ISS will be closed Dec 24th at 12pm until January 2nd. We re-open January 3rd.
ISS is available virtually and in-person Mondays-Fridays during business hours.
Welcome to Step 1!听
The last thing you may be considering at this time is preparing for a job. But, what you know now听as a听freshman听can influence what job you get in the future. Planning for life after your 捆绑SM社区 education starts NOW!
(Please note: to view and register for career fairs, information sessions and workshops offered through CaPS, login to and click on the听events tab.)
- Discovering Interests
- Getting Involved
- Expanding Skills
- Job Search听Tools
- Intro to Permanent Residency
Discovering Academic Interests
The first few years of university are the best to get a feel for your future studies and career. With an increasing amount of information available, deciding your future after you graduate can be tough.听 However, the resources below can guide you through this process:听
List of resources
- Free access to professional听Self-Assessments听through听CaPS (Career Planning Service)
Involvement and Experiences
Have you ever wondered what to put on your CV听if you don't have formal work experience yet? Don't fret! Campus involvement and extra-curricular activities do matter for employers, particularly here in Canada.听Not only will you enjoy working with people who share your interests,听you will also develop important transferable skills at the same time!
Extra-Curricular Activities
Getting involved on campus can be recognized on your Co-Curricular Record. This record demonstrates your skills beyond the classroom to future employers.
List of resources
- Co-Curricular Record听is a document that recognizes听a student's involvement in learning opportunities outside the classroom. It showcases your campus involvement to your employer.听
- Official campus associations and opportunities:听Engage 捆绑SM社区听
- Student associations:听Campus Clubs
- myInvolvement:听list of听workshops, events, volunteer, and other meaningful learning opportunities.
Volunteering
Volunteering helps build and demonstrate skills to help you land a new job or advance at your current company. Volunteering also shows that you take initiative, like to keep busy and be听useful. If you are looking for your first job, next job or changing careers, volunteering shows a prospective employer that you are dedicated to your community and seek diverse opportunities.
If you are not sure where to start, we have compiled a list of resources to help you:
List of resources
- 's mission is to promote community volunteerism. They recruit volunteers, offer听referral services,听organize听volunteer fairs, and provide听support to a network of 70 Meals on Wheels and Community Lunch groups.
- Alternative Spring Break听is an initiative during 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Reading Week, engaging students with five days of volunteering, learning, and interacting with the local Montreal community.
Expanding Skills
Language
Each additional language you master increases your chances of getting into today's global market!
If you wish听to stay in Quebec after graduation, your knowledge of the听French language will be a determining factor in your employment opportunities.
For those intending to apply for permanent听residency, achieving B2-level French fulfills the language requirements for the听听-听the听accelerated immigration program听that many students choose after studying in Quebec.听听
Don't be intimidated if you've never studied French before;听you will find the right level to get started through听the 捆绑SM社区听French Language Center, which听provides a series of French as Second Language (FRSL) courses, varying from entry to advanced levels.听听
, meaning that successful completion of one of those courses will fulfill the PEQ French language requirements. Additionally, other resources are available both on and off-campus for French learning:
List of resources
- FRSL courses听by the French Language Centre. International students have听automatically assessed听fees at the Quebec tuition rate for all FRSL and almost all FREN French courses, regardless of your program.听Detailed information can be found听on 捆绑SM社区's Student Account's website.
- A step-by-step action plan to achieve B2-level French in 4 years at 捆绑SM社区.
- CFRN courses through听捆绑SM社区's听School of Continuing Studies. Upon the approval of your academic advisors, you can register for these French courses as electives if those at FLC do not fit into your schedule.听, meaning that successful completion of one of those courses will fulfill the PEQ French language requirements. In addition,听international students have automatically assessed听fees for certain eligible French courses at the Quebec tuition rate.听Detailed information can be found听on 捆绑SM社区's Student Accounts website.
- and : LingoBuddies is a language exchange service provided by MISN to match language learners to native speakers
- : For a small fee, Jumelage听Interlinguistique听will match you with a native French speaker from UdeM to exchange languages.
- :听Mundo Lingo听organizes social events to practice language skills. Usually, it occurs at a bar on Tuesday and Friday evenings.听
- AUS conversation circle
- A list of language resources听by CaPS
Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are the skills you acquire and can be transferred to future employment settings. Common examples include communication, interpersonal,听leadership, and organizational skills.听
Many employers, particularly here in Canada, give weight to transferable skills in addition to proficiency in your area of study.
List of resources
- SKILLS21听is a new skill development program for 捆绑SM社区 undergraduate students. It aims to provide flexible opportunities and support for 捆绑SM社区 undergraduate students in the development of 21st-century skills, values, and attitudes through workshops in five different streams.听
- SKILLSETS听is a suite听of听skills development offerings听aimed at听graduate听students听and听postdoctoral fellows. It听intends听to improve participant skills and knowledge in one or more of the following themes: Plan Your Career, Expand Expertise, Solve Problems, Lead Projects, Communicate, Be Well, and Work with Others. These themes represent important areas of development for听graduate听students听and听postdoctoral fellows听that can complement their academic training.听
- The听CaPS' Emerging Leaders Program offers free听Workshops听and Mini-Conferences听that help students develop their leadership.
Identifying Job Search听Tools
An employer's听first impression听of you will often come from your CV and cover letter. These documents are crucial as they听determine whether you will be invited for an interview. As such, they must showcase your most impressive skills and accomplishments. Read the listed information below and attend CaPS workshops about the basic components of successful CVs and cover letters.
Always have an updated听CV ready to go -听you never know when an opportunity could arise!听That being听said, even if you are a听first-year student, take advantage of these amazing workshops and start drafting your first CV today!
List of resources
- List of information and services听provided听by CaPS
- A听how-to guide听prepared by CaPS about CV and cover letters
- CaPS workshops:听Build your Job Search Tools: CV & Cover Letter.听(To view and register for career fairs, information sessions, and workshops offered through CaPS, log in to and click on the events tab.)
Interested In Staying In Quebec听After Your Studies?
You may assume it is still too early to think about applying for permanent residency. But if you are even considering this possibility, we recommend taking a look at to get an idea of听the requirements. Should you wish to apply in the future, you will听know how and when to take the next steps, as听some requirements may take longer to fulfill than others and require preparation in advance.听
Other recommended actions:
- Taking French for PEQ (see tab "Expanding Skills - language").
- Renew your study permit on time if necessary
