One of the main goals I have at this time, 2.5 semesters from graduation, is to find information about marketing jobs. I don't feel like I know very much about them in a practical sense and this is a source of insecurity for me.
I did some work on the Career Cruising website facilitated through York University. After completing many sets of questions it gave me a list of general careers that may be suitable to my skills and work preferences. At first I was thrilled. Marketing was in the top five, rated as a great match with my skills. (Thank goodness, I am in forth year!) Another interesting career title came up, management consultant. I printed the profiles for these and three other career 'genres', and felt satisfied.
As part of an assignment, I needed to update my resume. I couldn't stand the look of it anymore, and could not bear the thought of handing over my old one to any potential employers. I visited the Career Centre at York, and was pleased to have a few things go my way. First, I was able to figure out a new layout within minutes of scanning through a book of samples. A little of this, a little of that, and presto! A look that I could have represent me.
Second, I met with a counsellor and was given 'the procedure' for creating a professional resume. I found the process enlightening. A detailed look at job descriptions, followed by an analysis matching the required skills for the job to my own, then proving that I have those skills by demonstrating it with something I've done in the past. Simple, right?
I was excited about doing this as soon as a friend of mine told me about this page: http://www.workopolis.com/work.aspx?action=Transfer&View=Content/JobSeeker/FastTrackListView&lang=EN&FastTrack=MARKETING&FastTrackId=378852
This changed everything.
Now I have the details I've felt so stupid about not having. Looking at the list of job titles that fall under the marketing heading, nothing is new. I've heard of all of them. But having them all together, and being able to jump back and forth quickly between job descriptions, really defined the world of marketing for me in a nutshell.
The rest of my resume came together easily. It's only a first draft, built on what little information I have soaked up from these sources in a relatively short period of time. The important thing is that I now know so much more about what I'm supposed to know about - marketing. And knowing how to write a good resume doesn't hurt either.
I will return to the Career Centre in the near future for editing. They offer many useful seminars and programs that help students find employment. I intend to make their services part of my research to prepare myself for life after graduation.
Below are other websites I found interesting in my search for job descriptions in marketing.
http://www.jobfutures.ca/en/home.shtml
http://www.careerowl.ca/
http://www.jobpostings.ca/
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
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