When setting goals, using the SMART framework helps ensure they are clear and achievable.  

SMART is an acronym for: 

• Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish
• Measurable: Identify how you will track progress and know when it’s complete
• Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic given your resources and constraints
• Relevant: Align goal with your broader learning or career objectives
• Time-bound: Set a deadline to stay focused and motivated

Sample SMART goals

By the end of my 8-week internship, I will improve my professional communication skills by preparing and delivering at least three presentations to my team and requesting feedback from my supervisor after each one. — Internship Experience (Career Development) Goal

Why is this a SMART goal?

• Specific: Improve communication through presentations.
• Measurable: Deliver 3 presentations and receive feedback.
• Achievable: Fits within the internship responsibilities.
• Relevant: Enhances a key workplace skill.
• Time-bound: Completed within 8 weeks.

Within the next month, I will organize and lead one community clean-up event, recruiting at least 10 volunteers and coordinating with the local municipality for support. — Volunteer Experience (Community Engagement) Goal

Why is this a SMART goal?

• Specific: Organize a clean-up event. 
• Measurable: Recruit 10 volunteers. 
• Achievable: One event in a month is manageable. 
• Relevant: Supports community involvement goals. 
• Time-bound: To be completed within one month.

Need support?

Book a work-integrated learning support appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

1. Skills and knowledge gained: What new skills or knowledge did you acquire? Were there any specific tools, technologies or methodologies that you learned? How might they be useful in your future career?  

2. Challenges and problem-solving: What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? Were there any areas where you wished you had more experience or training? How will you try to address this gap? 

3. Personal and professional growth: How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally? Did the experience enhance your confidence in your abilities? How did you get outside your comfort zone? 

4. Strengths and areas for improvement: What strengths did you discover or develop? Were there any skills or areas you realized need further development? How did you receive feedback? 

5. Networking and professional relationships: How did you build relationships with your peers, colleagues, mentor or supervisors? Were there any individuals you met who could be valuable contacts for your future? How do you plan to maintain the professional connections you made? 

6. Aligning goals: Did the experience help clarify your career, academic or personal goals? If so, how? What kind of roles or responsibilities do you want to focus on as you engage in future experiences? 

7. Applying academic learning: How did the skills or knowledge from your academic studies apply to your work? Were there any gaps between what you learned in school and the demands of the experience? 

As you reflect on your experiential learning journey, you gain valuable insights and recognize areas for growth. This provides a strong foundation for identifying future goals and opportunities. The next part of the process involves translating these insights into a clear and actionable plan. By doing so, you can continue to build on your experience and move forward with purpose and direction.

Need support?

Book an experience building appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

• Were there any areas where you wished you had more experience or training? How will you try to address this gap?
• How did your supervisor or colleagues provide feedback, and how will you apply it moving forward?
• How do you plan to maintain the professional connections you made?
• How can you better align your academic work with the skills needed for the industry?
• What do you need to do to apply what you’ve learned to future roles?

Your action plan checklist

Career counselling appointment: Book a one-on-one career counselling appointment to review, update or refine your resume and LinkedIn profile based on new experience. Discuss how the experience informed your career goals. Book on OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching.

Connect with an academic advisor: Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss how the experience informs or shifts academic interests. Plan any course adjustments or electives aligned with your future goals.

Find ways to learn about careers:

Use OSCARplus to guide your exploration. There are many valuable services under the Student Success Centre section:

• Events, such as career panels, networking and group mentorship.
• Professional connection opportunities, such as career conversations and job shadowing.

MacConnect: Connect with McMaster alumni to expand your professional network and discover career options.

Find your next experience: Search for your next internship, research experience, part-time job, volunteer position, experiential course, short-term project and more using helpful resources.

• OSCARplus — under Student Success Centre > Employment > Postings
• Experiential Learning — section with more information and resources on our website
• Mosaic — browse campus jobs and apply
• EXPLORE — a helpful Experiential Learning Opportunities Resource tool
• Course Calendar

Need support?

