Graduate Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching

1. Reflect and Strategize: Our career counsellors will guide you through a supportive and collaborative process of reflecting on your career aspirations and developing a strategic plan to achieve your goals. We’ll help you explore various career paths and identify the factors influencing your career development. 
2. Clarify Your Goals: We understand that as a graduate student, you may have complex thoughts and feelings about your career and future ambitions. Our counsellors will work with you to clarify your thoughts, gain a deeper understanding of your career interests, strengths and values while aligning with your future goals. 
3. Access Career Information: We provide comprehensive resources to support your decision-making process. Our career counsellors can help you locate relevant career and education information that will inform your choices and empower you to make well-informed decisions.

Career counselling

Career counsellors work with you in a supportive and collaborative manner to help you make career, education and life decisions.

Job search coaching

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.

Book an appointment on OSCARplus

OSCARplus is an online platform you can use to engage with Student Success Centre services. These services include 1-on-1 supports, events, appointments and workshops to support your academic, personal and professional development and success.

Student Success Centre > Appointments > Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching > Book by Appointment Type.

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (CAPS)

Career Access Professional Services (CAPS) can help you overcome barriers to career development. Email careeraccess@mcmaster.ca to learn more about this individualized career and job search support offered by the SSC Career Counsellors or to book an appointment.  If you have been referred by someone at McMaster, please let us know in your email.

Graduate and Professional school application support

Get individualized feedback on your Graduate or Professional school application

• personal statements/letter of intent
• academic CV/resume,
• interview preparation
• asking for references

Please note: Writing support for your Personal Statement/Letter of Intent is also available through The Writing Centre – please see Academic Skills Appointments.

If you have a few quick questions related to careers, employment, further education or experience building, chat with our careers team at career drop-ins, available Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. − 4:00 p.m. ET. All drop-in meetings are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• Virtual drop-ins (15 minutes):  Join on Zoom, and someone from the careers team will join you when they’re available.  There are options for text chat, audio or video. Let the staff member know your preference when they join.
• In-person drop-ins (20 minutes): Visit us in the Student Success Centre in Gilmour Hall 110. Check-in at the front desk.

Brought to you by the Student Success Centre (SSC) and Alumni Career Services.

We offer a range of career assessments specifically designed for graduate students, such as the MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory, SkillScan and Challenge Cards. These assessments can provide valuable insights into your personality, interests and skills, and help you explore suitable career paths. Schedule a session with a career counsellor to determine which assessments are most beneficial for you. 

Free online programs on Avenue to Learn to help you meet your goals

Job Search Essentials: This program covers essential topics such as resume writing, cover letter crafting, job search strategies and LinkedIn optimization. All students are welcome to participate, and recorded sessions are available for flexible viewing.

Career Planning Essentials: This program is designed to help you build more self-awareness, reflect on what is important for you and explore your career options. At the end, we’ll help you pull together everything you’ve learned and develop an action plan.

Further Education Essentials: This program is designed to help you build more self-awareness, reflect on your options, understand the process of applying and explore further education options. At the end, you will have knowledge about graduate and professional school applications, including exploring your options and making decisions.

Registration

You can register any time and work through the modules at your own pace. Register for the course on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events. Then, find the most recent registration link (posted on the first week of each month) on the calendar.

We host workshops and events throughout the year to provide guidance and support on topics related to your success. Plus, these sessions are a great way to connect with staff, peers and alumni.

Some session topics include:

• Navigating careers with experts
• Resume and cover letter writing
• Job searching strategies
• Career navigating with Planned Happenstance
• Building career confidence
• And more

Visit OSCARplus (under Student Success Centre > Events) to learn more about upcoming sessions and register.

Fall Career Fair is one of the biggest career events at McMaster. This recruitment event can help you in your job search by making it easy to meet employers and discover opportunities.

Get prepared for career fairs at McMaster University by gaining valuable information and tools to make the most of these events.

Connect to Careers is an opportunity to connect with hiring managers and company representatives to set yourself apart from other candidates. Share your experiences, skills and qualifications with organizations you want to work for. Plus, learn more about companies and positions that reflect your interests and career plans.