As part of its commitment to preparing students for the workforce and connecting them with employers, Durham College (DC) held its annual Career Week on campus from February 6 to 10. Co-ordinated by DC’s Career Development office, this year’s series of events provided students with opportunities to meet potential employers, network with industry experts, access helpful resources, learn from the real-world experiences of successful DC alumni and much more.

The week’s activities included:

• Icebreaker Night, co-hosted by FastStart DC, the college’s entrepreneurial training partnership.
• Alumni in the Pit, which saw two DC grads return to campus to share their success stories and answer questions about life after graduation.
• The Tradesmart Career Fair where skilled trades students and alumni had the opportunity to meet with over 20 employers seeking highly qualified, enthusiastic candidates with specific trade and technical skills for full-time, part-time, summer and contract employment opportunities.
• Campus Job Fair, which this year put its focus on the art of networking — having meaningful career conversations with recruiters – while connecting students and alumni with over 70 employees, all of whom are planning to hire within the next six months.
• Job Fair Follow-up Friday, aimed at helping students stay on the track to employment by offering employer follow-up strategies, tips on how to target resumés and cover letters, and thoughts on thank-you letters.

New for 2017 was the connection between Career Week and DC’s new backpack2Briefcase program (b2B). Students and alumni who attended select b2B events during Career Week earned points towards DC’s Co-curricular Recognition program and had the chance to win $100-door prizes. b2B events will continue throughout the academic year.

The Career Development office offers coaches who assist, guide and encourage DC students and graduates to learn about their chosen career path; discover what employers are looking for in new recruits; translate their academic experiences into resumes and professional letters; and prepare for success at the interview and on the job. In addition, the Career Development office hosts the DC Hired site, which allows students to view job postings and employer links, sign up for events, and book coaching appointments.

For more information, please visit the Career Development website.