Focus: Supporting Students as They Move Toward Graduation and Beyond
Graduation is an exciting milestone, but students may also experience uncertainty as they prepare for employment, further education, or their next opportunity.
Students confidently transition from education into the workplace while continuing to develop lifelong career management skills.
Faculty and staff play an important role in helping students recognize their accomplishments, communicate their value, and take action toward their goals.
Students who feel prepared for their transition are better able to:
- Recognize the value of their education and experiences
- Communicate their skills to employers
- Navigate job searching and networking
- Make informed career decisions
- Adapt to changes in the workplace and labour market
Career development continues beyond graduation.
Students are often:
- Preparing for employment or further education
- Finalizing career materials
- Practicing professional communication
- Building confidence in their skills
- Navigating job searching and networking
- Seeking guidance on next steps
- Help Students Recognize Their Value
- Students may underestimate what they have accomplished.
- Encourage reflection on:
- Academic projects
- Labs
- Placements
- Co-op/WIL experiences
- Research
- Volunteer experiences
- Leadership opportunities
- Conversation starters:
- What accomplishment from your program are you most proud of?
- What skills have you developed?
- How would you explain your value to an employer?
- Encourage Career Preparation
- Support students as they finalize their career toolkit:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- LinkedIn profile
- Portfolio (where applicable)
- Interview preparation
- Job search strategies
- Support students as they finalize their career toolkit:
- Encourage Networking and Professional Connections
- Help students build relationships by encouraging them to:
- Attend employer events
- Participate in career fairs
- Connect with alumni and industry professionals
- Use LinkedIn and professional networks
- Help students build relationships by encouraging them to:
- Connect Students to Career Services
- Remind students that support continues beyond graduation
- Encourage students to:
- Book employment advising appointments
- Attend career workshops and webinars
- Participate in employer events
- Access ExperienceCentennial resources
- Continue building career skills after graduation
- Small Actions, Big Impact
- Ask students: “How would you answer ‘Tell me about yourself?’”
- Encourage students to update their LinkedIn profile
- Share an employer event or Career Services resource
- Remind students support continues beyond graduation
Faculty Resources
Career Launch Resources
These resources can support students preparing for their next steps.
| Classroom Resources | Suggested Use |
|---|---|
| Transition Out Webinar - Launch Career | Students transition confidently into employment, further education, or other opportunities while continuing to develop lifelong career management skills. |
| Graduate Career Page | Direct students to career launch resources, events, and support |
| Interview Preparation Video | Help students prepare for employer interviews |
Provide students with virtual interview practice opportunities | |
Support students attending employer events | |
Help students build professional connections and networks | |
Provide ongoing career planning and job search strategies |
Student Resources
Share these resources directly with students:
- ExperienceCentennial Career Resources
- Browse Jobs
- Schedule Employment Advising Appointments
- View Career Fairs and Employer Events
- Attend Career Workshops and Webinars
- BigInterview
- Ten Thousand Coffees
- Devant
Career Learning Outcomes
By the end of the "Transition Out" stage, students should be able to:
- Reflect on and apply career planning strategies that support lifelong learning and adaptability in a changing world of work.
- Integrate learning from academic, work-integrated learning, and personal experiences to inform career decisions and direction.
- Demonstrate resilience, confidence, and a growth mindset in navigating career uncertainty and transitions.
Reflection Prompt
Consider reflecting on the following questions:
- Do your students feel prepared and confident to launch their careers?
- Do students know how to communicate the value of their education, experiences, and skills to employers?
- Are students actively building professional connections and networks?
- Do students know where to access career support as they transition beyond graduation?