External Resources

  1. BioTalent Canada
  2. Cheeky Scientist
  3. Inside Higher Ed.
  4. Mitacs
  5. My Individual Development Plan
  6. Nature Jobs Blog & Careers
  7. PhD Career Guide
  8. Science Careers & Jobs
  9. Science2Business Network
  10. Versatile PhD

 

 

 

 

1. BioTalent Canada
Focus: Hub of Canadian, biotech-specific careers resources
Value:

  • Wealth of information (on job requirements, career profiles), courses, forums, etc.
  • Canadian job listings (for partnering organizations)

Where: biotalent.ca, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

 

 

 

 

2. Cheeky Scientist
Focus: Industry Training for Graduate Students Transitioning out of Academia
Value:

  • Free resume guide
  • YouTube “success” stories
  • Relevant postings on social media

Where: cheekyscientist.com, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

 

 

 

 

3. Inside Higher Ed.
Focus: Post-secondary education news, career advice and job search resource
Value:

  • Job listings in academia and industry
  • Resource for career development advice

Where: insidehighered.com

 

 

 

 

4. Mitacs
Focus: training for all graduate-level students and post docs
Value:

  • Many opportunities: industrial and policy internships, free workshops for various types of skills development

Where: mitacs.ca/en/programs/training

 

 

 

 

5. My Individual Development Plan (My IDP)
Focus: Helping scientific trainees understand and strategically work towards their career goals
Value:

  • Helps you explore career possibilities
  • Provides exercises to determine individual’s skills, interests and Values
  • Excellent tool for setting strategic career goal

Where: myidp.sciencecareers.org

 

 

 

 

6. Nature Jobs Blog & Careers
Focus: Resource for scientists in academia and industry who seek guidance in developing their careers
Value:

  • Blogs with of expert advice and personal stories on careers
  • Search engine for job postings in science

Where: nature.com/careers

 

 

 

 

7. PhD Career Guide
Focus: Career option resource for PhD graduates and who are the types of people/companies that will hire you
Value:

  • Insights on types of careers, who will hire you, how to get into that career, application process, career progression, work hours, compensation for types of jobs

Where: phdcareerguide.com

 

 

 

 

8. Science Careers & Jobs
Focus: Career-advice, career-related policy, and working life
Value:

  • Blogs with advice given from writers at various stages of career development
  • Aimed at both academic and industry careers
  • Search engine for job postings

Where: sciencemag.org/careers & jobs.sciencecareers.org

 

 

 

 

9. Science2Business Network
Focus: Bridging the gap between science and business
Value:

  • Hosts in-person networking and professional development seminars
  • Blog posts and career resources
  • Chapters on campus at Queens, UOttawa, UofT, and Ualberta

Where: s2bn.org, Twitter: @S2BNetwork, Facebook: S2Bnetwork

 

 

 

 

10. Versatile PhD
Focus: Helping graduate students prepare for non-academic careers
Value:

  • Listings of career paths
  • Example resumes for different STEM positions

Where: versatilephd.com

 

 

 

 

MITACS STEP

 

CAREER PROFESSIONALISM

 

This workshop provides an important opportunity to examine the unspoken rules of the workplace, from appropriate emails to appropriate dress. The seemingly little things we do or say that can ultimately lead to our success or can hold us back. It’s a chance to examine how others perceive us, and it’s critically important in the workplace.

 

Key competency covered: Personal & Professional Management

 

Learn more.

 

Register.

 

TIME MANAGEMENT

 

In this workshop, our experts give you the practical tools to make truly effective use of your time. They take into account differing personalities, routines and behaviors, so you can find solutions that fit your lifestyle. You will go from simply getting by to being in control of your day. That’s a key advantage in the workplace and beyond.

 

Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Personal & Professional Management

 

Learn more.

 

Register.