Book an experience building appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

Go to OSCARplus. Then, on the sidebar, follow Student Success Centre > Career Conversations.

Tips and resources

Before your conversation:

• Write down your goals. Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you make the most of your conversation. It will allow you to prepare thoughtful questions and guide the discussion in a meaningful direction.
• Prepare questions ahead of time. Research the professional you are connecting with. This will ensure that you ask questions relevant to their experience and your goals.
  • Prepare open-ended questions to provide space for new ideas and concepts you may not have considered.
  • Examples: How did you get started in your career? What skills are most valuable in your industry? What advice would you give someone interested in this field?
• Know your story. Prepare and practice a short summary of your background, interests and career aspirations. This can help provide context to the career professional you are meeting with.
  • Example: “I’m a third-year commerce student interested in marketing and data analytics. I’m exploring different career paths and would love to learn more about your career path in digital marketing.”

During your conversation:

• Be professional and respectful. Most career professionals volunteer their time for career conversations.
  • Make sure to be respectful and keep the conversation within the agreed timeframe. If the conversation is flowing well and they seem open to continuing, you can ask.
  • Example: “I want to be mindful of your time — would you be open to continuing for a few more minutes?”
• Build a genuine connection and be open-minded. Share a little about yourself when appropriate, but keep the focus on learning from them.
  • Make sure that you pay attention and are open to the new information being shared.
  • Ask thoughtful questions to keep the conversation going and build a genuine connection.

After your conversation:

• Reflect on the key takeaways. Did you learn anything new? Did you learn anything that surprised you? Does this conversation impact your career direction?
  • What actions can you take based on their advice?
• Express your gratitude. Most career conversations are from individuals who volunteer their time for free. Make sure to express your gratitude for their time and include specific pieces of advice they have shared. This will show that you paid attention to what they had to say and that they left a positive impact.
  • Example: “Hi [Name], I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today. I learned a lot about [specific topic] and found your insights on [specific point] particularly valuable. Thank you for your advice!”

More resources:

• Career Counselling and Job Search Support
• Informational Interview Guide

By taking the initiative to have career conversations, you’re gaining valuable industry insights, building your network and taking action on your future career goals.

We encourage you to keep learning, stay curious and make the most of these opportunities.

The Experiential Learning Opportunities Resource (EXPLORE) is a highly customizable tool that allows you to filter options based on your learning goals and features opportunities open to undergraduate students in any level or Faculty.  

There are options for both curricular and co-curricular learning. By engaging in experiential learning, you develop core competencies and in-demand skills like social responsibility, leadership, communication, collaboration, time management — and more. 

Visit EXPLORE today to browse more than 50 opportunities. Continue to check each term for more updates. 

What do “curricular” and “co-curricular” mean? 

• Curricular: You receive course credit by completing these courses and opportunities, which often include built-in support from instructors, teaching assistants, etc. 
• Co-curricular: Instead of course credit, you get to learn and engage outside the classroom and across campus. McMaster staff, mentors and others are available for direction and support. 

What do “experiential” and “interdisciplinary” mean, and how do they benefit me?  

Experiential learning provides a structured learning opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a hands-on environment. You get to develop skills and knowledge, reflect on your experiences, pursue self-development and prepare to make a difference in the world. 

Benefits include: 

• Build skills such as leadership, intercultural competency, teamwork, communication and more 
• Create a professional network 
• Develop peer and campus connections 
• Explore career options 
• Enhance academic learning 
• Strengthen your resume or further education application 

With interdisciplinary learning, you get to gain experience with opportunities offered outside of your Faculty, Program or academic background. These opportunities provide a meaningful learning space that encourages you to explore and experience different ways of knowing and learning. 

How do I use the tool? 

EXPLORE gathers experiential learning opportunities all in one place with an easy-to-use filtering feature that you can customize based on your interests. Each opportunity has information on eligibility and prerequisites, time commitments and links for more information. You can also use the favourites feature to save opportunities and revisit them later. 

