undergraduate student, UBC Okanagan (UBCO)
Student advising and career preparation
We provide coordinated and personalized programming and support for students in navigating academic and career pathways, helping them make the most of their time at university and build the skills for agility and success beyond UBC.
Directorates involved
- Academic & Career Development
- Indigenous Programs & Services
- Global Engagement Office
- Wellbeing & Accessibility Services (Disability Resource Centre)
Alignment with Student Strategic Plan Strategies
- 2.0 Student Advising & Career Preparation
- 4.0 Advancement of Social Justice through Anti-Racism and Sustainability
Activities
Centralized advising services
AVPS offers a unique centralized advising model in partnership with Faculties. Types of Advising include (but are not limited to):
ACADEMIC & CAREER ADVISING
Assists students with discussing academic requirements, interpreting academic policies, exploring program options and developing a personalized plan, checking graduation requirements, and supports overall academic and career goal setting.
INDIGENOUS STUDENT ADVISING
Helps students navigate their academic journey with a holistic approach, including academic, cultural, social and physical considerations. Indigenous student advising also provides informed assistance for matters that relate specifically to Indigenous students, including Third Party Sponsorship and admissions pathways.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISING
Advises on immigration documentation, health insurance, working in Canada, degree progression/academic concerns, and intercultural learning, and provides cultural and transitional support.
unique students seen by AVPS advisors each year
total points of contact with students annually
Career Development
Career Development provides guidance and career advice, resume support, interview skills, as well as events, opportunities, and workshops for students. In addition, Career Development has one-on-one discussions with close to 100 unique employers and hosts dozens of on-campus and virtual events with employers annually.
In partnership with Faculties, Career Development has embedded career supports directly into 15 classes across four different Faculties. Since 2021, Career Development has more than doubled their total points of contacts with students — now providing more than 1,100 touch points annually. Supports and programming offered through Career Development include:
CAREER PEER MENTORS
Career Peer Mentors provide resume, cover letter and job search support to more than 200 students annually through one-on-one appointments and workshops.
CAREER CONNECTIONS
Career Connections events provide students an opportunity to learn from and network with industry professionals. More than a dozen events are hosted on campus each year and are attended by hundreds of students from all Faculties.
CAREER WORKSHOP SERIES
Career Workshop Series features in-person events on topics including ‘Tools to Get the Job’, ‘Tools to Market Yourself’, and ‘Planning Your Career Journey’ and are attended by hundreds of students each year.
CAREER READINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MICRO-CREDENTIAL
The Career Readiness and Professional Development Micro Credential provides graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with opportunities for professional development and personal growth that complement their academic work, and is offered through a series of workshops attended by more than 70 students annually.
LINKEDIN PAGE
The UBC Okanagan Career Development LinkedIn page is a key tool for the Career Development Team to increase engagement and connection with students and employers. The page currently has more than 1,500 followers and generates thousands of unique impressions and link clicks each year.
SPARKPATH CARDS
Sparkpath Cards are used by hundreds of students annually both online and in-person to encourage career exploration.
JOB BOARD
The Student & Alumni Job Board hosts hundreds of on- and off-campus employment and volunteer opportunities available for students and alumni with a variety of experience levels and career aspirations.
Each year, the Job Board reports:
unique student logins
total student logins
off-campus job postings
on-campus job postings
total job posting views
IGNITE
Ignite is a two-week long career development series aimed at helping international students navigate the Canadian job market and identify workplace expectations while developing intercultural competencies. The series is offered to more than 500 participants through 10 events, in which students build job search, interview, and networking skills and learn about pathways to permanent residency and the legal requirements to work in Canada.
CAREER FAIR
A new and improved on-campus Career Fair is now hosted in partnership by the Career Development team and the SUO, and is open to students from all programs and disciplines seeking part-time, full-time, seasonal and co-op roles. Students are provided an opportunity to meet and make valuable connections with more than 40 potential employers from a diverse range of industries including agriculture, financial consulting, social services, energy, education, innovation technology, and more.
“In my opinion, the UBCO Career Fair has been an excellent platform that provided a great networking opportunity. Overall, the fair has been fruitful and I believe UBC must continue providing these fairs annually.”
— 4th-year Management student