House
New Canadian, and energy industry geophysicist, Patricia Melgaco (Business Administration Certificate, 2019) is switching careers. She knows that she needs to adapt her job hunting strategies to the Canadian job market.
Patricia has already booked an appointment with a Bow Valley College career coach. “I need help,” she says. “I want to have a better idea of how to interview well and how to tweak my resume for every job I apply for.”
Mebrahtu Ghezehegn (Licensed Practical Nurse, 2019) is working in a long-term care facility. He’s grateful to have a job, but ideally, he’d like to make a career pivot and work in a hospital. He attended the Open House primarily for the networking, something he never had to do in his career in management in Eritrea.
“Networking is the most important part of finding a job,” Mebrahtu says. “You make better connections that will take you further in your job search.”
Joanne C. (Business Administration Diploma, 2019) was out of the workforce for several years while she raised her special needs daughter. She came to the event to get new ideas to help her find work. She found all sorts of resources during the event and will continue to work with a career counsellor to help build her resume and her LinkedIn profile, and prepare for interviews. She’s discovered a job board available to students and alumni, and workshops that she’ll sign up for. Now she knows the benefits of belonging to the Bow Valley College alumni community.
“I had no idea all of this was available to us,” Joanne says. “This event really helped me see the kinds of supports Bow Valley College offers to its alumni. And the best part is that it’s all free.”
For more details about services available through Career Services for Albertans, visit: bowvalleycollege.ca/get-working/career-services-for-students-and-alumni