What can I filter by?  

• Community engagement: Learn how to understand and consider issues impacting local and global communities. 
• Sustainability and climate action: Learn what makes communities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable.  
• Innovation: Explore ways to scale your creative ideas to make an impact on a local and global scale.  
• Global studies: Gain an interdisciplinary, in-depth understanding of societies, cultures, communities and issues around the world.   
• Social justice: Develop a thorough understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.  

Who can apply?  

EXPLORE opportunities are open to McMaster University undergraduate students seeking experiential learning.    

How can EXPLORE help with choosing my major?

Just like the name, the EXPLORE tool is an opportunity to do just that–explore. Interdisciplinary opportunities allow you to expand your learning beyond your field of study and can open up opportunities. These opportunities provide a meaningful learning space that encourages you to develop and experience different ways of knowing and learning. Experiential opportunities apply academic knowledge in a “hands-on” environment with a focus on developing critical skills, encouraging reflection of self and the world around you

What is the difference between EXPLORE opportunities and volunteering or joining a McMaster club?

Opportunities included on EXPLORE usually involve working on specific projects or activities that help you grow personally and professionally. They often include mentorship, guided reflections and planning activities to provide a well-rounded experience. On the other hand, joining a club at McMaster is more about participating in group activities centred on shared interests or hobbies. Additionally, volunteering is an independent experience where you get to be involved and make an impact in the community.  

How will I know if EXPLORE opportunities fit with my academic plan?  

We recommend that you consult directly with your academic advisor to get accurate and clear information that’s specific to your academic situation.     

How do I learn more about EXPLORE?  

1. Book an appointment with the Student Success Centre on OSCARplus. In these appointments, you can connect with an experiential learning-certified staff member on EXPLORE, learn about opportunities and find out how to get involved. 
    
   How to book: OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Experiential and Employment > EXPLORE 

2. Follow @MacSSC on Instagram and check out the EXPLORE highlight. 

1. Start with what is available. If you want to connect with a researcher on campus, start by identifying McMaster researchers who may have received funding for a current project. This will help guide your outreach efforts. 
2. Consider volunteering. If you are seeking to gain experience, consider volunteering as a research participant. There are opportunities that will get you connected to research and those conducting it. 
3. Update your resume. Get individualized feedback from a trained Peer Leader to develop an effective resume or cover letter. You can book an appointment on OSCARplus / Student Success Centre / Appointments / Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching / Resume and Cover Letter Writing. 

Who can I ask about finding a position in my field of interest? 

• Your professor: Contact your professors about your research interests and aspirations.  They may have connections and knowledge about what researchers value in potential candidates. Making a great impression here can go a long way to being recommended for an opportunity. 
• Your teaching assistant (TA): They have experience searching for research opportunities and can share their journey and insights, including what worked and didn’t work for them and tips on where to search and what to prepare. TAs also work closely with professors, so they will have knowledge about who is doing what and possibly any available opportunities. 
• Upper-year students: They can give you other avenues to search for research positions and may be able to share what it was like working on a research project and potential contacts. 
• Do your own research: Find out which faculty members and professors are involved in research and learn their current interests within their field of expertise. Find out what research is being done in your field of interest and who is doing it. You can connect with those people for a career conversation and ask them questions about gaining experience and making connections. 

How can I stay connected with some of my professors, TAs and/or peers?

• Engage and participate during class discussions. 
• Attend instructor office hours.  
• Begin by asking if they are open to having a quick chat about your research area of interest, if they have any tips for connecting with professors doing research, research that you are interested in on campus. 
• Create a LinkedIn profile to connect with peers, TAs and professors. Keep up to date on your field of interest and be active on LinkedIn. 
• Attend events like workshops, seminars and guest lectures on topics of interest or those hosted by researchers with similar interests. 

Where can I find opportunities?

