Rotary Career Symposium

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE ROTARY CAREER SYMPOSIUM: Treat the symposium as an opportunity, not an obligation. This is about your future. Put some preliminary thought into your interests and how they might translate into a career. Get engaged. Explore and ask questions of exhibitors. They're there to help you get a handle on what career might suit you best. Identify several possible career paths and make a list of those possibilities. Whittle that list down. If possible, identify what you want to study after high school, and tailor your courses toward studies in that field. 03 | #Illbetherercs2k18 ROTARY 21ST CAREER SYMPOSIUM A Winnipeg high school career counsellor has a few words of advice for secondary students attending the Rotary Career Symposium: step up and take advantage of a great opportunity to build your future. ome high school students may approach the symposium in too casual a manner. That's understandable. After all — when you're in grade 10 or 11 — working for a living may still seem like a distant prospect. Consequently, some students don't feel enough urgency about getting a handle on what type of career path they might want to take when they finish high school. High school career counsellor Adriano Magnifico of Nelson McIntyre Collegiate says it's be a huge mistake to approach the symposium in an unfocused, cavalier manner. "Students need to view the symposium as a great opportunity," he says. "The reason for that is simple: you'll never get all the same people (universities, colleges, prospective employers) in the room at the same time." This year's Rotary Career Symposium will be held at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg Monday, April 16 (6-8 p.m.), and Tuesday, April 17, and Wednesday, April 18 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.). Provided students come to the symposium ready to explore career possibilities, Magnifico says the event can serve as a career catalyst. At the very least, it can get students pointed in the right direction. "When you come to the career symposium, you could connect with someone who could change your life, whether it's helping you find a summer job, directing you to educational possibilities, or even as a mentor," he said. Unfortunately, many high schoolers simply float their way through the symposium without giving much thought to what career they might want to pursue a few years down the line. That attitude can cause them to miss out on a life-changing experience, says Magnifico. "When you come to the symposium, you can't be passive — you have to be assertive," he said. "I know being assertive can be difficult, but you need to force yourself to mingle and ask questions. You'll never know what the possibilities are unless you take the initiative." Being proactive can lead to an eye-opening experience. "Simply put, you're in an environment where you can connect with someone who can help you unearth your skills and potential," Magnifico said. In some cases, high school students can speak with university students only a year or two removed from high school — another great opportunity. "Kids from high school can actually talk to kids enrolled in various programs in university," Magnifico says. "They can connect with them and listen to them about their experiences. In many cases, this interaction causes a light to go on, as in, 'this would be a great career for me.'" He says students should be asking themselves some important questions before attending the event. "Start by doing some preliminary thinking about what you want to do after high school," Magnifico said. "What are you good at? What piques your interest, what (field or profession) do you want to find out more about? What could you do with a certain degree? What are companies looking for? Who might value my skills?" Even if you have only a vague idea of what you might do for a living, don't ignore it, advises Magnifico. "Just follow your nose, go to it," he said. "There's a world of opportunity out there, and you have the opportunity (at the symposium) to explore and discover. The exhibitors are all there to help you find the right (career) fit down the line." In fact, the 2018 edition of the event will feature much-improved access to some 185 exhibitors offering many career possibilities. "Because all exhibitors will be together on one floor, students will have quicker and easier access to them than ever," says Magnifico. "I can't emphasize enough what a great opportunity the symposium is for students to get a head start in identifying possible career paths. It's a chance to strike while the iron's hot, so don't miss it." For more information on how to prepare for the Rotary Career Symposium, visit careersymposium.ca. JUMP START YOUR CAREER S BY TODD LEWYS

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