 

NETWORKING SKILLS

 
A good network is vital to career growth and can be your link to important new opportunities. However, getting started or knowing how to grow an existing network can be intimidating. This workshop will give you insights into how to establish and expand a stable network, both in-person and online. Each session is customized, with exercises reflecting the professional interests of participants and determined by the location of the event.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Communications & Relationship Building, Personal & Professional Management, and Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS I

 
The art of engaging an audience when communicating your point is key to workplace success. This workshop will help build your presentation skills and confidence in a supportive environment. There will be time to practice these skills and receive on-the-spot professional advice.
Even if you are a seasoned presenter, this workshop offers a worthwhile opportunity to re-examine your methods.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Communications & Relationship Building, Personal & Professional Management, and Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

PRACTICE YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS II

 
*Pre-requisite required: Practice Your Presentation Skills I
 
In this workshop you will apply and build on the techniques learned in Presentation Skills I. You will have the opportunity to deliver a presentation specific to your work interest. Then benefit from an expert critique, as well as self-analysis by watching a video replay of your presentation, yours to keep for future reference. This valuable practice time will help to polish your presentation skills and build confidence.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Communications & Relationship Building, Personal & Professional Management, and Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

SKILLS OF COMMUNICATION

 
How we communicate can drive our careers forward or unwittingly hold us back. This workshop examines different communication styles found in the workplace, including your own, as well as the styles of successful communicators. Our experts will show you how to engage others, deal with difficult conversations, and avoid assumptions that can obscure good communication. You will leave with the skills and confidence to achieve better results in any conversation.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Communications & Relationship Building, Personal & Professional Management, and Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL WRITING SKILLS

 
This workshop will help bring your knowledge to life in the written realm. You will learn how to engage your readers with technical reports that are clearly organized and well written. It’s a chance to work on current writing pieces or re-examine past work with a valuable critique from the experts.
 
Key competency covered: Communications & Relationship Building
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

DISCOVERING THE ENTREPRENEUR WITHIN

 
This workshop will reveal the resources available to you in the current Canadian entrepreneurial landscape, including funding sources. You will learn how to create a sound business plan and deliver a successful pitch, and you will analyze entrepreneurial success stories to see how others have reached their goals. You will then use your knowledge to create and present a product or service concept to the group and get instant feedback from your facilitator.
 
Key competency covered: Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

FOUNDATIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT I

 
In this workshop, you will learn the best practices of successful project managers, from inspiring a project team to meeting those crucial deadlines. These are the skills needed to take a project from beginning to end successfully. You will be given time to practice these skills in a supportive learning environment before transferring them to the workplace.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

FOUNDATIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT II

 
*Pre-requisite required: Foundations of Project Management I
 
Building on knowledge gained in Project Management I, this workshop will deepen your understanding of how to be an effective project manager. You will examine risk assessment, estimation, budgeting, and resource schedule crisis management, with a continued focus on building and managing teams. This workshop will give you the confidence and know-how to lead successful projects in the workplace from day one.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Entrepreneurialism
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

ESSENTIALS OF PRODUCTIVE TEAMS

 
This workshop will give you the tools to effectively lead and participate in team initiatives in order to quickly turn ideas into measurable results—a key skill sought by employers. By working on team-simulated exercises, you will benefit from real-time expert guidance and can then apply these skills directly to your career.
 
Key competencies covered: Leadership & Management, Communications & Relationship Building
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

WRITING EFFECTIVE EMAILS

 
Email is an ever-present method of communication at work and at home. Despite our increasing reliance on it, we may miss subtle cues or take action that could puzzle or even offend our audience. This workshop will clarify email’s most common points of confusion while providing expertise on how draft concise and effective emails.
 
Key competencies covered: Communications & Relationship
 
Learn more.
 
Register.

 

WRITING STRATEGIC BUSINESS REPORTS

 
This online workshop will provide academics transitioning into a professional environment with a core understanding of why business reports matter and how to tailor a report for its intended function and purpose.
 
Key competencies covered: Communications & Relationship
 
Learn more.
 
Register.