It is hard to balance academics and social life, however, making space in your day to participate in social events or activities can support your emotional well-being and sense of belonging in the university. You can also join course-specific study groups. I recommend following social media accounts created for your faculty and program to check for student events and social gatherings. 

Final remarks

When exploring research opportunities, it is important to reflect on your goals and what you need the research experience for. A reminder that we are here to support you throughout your journey. 

Volunteering online gives you experiences and opportunities to put on your resume, discuss in your interviews and help you build skills.

Try Something New

Volunteering online gives you the opportunity to try a new form of volunteering where you can build your skills that can be applied to personal, professional and academic experiences.

Create an Online Network

Volunteering online allows you to create an online network which can lead to future opportunities within the organization.

Where to Find Online Volunteer Positions:

To find volunteer positions that are online, search for “remote” (i.e., eWork, eVolunteering or virtual) before a position to find opportunities. These are a few databases where many online volunteering positions can be found:

• OSCARplus
• Charity Village
• Volunteer Match
• Gigit
• Spark Ontario
• United Nations Volunteering
• Translators Without Borders
• Be My Eyes
• Amnesty International

Getting started

1. Go to app.mysparkpath.com/
2. Click on “Get Started.”
3. A sign-up box will appear to create your own account. Sign up as a student.
4. When prompted for the code, enter “macssccareers.”
5. Create a password with at least eight characters. This will be the password you use to return to the account to review your results or try the sort again.

When sorting your Challenge Cards:

1. Consider what might be meaningful for you or what might give you a high level of engagement.
2. Go with your first reaction to each card on the first sort.
3. When you’re asked to select your top three cards, read more about the challenges in the details.
4.  Pay attention to your inner dialogue and sort based on what is true for you.

What’s next?

You may be used to thinking about your career in terms of which job title you want to have. However, according to Jules Shroeder, author and founder of Unconventional Life podcast, job titles don’t matter as much anymore. But what does this mean for your career planning processes?

You can use the results from your Digital Challenge Cards to develop a plan for what’s next — one that takes into account the fast-paced, ever-changing nature of work today. This way, you can learn to grow and adapt to new environments and roles that aren’t as clearly defined by focusing on the challenges that interest you most.

This initiative is supported by the McMaster Okanagan Special Project Funding.

Learn more about Okanagan special projects and initiatives to improve health and well-being in the McMaster community.

What is a Career Trek?

Career Treks are short-term, unpaid opportunities that can provide practical, real-world experiences. You will have the opportunity to gain valuable workplace experience, receive mentorship and learn about a local industry. Through a Career Trek, you get to work with a local company to provide project support.

Benefits of Career Treks

Gaining experience is about more than just filling up your resume. It’s also about getting to know the job market, developing important professional skills, and getting involved through community engagement and building connections. Here are some benefits of getting yourself involved in a career trek.

• You will develop important professional skills
• You will develop critical thinking, writing, research, teamwork, planning and public speaking skills
• You will get involved through community engagement

You will learn how to form connections and network

• You will get involved in project-based experience
• You will experience real-life challenges

Career Trek categories

Some Career Trek categories include:

• Arts and creative
• Business strategy
• Data analysis
• Market research
• Market validation
• Marketing and communications
• Production
• Website redesign

Accessing Career Treks

1. Log onto OSCARplus using your Mac ID
2. Select “Student Success Centre” from the left panel
3. Select “Volunteer & Experience Building” from the drop-down menu
4. Select “Postings”
5. Select “Search Opportunities”
6. Check “Career Trek” under Position Type

Skills you can develop: core competencies

Networking 

• Diversity & Intercultural Understanding 
• Adaptability & Resiliency 
• Collaboration & Teamwork 
• Professional Attributes 

Fundamental Skills 

• Critical Thinking 
• Problem Solving 
• Social Responsibility 
• Technological Ability 
• Functional Knowledge 

Teamwork and Collaboration Skills 

• Collaboration & Teamwork 
• Communication 
• Leadership 

Personal Management Skills 

• Professional Attributes 
• Self-Awareness 
• Research & Analysis