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The Results Are In... By Iwona Ciesielka As another spring is upon
us, many Western students have completed their academic semester, moved
"home" and are no doubt relieved to complete another school year. For others,
however, May - June are simply the beginning...the beginning of an 8-16
month internship placement. Those students who have signed
on to become interns have found that the ensuing process is a valuable
lesson in career development. After attending various preparation workshops
throughout the school year, being screened by their academic departments,
competing for various internship positions via resumes and interview techniques
- the placement has finally begun. There was an overall feeling of excitement
and accomplishment as students were informed of whether they had been
selected by an employer. In the midst of apartment leases, cancelling
summer plans and saying their goodbyes, all Science interns know that
this is going to be a year of many experiences; a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to gain hands-on practical skills that many hope will help them find a
job after graduation. Within this year's group of
students, we have placed computer science interns in various types of
IT-related positions; actuarial students who will be employed as Actuarial
Assistants; biology students who will be delving into opportunities ranging
from lab settings to quality control; our chemistry students will be working
in both organic and inorganic chemistry; and geophysics students who will
be busy with year-round field work. We are very excited to welcome new
employers, those organizations who have returned to the program after a
short absence, as well as those employers who have continued to support
the Science Internship Program! We also have a contingent
of Science students who are preparing to return to school in September,
following their internship placements. All studentsin this group felt that
their Internship has been an extremely worthwhile experience, and has yielded
job offers for some, following their graduation in June 2005. Knowing what
career prospects are available, these students are looking forward to returning
to school, completing their degrees and re-entering the workforce.
Kathleen Holland, a financial consultant, graduated from UWO with a BSc. in Biology in 1987. Previously, she worked as a tour guide at Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary in Kingsville and as a naturalist and park warden at Pinery Provincial Park in Grand Bend. She also taught as a field naturalist through the London Board of Education before becoming involved with financial planning, a long-standing interest. Jeff Skinner graduated from the genetics program of the University of Western Ontario in the Spring of 1999. Upon completion, he entered the Honours Business Administration program offered at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Graduating in 2001, he spent a brief period in investment banking before signing on with IMI International Medical Innovations, a predictive medicine company in Toronto, as a Business Development Associate responsible for partnering activities in Europe and Asia, and new product development and acquisitions. Emma Cass has been a Scientific Recruiter at Kelly Scientific Resources since November 2001. Emma recruits for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food, chemical and clinical research industries. While at The University of Western Ontario working towards a degree in Biochemistry/Chemistry, Emma was employed as a Work Bursary Student in the Department of Chemistry completing various administrative tasks. In addition to her partial degree from Western, Emma successfully completed a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology in 1997, where she received an honour from the Canadian Institute of Chemistry, for highest academic achievement. Rose Paemurd, a highschool Science and Math teacher, graduated from Western with a Bachelor of Science (Biology) in 1996. Rose spent four years exploring a career in the financial services industry with the Royal Bank Financial Group. During this time she completed the Canadian Securities Course and courses towards becoming a Professional Financial Planner. After deciding she was more interested in teaching, Rose returned to Western in 2000 to complete her Bachelor of Education in the Intermediate/Senior division. Students were interested in how our panellists identified contacts, how they obtained their first job and how a Science degree has helped them reach their goals. Clearly, it is of interest and importance for Science students to explore and be aware of their career options. We would greatly welcome your assistance in future Science Career events through either direct/indirect involvement. Please send an expression of interest to Iwona@uwo.ca If your organization would be interested in participating in the Science Internship Program, please visit www.uwo.ca/sci/iip or contact Iwona Ciesielka by email Iwona@uwo.ca or by telephone (519) 661-2111 ext. 85009. We will continue to place students throughout the summer, as the need arises, and in the year to come. |
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Also visit: Campaign Western - Foundation Western Please send your questions or comments on "Science Flashpoint" to: iwona@uwo.ca Please forward
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Unfortunately,
not all interested students were successful in securing a placement.
For them, this is understandably a time of disappointment and uncertain
summer plans. Equally disappointed are the handful of employers who
were not successful in recruiting their top-choice students. We always
strive to meet the needs of the employer and student, but at times
it is simply a case of bad timing or not identifying the "right fit".
Luckily, for those students who were seeking summer employment, the
Faculty of Science and Career Services ran several helpful workshops
throughout the winter term. These sessions focused on many aspects
of Career Planning that included topics such as the job search, the
interview, etc. In addition, a Science Career Panel was held in association
with the 