Q&A with Karen Thorburn about her work increasing career success for students

March is National Co-op and Work-Integrated Learning Month, and we want to shine a light on the amazing work that’s taking place in the faculty to increase student career success through co-ops, internships, experiential learning and career advising.

We spoke with Karen Thorburn from the Careers and Experiential Education Team about how they drive student success.

How do you help students explore career options and be career-ready after graduation?

As the Co-op & Internship Student Manager, I specifically support students as they search, secure, and aid work experiences during their degree program. The opportunity to be admitted to co-op, do an internship or other work-integrated learning experience during degree studies is such a valuable addition to the student’s educational experience at McMaster.

The elective internship program is a fantastic opportunity for students in any Social Sciences degree program to gain professional work experience. The internship program is noted on the student’s transcript and shows that they have taken the initiative to not only secure a job, but also turned it into a learning experience that they can bring back to the classroom.

We recently launched three co-op program options within the Faculty of Social Sciences: Economics, Political Science, and Work and Labour Studies. It’s been so exciting to help connect this first cohort of co-op students with employers looking to hire this summer. In the term before they embark on a four-month paid work opportunity, I facilitate a one-unit course that supports students in the ups and downs of the job search process. It is a very tough job market right now, and sometimes this support looks like encouraging words, passing along job postings that came to our attention, or challenging students to keep applying when there are a lot of competing priorities they are trying to balance. I really love what I do and the opportunity to support students in their job search is very meaningful to me.

What resources can students use to help reach their career goals?

In addition to completing paid work experiences like internships and co-op, an excellent resource is connecting with faculty and alumni by setting up brief but intentional career conversations. These conversations or ‘coffee chats’ allow students to seek advice from professionals in their field and inquire about the individual’s unique career journey. Expand networking skills by using platforms like LinkedIn to manage connections and to turn them from names to helpful advocates in one’s job search. Past interns have told me how crucial networking and having virtual coffee chats with professionals have benefited them in securing paid work opportunities.

As students continue to explore career options throughout their degree program, they are able to attend workshops about careers, graduate school options, and set up one-on-one meetings with our amazing Social Sciences Career Development Advisor, Cindy Schooley.

You are a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP). What value does a CCDP accreditation bring to supporting students?

It’s an exciting time to be a CCDP in Canada. Currently, there are only a few provinces that have this certification, but a national certification is in the final stages of becoming a reality. Certification involves completing courses adhering to policies, standards and competencies that guide our practice, continued professional development, being involved in various communities of practice, and re-certification every three years. This means when students meet with me, they are interacting with a skilled and trained professional in the field of career advising and development.

Being a CCDP was a career choice that displays my commitment and passion for the field of career development. I really enjoy working with post secondary students as they embark on career exploration experiences! My certification has given me confidence as I connect with students knowing that I am bringing the most up-to-date information and trends to my practice with students and colleagues.