Employment learning opportunities during Career and Workplace Development Month
By: Reuben Pajemolin
November is Career and Workplace Development Month (CWDM) at Red River College Polytechnic.
Student Employment Services organized a month-long event that includes Ask Me Anything’s (AMAs), virtual presentations, teaching videos, and more. These events add to existing support from the college.
The event will focus on five topics in the next five weeks. Participating students will learn how to search for jobs, write a resume, and create a LinkedIn profile.
Kyle Holod, a RRC Polytech Business Administration student, said they focus on their LinkedIn and resume skills when applying for jobs because of the value it can bring to employers.
“A lot of employers use algorithms now when you’re submitting resumes, so it’s important to know the strategies,” said Holod. “And a lot of them look at LinkedIn as a second resume, so it’s very important you have a good LinkedIn.”
One in four HR managers spend less than 30 seconds initially reviewing a resume, and 75 per cent of employers have caught a lie on a resume, according to employment site CareerBuilder.
LinkedIn’s economic graph shows the company has over 774 million members and 58 million companies on their networking platform.
Jackson Loepp, a Culinary Arts student at RRC Polytech said he thinks there’s value in building career skills.
“I think it’s definitely a great skill to have, it’s something that most people don’t really think about. Being able to have that experience and that practice is definitely a positive for anybody,” said Loepp. “Even me, with experience, I still learn things that I didn’t know before.”
Justin Martinez, a Business Information Technology student, said he appreciates the Career and Workplace Development Month activities, despite finding his professional development course sufficient.
“I would definitely put the sessions on my agenda,” said Martinez. “If it’s utilized as a networking thing, I could see how that would add value too.”
More information can be found on the RRC Polytech student employment services webpage. All learning opportunities are virtual and some require pre-registration.
