OA

Vol. XVI

@ ex Capilano Nn rm r No. 1
@€ex College Jan. 20/94 vA

1968~1993

Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Employment Centre
Sees Changing Times

The Student Employment Centre
has been changing with the times,
and the times are changing dramati-
cally, says Judith Hall, Advisor.

“Five years ago it was common for
companies to come on campus to
recruit. Now companies are down-
sizing, so they have no need to
recruit.”

Also, the student population at
Cap has become more diverse. A few
years ago, the average age of stu-
dents who visited the centre was 22.
Now, many more mature students
visit the centre.

The Student Employment Centre
has been seeing everyone from
students just out of high school to
PhDs. Students with advanced
degrees have been returning to the
College to supplement their educa-
tion with specialized programs such
as Asia Pacific Management.

In addition, the skills students
need to get a job have become more
complex. Formerly, throughout the
post-secondary system, on-campus
employment offices performed
placement work, which meant they
would “sell” individual students or
graduates to prospective employers.
Usually students remained passive
in their job search. All they needed
to do was supply a good resume and
academic record, and the onus was
on the placement officer to find them
work.

Today, the Student Employment
Centre advises people on how to

maneuver along the often difficult
road from college to the workplace.

Asa consequence, the centre’s two
staff members, Lynne Somerville and
Judith, have a heavy workload. They
have to use new, creative strategies
to help students, many of whom are
desperate to find a job. The centre
tries to give students a realistic view
of the work world and helps them
assess their own strengths, weak-
nesses, desires and goals. It then
helps them develop plans for self-
placement.

“During these difficult economic
times, post-secondary students
depend even more on the Student
Employment Centre,” says Judith.
“Post-secondary education, by itself,
is not sufficient preparation to get a
job.”

ey

Getting to know Capilano College: Librarian George Modenesi takes a
group of international students on a tour of the Library.