by Stacy Dunn
Holland College’s Office of Retention, Part-time Study and Career Services helps enhance students’ employability skills, by investigating interests and goals, holding career preparation workshops, conducting Career Assessment Inventories, and providing networking opportunities with potential employers.
Gaylene Carragher is the Director of the office. “We have a full-time career counsellor in our office who can meet with students face-to-face, virtually or over the telephone to discuss their work preferences, hours of availability, and more,” she says. “The students are offered support in finding part-time employment and guided on how to manage incorporating employment into their schedules, where their studies must be priority #1.”
Students log on to the college’s Student Achievement Management (SAM) system that provides resources and supports for students searching for part-time employment.
“Here, students have access to resources through our office, their programs, the Student Services office, and the library during their time at Holland College.”
Gaylene says students’ instructors are important in making contacts in their job search and career planning. “Their instructors are experts in their field and can find placements that will work for both the student and employer,” she says. “These placements often lead to full-time employment.”
“Upon completion of their program, graduates can contact our office for information on any positions we may be aware of, but in most cases, they are better to contact their instructors as that is a direct line to the specific industry.”
For more information on the Office of Retention, Part-time Study and Career Services, click here.