As convocation nears, Durham College (DC) students are preparing to launch their careers. To assist them in their journey from campus to career, DC’s Career Development office organized two weeks of career-focused fun at the college’s Gear Up to Get Hired events and connected more than 2,000 students with employers at two Winter Job Fairs earlier this month.

Taking place from January 29 to February 6, students had access to job fairs at the college’s Oshawa and Whitby campuses, as well as various workshops and sessions, including how to create a personal pitch, resumé writing techniques, job fair success strategies, using LinkedIn and more.

This year, the annual day-long Job Fair at the Oshawa campus brought in 77 potential employers for students and alumni to meet, including those currently hiring for full-time, part-time, co-op, summer and seasonal work. Held on February 4 in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, organizations represented a mix of economic sectors, including business, community services, manufacturing, skilled trades, information technology, engineering, health care, hospitality and justice. Students also had access to the Ten Thousand Coffees mentoring lounge, where alumni offered career advice and networking practice.

Prior to the Whitby campus Job Fair on February 6, students had the opportunity to attend DC Talks: Alumni Series to hear from two recent grads who have found success in their field, and a Women in Trades panel discussion. During the fair, which brought in 40 employers, students connected with businesses specifically recruiting for positions related to programs operating out of the Whitby campus, such as skilled trades, hospitality, administration and more.

DC’s Career Development office provides support for all things career-related at the college. The Career Development team offers a range of services including support for career exploration, resumé building and cover letter writing, interviewing skills and job search strategies.

For more information visit www.durhamcollege.ca/careerdevelopment.