Goals Month (January 11–February 5)
You can achieve your goals. These events and resources can help.
January 11–February 5, 2021
What are your goals for 2021? Whether you want to improve your grades, develop new work habits, gain experience, find a job or build more of a sense of community, Goals Month features a bit of everything to support your goal-setting and go-getting. Each week will feature a different theme to help you get career ready, understand your financial personality, build a culture of inclusion, develop academic skills and more. Let’s take action on our goals together.
Make sure to follow @MacSSC on Instagram for activities and prizes thoughout Goals Month!
Career Week (January 11–15)
- Resume Lab (January 12)
- Summer Job Search (January 15)
- Save the date: Connect to Careers Job Fair (March 3)
Explore more workshops throughout the term on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events.
Do you have a few quick questions related to careers, employment, further education or experience building? Chat with our careers team. Virtual career drop-ins are open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Invictus Analytics and Strategy (January 12)
- Canada Revenue Agency (January 14)
- BGIS Global Integrated Solutions (January 14)
Explore more company information sessions and networking events on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events.
- Career Planning Essentials: A self-directed online program
- Career Planning Notebook: A customizable digital resource with suggested year-by-year plans
- Big Interview: A valuable interview preparation tool
- Digital Challenge Cards: A career discovery and assessment tool
- Five key traits to help navigate your career: A career planning blog post from the lead SSC career counsellor
- SSC tip sheets: A comprehensive list of all current SSC tip sheets; we recommend these career tip sheets:
Financial Wellness Week (January 18–22)
Available Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., as part of virtual career drop-ins.
Do you know someone who deserves something special? DM us on Instagram (@MacSSC). Let us know why your person deserves a treat, and we’ll choose people to send $5 Starbucks gift cards.
More information is coming soon!
Mac’s Money Centre
Mac’s Money Centre is your go-to place for money tips and resources.
Investing with Michelle Hung
Watch this five-part webinar series to learn all you need to know to start investing. Plus, read the article — All about investing: Q&A with finance expert Michelle Hung (@TheSassyInvestor).
Money personality game
Are you curious about what your money personality is? Play this game to find out and learn how your spending habits contribute to your financial wellness. Email money@mcmaster.ca or attend the online webinar, Get to Know Your Money Personality (January 18), to get your access code to play.
Budgeting for a global opportunity
Are you trying to save for an exchange or trip abroad once it’s safe to travel again? Download this budget template to help you keep your spending in check and hold yourself accountable. Your global goals are attainable!
Mac’s Money Show
Watch these videos to learn how money plays a role in your daily life. Episodes include:
Culture of Inclusion (January 18–29)
Together, we can work toward a more inclusive culture and community.
Culture of Inclusion is a campaign led by the SSC’s Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) to support inclusive employment for all McMaster students and alumni (up to 10 years after graduation). Through diverse online events and resource sharing, the goal is to create a welcoming virtual environment to celebrate diversity in employment, share opportunities and have meaningful conversations about inclusion.
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.
About MindSumo
MindSumo is a creative platform that allows you to earn money while taking on important challenges and solving problems. Explore how you can contribute to a more inclusive culture through these MindSumo opportunities.
LotusSTEMM challenge
- How can we (LotusSTEMM) provide more support to queer South Asian students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM)?
- Has your gender identity or sexual orientation influenced your work or career choices? If so, please explain.
- What impact (if any) have family perceptions had on your education and career choices? Has this influenced your studies in STEMM?
- Describe a positive dedicated support program we could provide for queer South Asian students in STEMM. Explain the details of the program, and why you think it would have a positive impact on the lives of queer South Asian students in STEMM.
GeoTab challenge
- What do you believe are the existing barriers that make it more difficult for Indigenous students to get into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields?
- How can organizations like Geotab create programs, education or opportunities to eliminate the barriers that Indigenous students face when trying to get into STEM?
Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) tip sheets
- Accessible Involvement and Volunteering
- Disclosing Your Disability
- What Is an Accommodation?
