Career services for alumni
Graduates Advice
Landing your dream job requires planning and persistence. Our Career Services team is here to help while you’re a student and even after you’ve graduated. We can help you explore your career options, strengthen your networking skills and offer guidance on how to make the most of your MEL or MHLP degree.
Below, we’ve compiled some strategies to help you find career success after graduation.
Network, network, network
We can’t emphasize this enough. Over the course of your degree, you will have built your network to include connections to other MEL and MHLP students and alumni, instructors and industry leaders. Leverage the power of this network by reaching out. Consider:
- Adding your contacts to LinkedIn
- Asking contacts an introduction to someone they may know in your field of interest
- Requesting information interviews with people working in your field of interest
- Joining relevant industry groups
Make the most of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful platform for connecting with professionals in your field and standing out to potential employers. Make sure your LinkedIn profile demonstrates your experience and skills and includes relevant keywords and search terms so that both AI-fuelled search engines and recruiters can easily find you. In addition to updating your profile regularly (perhaps twice or three times a year), you might also want to:
- Share links to articles relevant to your field
- Comment on LinkedIn posts
- Add posts of your own
- Join industry groups and engage in discussions
- Ask people in your network to write a recommendation for you
Tap into the hidden job market
There are a lot of “hidden” jobs out there that aren’t advertised. Sometimes these are positions that organizations intend to fill through internal recruitment. Or they may be positions that don’t even exist until the company realizes (thanks to you!) that there’s a pressing need for someone who with a unique interdisciplinary degree and multidisciplinary experience.
Here’s where your connections really matter. Let your contacts know what kind of jobs you are interested in and the unique skills and expertise you bring to your work. (This is also a great opportunity to practice your sales pitch!)
Know the factors that influence hiring decisions
Research shows that personality matters. Positive, engaging and enthusiastic people are more likely to get the “the job is yours” phone call after an interview. Having said that, it’s important to be yourself and be authentic. So don’t force the issue, but if you are excited by the job and the idea of making a difference within the organization, share your enthusiasm with your interviewers.
Leadership requires resilience
Finding a job that aligns with your experience, values and strengths can be challenging. It is inevitable that you will not be shortlisted for every job you apply for get an offer after every interview. A resilient mindset can help you better navigate this period of uncertainty.
Think back to other challenges you have faced and the tools and strategies you used to overcome them. Manage your expectations. Take a long-term view. Make sure your cover letters and resume communicate your transferable skills if you’re trying to move into a higher-level position or one in a related field. And don’t forget to reach out to your support system of family, friends and professional contacts throughout this process. They can help you stay positive and focused on the big picture.
Learn more about this innovative professional master’s degree from our alumni and the impact that it has on their career, outlook and development.
Alumni news & Updates
Featured Alumni
Justin Krzanowski
Justin Krzanowski is integrating the leadership and health-care knowledge he acquired over the course of his MHLP in Seniors Care to lead a team tasked with developing and implementing discharge policies and procedures from the acute care setting.
