Advising and Counselling
Searching online for career advice and guidance can be overwhelming. Sometimes you need to check in with an experienced career development professional who can answer your questions and point you in the right direction. Our team of career and employment experts can help.
This page will help you:
- Get clarity
- Feel motivated
- Overcome barriers
Get answers to your career questions
Do you feel stuck in your career exploration, career development or job search? There are a lot of career and education options out there — almost too many to count. Make an appointment with our careers team. We’ll help you explore so you can identify and pursue the options that make sense for you.
Do you need guidance to help with your career exploration and career planning? Check in with us to get support and find out how to get started. Our careers team is available online for drop-in chats on Brazen every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
You can also book an appointment on OSCARplus to access our career advising services at a time that works for you. Appointments are confidential meetings where you can connect with our career professionals. These appointments are currently being offered on Zoom or by phone.
Meet with a professional career counsellor to address your concerns, explore your options, discuss your career goals and develop a personalized plan. We can help you build self-awareness and connect your values, interests and skills with exciting industries and career paths. Career counselling appointments are confidential and take place in a safe, welcoming space.
Career counselling tools
We use valuable tools in our career counselling appointments to help you reflect, identify strengths, understand your past experiences and more. Learn more about these tools before your appointment to help you get the most out of the meeting.
- Career Cruising: This bilingual career guidance resource features Canadian information on hundreds of occupations, career matchmaker exercises, training and educational opportunities at universities and colleges, and career portfolio and resume builder tools.
- TypeFocus: This tool includes personality assessments and reports so you can learn about your strengths, personal preferences and career options.
Job searching is an important process in your career development. You may have questions about how to conduct your search effectively, including how to find suitable opportunities, how to prepare a successful application and more.
Through job search coaching, you can check in with our careers team to receive support during every stage in the job search process, including:
- Resume and cover letter writing
- Creating and updating your LinkedIn
- Networking strategies
- Interview preparation
- And more
Through Alumni Career Services, provided by our careers team and the McMaster Alumni Association, you have access to career counselling and advising for up to 10 years after you graduate. Meet with an alumni career counsellor to support your career exploration, planning and goals.
Support for equity-seeking students
Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) can help you overcome any barriers you may experience during your career journey. We can help with accommodations, guidance on how and when to disclose a disability and more.
Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) are for students and alumni who identify as a member of an equity-seeking group or have barriers to employment. The CAPS team provides individualized support to assist with all aspects of career development including exploration, preparation and the building of skills and confidence.
Our services are flexible and adaptable. Whether you’d like to chat over the phone or online through Zoom, Skype, email or another platform that works for you, we’re here to help. Email us (careeraccess@mcmaster.ca) or book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Careers.
If you have an accommodation need to book an appointment, please email careeraccess@mcmaster.ca. Should you require any materials sent in an alternate/accessible format, please advise.
Get answers to your money questions
Professional development isn’t just about networking and searching for jobs. Learning how to effectively manage your money is a valuable skill that will serve you for the rest of your life as you continue to develop your career and make plans for the future.
If you have questions about money, Mac’s Money Centre is a wealth of financial knowledge. Visit Mac’s Money Centre to learn how to:
- Budget your expenses
- Create a spending plan
- Build your savings
- Make smart investments
- And more
Book an appointment with a money coach, attend one of our webinars or online events or check out our financial resources centre. We have tips, FAQs, informational videos and more.
First Year After Graduation (Nada Elnaiem)
Recommended reading
It’s okay not to know right now
For the Student Success Centre, providing students with the resources and supports needed to develop their resiliency in university is important. One piece of this work is normalizing failure, uncertainty and other factors that contribute to wanting to give up on a goal, project, idea, or dream.
Journey
Thank you, McMaster. It’s been a journey.
My entire undergrad has been a series of trial and error, hoping in the end that it would all work out. Even though it didn’t pan out in the way that I had expected it to originally, it was full of surprises, both good and bad, and I made some great friends and memories along the way.
Read the Journey