EDUCATION GUIDE
5
SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • DECEMBER 2025
UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
Myth vs Reality How UM helps students build careers before they graduate
PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA
A t the University of Manitoba, career development begins the moment students arrive. With support from Career Services, students can explore options, gain experience and reflect on what they learn, turning classroom knowledge and campus involvement into real opportunities. “We’re here from the start of your degree, until graduation, and even after graduation,” says Lisa MacPherson, Career Services Lead Coordinator. To make the landscape clear, here are three common myths learners often encounter and how Career Services helps students move past them. MYTH 1: STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT ON DAY ONE “There is no typical journey,” says Rebecca Brooks, Director, Career, Community, and Experiential Learning Centre. “University is structured in a way that can make you feel like you should be doing certain things at certain times, but there’s so much room for students to craft their own journey.” Career Services meets students wherever they are on that path, whether they want to explore interests through clubs and volunteering, or gain experience through co-ops, practicums and community-based projects. Reflection ties it together. This means gaining meaning from what you did, how you solved problems and what challenges you want to take on. Career Consultants make this practical by helping students turn experience into resumé points, interview stories and even graduate-school statements. “You don’t only learn from doing. You also learn from reflecting on what you’re doing,” MacPherson says.
“When students are involved in activities that are recognized by the university, they start accumulating a lot of the competencies on their Experience Record,” says Rhonda Van Veggel, EL Partnerships Liaison in Student Experience and Development. “Even if they don’t have paid employment, we’re giving them a vehicle to recognize and identify the skills that they have developed.” Last academic year, 21,350 students — more than two-thirds of the student body — completed 58,922 experiences through the Experience Record. MYTH 3: DEGREE A LEADS TO JOB B “I think the idea that employment requirements and employer preferences are so narrow is not the case,” MacPherson says. “You can see students from four different degrees all working in the same type of job when they graduate.” That flexibility is what makes understanding your skills so important. “The history major who is now doing business analysis got hired because of their personal skills and not because of their degree,” Van Veggel says. “The degree might have opened the door, but the skills closed it.” Also, education doesn’t end once you’ve secured a job post-graduation. “We are in a world that challenges us to learn new things and develop new skills often, and this learning is all part of your career development. Seeing and shaping the story of your journey is part of what Career Services can support you with,” Brooks says. The takeaway is straightforward: start early, engage often and reflect as you go. Or, in the words of many students, “I wish I would have come to Career Services sooner.” n
You don’t only learn from doing. You also learn from reflecting on what you’re doing. ”
— Lisa MacPherson , UM’s Career Services, Lead Coordinator
MYTH 2: IF YOUR PROGRAM DOESN’T HAVE A PRACTICUM, YOU’LL MISS OUT Experiential opportunities are an important part of university, but not every program has a built-in practicum or internship. However, students at UM still have many ways to gain hands-on experience. Career Services helps them find options that match their goals, from co-ops and community projects to government programs like the Student Temporary Employment Program. Coursework and group projects also provide valuable experience, helping students build collaboration and problem-solving skills that translate directly to the workplace. A key support is the Experience Record: UM’s official record of recognized roles and experiential activities such as leadership, campus employment and volunteer work. It helps students identify the skills they’ve gained and describe them confidently to future employers.
WHAT KIND OF BISON ARE YOU? At the University of Manitoba, the Bison spirit runs deep through our community. It’s a spirit of strength, perseverance and belonging. With over 100 programs to choose from, every Bison can find their stride. Together, we make a difference—for our community, our planet and for future generations. At UM, you can gain real-world experience through co-ops and experiential learning. After graduation, you’ll be ready to jump into a rewarding career.
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