Gaining professional experience before graduation is crucial to getting future-ready! We are working to develop a Professional Experience Program designed to create opportunities for all science students to gain professional experience before graduation. That’s why we’re excited to introduce the Professional Experience Program designed to create opportunities for all science students to gain paid professional experience before graduation.
But we need your help! Vote YES on February 13 or 14.
Where to vote? A link will be sent to your McMaster email address and it will be available on the website on Feb 13 & 14.
1. Get Experience
Our new name, Science Careers & Experience Centre, reflects our commitment to getting you experienced before graduation. With your help, we will create a new Professional Experience Program that offers more opportunities to gain professional experience before graduation.
These include:
- Flexible paid internships
- Case competitions
- Industry projects
- Job shadowing
Dedicated staff will help you:
- Identify your professional experience goals
- Seek out and secure opportunities
- Support you in developing the professional competencies employers want
- Empower you to build professional networks and establish your professional reputation
2. Access Enhanced Career Services
We are doubling down on our career support to provide you with more tailored career coaching, resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking events to help you stand out in a competitive job market. Our team will develop tailored opportunities for each program in science.
3. Seamless Transition to Post-Graduation Career Support
Did you know we support you for 5 years after you graduate? As we enhance our services, we will ensure you have a dedicated Career Advisor to help you transition from student life to your career. The advantage of returning to us is that we offer a science-specific career service, providing specialized support that is not available through more general employment services.
But we can’t do this without you!
We are asking you to vote YES to increase the Science Careers & Experience Fee by $28.
When? Feb 13 and 14
We think it will be the best $28 you ever spent.
Got Questions? We’d love to hear them. Reach out to Alice O’Carroll, Director, Science Careers & Experience Centre at ocarrola@mcmaster.ca or drop in to chat with us at BSB 127.
In the meantime, view some of our frequently asked questions below.
Expandable List
Science students want more opportunities to gain professional experience before graduation.
The team rebranded to demonstrate their commitment to connecting students with ‘experience’ before graduation. The $28 increase will allow them to create Work-Integrated Learning Program. The program will offer students paid Internships (full time for 4, 8 or 12 months or part-time to fit in with their studies), opportunities for case competitions and Industry Projects and much more. This project shows how we plan to build this for each department.
It will be similar to co-op but more flexible.
– Students will be trained with the professional skills and competencies to succeed in their work-integrated learning experience (e.g. resume and cover letter skills, interview and networking preparation, job seeking skills and knowledge and professional competency development).
– Students get a staff member who will support them to secure a professional experience. The staff member will seek out opportunities and will post them for students to apply to (like co-op). Students will receive ongoing support to secure a position.
– Students will receive support with any issues arising in the workplace.
– Students will earn an hourly rate of pay while working.
– Students will be supported to identify their professional development goals and to plan their next steps after gaining experience.
You gain professional experience, develop your professional reputation and get started on your career while you are still studying.
You earn money and build a professional network.
You get a sense of what careers you want to explore more and which direction you want to go in.
You gain professional experience that will enhance your application for graduate school or employment.
The Faculty of Science has the lowest career fee of all Faculties so this increase brings it into line with the McMaster average.(Science $30.68, Social Sciences $52.43, DeGroote $151.88 and $175, Engineering $45, Student Success Centre $90.43, Humanities $40.64)
Simple. We have a 35 year history of running high quality co-op programming. Faculty of Science co-op programs are the only programs at McMaster that are accredited by Cooperative Education and Work-Integrated Learning, Canada. We have proven our reputation to deliver effective programming over our 35 year history. We are trusted by students, employers and faculty.