- When to Ask for Accommodation
Community and employer partner resources
Discover Ability, Ontario Chamber of Commerce:
Specialisterne:
- Re-thinking Abilities at Work
- From Home, to Action, to Impact
- Specialisterne Project Overview
- Employable Me Canada
Community Living: Ready, Willing and Able:
- Creating Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
- Ready, Willing and Able Develops Inclusive and Effective Labour Markets
- Building an Inclusive Labour Force
Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO):
Hamilton Civic Centre for Inclusion (HCCI):
- Solidarity in the Wake of COVID-19: HCCI Anti-Racism Conference
- Gentrification in Hamilton: A Vital Signs Chat
Ontario Public Service Commission:
Lime Connect:
Auticon Canada Ltd.:
Additional organizations
Academic Skills Week (January 25–29)
Need help getting your academics back on track?
Academic Reboot sessions are for students who need extra academic support or who want to reset and make a fresh start after a challenging fall term. Attend these online sessions to develop your academic skills and improve your writing so you can get the grades you want.
Writing sessions
January 26, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Get practical advice, resources and best practices to improve your academic writing and prepare for success on any type of writing assignment.
Academic skills sessions
January 26, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Reflect, plan and take action to bounce back from academic setbacks. Get tips and learn strategies to develop skills related to online learning, note-taking, multiple-choice tests, studying and building resiliency.
- Taking Research Notes (January 27)*
- Time Management and Beating Procrastination (January 27)*
- Effective Group Work (January 27)*
- Setting Goals for Success (January 27)*
- Virtual Study Session (January 27)
Need more incentive to meet your academic goals?
For each Academic Skills Wednesday Workshop you attend virtually in Winter 2021, your name will be entered into a draw to win a $200 gift card. The draw will take place on April 12, and the winner will be contacted. (Applicable workshops are marked with an asterisk.)
What does comfort mean to you? Share your creative response for a chance to win.
The Academic Skills Writing Contest is open from January 18 to February 5. Enter for a chance to win a Campus Store gift card worth up to $150!
Academic coaching
Meet with an academic coach to develop the academic skills you need to succeed. Feel free to tell them about your specific academic goals, and they’ll be sure to help any way they can.
- Learn more about academic coaching and meet the coaches.
- Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Academic Skills.
Writing support
The Writing Centre is your go-to resource for one-on-one writing support. Our certified writing advisors are trained graduate and upper-year undergraduate students who can help you gain confidence in your writing and identify areas where you can improve.
- Learn more about the Writing Centre.
- Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Academic Skills.
Peer tutoring
Get course-specific support from someone who understands. At the Undergrad Peer Tutoring Network (UPTN), tutors are McMaster undergraduate students who have completed and earned at least an A- or a 10 grade in the course(s) they are tutoring. Sessions are $18 per hour.
Online Learning Support web page
This page is the place to find information, guidance, tips, tools and resources to support your academic performance online.
Academic tip sheets
- Discussion Threads
- Group Work
- Learning Strategies for Virtual Lectures
- Online Courses
- Online Learning: Staying Motivated
- Staying Focused During Virtual Lectures
- Studying: Setting Up for Success
Explore all our academic skills resources and tip sheets on the McMaster University Library’s Research Guides database (LibGuides).
Academic Skills Animated Series
Research and Writing Week (February 1–5)
Is one of your 2021 goals to improve your research and writing skills? The Student Success Centre and McMaster Library present Research and Writing Week: February 1–5, 2021. Take advantage of our featured appointments and workshops to get started on your biggest assignment of the term.
February 1, 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (multiple time slots)
Celebrate the launch of Research and Writing Week with Motivation Monday on February 1. Meet one-on-one with a writing advisor and a McMaster Library staff member to get help with your biggest assignment of the term. Registrants will meet for half an hour each with a trained advisor from the Writing Centre and a McMaster Library staff member to get help with both writing and research. Spaces are limited, so make sure to sign up soon!
Sign up for a time slot on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events. Or, register for a specific time using these links.
You can become a better writer; the advisors at the Writing Centre can help.
The Writing Centre is your go-to resource for one-on-one writing support. Our certified writing advisors are trained graduate and upper-year undergraduate students who can help you gain confidence in your writing and identify areas where you can improve.
- Learn more about the Writing Centre.
- Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Academic Skills.
What does comfort mean to you? Share your creative response for a chance to win.
The Academic Skills Writing Contest is open from January 18 to February 5. Enter for a chance to win a Campus Store gift card worth up to $150!
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